Jesus: "A Drunkard and a Friend of Sinners" - Now, Can I Get a Glass?

Last Wednesday, we had New Life Covenant's very first Mid-Week at Taft High glory to God!! If you desire to attend it's: Wednesdays at 7 PM, 420 Ezzard Charles Drive 45214  We meet in the Music Room, you enter from the rear parking lot.  You will see our sign.  Or you can come Sundays at 11:00 AM to Taft's Cafetorium - again enter through the rear lot. Hope to see you soon!!

We discussed extending ourselves to engage people who are not yet followers of Christ.  Jesus' parable in Luke 14 says don't invite your friends, family, and people like you to the feast table of the Lord. Go out and invite the blind, the lame, the poor and the halt so that the Lord's table will be full.

Then we got on the subject of Wine and Drinking the questions people had were:

• How do you feel about a glass of wine at dinner, or champagne at a wedding? 
• Would you feel comfortable inviting church members to that kind of gathering where wine is present?  
• Is casual drinking forbidden? 
• What would you think if your small group leader, worship leader, pastor, children's ministry leader drank casually? 

Here's what I answered. Though I don't drink, this is what I believe:

1. Scriptural Admonition is to NOT be DRUNK. The Bible reminds us that wine, beer and other liquors can be addictive and harmful substances:
1. Do not get drunk on wine which leads to debauchery. Instead be filled with the Spirit...(Ephesians 5:18)
1. The same relief, calm, joy, freedom from inhibition and boldness can be had through being filled with God's Spirit! Reference the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:15) "these are not drunk as you suppose..."
2. Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler; whoever is led astray by them is not wise. (Prov 20:1)
3. Do not be with heavy drinkers of wine, or with gluttonous eaters of meat; For the heavy drinker and the glutton will come to poverty, and drowsiness will clothe one with rags.  (Prov 23:20-21; also vs. 30-35 below)
4. Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaints?
   
   Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes? 30Those who linger over wine, who go to sample bowls of mixed wine.31Do not gaze at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly! 32In the end it bites like a snake and poisons like a viper. 33Your eyes will see strange sights, and your mind will imagine confusing things. 34You will be like one sleeping on the high seas, lying on top of the rigging. 35“They hit me,” you will say, “but I’m not hurt! They beat me, but I don’t feel it! When will I wake up so I can find another drink?”
2. I cannot say something is forbidden that is allowed for in Scripture.  However, I am required to make you aware of possible issues that can arise if SELF-CONTROL - a fruit of the Spirit, is not exercised (Gal 5:22)
1. There are hurting people with addictions at churches.  A person with a genetic or disposition toward addiction would not be able to handle a SINGLE drink (the same holds true for other addictions - nicotine, caffeine, drugs, shopping, exercise, gluttony, gambling, even social media) An addictive personality will substitute addictions.
2. The only GUARANTEE that a person who has that propensity will not be drawn into it is to NOT be exposed to it. The way GUARANTEE that a person won't get pregnant, contract an STD, or be addicted to pornography is abstaining from the activity!
3. We are NOT to put an occasion of stumbling in our neighbor's way.  If eating, or drinking, or observing certain days, wearing certain clothes or other behavior causes someone to stumble in their faith, we are not to do it out of LOVE for them and for God. (Romans 14, 1 Cor 8). That is NOT to say that the behavior is wrong if not prohibited in Scripture - but LOVE wins!
4. In the Old Testament, those leaders taking Nazarite Vows (E.g. Samson Judges 13), or Levites (Lev. 10:9) were held to a different standard - NO WINE or STRONG DRINK
1. The Assemblies of God fellowship of churches, for instance, asks all of it's pastors to refrain from alcohol. 
2. Bishops/Elders/Deacons are not to be 'given to wine' meaning addicted to or drunk with wine...among other things (Titus 1, 1 Tim 3) If you don't take it at all, you don't have to be worried about addiction. Nor do you have to worry about causing anyone to stumble seeing you drink it... 
3. The 'elder women' who instruct younger women are not to be addicted to wine. Titus 2:3
5. John the Baptist the prophet and Jesus' Cousin had the restriction NO WINE from birth (Luke 1:15)
6. Jesus apparently did not have the same restriction: 
1. For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ But wisdom is proved right by her deeds.” (Matthew 11:18-19)
2. Jesus turned water into wine, the best wine actually, at his first miracle for the wedding celebration at Cana  (John 2) Which seems to decry a strict prohibition for everyone.
   
3. Even if you believe that Jesus didn't drink...(which is not what He just said in red..but that's none of my business.) Jesus was OBVIOUSLY able to to be around people who were drinking and eating and tax collectors and other sinners.  He came to seek and save what was lost. (Luke 19:10) He was COMPELLED to RECONCILE people back to God and has entrusted us with the SAME ministry (2 Cor 5)
7. Irrigation systems for water in this time were few or non-existent.  Water was often polluted in that time and wine could kill harmful bacteria and soothe stomach issues. Of course, that is NOT the case now...
1. Paul's admonition to Timothy (who was an Elder) was "No longer drink water exclusively, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments. 1 Timothy 5:23
8. It is my philosophy to lay out the Word before you and allow the Word to work and the Holy Spirit to help each individual come to decisions.  It is usually futile to try to tell grown people what to do, as each one really has to be 'fully convinced in his own mind" (Romans 14:5; 22-23) before they will act on a particular principle or belief.  
9. We must LOVE one another. "I might have the right to do anything" - you say, but not everything is beneficial. " (1 Cor 10:23) [all things are lawful but not expedient KJV]. "You my brothers and sisters, were called to be free, But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh, rather serve one another humbly in love.  (Galatians 5:12)
10. We are to be like Jesus! The kind of person who is liked by, able to be around and ministers to those who need to be friends again with God!! Jesus had less problem with sinners than He did with the religious Pharisees...but that's another topic for another day.