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05.20.09

Annoying Biblical Directive #5 - Do Not Get Drunk On Wine

Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.
Ephesians 5:18

If you arrived at our planet without any previous dispositions or prejudices it would be difficult to believe that the preceding verse and the topic it contains had caused tremendous divisions between Christians as well as between Christians and those who don’t follow Christ. Alcohol consumption has been a polarizing issue for so many years that it is difficult for anyone to put this in the category of a minor directive. This is despite the very infrequent mention of wine or alcohol in the Bible. Certainly it would be difficult to place it in the minor category if a loved one was harmed by a drunk driver, or if you lived in a family where abuse of alcohol led to an unloving, dangerous and capricious environment. Conversely, it is difficult to view it as a minor directive if you grew up in a family or church where total abstinence was taught as the one and only reasonable and Biblical approach to alcohol.

One might quibble with me and argue the intended meaning of wine in this verse. One could argue either side. Argument 1: This verse states only wine and other forms of alcohol are not included. Therefore this is a free pass to imbibe any other form of alcohol. Argument 2: Wine in Biblical times had a very small alcohol content and its purpose was chiefly to preserve the liquid for future consumption. Therefore if even extremely dilute wine was viewed with restraint, certainly higher alcoholic content liquids would be even more greatly constrained. Both of these arguments have some problems. From my vantage point number 1 a little more so than number 2. Let me assure you that this paragraph could have been much longer and included other nuances of interpretation and beliefs which I have not mentioned. This paragraph was included to draw attention to what is so very wrong with so many interpretations of this verse.

The singular focus upon the negative command of this verse is an ongoing cultural tragedy. It is a tremendous failing of the Church of today. I felt forced to lead you astray even as I titled this essay. The title should be “Be Filled With The Spirit.” (That is simply not tantalizing enough in our culture.) Yes, this verse has a limiting negative command. Yes, this limiting negative command should be considered and followed. However, the focus of this verse and the thing that should be preeminent is being filled with the Spirit. Why do we allow ourselves to argue and become divided over a portion of a verse which is not the most important part of the verse?

Author: Joseph Wendel | Permalink | 1 Comment | Daily Entries

John 14:6

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Annoying Biblical Directive #5 - Do Not Get Drunk On Wine

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