Proverbs 20:1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging;
whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.
Proverbs 23:31 Look not thou upon the Wine when it is red, when it giveth
Its color in the cup, when it moveth itself aright.
Abstinence is Biblical
Titus 2:3 “The aged women likewise, that they be in behavior as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good tidings”.
The phrase, “not given to much wine” has opened the door for many people to wonder the impact of the passage. “The union of the two negatives suggest the close connection between a loose tongue and intoxicating drink.” TITUS by D. Edmund Hiebert. “Both were real possibilities for women whose families were grown and who may have had too much idle time on their hands {cf 1 John 5:13-14}.” TITUS by A. Duane Litfin. It’s well documented that the custom of the day allowed people to mix water with wine to purify the poor water. Never does the Holy Word of God promote drinking intoxication wine or drink or for Christians to get drunk. There is a debate over using wine as a prescription for medical problems as a remedy only. The Scripture suggest Paul directed such for Timothy. The Thompson Chain-Reference Bible notes point out several versus that direct abstinence {see number 3568 under Temperance.} Wine and strong were never used by the Lord Jesus Christ. Always new wine {diluted grape juice} was used by Christian Churches since founded by Jesus Christ.
The use of wine or alcohol is not recommended for cooking. With the flesh so powerful a person could loose their testimony.* Suggest not drinking any intoxicating drink as the Bible doesn’t promote it. There are ten times more verses that warn against drinking than do allow it for the aged. The first reference to alcohol – Noah getting drunk paint the ruins of strong drink.
(The above from Pastor Tim Jackson, Community Baptist Church, Lansing, Michigan. 1999)
Further study of drinking in the Bible always shows that SIN follows the drinking and drunkenness.
*Many Catholic Priests have become alcoholics by drinking the wine taken during the Communion.
Total Abstinence was/is recommended for:
Priests Lev 10:9
Nazarites Num 6:3
Wise men Prov 23:31
Kings Prov 31:4
Rechabites Jer 35:6
Daniel Dan 1:8
John the Baptist Luk 1:15
Christians Rom 14:21
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To many, total abstinence is easier than perfect moderation.
-Saint Augustine of Hippo