bwb

Most commonly Christian leaders teach their followers that it is okay to drink alcohol in moderation. Personally, I think that that is revoltingly inadequate to the point of being truly pathetic, considering what a horrendous social evil alcohol is in today's world. Christ taught His followers to be moral perfectionists, not to be morally mediocre, and not to just copy the degenerate morals of the society around them.

5:48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
(King James Bible, Matthew)


Here are 22 Bible quotations against drinking alcohol:

Bible References to WINE and STRONG DRINK
(Vows of Abstinence, Warnings against abuse, Rules for Deacons)

Vows of abstinence [14] Citation: LEVITICUS 010:009
King James: Do not drink wine nor strong drink, thou, nor thy sons with thee, when ye go into the tabernacle of the congregation, lest ye die: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations:
New International: “You and your sons are not to drink wine or other fermented drink whenever you go into the Tent of Meeting, or you will die. This is a lasting ordinance for the generations to come.

Vows of abstinence [16] Citation: NUMBERS 006:003
King James: He shall separate himself from wine and strong drink, and shall drink no vinegar of wine, or vinegar of strong drink, neither shall he drink any liquor of grapes, nor eat moist grapes, or dried.
New International: he must abstain from wine and other fermented drink and must not drink vinegar made from wine or from other fermented drink. He must not drink grape juice or eat grapes or raisins.

Vows of abstinence [40] Citation: JUDGES 013:004
King James: Now therefore beware, I pray thee, and drink not wine nor strong drink, and eat not any unclean thing:
New International: Now see to it that you drink no wine or other fermented drink and that you do not eat anything unclean,

Vows of abstinence [41] Citation: JUDGES 013:007
King James: But he said unto me, Behold, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and now drink no wine nor strong drink, neither eat any unclean thing: for the child shall be a Nazarite to God from the womb to the day of his death.
New International: But he said to me, `You will conceive and give birth to a son. Now then, drink no wine or other fermented drink and do not eat anything unclean, because the boy will be a Nazirite of God from birth until the day of his death.’”

Vows of abstinence [42] Citation: JUDGES 013:014
King James: She may not eat of any thing that cometh of the vine, neither let her drink wine or strong drink, nor eat any unclean thing: all that I commanded her let her observe.
New International: She must not eat anything that comes from the grapevine,

Warnings against abuse [96] Citation: PROVERBS 020:001
King James: Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.
New International: Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler; whoever is led astray by them is not wise.

Warnings against abuse [97] Citation: PROVERBS 021:017
King James: He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich.
New International: He who loves pleasure will become poor; whoever loves wine and oil will never be rich.

Warnings against abuse [98] Citation: PROVERBS 023:020
King James: Be not among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh:
New International: Do not join those who drink too much wine or gorge themselves on meat,

Warnings against abuse [99] Citation: PROVERBS 023:030
King James: They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine.
New International: Those who linger over wine, who go to sample bowls of mixed wine.

Warnings against abuse [100] Citation: PROVERBS 023:031
King James: Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright.
New International: Do not gaze at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly!

Warnings against abuse [101] Citation: PROVERBS 031:004
King James: It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink:
New International: “It is not for kings, O Lemuel– not for kings to drink wine, not for rulers to crave beer,

Warnings against abuse [115] Citation: ISAIAH 005:011
King James: Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink; that continue until night, till wine inflame them!
New International: Woe to those who rise early in the morning to run after their drinks, who stay up late at night till they are inflamed with wine.

Warnings against abuse [116] Citation: ISAIAH 005:012
King James: And the harp, and the viol, the tabret, and pipe, and wine, are in their feasts: but they regard not the work of the Lord, neither consider the operation of his hands.
New International: They have harps and lyres at their banquets, tambourines and flutes and wine, but they have no regard for the deeds of the LORD, no respect for the work of his hands.

Warnings against abuse [117] Citation: ISAIAH 005:022
King James: Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink:
New International: Woe to those who are heroes at drinking wine and champions at mixing drinks,

Vows of abstinence [201] Citation: LUKE 001:015
King James: For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother’s womb.
New International: for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from birth.

Vows of abstinence [205] Citation: LUKE 007:033
King James: For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine; and ye say, He hath a devil.
New International: For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, `He has a demon.

Warnings against abuse [215] Citation: EPHESIANS 005:018
King James: And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
New International: Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.

Deacons (rules for) [216] Citation: 1 TIMOTHY 003:003
King James: Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;
New International: not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money.

Deacons (rules for) [217] Citation: 1 TIMOTHY 003:008
King James: Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;
New International: Deacons, likewise, are to be men worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain.

Deacons (rules for) [219] Citation: TITUS 001:007
King James: For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;
New International: Since an overseer is entrusted with God’s work, he must be blameless–not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain.

Warnings against abuse [220] Citation: TITUS 002:003
King James: The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;
New International: Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good.

Warnings against abuse [221] Citation: 1 PETER 004:003
King James: For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries:
New International: For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do–living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry.

Orthodox

I would take into account that the OT verses posted were for a specific people for a specific time. Certaintly not the NT covenant. I believe specifically it is for the levitical preisthood if I recall that wine was not supposed to be taken upon.

For wine is not a bad thing, it used as the eucharist and Christ clearly turned the water into wine and the wedding of cana in the gospel of JOhn. Only when wine is used in excess and leads to drunkeness is something Christianity condemns. For many have drunk wine and not always gotten drunk.

BruceDLimber

Quite so!

But what you're apparently overlooking is that since that time, BOTH Islam and the Baha'i Faith--and their Covenants--have again prohibited alcohol (the Baha'i Faith also explicitly prohibits use of recreational and illegal drugs)!

Peace,

Bruce

bwb

The Baha'i code of conduct strictly forbids drinking alcoholic drinks, which is obviously more helpful in solving the problem of alcohol abuse than telling people that the Bible condones it. I found some interesting wikipedia information about which religions, denominations and countries forbid the drinking of alcohol:


Alcoholic beverage - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Some religions—most notably Islam, Jainism, the Bahá'í Faith, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Seventh-day Adventist Church, the Church of Christ, Scientist, the United Pentecostal Church International, Theravada, most Mahayana schools of Buddhism, some Protestant denominations of Christianity, and some sects of Hinduism—forbid, discourage, or restrict the drinking of alcoholic beverages for various reasons.

Many Christian denominations use wine in the Eucharist or Communion and permit alcohol in moderation. Other denominations use unfermented grape juice in Communion and either abstain from alcohol by choice or prohibit it outright.

Judaism uses wine on Shabbat for Kiddush as well as in the Passover ceremony, Purim, and other religious ceremonies. The drinking of alcohol is allowed. Some ancient Jewish texts, e.g., the Talmud, even encourage moderate drinking on holidays (such as Purim) in order to make the occasion more joyous.

Buddhist texts recommend refraining from drugs and alcohol because they may inhibit mindfulness.

Prohibition - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Many other Arab or mainly Muslim countries such as Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and Turkey do not have any ban on alcohol, and production as well as consumption are legal, under the provision that people below the legal drinking age (which ranges from 18 to 21 depending on the country and the situation) cannot legally purchase alcoholic beverages. In Turkey the sale of alcoholic beverages was prohibited for 24 hours during general elections.

Dry county - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
In some counties in the United States alcohol is prohibited.

Orthodox

I have overlooked nothing, But you seem to over look Christianity which has used wine in its eucharist since the desciples. Sharing in the true body and blood of Christ. Obviously if Jesus turned water to wine it is okay to drink. Jesus wouldn't have done it had it been a sin.

Livindesert

Bwb wine drinking was allowed in the Christian and Jewish dispensations but for the Islamic through Baha'i dispensations God hath forbade it.

Orthodox

That makes little sense.

LarryK32

How? We both agree Christianity is newer than Judaism and some things were changed (e.g.Jesus), and Christianity was right for its time. When Islam came around it was the right religion. You deny other faiths saying they don't make sense, but say yours does as you overlook the reason you called ours false. I'm beginning to think you're a troll.

Orthodox

Lol, No, Christianity is the fulfillment of Judaism. It is the fulfillment of salvation. I deny other faiths for the simple reason they contradict Christianity which I believe and hold is true. I am a troll? A troll makes arguments of illogical proportions like livindesert. I am no troll I seek to discuss bahai seriously, theses are important theological topics so instead of complaining about me bringing them up perhaps you should defend bahai.

LarryK32

First:Its Bahai faith. Dosent really matter but it would be a bit bothesome if we said "defend Christian" instead of "defend Christianity".

Second:Christianity is the fulfillment to Judaism. And then comes Islam, and then Babism, then the Bahai faith. I do believe that the world is more corrupt than it once was. Which is why God sends more prophets. To put us back on the right track.

bwb

I think that anyone who isn't completely simple-minded would be able to see that the bread and the wine of the Eucharist were meant symbolically, not literally. Obviously, Jesus did not mean that his body was made of bread.

Here is 'Abdu'l-Baha's commentary on the subject, from "Some Answered Questions":


THE SYMBOLISM OF THE BREAD AND THE WINE

Question. -- The Christ said: "I am the living bread which came down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof and not die."[1] What is the meaning of this utterance?
[1 Cf. John 6:51, 50.]

Answer. -- This bread signifies the heavenly food and divine perfections. So, "If any man eateth of this bread" means if any man acquires heavenly bounty, receives the divine light, or partakes of Christ's perfections, he thereby gains everlasting life. The blood also signifies the spirit of life and the divine perfections, the lordly splendor and eternal bounty. For all the members of the body gain vital substance from the circulation of the blood.

In the Gospel of St. John, chapter 6, verse 26, it is written: "Ye seek Me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled."

It is evident that the bread of which the disciples ate and were filled was the heavenly bounty; for in verse 33 of the same chapter it is said: "For the bread of God is He which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world." It is clear that the body of Christ did not descend from heaven, but it came from the womb of Mary; and that which descended from the heaven of God was the spirit of Christ. As the Jews thought that Christ spoke of His body, they made objections, for it is said in the 42nd verse of the same chapter: "And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how is it then that he saith, I came down from heaven?"

Reflect how clear it is that what Christ meant by the heavenly bread was His spirit, His bounties, His perfections and His teachings; for it is said in the 63rd verse: "It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing."

Therefore, it is evident that the spirit of Christ is a heavenly grace which descends from heaven; whosoever receives light from that spirit in abundance -- that is to say, the heavenly teachings -- finds everlasting life. That is why it is said in the 35th verse: "And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to Me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on Me shall never thirst."

Notice that "coming to Him" He expresses as eating, and "belief in Him" as drinking. Then it is evident and established that the celestial food is the divine bounties, the spiritual splendors, the heavenly teachings, the universal meaning of Christ. To eat is to draw near to Him, and to drink is to believe in Him. For Christ had an elemental body and a celestial form. The elemental body was crucified, but the heavenly form is living and eternal, and the cause of everlasting life; the first was the human nature, and the second is the divine nature. It is thought by some that the Eucharist is the reality of Christ, and that the Divinity and the Holy Spirit descend into and exist in it. Now when once the Eucharist is taken, after a few moments it is simply disintegrated and entirely transformed. Therefore, how can such a thought be conceived? God forbid! certainly it is an absolute fantasy.

To conclude: through the manifestation of Christ, the divine teachings, which are an eternal bounty, were spread abroad, the light of guidance shone forth, and the spirit of life was conferred on man. Whoever found guidance became living; whoever remained lost was seized by enduring death. This bread which came down from heaven was the divine body of Christ, His spiritual elements, which the disciples ate, and through which they gained eternal life.

The disciples had taken many meals from the hand of Christ; why was the last supper distinguished from the others? It is evident that the heavenly bread did not signify this material bread, but rather the divine nourishment of the spiritual body of Christ, the divine graces and heavenly perfections of which His disciples partook, and with which they became filled.

In the same way, reflect that when Christ blessed the bread and gave it to His disciples, saying, "This is My body,"[1] and gave grace to them, He was with them in person, in presence, and form. He was not transformed into bread and wine; if He had been turned into bread and wine, He could not have remained with the disciples in body, in person and in presence.
[1 Matt. 26:26.]

Then it is clear that the bread and wine were symbols which signified: I have given you My bounties and perfections, and when you have received this bounty, you have gained eternal life and have partaken of your share and your portion of the heavenly nourishment.

(Abdu'l-Baha, Some Answered Questions, p. 99)

bwb

I think that the miracle of turning water into wine was also meant figuratively, referring to the "wine of the love of God."

"Become ye intoxicated with the wine of the love of God, and not with that which deadeneth your minds, O ye that adore Him! Verily, it hath been forbidden unto every believer, whether man or woman. Thus hath the sun of My commandment shone forth above the horizon of My utterance, that the handmaidens who believe in Me may be illumined."

(Baha'u'llah, The Advent of Divine Justice, p. 32)

Orthodox

Once again, I have no reason to believe islam fulfilled Christianity because Christianity had already been fulfilled with Jesus and his salvific death, There was no need for islam. Especially when islam doesn't even show acknowledgment of this basic biblical concept. And no lol, the wine being turned at the wedding has no sign of figurative. You are inserting something into he text.

The fact is there was a literal last supper, and Christ tells them this is his body and blood and they do it in remembrance of Christ. It was literal wine. Not a symbol.

LarryK32

Oh, really? You were there? How was it?

Livindesert

LoL If I am illogical so be it :lol One thing about the Baha'i faith is that we really do not care if you disagree with us will still see you as a brother in faith :wub either way we all belong to the religion of God so the minor differences between us are not a big deal

pheonixduprese

Vi parolas la veron, mia amikon.

Minor differences between religion are simply differences in an individual's finding of truth. Whatever brings you closer to God.

Orthodox

These are not minor difference but major. The nature of God, who Christ was. These are major not minor. You cannot ignore them. All religions contradict like it or lump it.

But that being said I never claimed to be in the time of the descilpes that would be heresy. But the disciples who wrote the NT certaintly existed at that time. And relate to us these facts.

And yes livin you believe in logical absurdities. Such as everyone who is rejected must be right. In which case the Creationists are right because they are rejected and their leader Kent Hovind is true prophet of God. But likewise the evolutionist must be right because creationists reject them. So you have two contradictory stances which must both be true by your criteria and standard of truth. Coverred together with many other of the absurd things you promote such as being of the same religion, you have shown yourself illogical.

arthra

bwb,

I was interested in your thread.. and maybe you could share why you started it.

I know alcoholism is very widespread today and it's also "legal" to drink and sell alcohol..

Some years ago we had a Baha'i who married a Muslim and both were members of AA..Their wedding was well attended by AA members and I think they appreciated the fact that alcohol is forbidden for Baha'is! Anyway thanks for providing the quotes above.

Calls to mind the Nazirite vow

Abstain from wine, wine vinegar, grapes, raisins, and according to some — alcohol[2] and vinegar from alcohol