The Bible and Alcohol

What follows is a brief statement of the Bible's positive teachings regarding alcohol and its uses. Wine as a fruit of creation is regarded by God as good and as such should not be rejected. 1 Timothy 4:1-5 speaks of wicked men who forbid marriage and abstain from foods which God has created to be gratefully shared in by those who believe and know the truth. The section concludes by stating, "For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with gratitude; for it is sanctified by means of the word of God and prayer." The word of God has sanctified wine by its teaching concerning the purpose and proper use of it. Psalm 104:14-15 says that God waters the earth so that man can produce food and "wine which makes man's heart glad, so that he may make his face glisten with oil, and food which sustains man's heart." Since wine has been created to make man's heart glad it is particularly suited for use in celebration. Thus in Deut. 14:26 God tells His people that when He blesses them they are to go to the place of His choosing and there, "You can spend your money on whatever your heart desires: for oxen, or sheep, or wine, or strong drink, or whatever your heart desires; and there you shall eat [and I assume drink] in the presence of the Lord your God and rejoice, you and your household." But wine is also useful for more ordinary occasions such as those described by Solomon in Ecclesiastes 9:7. There we are commanded to "Go, eat your bread in happiness and drink your wine with a cheerful heart; for God has already approved your works." You see, God approves our works and we have been accepted by him on the basis of the finished work of Christ; a work intended to bring about a new creation (2 Cor. 5:17). And wine is one of the preeminent signs of this new creation. Thus the prophets looked for the day when Messiah would bring about a new heavens and a new earth in which he would "prepare a lavish banquet for all peoples on this mountain, a banquet of aged wine, choice pieces with marrow, and refined, aged wine." (Is. 25:6) This is the imagery that lies behind Jesus sign of turning the water into wine at the wedding in Cana in John 2. He is the one who came to bring about this new creation one aspect of which is new wine, a sign of God's blessing and favor. This is also the reason why I don't believe that wine is simply something neutral. It is not immoral, or amoral, but rather I believe it is positively something good. Now the Bible explicitly regulates its use, that it is never to be used in excess so as to lead to drunkeness and dissipation (Eph. 5:18). But food can likewise be used for wicked purposes: for gluttony, or as part of pagan feasts. But we don't conclude from these abuses that food is evil and to be abstained from. Instead we seek to use it in a proper manner, for "Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." (1 Cor. 10:31)