Church and Alcoholism.

Is Strong Wine or Beer acceptable in both old and modern Church?

Text: Deuteronomy 14:22-26, 1 Samuel 1:1-19. 

This is one of the controversial topic among Christian communities. The new testament Church want to know why the preachers of the Gospel discouraged the people from enjoying what God made provision for in Deuteronomy 14: 26. Let's go through this study together and see to what extent God's permission was given to difference classes of His creation to benefit, enjoyed or damage their life from all He made.

It will interest you to know that there was a deliberate planting of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil in the centre of the first place of worship(Eden) in addition to other blessed trees. Genesis 2:16-17, 3:1-3. Questions of interest. 1. Why did God plant this? Omniscient. 2. Why put restrictions? Simply put; to prove our obedience and affirm our power of choice. 3. Why double standard, Genesis 1:29 granted permission to eat from all fruitful trees?. There is always a general instruction and specific instructions. General instructions is usually for all (Christian who don't bother to clarify issues fall into the class of all). Specific instructions is for the elect/chosen or the pure and preserved, holy and sanctified people who seek after true knowledge because they wanted to fulfil all righteousness. But it usually answer to discipline and devotion to God and not general rules.

This same concept was applicable in the relationship of men to God in the context of beer and strong wine. Is it acceptable in the church? Like the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. YES. Why did God allow this? Our journey continue in the book of 1 Samuel chapter 1. The account of Hannah in Shiloh open our eyes to the general rule of who need beer and strong drinks in the place of worship. Let me say this before I continue, Prophet Eli understood the need why there should be wine and those it applies. Thus He was sitting watching Hannah in her state, like every other years. A broken hearted and disturbed soul is entitled to beer because he/she wanted to forget its pain. But will the pain go forever?.

Back to Hannah, A fundamental truth was reveal and notable miracle happen in the year she understood that all she needed for blessing to be delivered in the house of God is to be filled with Holy Spirit and not wine in excess. She applied the principle that produced forever solution rather than immediate relief. Thus abolished the foundational believe of strong wine/beer/alcohol for a relief in pain and created a new Godly standard of agonised prayer in the atmosphere of broken and contrite spirit.

In Hannah's divine word and revelation to the Church,  general provision of beer/strong drinks/alcohol is meant for Bad/Wicked/Worthless/Hopeless/Troubled/Perishing/Sons or daughter of Belial to use just a few of different bible version.

But Hannah answered, “No, my Lord, I am a woman with a despairing spirit. I have not been drinking wine or any intoxicating drink, but I have poured out my soul before the Lord . Do not regard your maidservant as a wicked and worthless woman, for I have spoken until now out of my great concern and [bitter] provocation.”
1 SAMUEL 1:15‭-‬16 AMP

  Give beer to people without hope. Give wine to those who are in trouble. Let them drink to forget their troubles. Let them forget they are poor.
Proverbs 31:6‭-‬7 ERV

Please note, it was in similar ceremony as in Deuteronomy record. Hannah ate and drank(not beer/strong wine/alcohol) but she clearly pointed it out to Prophet Eli that it wasn't a worthless journey of bad drinking habit for the particular year in view. 1 Samuel 1:9.

This connotes the application of general provision and specific instruction. Like tree of knowledge in Eden, God allows beer/strong wine in the place of worship because the place is not free of the presence of bad/wicked/worthless/troubled/hopeless/perishing/Sons and daughter of Belial. As Romans 1:28 put it, because they refused to retained God in their knowledge, He gave them up to a reprobate mind to do those things which are not proper.

Here comes, the moment of choice. It's not in any Pastor or Teacher to disapprove or dishonour any part of the scriptures. God have reasons for all it's provision. The question then should be do I choose to be a Nazarene/pure/undefiled/holy/righteous or a bad/wicked/worthless/hopeless/troubled/perishing/son or daughter of Belial. I choose not to drink beer/strong drink/alcohol not because it is not written in the bible but because I don't belong to the people such provision were made for, I belong to the realms of drunkard in the Holy Spirit. Ephesians 5:18 A higher realms of Glory.

Permit me to quickly talk about an important scripture that over the year has done serious damage to both spiritual leaders and sick believers.

Timothy, stop drinking only water, and drink a little wine. This will help your stomach, and you will not be sick so often.
1 Timothy 5:23 ERV

This statement was from Apostolic Paul to his beloved son in the Lord; Timothy. These are 2 important spiritual figures in the bible. Their exploits and close walk with God cannot be overemphasized. This verse of the scripture made some go astral and become a victim of wine. The important question which also provides answer in the case of the sick. What was God provision for divine healing. Isaiah 53:5, James 5:14-16. There is wisdom in abiding by divine provision than human prescription. The other contention is if Apostle Paul said it, must be God approved. The word of same Apostle Paul will give us the best answer:

For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?  Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours;  Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours;  And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's.
1 Corinthians 3:4‭, ‬21‭-‬23 KJV

When scripture say we are of Christ by the mouth of same Apostle Paul, then that should give us better understanding that man of God is never the God of man. No matter what any man does, the counsel of the Lord must stand. Nobody is permitted to turn you to son of Belial.

Please note, this is not about a place of worship/Church. Remember your body is the Temple of the Holy Spirit. Thus, defiling it in the closet or public is dangerous to your soul and spirit. Shalom.

Further scriptures for your education on beer/strong wine. Leviticus 10:8-9, Proverbs 20:1; 23:29-35; 31:4-5. 1Corinthians 6:9-10, Ephesians 5:18, Amos 6:1-8, Romans14:15-21, 1Corinthians 3:16-17.