What is God's view on the consumption of alcohol?
Judges 13:2-7 and Luke 1:13-15 The above verses foretell of the birth of important leaders and prophets who "shall not engage in the consumption of wine nor strong drink". Surely God places a value on sobriety?
Luke 1:13 - 15
ESV - 13 But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. 14 And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth.
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Asked December 21 2023
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G Wagener
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For follow-up discussion and general commentary on the topic. Comments are sorted chronologically.
Danny Hickman
This thing some in the church have about alcohol consumption is almost identical to what people of other religions say about eating pork. One difference is, eating pork doesn't drastically change a person's mood or inhibitions. It's viewed, however, by pork prohibitionists as worse than drinking strong drink. They have a point; Jesus admittedly drank wine, but nothing is said about him eating pork.
Alcohol consumption can lead to drunkenness; it happens. I don't know of a downward spiral in a man's character caused by eating pork, or shrimp, catfish or rabbit. So why do Christians (in general) eat bacon in front of the whole world, but buy their alcohol online, having it delivered instead of boldly going into a liquor store and getting it? After all, God gave instructions to abstain from the foods I named, but he didn’t prohibit the use of alcohol. In fact, he told them to use alcohol on occasion.
So it's clear that the church often establishes its own spiritual laws. So do other religious organizations that prohibit the consumption of pork; they were never told what to eat and what to avoid in order to be in a relationship with God. Israel is the only people who were given those instructions.
Jesus is the fulfillment of the law to abstain from certain foods. He is the way to a relationship with God.
I don't drink; I don't like the way alcohol makes me feel. (I'm plenty obtuse without blunting myself).
Faye fries the best porkchops; and there's no hangover...