Wine??

[A.W. Bowman]

To drink or not to drink, that is no longer the question. It is scripturally left up to the individual to decide what, when or if ever they will partake of wine or any other drink, unless they should fall into one of the scriptural categories of grape and/or alcohol prohibitions. Drink is not for everyone.

In an earlier post I referenced scripture where God instructed men to drink wine and even 'hard liquor'. Those who want to make drinking a universal sin, must do violence to the scriptures and twist wine into grape juice. If they fail in this effort, they have publicly declared Jesus to be both a sinner and a tempter of others into sin. The very first miracle of Jesus was to support sinners in their sin. Plus the Apostle to the Gentiles also encouraged a member of his own ministry team to sin by drinking wine for a so-called medical issue.

When faced with scriptural, linguistic and historical evidence that testifies against the man-made doctrine of 'drinking any alcohol is a sin', most of these latter-day Pharisees will opt out for their religious traditions and their own brand of self justification.

Where personal convictions becomes a body-wide mandate, the scriptures must take the stripes, and saints suffers under the blows.

When the world of God does not line up with one's doctrine, change the word - or ignore it all together. When preachers are challenged on issues such as this one - they frequently respond with charges of: 'back-slider', rebellious, workers of iniquity, teachers of false doctrine, soft of Apostolic doctrine, instigators of confusion and contention, even to be the spreaders of 'filth'.

When a preacher teaches against a spiritual liberty in one area, and refuses to correct his teaching when it is demonstrated that he is in error, what other areas of Christ bought liberties is he trying to keep you from? More importantly, why?