Micah 2:11 If a man walking in the spirit and falsehood do lie, saying, I will prophesy unto thee of wine and of strong drink: he shall even be the prophet of this people.
Habakkuk 2:15 Woe unto him that giveth his neighbour drink, that puttest thy bottle to him, and makest him drunken also, that thou mayest look on their nakedness!
Proverbs 23:20 Be not among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh:
These verses clearly tell God’s feelings toward liquor. Don’t promote it, don’t distribute it, don’t hang around people who are drinking. What brings these thoughts to mind is some articles in the Amarillo Globe News over the last few Sundays in the religious section. The first told of a Catholic Church in south Texas that was brewing 3.2 beer for a fund raiser. The second told of a “Beer and Jesus” “ministry” where a Bible study was being held in a bar, drinking beer and studying the Bible. Once again this was a Catholic church but I have read of Non-Denoms doing the same thing. This week the paper reported that in the Czech Republic some monks were brewing and selling beer to keep the Church financially stable.
When I preach against the recreational use of the drug alcohol I am often told “Jesus drank it at the last supper” and “monks have been making it for hundreds of years”. Of course to the first Jesus did not serve booze at the last supper but the “fruit of the vine”. Look it up! Not once does the Bible say Wine in reference to the Last Supper. As to the other, do we follow man’s tradition or the clear teaching of the Scripture? Can you seriously believe that the Lord Jesus Christ would go into a bar pop a top and start a Bible study with a bunch of people under the influence? Such a picturing of Christ is outright blasphemy and anyone purporting to be a minister of the Lord also blasphemes His Holy Name by engaging in such activity. While the Christian is not to be holier than thou he is to be holy. And breaking the scriptures by going into a bar, drinking fermented drinks and giving or selling them to others is absolutely sinful. It is your choice. Will you follow the example of man, however well intentioned or follow the Word of God, and the example of Christ who never sinned?
