The ManicaPost
Evangelist Peter Madondo—
WINE was brewed from the earliest times and is associated in the Bible with the drunkenness of Noah (Genesis 9:21) which in turn led to the sinning of his son, Ham.
| The vineyard gave man one of the first sources of sugar that was needed for his health and alcohol so harmful to his health too. |
The “pure blood of the grape” (Deut 32:14) is in itself not only harmful, but also sweet and healthful. It is only after the grape sugar through the fermentation process caused by yeast or bacteria that collect onto the grape skins that is broken down to cause alcohol and carbon dioxide that the wine becomes harmful.
Fermentation is literally a decay process in which the complex sugar molecules are caused to break down into the simpler molecules of alcohol. At body temperature, sugar taken into the system is inhibited from this type of decay and instead is a prime source of energy for the body’s activities.
Alcohol on the other hand affects the body by entering the bloodstream undigested. It causes damage everywhere it goes and ultimately death occurs.
In the Old Testament, two Hebrew words: “Tirosh” and “Yayin” are both translated as wine.
The former meaning the fresh juice from the grapes and the later the fermented or decay juice.
The Greek, however, used the word “oinos” in reference to wines of both states.
This means in the New Testament the word wine can either mean fresh or decay wine.
There are numerous warnings against drinking intoxicating drinks in the Bible for example: Ephesians 5:18, a more precise translation will read: “Do not begin to be drunk with wine wherein in debauchery.”
The word “methusko” which is used here means beginning to be drunk and thus the passage becomes a clear command to refrain from alcohol.
There are further warnings against intoxicating drinks and more specifically drunkenness.
Even small amounts of alcohol bear certain measures of drunkenness and thus inhibition of alertness and judgement.
The fact that Paul permitted a medicinal use of wine to Timothy (1Timothy5:23) can definitely not contradict the whole Bible that continuously warn against it.
Jesus was always careful to use the term: ‘The fruit of the vine’ instead of wine, lest He be misunderstood to have been encouraging people to go for it and defeat the purpose of the Last Supper.
Alcohol is a product of putrefaction and decay, hence a perfect symbol of death could certainly not represent the life giving quality of the blood of Jesus symbolised by the cup on His table (Luke 21;34,12:45).
Let us look at the below mentioned situations:
Genesis 9:20-25 Noah got drunk and the result was immorality and family trouble.
Genesis 19:30-38: Lot was drunk and did not know what he was doing and immorality ensued.
Leviticus 10:9-11: God told the priest not to drink so that they will tell the difference between holy and unholy.
Numbers 6:3: The Nazarites were told not to take anything from the vines.
Deuteronomy 29:5-6: God gave nothing alcoholic during their period of wander in the wilderness.
Given the minute sample of passages mentioned above, it is only wise for one to choose to be of sober habits than entangling themselves with the antics of the devil.
Chose wisely because God said I have laid death and life ahead of you. Life needs you and you need life.
Esteemed Reader, please listen to the whispering voice for it carries the clearest and loudest message.
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