John 2:1-11 — Jesus turned water into wine.
"Wine" in the Bible is wine. It is not grape juice.
These verses prove that wine in the Bible was intoxicating and alcoholic. Grape juice does not cause drunkenness.
Gen. 9:20-21 — first mention of wine; no condemnation of drinking
1Sam. 1:14 Hannah accused by Eli of being drunk. Hannah did not respond that “I don’t drink,” but “I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink.”
1Sam. 25:36-37 Nabal drunk
Job 32:19 speaks of the fermentation process
Psa. 104:15 wine making the heart of man glad, not something you could say about grape juice.
Mat.9:17 speaks of the fermentation process
Eph. 5:18 do not be drunk with wine; cannot apply to grape juice.
So it was wine that Jesus made, not grape juice. (Teetotalers would have you believe it was).
That it was alcoholic wine is deduced from the comments made about it. (v. 10)
Does this authorize us to drink wine?
The following verses are used by Norman L. Geisler to support his contention that the Bible condemns intoxicating drinks. (The reader must not conclude that drinking of intoxicating beverages is being encouraged. However, truth must always be taught, even when it disagrees with our prejudices).
Pro. 20:1 Note: this verse is cautionary, not prohibitive.
Pro. 23:31-32 Note: this must be taken in the context of the preceding two verses.
Pro. 31:6 (along with verse 7) Note: This is prescriptive rather than proscriptive.
Isa. 5:11 Note: this is descriptive of addicts. It is not a proscription.
Isa. 28:7 "they are swallowed up of wine" = wino
Isa. 56:12 Again, not a proscription, but a description of the moral degeneracy of spiritual leadership.
Mic. 2:11 This was Jewry's version of the health and wealth gospel.
Lev. 10:9 This prohibition is limited and implies it was rightful for them to drink wine and strong drink at other times.
Num. 6:2-3 This prohibition was limited to those who took the vow of a Nazarite. It also prohibits their eating grapes and raisins. If this is a blanket proscription, it would be a sin for you to eat grapes, grape leaves, and raisins.
Deu.29:6 Not only did they not drink wine but they did not eat bread. By this logic, eating bread is also forbidden. This speaks of God's miraculous provision during the past 40 years by which he sustained them with food and drink. A classic case of scripture twisting.
CONCLUSION: Not one of these passages condemns the use of wine or of strong drink.
Non-biblical reasons to not drink:
Alcohol is addictive.
Alcohol affects your thought processes, often causing you to do stupid and embarrassing things.
Alcohol affects almost every organ in the body.
Alcohol can ruin even the saintliest saint (Noah)
Alcohol does more damage than illicit drugs
Money spent on alcohol could be better used elsewhere, such as supporting missionary endeavors, and advancing kingdom work.
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