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WINE (juice with alcohol) & MINISTRY

 

           There is much confusion among us on the subject of wine, especially concerning when and what type to use or not to use. The Apostle Paul wrote by inspiration of the Holy Ghost; “All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.” Footnote {expedient: or, profitable} There is a power in wine or any drink that contains alcohol!

 

             However, “To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:......and also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God.” Footnote There should not be any confusion on this subject concerning its’ use in the ministry during priestly duties, but there is a time and a place for everything! For the purpose of this study, when we mention the word wine, we mean any juice with alcohol, naturally fermented or assisted by yeast and sugar and heating.

 

             By two or three witnesses let every word be established. Footnote Without the witnesses of the Pentateuch we would not have a New Covenant. To understand the administration of the new covenant we must look at the School Master for typology and then see in the new covenant how the writers administered the anti-type fulfilling the law, being very careful not to break it.

 

             We read in Leviticus and Deuteronomy Footnote that the Lord commanded the High Priest not to drink wine or strong drink during priestly duties and that the people were not given it in worship assemblies, so that they may know God and be able to rightly divide good from evil. This was to be a statute forever. This also implies that there was a time when they were allowed to drink wine!

 

             The question may be stated; “we are not under the law and we are not High Priests!” Yet the Bible states that we are now kings and priests Footnote and I dare say that we are under a much purer law requiring a higher level of consecration. Today if we lust after the opposite sex, it is adultery or fornication without committing it.

 

             In actual fact, the Nazarite Vow called for a higher level of consecration than others and they were not allowed to have wine, strong drink, kernel or husk of grain, moist grapes, vinegar or liquor of grapes during the period of the vow, however, when the time was finished the priest was allowed to drink wine. Quote! “and after that the Nazarite may drink wine.” Footnote The Apostle Paul took part of the Nazarite Vow Footnote , yet he also counseled Timothy to drink a little wine.

 

             During the formative years of preparation for the ministry there are many very intimate times with the Lord when men make vows of consecration even today and one must be careful to pay their vow. These are to be made out of Love for the Lord and not to acquire position or favor with the people.

 

             Then comes the recording in scripture of how Jesus who for the wedding made good wine which the ruler of the feast tasted; ‘the water that was made wine.’ This was good wine that men normally drink first, saving the poorer wine to the last when men have well drunk. Footnote It was served during a wedding when they where in a time to ‘enjoy the good of all his labour.’ Then there is the statement by Paul to ‘drink a little wine for thy stomachs sake.’ In both cases it was not during the administration of priestly duties.

 

             Ezekiel writes under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost in Chapter 44 that the Priests who are allowed to come into the inner court to minister to the Lord must be consecrated first with linen clothes and not drinking wine. Footnote This would certainly be inline with the statements of the Lord through Moses in Leviticus and Deuteronomy. Footnote It also implies that the drinking of wine by a priest is allowed when not ministering to the Lord or His people. Quote! “Neither shall any priest drink wine, when they enter into the inner court, vs.21”

 

             We note that in the writings of Paul Footnote during his chiefly councils to Titus he stated that a Bishop (overseer) must be blameless, “not given {it controlling you, brought under by its’ power} to wine” (1611 AV). Paul’s council to Titus was not to abstain from wine, but rather not to be ‘given to it,’ meaning the wine controlling you! This is more clearly understood when we read the words of Paul in 1 Timothy 3:3 and Titus 1:7 as written in the 1881 RV. “For the Bishop (overseer) must be blameless, as God’s steward; not self willed, not soon angry, no brawler, (i.e., not quarrelsome over wine) no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre;

 

             I will conclude my remarks concerning this subject by stating that God expects more from those that He has given much to and that wine (juice with alcohol) during communion and other church gatherings is wrong. However, during one’s leisure time when not performing the duties of the ministry, a little wine is good for thy stomach’s sake. There are some that are weak in the faith and are offended if we would drink wine in front of them. To cause one to stumble who is weak or to offend such a one causing him to fall over the drinking or not drinking of wine; Is this not a sin? Footnote

 

Meaning of words “no brawler” or “given to wine” in 1Tim. 3:3;Titus 1:7 Footnote Numbered 3943 in Strongs Dictionary; no brawler = one who sits long at his wine, given to wine, drunken: [al. Give it the secondary sense, ‘quarrelsome over wine’; hence, brawling, abusive].

 

 

 

Dr. Strome, Th.D.

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