On Baptists and Booze
Friday, June 23, 2006 at 09:38AM 
At the annual meeting of the Southern Baptists, the following resolution was approved. The spirit of prohibition lives on!
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Resolution No. 5
ON ALCOHOL USE IN AMERICA
WHEREAS, Years of research confirm biblical warnings that alcohol use leads to physical, mental, and emotional damage (e.g., Proverbs 23:29-35); and
WHEREAS, Alcohol use has led to countless injuries and deaths on our nation's highways; and
WHEREAS, The breakup of families and homes can be directly and indirectly attributed to alcohol use by one or more members of a family; and
WHEREAS, The use of alcohol as a recreational beverage has been shown to lead individuals down a path of addiction to alcohol and toward the use of other kinds of drugs, both legal and illegal; and
WHEREAS, There are some religious leaders who are now advocating the consumption of alcoholic beverages based on a misinterpretation of the doctrine of "our freedom in Christ"; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention meeting in Greensboro, North Carolina, June 13-14, 2006, express our total opposition to the manufacturing, advertising, distributing, and consuming of alcoholic beverages; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we urge that no one be elected to serve as a trustee or member of any entity or committee of the Southern Baptist Convention that is a user of alcoholic beverages.
RESOLVED, That we urge Southern Baptists to take an active role in supporting legislation that is intended to curb alcohol use in our communities and nation; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we urge Southern Baptists to be actively involved in educating students and adults concerning the destructive nature of alcoholic beverages; and be it finally
RESOLVED, That we commend organizations and ministries that treat alcohol-related problems from a biblical perspective and promote abstinence and encourage local churches to begin and/or support such biblically-based ministries.
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For a thoughtful and pastoral response from Justin Taylor, Click here: Between Two Worlds: The SBC Resolution on Alcohol
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Meanwhile, I went shopping for a new refrigerator. I think I found the one I want.
Any thoughts?
Reader Comments (115)
There was obviously intoxicating wine in the earliest of days, yet wine that Jesus speaks of was stored in new bottles or wineskins (Matthew 9:16-17) to preserve the concentrate and avoid any fermentation (potency). Any leakage could create fermentation and ruin both the wine and the wineskin.
What is the difference between a Presbyterian and a Baptist?
A Presbyterian will say hi to you in a liquer store.
wow, that was hard to type drunk.
I must also say that some of you beer and wine drinkers over-exaggerate with your love for alcohol. Many of you speak as though life is just not as complete without alcohol. I don't drink myself, but I also don't consider it a sin to consume small amounts. I have no desire to drink beer or wine, and rarely do I drink grape juice. Water is the beverage of choice for me. Perhaps if some of you drank more water than beer, you would not have those lovely beer bellies.
And for those concerned about their physique, there is some evidence that suggests that alcohol consumption can actually contribute to more storage of fat in the waistline and have muscle-wasting effects on thigh and gluteal muscles. Think of beer bellies and scrawny legs.
Have you tried apple juice? It's pretty good.
According to Zacharias Ursinus, your drinking has crossed the line when you wake up the next day with a hangover.
Those aren't beer bellies, they are liquid grain storage facilities. Keep that straight from now on!
I live just up the road from a small winery (it used to belong to our local congressman), and seeing how they make it is enough to make you either stop drinking altogether or drink more. I haven't figured out which yet. At least I don't drink their wine. :)
The tough thing is trying to *explain* why I don't drink. My SBC church is a teetotaling church but the arguments are lame; it's not strictly *against my religion* but then again it IS b/c I wouldn't care about that and about my witness if it weren't for my concern for my witness of Jesus. But my Japanese ain't all that yet, so I usually tell people that I really hate the taste (which I do), that it's expensive (which it is) and that I prefer the Japanese equiv of Gatorade (to get a laugh).
I do take wine with communion as the new testament church practiced this as well. So all you guys argueing that wine was like grape juice need to take a harder look at the Corthians who abused the Communion, and yeal they got drunk while being at the communion table. As Tim West would say "have a pint with the purtians."
http://oakdown.com/
KENNETH L. GENTRY JR.--God Gave Wine
Jim West--Drinking: With Calvin and Luther
I myself rarely drink--I used to drink more and enjoyed the taste--now I don't like the taste.
I may have a glass of wine every now & then if I'm not driving.
But I don't begrudge anyone a drink in moderation and maitaining self control.
If you abstain due to conscience or a drinking problem, I will respect that as well.
There are multiple passages in Scripture that warn against and condemn drunkenness – as there are as many for adultery, immorality, etc. But there are also numerous passages that speak of wine as a *gift* from God. A gift as valuable as food and water, and oil, and bread. Amazingly, not only a gift for a particular kind of taste (as some think it’s ok to drink just for the taste), but also as a gift *to make man’s heart merry!* Imagine that!
(By the way, it is comical if not sad to see people making assertions about wine in Scripture not being really wine, or not being strong, or being mixed with multiple portions of water, etc. There is absolutely no factual or historical basis for this! It is simply not true. In fact, as some have already pointed out, the context of Scripture denies it. For example, I don’t think God has given me grape juice to make my heart glad! (Except, of course when I mix some vodka and ice with it… huuummm...))
Psalm 104:14-15
14 He causes the grass to grow for the cattle, And vegetation for the labor of man, So that he may bring forth food from the earth, 15 And wine which makes man’s heart glad, So that he may make his face glisten with oil, And food which sustains man’s heart.
Ruth 3:7
7 When Boaz had eaten and drunk and his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain; and she came secretly, and uncovered his feet and lay down.
Judges 9:13
13 “But the vine said to them, ‘Shall I leave my new wine, which cheers God and men, and go to wave over the trees?’
Genesis 14:18
18 Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High,
Genesis 27:28
28 May God give you of heaven’s dew and of earth’s richness— an abundance of grain and new wine.
Deuteronomy 7:13-14
13 He will love you and bless you and increase your numbers. He will bless the fruit of your womb, the crops of your land—your grain, new wine and oil—the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks in the land that he swore to your forefathers to give you. 14 then I will send rain on your land in its season, both autumn and spring rains, so that you may gather in your grain, new wine and oil.
Proverbs 3:9-10
9 Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; 10 then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.
Song of Solomon 5:1
1 I have come into my garden, my sister, my bride; I have gathered my myrrh with my spice. I have eaten my honeycomb and my honey; I have drunk my wine and my milk. Eat, O friends, and drink; drink your fill, O lovers
Song of Solomon 7:2
2 Your navel is a rounded goblet that never lacks blended wine. Your waist is a mound of wheat encircled by lilies.
Isaiah 55:1
1 “Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost.
Hosea 2:8-9
8 She has not acknowledged that I was the one who gave her the grain, the new wine and oil, who lavished on her the silver and gold— which they used for Baal. 9 “Therefore I will take away my grain when it ripens, and my new wine when it is ready. I will take back my wool and my linen, intended to cover her nakedness.
Amos 9:14
14 I will bring back my exiled people Israel; they will rebuild the ruined cities and live in them. They will plant vineyards and drink their wine; they will make gardens and eat their fruit.
John 2:9-10
9 and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside 10 and said, “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.”
And whoever is intoxicated by it is not wise. (Proverbs 20:1)
...wine and new wine take away the understanding. (Hosea 4:11)