The purpose of this chapter is to discuss whether there is a need to study wine in the Bible. Some people believe that Jesus turned water into wine; therefore, all wine is good and there is no need for a study. Others say that they would never participate in wine of any sort, to be better safe than sorry, and so there is no need for study. Others still, even in the Lord’s church, say that they would not participate in wine because they feel it is wrong, but would not condemn anyone for drinking since there is no real evidence for or against it. So is there any real reason for studying wine or is one of the previous arguments sufficient?
Let’s look at some scriptures to determine if the previous mindsets are acceptable. 1 Peter 2:2 talks about new Christians need the milk of the word (a.k.a. the first principles of Christianity). Should we be content with the milk? In 1 Corinthians 3:2 and Hebrew 5:12 we are led to believe that we are to all strive for the solid food of God’s word and not be content with the milk. The previous mindsets come from people content on the understanding that they already have. The previous mindsets have no desire to move forward in God’s word but are content with the milk. Hebrew 5:13 says that if we are content with milk then we are unskilled, and a babe in Christ. Is that what we want to be the rest of our life; an unskilled babe?
Many Christians today are of the third mindset. They know what they believe but are not grounded enough in God’s word or are too afraid to tell anyone what they believe. Others, avoid the topic altogether because it is “scary” and controversial. Is this the mindset that a Christian should have? In Jeremiah 17:8 and Psalms 1:3 it says blessed is a godly person for they will be like a tree planted by the waters. It doesn’t matter what kind of trials come in life or how hard the Bible topics. We should be firm in our beliefs and know our Bibles well enough to stand fast against whatever comes at us. 1 Peter 3:15 tells us that we should always be ready to give a defense of the hope that is within us. How can we give a defense without study?
We have no excuse for not being ready. 2 Timothy 4:2 says that we are to be ready in and out of season to teach and convince. How can we convince people to do right if we ourselves do not study enough to find out the truth about wine in the Bible? If we are striving to grow and partake of the meat of God’s word then we are no longer a child as depicted in Ephesians 4:14. We have no excuse for being swayed by the world to ignore what the Bible says about wine.
By Jason Hamilton
