I think it would be healthy for UBF people to ask this “blasphemous” question: What is the Scriptural attitude toward beer and wine? For example, I wonder how this verse will be handled (or even discussed) in the upcoming 1 Timothy workshop? It was missing from the diagram…

1 Timothy 5:23 “Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses.”

Scripture warns against getting drunk or having much wine.

Ephesians 5:18 “Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit,”

1 Timothy 3:8 “In the same way, deacons are to be worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain.”

I do not advocate an eat, drink and be merry attitude. I do not think we should drown our sorrows in alcohol. I am sure that we need to be aware of our brothers and sisters who struggle with addictions or have a sinful past of partying too much.

But I think some people should just chill out a bit with some alcohol! None of us is really that holy. We are not really so pure. Our righteousness is filthy rags. We can only really depend on God’s righteousness, and that does not depend on whether we drink wine occasionally.

We should not drink out of sorrow. But Scripture seems to indicate we are allowed to drink wine out of joy:

Psalm 104:14,15 “He makes grass grow for the cattle, and plants for people to cultivate— bringing forth food from the earth: 15 wine that gladdens human hearts, oil to make their faces shine, and bread that sustains their hearts.”

And we could learn from the wisdom God gave Solomon. His proverbs warn against the dangers of wine and beer, but even Solomon wrote:

Ecclesiastes 9:7 “Go, eat your food with gladness, and drink your wine with a joyful heart, for God has already approved what you do.”