Faith Baptist Church

Alcohol Guidelines

Pastor L.R Minnaar - Why we will not partake of alcohol

Although we see the likes of Melshezadek, Jobs sons, Solomon giving away Alcohol in lieu of payment to King Haran,and God accepts offerings of wine. The priests and Levites were commanded not to partake of alcohol, I believe the call of God to holiness, is a call of purity and absence of alcohol. It is a sin and a stumbling block to offer and partake in alcohol. We will see that the evidence for abstaning from alcohol far outweighs the evidence of moderation. To understand it all we need to do a little word study:We will find several words in the bible that seem to infer alcoholic beverages as we know it today. Yet we need to understand that our dictionary of today and that of 1611 differ completely in many areas. A. Strong drink 1. [Heb. 7941] shekar (shay-kawr)From 7937; an intoxicant, i.e. intensely alcoholic liquor:strong drink, + drunkard, strong wine. 2. Grk. 4608] sikera (sik-er-ah) Lk 1:15 Strong drink of Hebrew origin (7941); an intoxicant, i.e. intensely fermented liquor:strong drink. B. Wine [Heb. 8492] tiyrowsh (tee-roshe) 2 kings 18.32 Jg 9:13or tiyrosh {tee-roshe}; from 3423 in the sense of expulsion; must or fresh grape-juice (as just squeezed out); by implication (rarely) fermented wine:(new, sweet) wine. Grape juice is rendered as wine 2 kings 18.32 Jg 9:13 [Grk. 3631] oinos (oy-nos) Lk 1:15 Wine a primary word (or perhaps of Hebrew origin (3196)); wine (literally or figuratively): wine. [Heb. 3196] yayin (yah-yin) Le 10:9 from an unused root meaning to effervesce; wine (as fermented); by implication, intoxication:banqueting, wine, wine(-bibber). 2.David is implied to give out wine (the word wine is inserted 2sam 6.19 (flagon .of wine) [Heb. 809] ashiyshah (ash-ee-shaw) C. Flagon 1.Feminine of 808; something closely pressed together, i.e. a cake of raisins or other comfits:flagon. 2.David is implied to give out wine (the word wine is inserted 2sam 6.19 (flagon .of wine) [Heb. 809] ashiyshah (ash-ee-shaw) D. Fruit of the vine Fruit [Grk. 1081] gennema (ghen-nay-mah) from 1080; offspring; by analogy, produce (literally or figuratively):fruit, generation. Vine [Grk. 288] ampelos (am-pel-os) probably from the base of 297 and that of 257; a vine (as coiling about a support):vine.

General commentaries - In regards to the various aspects or dangers of alcohol A. Alcohol: 1.Causes violence 2.Is deceptive, a partaker is not wise 3.Does not make you rich 4.Is not fitting for a ruler to drink 5.Is only for the weak of Character 6.Is folly for the partaker 7.Is becomes bitter to the drinker 8.Is for those who wish to perish B. To partake1.Is to err in judgement 2.Is stupidity 3.Is foolishness 4.Takes away ones heart 5.Is not wise 6.Is to anger God C. Warnings against 1.Commanded not to mix with drinkers 2.Alcohol drinkers 3.Priests as transgressors (they admitted that it is not holy Hag 2:1

Prov 4:17 Prov 20:1 Prov 21:17 Prov 31:4 Prov 31.6 Ecl 2: 3 Isa 24:9 Prov 31:4,6

Isa 28:7 Isa 55:1 Isa 56:12 Hos 4:11 Pro 20:1 Isa 5:11-24

Prov 23:20 Isa 5:11;22 Hab 2:5

Old Testament Times A. Aaron was commanded not to partake Lev 10:8-11 B. Priests - Commanded not to take alcohol Lev 10.9 C. Levites - Commanded not to drink alcohol Nu 6:3 D. Individuals 1.Ezekiel calls for purity from alcohol Ezek 44:21 2.Daniel states that he did not partake of alcohol Dan 10:3 3.Samsons mother did not partaking of alcohol Jg 13.7,14 4.Hannah demonstrates purity of Character by not having alcohol 1Sa 1:15 D. Israel - God purposely held back alcohol from Israel De 29:6 New Testament Times A. Christians 1. Commanded to be sober 2. Aged woman were commanded not to partake 3. Commanded not to be drunk with wine 4. Commanded not to cause others to stumble or offenced 5. John the Baptist did not partake 6. Reminded that alcohol was part of ones past 7. Abstain all appearances of evil 8. Your body is the temple of God 9. Gods call to holiness 1 Pet 4:7 Titus 2:3 Eph5:18 Ro 14:21 Lk 1:15 1 pet 4:3 Eph 5:27 1 Cor 3:19;3:16 1 Pet 1:16

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Church officials

1. Pastor commanded not to partake of wine 1 Tim 3:3 Titus 1:7 2. Deacons were also commanded not to give attention to alcohol 1 Tim 3:8 3. Timothy was allowed alcohol for medicinal purposes 1 Tim 5:23 Controversial issues A. "Christ partook of the Fruit of the vine Mt 26:29;Mark 14:25; Luke 22:18 But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Fathers kingdom. Mt 26:29 This fruit of the vine does not refer to wine or strong drink but rather grape and or grape juice B. The question is ..did Christ drink alcohol, which in turn cause his followers to sin? and or, Did he produce wine at Cana John 2:1 Without a doubt, I have no other belief than to say that Christ did not perform a miracle of producing alcohol. My logic tells me that if Christ did so, he would have caused others to sin. This leads me to believe that he miraculously produced a fine and high quality grape Juice. As it stands, the original words used ,state and imply that it was Grk. 3631] oinos (oy-nos) Lk 1:15 Wine.! However, It is good to note the historical context as well. It was not the custom of the Jews as a whole to socialize around alcohol as we do today. The custom of the day was to make merry without iniberation. "Dr S.M Isaacs,an eminent Jewish Rabbi says," In the Holy land they do not commonly use fermented wines. The best wines are preserved sweet and unfermented", In reference to to their customs at religious feasts, and including the wedding feasts, they never use any kind of feremented drinks. In their oblations and libations, both private and public, they employ the "friut of the vine" that is, fresh grapes, Fermentation to them is a symbol of corruption as in nature and science, it in itself decay and rotteness."Extracted from a presentation by C.L Clark Pastor BBC PMB. My point is - if Christ produced alcholic beverage, he would then have caused some to stumble and fall, and that would have meant that He had sinned! "Abstain from all appearance of evil." 1Th 5:22 "And he said unto them the third time, Why, what evil hath he done? I have found no cause of death in him: I will therefore chastise him, and let him go." Lu 23:22 "Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. " Eph 2:2-3