Take Me To Post Comment Form At Christ Church we celebrate the Eucharist (Communion) each and every Sunday. We also use loaves of delicious bread and tasty wine. In fact, our wine is so sweet folks sometimes don't realize it is actually 5% alcohol. So why do we use wine in the Eucharist? Following is a brief apology for the enjoyment of alcoholic beverages:

1) Melchizedek brought out bread and "yayin" (wine) for Abraham to consume (Genesis 14:18).

2) Leviticus 10:9 says a priest is not to drink "yayin" (wine) or "shatah" (intoxicating strong drink) when they come into the tent of meeting. Note that there is no prohibition on drinking alcoholic beverages outside of these duties. In fact, a special oath is to be made by the Nazrite for such an injunction.

3) Over and over again God requires good (and consumable) things be offered to him. This includes wine (Exodus 29:40, Leviticus 23:13, Numbers 15:10 are just a few). It is so good that it is a pleasing aroma to the Lord.

4) Flowing wine, even strong aged wine is a sign of the coming of the kingdom. Notice this section from Isaiah 25:6-8:

"The LORD of hosts will prepare a lavish banquet for all peoples on this mountain; A banquet of aged wine, choice pieces with marrow, And refined, aged wine. And on this mountain He will swallow up the covering which is over all peoples, Even the veil which is stretched over all nations. He will a swallow up death for all time, And the Lord GOD will wipe tears away from all faces, And He will remove the reproach of His people from all the earth; For the LORD has spoken."

5) Jesus made wine (probably the best vino ever made) and he did it while the people were already "buzzing" in John 2:10 which records the miracle of the turning of water into wine. Notice that the verb "methuo" (to make drunk) is preceded by "hoton" (whenever) and is rendered as a subjunctive aorist passive, 3rd person plural. For you non-ancient Greek users it simply means this verse is literally translated: "and when they have been made drunk." And so, Jesus not only makes more wine for those who are already beyond the sensory pale of fundamentalist orthodoxy, he is fulfilling Isaiah. This is not an apology for drunkenness but it is a very uncomfortable fact for teetotalers.

6) Jesus served wine to the apostles at the Last Supper. The "fruit of the vine" argument offers no shelter for teetotalers because the Passover occurred in March or April and the grape harvest took place in late August or September, 4 to 6 months after the Passover. The grape juice could be preserved for the Passover which would come 6 months later...as wine!

7) Every New Testament verse that speaks against the consumption of alcohol speaks of abuse not use, typically accompanied by verbs like "prosecho" or adjectives like "paroinos" which indentify addiction as the problem.

So, we see that wine is so good and that God likes it so much He has it offered in his holy sacrifices, His Son made and drank it, and his Word is filled with people enjoying it. So, I leave you with a Psalm 104:14-15:

"You cause the grass to grow for the livestock and plants for man to cultivate, that he may bring forth food from the earth and wine to gladden the heart of man, oil to make his face shine and bread to strengthen man's heart."