Let’s start with the Biblical words.  The word wine in the Bible carries both literal and figurative meaning.  In the Old Testament it was basically understood to be fermented grape juice.  It was most likely naturally fermented, but alcoholic non-the-less, as evident by Noah getting drunk from it in Genesis 9.

In the New Testament the most common word translated as wine is the Greek word oinos, which means fermented grape juice.  The fact that this word implies fermentation is accepted even by sources that oppose social drinking.  It is also the word used for Jesus’ first miracle in John 2, again evident by the mention of wedding guests becoming drunk.  There is also the Greek word sikera which is usually translated strong drink.  A Bible dictionary defines sikera as intoxicating liquor, usually made of grain, fruit, and honey.  Both oinos and sikera are used in Luke 1:15 where an angel predicted the birth of John the Baptist and commanded he abstain from all forms of alcoholic drinks.

A lot of misunderstanding and wrong teaching comes from confusion of these Biblical words.  Most who hold the teetotaler position claim these words were not referring to actual wine, the drinks were not fermented, and these words were only used because there was no suitable words to describe the drink that was actually closer to modern day grape juice.  This argument is simply inaccurate.

Why would there be a commonly used beverage with no word to describe it?  And actually, there is a Greek word for unfermented grape juice.  It’s the word truz and is used rarely in the New Testament but is not the word in any of the passages listed above.  So, if there was a word for unfermented grape juice, and the “wine” used in the Bible was not actually wine, then why was the word truz not used?  Common sense tells us this is because the wine and strong drink referred to in the Bible was actually a fermented, alcoholic drink.

That being said, how can passages such as Proverbs 31:4-6 and I Timothy 5:23, which encourage wine to be used for enjoyment and medicine, be so misunderstood?  Claiming the Bible teaches alcoholic abstinence is poor Biblical hermeneutics.

The Bible clearly condemns drunkenness in passages such as Proverbs 23:29-35 and Ephesians 5:18.  Alcoholism is even used a punishment in the books of Jeremiah and Revelations as others are “given over to” this sickness.  But a moderate use of alcohol was considered normal and even encouraged for everyday Christians in Bible times.  In Matthew 11:18-19 Jesus was even accused of being a drunkard.  Because we know Jesus was sinless and the Bible condemns drunkenness, we can believe that Jesus was never actually drunk.  It is unlikely though that Jesus’ enemies would have ever thought to accuse him of being a drunkard, or that anyone would listen to their accusation, had Jesus not at least been known to drink in moderation.

Any passages used to teach a complete avoidance of alcohol (mostly in Proverbs) are in the context of teaching for a drunkard who needs to avoid the temptation to relapse.  Other passages that give warning about alcoholism also teach about partaking of too much food, a portion of the principle left out by most who teach alcohol is sin.

Based of this information, as well as deeper personal study I have done on this issue, I have to conclude that the Bible does not condemn social drinking for those whose conscience allow them to do so.  Like our words and music, alcohol can be abused in a way that makes it wrong, but in and of itself is nothing to be condemned.  For whatever reason though, some denominations within Christianity have drifted from the Biblical position on this issue and use their new, legalistic view as a source of condemnation for others who do not abstain.  For more on this I would encourage you to read this article by Thomas Kidd that tracks the history of alcohol in relation to evangelicals and asks where this disconnect began.  And as always, please feel free to share your thoughts, whether in agreement or opposition to the position I have laid out.

Romans 10:1 The Message

I read the verse above and was hit by its practical message.  Salvation is what’s best for people!  It sounded so simple but I could not believe I had not heard or thought of it before.

As Christians, of course we want others to come to Christ.  Of course we want them to receive eternal life.  We want people to get saved because God loves them.  We want them to get saved so they will go to heaven.  We want them to become Christians because of the positive change it will make in the world.  But I had never considered that salvation is actually what’s best for people.  All people, everywhere – the best thing that could happen for and to them is salvation.

So when we share with others the story of Jesus, the testimony of our faith, and an invitation to accept Christ, this should be our attitude.  We’re not trying to talk them into a religious system that will limit their earthly life only to make up for it in the next.  Rather, we are inviting them into what’s best for them.  We’re trying to give them what they need.

Salvation provides a relationship with God, freedom from condemnation, and community with all believers.  That’s what everyone needs.  When we are able to show people this we are doing them a favor.

May we no longer fear rejection or worry that we are annoying people by sharing our faith with them.  We are simply trying to share with others what is best for them.

My defense is…………….I was wrong.

To be honest I heard a speaker say this one time and I was simply repeating what I heard inaccurately taught about this passage of Scripture.  Doing so is poor research on my part and I now realize I was wrong.

My point about the passage was that it is not a ‘fix-all’ for Christians to repeatedly quote so they can be guilt free while having unchanged behavior.  Though my application was wrong my stance on this is still the same.  The verse is not a model for repeated confession.  I feel it is often taught in a way that says we’re all going to sin, but thankfully if we just go to God and confess our sins then it’s all good.  Being able to say this verse was meant for non-Christians fit with my agenda so I put that spin on the verse.  Again, I now realize this was wrong.

However, I still do not see 1 John 1:9 as a catchall for present sin.  The verse is usually quoted out of context but the chapter of 1 John 1 very clearly has a ‘looking back’ theme.  The writer is remembering what has been given.  He is listing what the believers have done.  He uses a lot of past-tense wording.

In that context I think verse 9 is saying that if we have (or since we have) confessed God has forgiven.  The verse is not a mandate to be in continual confession as to receive continual forgiveness.  John is teaching a promise.  He is telling his readers that if (assumed) they have confessed then God has forgiven.  They do not need to wonder if they have been forgiven or fear that their sin will be held against them.  No, if they have confessed, then they have been forgiven.  That attitude is consistent with the verses immediately before and after verse nine.

In looking at this chapter closer and reading better commentary on it I have to admit I made a mistake before and I hate that it went to print that way.  My point though was to show that 1 John 1:9 is not saying Christians must continually seek forgiveness.  I was trying to say that forgiveness occurs just once.  Repentance is continuous.  You are forgiven and become a Christian.  Once you are a Christian you will realize your need to repent on a pretty regular basis.

Our motivation for this is not forgiveness though.  It’s purity.  It’s holiness.  It’s a relationship with God that cannot exist while habitual sin is present.  God has already forgiven us of that sin, but allowing it to stay in the picture keeps us from enjoying all the blessings of His forgiveness.

Pastors, if you need a pump me up Sunday tweet from perry noble to preach you did not study enough this week.

Pastors, please stop telling me every time you are going to get an email for something you said.

If you can fall from it it’s not grace.

Someone asked me today if our church plant is going to be baptist or pentecostal. Are those the only two options?

anyone notice that as sermons went from 30 to 40 minutes church attendance dropped all across America?

I have been reading through the gospels and am amazed at how many times it says, “he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

popular christian quote that is nowhere in Scripture: ‘There’s a God shaped hole in your soul that only He can fill’

Common used “Christian” saying that is not found in the Bible: ‘Love the sinner, hate the sin’

Sayings not found in the Bible: God helps those who help themselves

Interesting how people always think god speaks according to what THEIR personality is.

Every church needs a ‘get crap done’ pastor on staff.

“The church is the most segregated institution in America” -Efrem Smith We need more hip-hop churches!

A prayer of confession god will always answer -philip yancey

“It’s not about delayed-gratification, but God-satisfaction.” -@wmattevans

Unless someone is teaching another way of salvation, they are not a heretic. that word gets used way too loosely

Say what you want about joel osteen…he’s not going around criticizing other pastors, telling them they should do ministry like he does.

Some in traditional church say if u don’t agree with them you’re not saved. Some in contemporary church say if u don’t agree with them you’re stupid.

I never understood what the Bible meant when it told us to die daily to ourselves.  How do we die to ourselves?  And why daily?

I got a little insight today when at lunch with my restoration team.  We were talking about avoiding temptation and that it is an ongoing thing.  We must be at all times guarding, avoiding, and being prepared.  We must at all times be making choices not to give in to what we may be tempted to do.  If that’s constant why does the Bible say to die to ourselves daily?

At first I thought it was just a figure of speech, saying that we can’t make a once for all decision to avoid temptation.  Bu in that culture any amount or part of a day was counted as a day.  That’s why Jesus dies on a Friday, was raised on Sunday, and was said to be dead for three days.  Any part of Friday was considered one full day.  Even if He rose at 12:02am on Sunday, it would still have counted as a day.

So if we take that rule and apply it to being tempted, then to fall at any point during a day would be to have messed up for that day.  So literally, it is saying that we must deny our temptations at every moment of every day because the smallest, single wrong act means we did not die to ourselves for that whole day.