Wine and intoxicating drink is clearly forbidden and considered unclean in Leviticus 10:8-11: “And the Lord spake unto Aaron, saying, Do not drink wine nor strong drink, thou, nor thy sons, with thee, when ye go into the tabernacle of the congregation, lest ye die:  it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations:  and that ye may put difference between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean; And that ye may teach the children of Israel all the statutes which the Lord hath spoken unto them by the hand of Moses”.

Clearly drinking is on the negative and sinful side of God’s Law, and we must not allow the opinions of men to cause us to reject the truth of God’s word.  When the Lord gives us a commandment it is important that we obey.

The Apostle Paul tells us that “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” (II Tim. 3:16).

The Apostle Peter also mentions the scriptures as being inspired by God.  “for prophecy came not in old time by the will of men:  but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost” (2 Peter 1:20-21).

Now, since we have determined that all scripture both Old and New Testament are God inspired lets look at several more verses:

• Proverbs 20:1 “Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging:  and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.”

• Proverbs 23:20 “Be not among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh.”

• Proverbs 23:31 “Look not upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright.

Jesus boldly stated in John 10:11, that He was the “Good Shepherd”?  Why then would Jesus being “Good” make something bad such as spoiled, fermented, intoxicating wine.  The answer is plain and simple.  He wouldn’t.  Again, yes, Jesus turned the water into wine, but it was not the wine His scriptures so adamantly denounced.

Think about this.  Why would any believer in Christ Jesus want to cause another to stumble by endorsing drinking?

Please carefully read I Cor. 6:10; 6:19; Galatians 5:19-21, and Habakkuk 2:15.

Medicinal use is the only exception (I Timothy 5:23).  Three studies confirm our conclusions, all found in Dr. Van Impe’s book Alcohol: the Beloved Enemy: a study of wine in the Old Testament, a study of Jesus and wine, and a study of wine in the church.  Three sacred sources speak for total abstinence from intoxicants.  And as Solomon wrote, “A threefold cord is not quickly broken” (Ecclesiastes 4:12).  The book can be obtained from our ministry for a donation of $19.95.

The person who abstains from alcoholic beverages is on solid biblical ground.  This position is not popular.  Nevertheless, we are convinced it is the scriptural one.

In Dr. Van Impe’s 190 page volume on the subject, he deals with the following:

• The long night
• The love affair
• The destroyer
• Booze and your body
• Public enemy number one
• The real cost of alcohol
• Great booze fighters of the past
• Prohibition: what really happened?
• Wine in the Old Testament
• Jesus and wine
• Wine in the Church
• Better than wine
• Ending alcohol’s long night
• Confronting the enemy