Texts which Discountenance the Use of Wine and Fermented Liquors

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · May 3, 1877

Texts which Discountenance the Use of Wine and Fermented Liquors.

AS ALREADY remarked, having shown that two kinds of wine are recognized in the Bible, one of which was wholesome, the other harmful—though often referred to by the same terms—it is most reasonable to suppose that when wine is spoken of in terms of commendation, that which was wholesome is referred to; and when the opposite terms are employed, the contrary kind of wine is meant. This principle should be borne in mind in considering the following scriptures, which are a few of those which condemn the use of wine and strong drink:—

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

No language could better describe the real character of wine and strong drink than the words of the wise man. “Wine is a mocker,” or in other words, a deceiver. It deludes the drinker with the fancy that it does him good, while it is all the time sapping his life and leading him to certain ruin.

“Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning that they may follow strong drink; that continue until night, till wine inflame them.” Isa. 5:11.

There is no solace here for the drunkard. In addition to the immediate ills which he brings upon himself by his revelings, the Almighty has pronounced a woe upon him.

“For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty.” Prov. 23: 21.

Every one has seen the truth of this scripture repeatedly exemplified in the downward career of the drinker, who sinks from bad to worse, squanders his property, and not infrequently dies at last in the poor house or on the public highway.

“Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes? They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to drink mixed wine.” Prov. 23: 29, 30.

The truthful picture which inspiration has here drawn of the real experience of the drunkard is in strong contrast with the glowing descriptions of delightful exhilaration and pleasurable sensations which the tempter gives as the effects of alcohol. No one will dispute the accuracy of the inspired Word who has carefully observed the effects of wine.

“Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his color in the cup, when it moveth itself aright. At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder.” Prov. 23: 31, 32.

The wise man here gives a very precise description of fermented wine, and then admonishes us that we should not even look upon it, much less taste it. Surely, this is countenancing the most rigid total abstinence. How can moderate drinkers who believe in the divine origin of the Bible, continue to indulge in even the mildest fermented liquor, in the face of this admonition!

“But judge this rather, that no man put a stumbling-block or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way,” Rom. 14: 13.

This text does not mention wine, but it is a very powerful rebuke to those moderate drinkers who maintain that it is only the excess of wine that is harmful, and that so long as they indulge moderately, no one has the right to question the propriety of their course. Some persons may possess sufficient will power to enable them to continue a course of moderate tippling for many years; but their example in using wine will lead to perdition many less resolute persons who have likewise begun as moderate drinkers, but, lacking power to control the appetite for drink, end their career in drunkard’s graves. The Bible makes the moderate drinker in great degree responsible for the sins and excesses of his weaker brother who fell through attempting to follow an example which he lacked the power to fully imitate.

Here are the qualities of good and bad wine contrasted:—

BAD WINE.	GOOD WINE.
Fermented.	Unfermented.
Contains alcohol.	Contains no alcohol.
Poisonous.	Wholesome.
Intoxicating.	Unintoxicating.
Produced by decay.	Produced by natural growth.
A symbol of wrath.	A symbol of blessing.
“Wine is a mocker.”	“Cheereth God and man.”
“Look not thou upon the wine when it is red.”	“Use a little wine for thy stomach’s sake.”
“Strong drink is raging.”
“Poison of dragons.”
“Cruel venom of asps.”	“Maketh the heart glad.”
“Biteth like a serpent and stingeth like an adder.”
“Woe unto him that giveth his neighbor drink, that puttest thy bottle to him.”	“And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them saying, Drink ye all of it.”