Wine -Don’t Add or Subtract
Introduction:
I’m Pete. God loves you!
The topic today: Wine
The views on this within Christianity can be varied and intense. So, what’s up?
The Approach:
We need to be honest about what the Scripture really says. We need to be careful not to add or subtract to suit our views. We see from the end of Revelation the gravity of this:
I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book. Revelation 22:18-19 (ESV)
Misguided Zeal:
For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. Romans 10:2 (ESV)
So, lets introduce some knowledge to better guide our zeal. We may have to improve our stand on the subject. This requires bravery, because we’ll need to face our errors. Are we honestly willing to do that? If so, it might create a little more unity.
Wine or Juice?:
“Biblical wine was genuinely alcoholic -fermented grape juice containing enough alcohol to intoxicate. Ancient preservation methods, linguistic evidence, countless biblical warnings about drunkenness, and the specific contexts of wine consumption (including year-round use and long-term storage) make the “grape juice theory” historically and textually unsupportable.” (From www.paulshandkerchief.com, “Was It Really Wine in the Bible, or Just Grape Juice?”.)
“How we handle this question reveals whether we’re willing to let Scripture speak on it’s own terms or reshape it to fit our preferences. The Bible’s approach to alcohol is more nuanced than either “prohibition” or “party on”…” (See that same article for details, especially Scripture involved. Scriptures involved are many, as are explanations there.)
Application:
“Understanding that biblical wine was genuinely alcoholic doesn’t mean Christians must drink alcohol -personal abstinence is a perfectly valid choice. But it does mean we should be honest about what Scripture actually says rather than retrofitting it to match our preferences.
The Bible’s nuanced approach offers wisdom for today: alcohol can be enjoyed responsibly as part of God’s provision, but it demands maturity, self-control, and awareness of its dangers. Those who’ve struggled with addiction or have family histories of alcoholism have excellent reasons to abstain entirely. Those who drink bear responsibility for doing so wisely and never causing others to stumble.
What we shouldn’t do is pretend the Bible teaches something it doesn’t. When we twist the Scripture to fit our conclusions, we lose credibility and miss the actual wisdom it offers.” (From www.paulshandkerchief.com, “Was It Really Wine in the Bible, or Just Grape Juice?”)
No Tripping!:
And so by your knowledge this weak person is destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died. Thus, sinning against your brothers and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble. 1 Corinthians 8:11-13 (ESV)
So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.
Do not, for the sake of food, destroy the work of God. Everything is indeed clean, but it is wrong for anyone to make another stumble by what he eats. It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble. The faith that you have, keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who has no reason to pass judgment on himself for what he approves. But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin. Romans 14:19-23 (ESV)
What’s Too Much?:
“There is no single “addicting” rate for wine -addiction risk depends on how much you drink, how often, and how your body and brain respond over time. However, research and clinical guidance show that daily or near-daily drinking, especially at higher-than-moderate levels, significantly increases the risk of developing alcohol use disorder (AUD).” (From Copilot Search, 5/27/2026.)
“For healthy adults, moderate wine consumption is up to 1 standard drink per day for women and up to 2 standard drinks per day for men. (MedicineNet)
One standard drink = 5 fluid ounces (148mL) of wine.
When you come together, it is not the Lord’s supper that you eat. For in eating, each one goes ahead with his own meal. One goes hungry, another gets drunk. 1 Corinthians 11:20-21 (ESV)
(Don’t be selfish and overdo to the hurt of others and yourself.)
Options:
Even today, missionaries discover that using a little wine can greatly improve their health in areas where the water and food might be contaminated. Therefore, one missionary I heard from even calls wine “the safe drink” in the area where he serves. But, for most of us, there are now hundreds of non-alcoholic safe beverages to choose from. Why not take advantage of all those choices?
(No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments.) 1 Timothy 5:23 (ESV)
“The average convenience store in the U.S. typically carries between 200 and 400 non-alcoholic beverage choices (SKUs) in its refrigerated coolers, not counting fountain and dispensed drinks.” (NACS, Google AI Overview)
Of course, one sure way of avoiding addiction to alcohol is to avoid it completely, especially “strong drink”, stronger than wine. But minute amounts of alcohol might be present after gargling, in cold medicine, in food, and in some beverages generally considered non-alcoholic. Be aware there are misguided zealots who condemn even that! So, let’s be reasonable, and use common sense.
Blessed is the one who has no reason to pass judgment on himself for what he approves. Romans 14:22 (ESV)
May God Bless You!