christian views alcohol christian views wine alcohol varied christians fruit vine central rite lord supper christian kept strict rule total contrasting types wine distinguished wine produces plots senses destroys body heart early church section consumed alcoholic common everyday life held alcohol gift god makes life leading vice bible indicates wine symbol joy strong drink mid-19th century protestant christians moved position allowing moderate use alcohol called deciding present circumstances prohibiting ordinary consumption alcohol believed sin advocated early leaders movement 19th 20th centuries followers protestant churches today positions exist christianity historic position remains common worldwide adherence largest bodies christians alcohol bible alcoholic appear bible usage poetic expression bible ambivalent alcohol considering blessing god brings potential danger abused christian views alcohol come bible says jewish christian traditions biblical languages words alcoholic dissent broad consensus words refer drinks wine daily life biblical times apparent positive negative uses bible positively example wine symbol abundance physical blessing negatively wine beer drinking cup strong wine getting drunk presented symbol god judgment wrath bible speaks wine general terms joy particularly context wine commonly drunk meals old testament prescribed use rituals celebrations gospel john recorded miracle jesus making amounts wine wedding feast jesus instituted ritual supper celebration says fruit vine new blood christians differed implications statement contrasted alcohol medicinal purposes biblical times appears context passages oral digestive aid kings priests forbidden wine times john baptist birth vows excluded wine jesus evidently years ministry depicted fact accused eating drinking paul instructs christians duty immature christians better eat meat drink wine cause brother fall today jewish priests congregation having single glass wine virtually christian traditions hold bible ordinary passages says sin uncommon times mentioned literally seventy times bible additionally consequences lot intended serve examples dangers paul later drunk wine served attempted celebrations biblical times climate land palestine bible takes place suited growing wine produced valued ancient times local consumption value trade trade egypt extensive jews wine drinking culture foundation rome vintage found tomb king archaeological evidence suggests semitic predecessors thought responsible found tomb protected animals walls manned harvest time brought joy play women children took accompanied sound music song late august september bring eaten immediately turned wine press men boys music process started hours pressing usually left collection days allow initial tumultuous stage pass wine makers soon transferred large sealed wine transported partially goat skins legs tail leaving opening neck weeks complete wine filtered larger containers sold consumption stored cellar lasting years year aging vintage called new wine aged preferred added wine order hide defects arose storage sufficient prevent expect given cellar wine ruined completely created intentionally bread uses prescribed holiday immediately followed harvest pressing alcohol christian history tradition disputed regular use wine celebration daily life virtually universal undisputed practice christianity years 19th early 20th century general sense arose christians particularly united_states came believe bible prohibited alcohol choice modern circumstances christian alcohol willingly christ opinion wine time christ decidedly positive wine world god created necessarily inherently good excessive use condemned jews emphasized joy goodness creation virtue greek philosophers advocated jews returned exile starting events drew close wine common classes ages including young important source prominent festivities people widely appreciated medicine essential provision fortress important served necessary element life wine close celebrate weddings argue wine bible cut water greatly decreasing general agreement old testament wine mixed enhance flavor properties usually water wine mixed water old testament metaphor corruption greeks cutting wine water common practice reduce improve taste time writing 2nd 1st century greeks conquered palestine custom apparently found acceptance jews carried jewish rituals times rule rome conquered palestine province average adult male citizen drank estimated quarter modern day bottle wine day beer common parts world early church fathers little reference wine rome died said seeing portion holy let things avoiding evil speaking seeking change adultery pride earliest references clear early church wine mixed water early christian treatise generally accepted late 1st century instructs christians portion wine support true prophet prophet resident poor alexandria died wrote chapter drinking adopt life flee far possible wine danger fire suggests young wine wild says christ teach affected soul best dry says taking little wine medicine pleasure day work acceptable moored reason time aren tempted encourages mixing water possible wine says wine appropriate symbol jesus blood died forbade ministers drinking church citing precedent lord said aaron wine liquor shall drink thou son thee shall enter ascend unto altar shall die true shall church sober shall die recent times israel ones wine drink died use wine things necessary food died rejected wine explained meaning water people christ blood christ better prevent drank getting drunk suspected people water disbelief expressed blood christ died said perceive scriptures kinds separate unlike sober joy producing vine poison dragons ordered virgin shall taste vine sober forbidden way touch things vine things resemble akin produces distraction mind wine died said similar things drinking church rules drinking found rule ecclesiastical order readers singers door keepers class ought enter tavern rule members clergy club drinking equivalent non drinking rules found oldest african churches bishop rule let permitted public house permitted enter tavern forbidden serve carry trade unlawful shall thing let deposed great died views marriage rejected wine called god creation substituted water wine died kept strict rule total bishop required let drink little cup wine according temperate courtesy taste willingly drank cited reason bishop rule use occasion excess given drunken john died said sharp wine drink good gregory died distinction types wine non wine produces plots senses destroys body heart wine prophet recommends died said drink thought drunken stresses adds biblical passage question useful immature christians wine emphasizes goodness god creation let wine work god work devil wine makes produces accuse god accuse madness fellow mortal virtue passed greek philosophy christian ethics cardinal virtues hand considered manifestation seven deadly sins compiled gregory great 6th century middle ages decline brought significant drop production consumption wine western central europe eastern western church particularly byzantines preserved practices medieval monks renowned finest creators beer wine allotted beer day allowed drink beer wine justified church bread water ingredients considered sin like wine monasteries increased number modern trace origins medieval monasteries died formulated monastic rules governing prefer monks wine daily staple indicates monks day found old regulation offers concession quarter half wine day sufficient special circumstances punishment repeated believes best path gift god allowing died dominican doctor catholic_church says wine sufficient salvation certain persons perfection requires dependent regard says wine unlike juice wine sweetness naturally turn wine pressed usable drinking monks universal founded initially following rule uprooted destroyed wine presses total rule soon relaxed catholic_church requires properly wine modern exception alcoholic priests catholicism spread missionaries brought wine celebrate mass catholic_church continues celebrate number early medieval saints related alcohol instance patron saint beer patron saint brewers wine merchants called patron saint wine patron saint wine place divine services celebration divine blessing bread wine wheat oil night common cup wine shared bride groom orthodox wedding service small warm wine taken faithful piece receiving holy communion serbian orthodox church wine celebration service known feast days rules consumption wine extension alcoholic fast days year orthodox celebrate patron saint workers reformation began strongly supported enjoyment wine biblical blessing annual salary geneva included seven barrels wine geneva low drinking shops abolished diminished lutheran formula concord reformed christian confessions faith explicit mention assume use wine confession faith radical sought trace rely bible assumed wine despite reputation english temperate god good gifts including wine set america brought considerable alcohol voyage gallons litres person day settled served alcohol virtually functions including regular meals colonists alcohol use based patterns community lifestyles began soon colonists safely ashore increase prominent colonial clergyman president harvard expressed common view sermon drink good creature god received abuse drink wine god devil old world attitude likewise found early methodist founder warned wine cup going drink tell poison throw away likewise non said sold murderers god directions gave methodist band societies small groups intended support living christian life required taste liquor prescribed physician methodist conference baltimore opposed determined renounce practice producing opposing american anticipated wave movement follow expanded membership rule alcohol include alcoholic century despite pressure interested parties relax rules kinds american reverted avoid buying selling drinking cases extreme necessity indicated fruit vine supper pure think wine today adopted precursor assume articles wine lord supper article given people ministers catholic practice time bishops america thomas comment article saying paul complain lay drinking wine lord supper eating drinking emphasis original strongly urged citizens lay aside use alcohol likewise listed duties methodist indicate choose water common drink use wine medicinal contexts commenting frequent highly necessary divine life later particular primitive took leading role movement 19th early 20th centuries saw alcoholic alcoholism root social tried persuade people appealed strongly methodist doctrines perfection movement midst social accompanying american revolution induced industrial revolution rise blamed major contributor increasing poverty unemployment crime temperate sentiments shared publication tract eminent physician patriot argued use ardent spirits alcohol introduced notion addiction prescribed cure prominent like picked rush theme movement action losing influence american civil war afterward movement experienced second wave spearheaded successful achieving goals founder observe america protestant christian minister movement saw passage anti drinking laws states peaked political power passage eighteenth amendment united_states_constitution established prohibition law entire country repealed amendment initially vast majority movement opposed alcohol saw making inexpensive easy espoused use alcoholic fueled emphasized personal message changed outright elimination alcohol consequently alcohol evil eyes christian practice especially holy rite lord supper use based drink wine lord supper took strong hold churches including american churches detractors thought wine given strong preference rite statements required wine lord supper example founded years death required wine juice begins naturally pressing opponents wine utilized alternate methods creating ritual drink concentrated juice boiling adding delay ordained methodist minister discovered way juice particular preservation method prepare juice lord supper methodist episcopal church father irish administered pledge million efforts little permanent effect starting americans chiefly fellow irish catholics formed local societies influence limited united societies reached members including juvenile women contingents union pursued platform moral legislative prohibition received papal pope praised union determination abolish incentive pope lauded efforts men principal christian virtues time 18th amendment consideration milwaukee denounced prohibition movement founded absolutely false principle trying undermine church sacred mystery forbade assisting movement suggested preach end catholicism largely unaffected doctrine practice movements eliminate alcohol church life retained emphasis virtue things similarly lutheran anglican churches felt pressure alter position english societies refused requirement membership position remained character non lutheran movement drew greatest strength signed platform despite scottish heritage drinking strong supporters prohibition believed justification demon drink destructive family life church stronghold organisation band hope encouraged youth sign pledge alcohol succeeded church use juice fortified wine communion assembly said common traffic moderate use source united_states_of_america general assembly generally considered conservative old school considered narrowly rejected making selling alcoholic grounds church legislative social effects resulting movement peaked early 20th century began decline afterward effects church practice primarily phenomenon american lesser extent british isles countries places practice protestant churches slower revert bodies rejecting platform retain juice wine lord supper current views today views alcohol christianity divided compare list sharing similar arguments alcohol matter law believe god requires ordinary circumstances matter believe total loving way live present circumstances groups christians fall entirely virtually entirely categories divided percent evangelical leaders world drinking alcohol incompatible good evangelical nominally christian countries incompatible asia africa muslim majority countries decidedly drinking position held roman catholics eastern orthodox accepted reformed churches accepted witnesses argues according biblical traditional witness alcohol good gift god making heart merry dangers real moderately prohibited potential abuse holds self control behavior biblical norm point reflect hebrew mindset creation good ancient eastern western churches likewise allows church leaders wine flesh requires attitude abuses good creation going says use wine cases necessity merry answers wine appropriate lord supper wine hearts men strength recruited man strengthened blood lord benefits received souls second point employs counter idea abuse met reject condemn abused women bring man misery fool need kill women pour wine dealing love feast require total drink love express moderate behavior approve voluntary cases person finds difficult drink benefit weaker brother stronger christian exercising liberty drink approve wine principle catholics orthodox require heritage sensitivity wish alcohol offer juice wine juice celebrations lord supper christians mix water wine following ancient tradition attach mystical significance practice comparison addition historical differences holds confusing christian virtues prohibition locating evil object abused heart deeds suggest positions god creation good gifts deny goes man makes evil comes says bible uses word wine communion hold wine communion dinner tables witness bible church ages adopt odds consider right approach biblical ethics doctrines sin position held evangelical protestant groups including prominent proponents include believe alcohol consumption inherently necessarily avoided circumstances generally choice require alcohol membership churches require leadership positions reasons commonly given voluntary bible warns alcohol hinder moral discretion discussed warns kings rulers forget decreed rights afflicted speak alcohol corrupt ing body substance judgment distract god life christians sensitive weaker brother christian believes sin point says primary reason don lot things including drinking wine alcoholic know believers offended christians drink beer wine liberty matter thinks consequently rift fellowship christians public statement negative consequences individuals families society believe witness persons moral character enhanced choice additionally argue drinking acceptable ancient times instance wine drinking water modern circumstances changed nature christian responsibility area argue wine biblical times weaker water common non accept claim wholly accurate conclusive invention efficient techniques led potent cheaper alcohol turn economic barrier drinking excess compared biblical times comparison historical grounds reject argument wine bible alcoholic nearly sin position point consumption food drink basis judging person standing god paul approach abuses food drink food drink destroyed god temple injured faith taught principle love determine application regulations matters food drink reject position circumstances christians feel free drink pleasure alcohol inherently dangerous necessity life good living going far cause liquor problem position experienced general reduction support days movement advocates instead groups adopting positions include seventh day group resolved churches urged moral support prohibition cause liberal financial support dry organizations stand united action people liquor traffic wish man law open families brought ruin beer shops enemies home sooner licenses taken away better founder saw alcohol evil safe drink inconsistent drink time seeking help founder said similar things little alcohol drinking provides opening cruel deception billy sunday said said liquor traffic influence individual family politics business touch old world hold bible alcohol altogether arguing alleged medicinal use wine reference juice argue words alcoholic bible refer non alcoholic versions juice reason context determine meaning required passages viewed negatively understand mean alcoholic drinks viewed positively understand mean non alcoholic drinks accuse bible exhibiting bias favor alcohol meaning original texts largest body day saint movement teaches god spoken use base teaching word wisdom section doctrine canon recommends ordinary use alcohol makes exception use wine similar rite church uses water instead wine word wisdom advice wise living considered binding church members christians claimed wine jesus created john drank supper non alcoholic juice greek word account wedding feast describe alcohol
Christian views on alcohol