The True Gladness of Wine

The debate over whether Christians ought to consume alcohol is not only an old one but, on the Web at least, a tired one. Much of the tiredness, though, is due to an excess of passion and a shortage of precision. Quarreling has been abundant and arguing scarce. I hope to contribute a bit here to the argument rather than the quarrel.

One example of arguing rather than quarreling dates back to the spring of 2006. I gather that Bob Bixby posted a case against the use of alcoholic beverages by Christians.1 Bob Hayton responded, in part, with an essay entitled “Wine to Gladden the Heart of Man”: Thoughts on God’s Good Gift of Wine. In the essay, Bob Hayton argues not only that “God gave us wine to bring us joy,” but also that the joy He had in mind is an effect of wine’s alcohol specifically.

Speaking of Judges 9:13, Ecclesiastes 10:19, and Zechariah 10:7, Bob observes:

It should be clear that even the intoxicating nature of wine is being praised, here. Wine lifts the spirit and gladdens the heart long before it actually overtakes you and makes one drunk. Wine can be enjoyed and its effects relished without losing control and becoming drunken.

This theme runs through the eight points that form the main structure of the essay. Following the eight points, a section focuses on counterarguments related to the biblical warnings against wine and the use of weaker brother passages. Though Bob wrote the post some years ago, I became aware of it during a discussion here at SI last year and pledged to write a response sometime. Here it is.

A little perspective

Before I delve into the particulars, a bit of framing. First, I believe that the decision to use (non-medicinal) alcohol judiciously or to abstain from it completely is a matter of conscience. Believers must apply the Scriptures and be fully persuaded in their own minds (Rom. 14:5) and must not despise one another (Rom. 14:3, 10) for arriving at different conclusions.

That said, matters of conscience (or liberty) are not matters we should avoid discussing or examining carefully.2 We owe it to our Lord, ourselves, and one another to have a conscience that is as clearly and truthfully informed as possible.

So it’s in that spirit that I’m going to try to upend the argument in Bob’s essay. I have the highest regard for him and for many of those who share his views on this question.

The eight points

In support of the idea that wine is God’s gift and we should enjoy it (the effect of its alcohol in particular), the essay offers eight points with supporting Scriptures:

  1. Wine is a gift of the goodness of God (Jer. 31:12-4, Ps. 104:14-15, 1 Tim.4:1-5).
  2. Wine produces joy—it “gladdens the heart” (Judg. 9:13, Ecc. 10:19 NASB, Zech. 10:7. See also Prov. 31:6-7, Jer. 16:7-8).
  3. Wine is used in rejoicing before God (Deut. 14:22-26, Isa. 62:8-9, Deut. 12:17-19. See also use of wine in drink offerings: Ex. 29:40, Num. 15:5, 2 Chron. 31:5, Deut. 8:4).
  4. Abundance of wine is a particular blessing from God (Joel 2:24-26, 3:18; Gen. 27:28; Deut. 7:13).
  5. Having no wine was a hardship or a judgment of God (Amos 5:11, Deut. 29:2-6. See also Deut. 18:39, Mic. 6:15, Zeph. 1:13).
  6. The absence of wine results in the absence of joy (Isa. 24:7-11, Jer. 48:33, Is. 16:10).
  7. Drinking wine is singularly festive, joyful, and celebratory (Ecc. 9:7, Isa. 22:13, Job 1:13, Esther 1, 1 Chron. 12:39ff, Gen 27:25 and several others).
  8. Wine will be part of the future feasting in Christ’s kingdom (Isa. 25:6-9, Jer. 31:12-14, Matt. 26:29, Luke 22:28-30, Matt. 8:11, Luke 13:29, etc.).

Points of agreement and contention

The crux of this particular debate is really not the eight points themselves but whether they truly support the thesis. Isolated from a particular conclusion, seven of the eight points are solid and well supported by Scripture. (Point six should probably be merged with point five since the passages listed there do not indicate a cause-effect relationship.)

But the argument as a whole hinges on a particular definition of “wine” and a particular view of wine’s relationship to one of its usual ingredients (alcohol). Since the pro-wine position needs to argue that fruit of the vine without alcohol is not a suitable modern-day substitute, it must attribute the blessings of wine to alcohol specifically. The thesis, then, is effectively that alcohol is a blessing God gave us to make us glad. Most advocates of the judicious use of wine maintain that if there is no alcohol, the beverage simply isn’t wine.

This is my main point of contention: Where passages do not clearly indicate the effects of intoxication (whether slight or severe), “wine” cannot be used validly as a synonym for “alcohol.”

The old non-alcoholic wine argument

At this point, I’m sure some have got me pigeon-holed as a proponent of the old “Christian people drank non-alcoholic wine” argument. But this is not where I’m going. I believe God’s people consumed wine with alcohol on a regular basis.

But does it follow that if wine usually contained alcohol, every statement in Scripture extolling wine is also extolling alcohol? A closer look at some of the passages Bob uses in his essay suggests an answer.

But the vine said to them, “Should I cease my new wine,
Which cheers both God and men,
And go to sway over trees?” (NKJV, Judg. 9:13)

Here, the “wine” cheers both God and men. Presumably, it cheers them both in a similar way—but how would God experience the cheer that comes from the early stages of intoxication? Since God is a spirit, the cheer in this passage is evidently not directly related to any ingredient the wine contains—and doesn’t even depend on drinking it. (Arguably, we could take this as a reference to God incarnate physically enjoying wine, but it seems less strained to see the cheer here as referring to the gladness of witnessing an abundant harvest.)

Joy and gladness are taken
From the plentiful field
And from the land of Moab;
I have caused wine to fail from the winepresses;
No one will tread with joyous shouting—
Not joyous shouting! (Jer. 48:33)

Gladness is taken away,
And joy from the plentiful field;
In the vineyards there will be no singing,
Nor will there be shouting;
No treaders will tread out wine in the presses;
I have made their shouting cease. (Isa. 16:10)

Consider this: how much alcohol does the “wine” in these verses contain? Here the term refers to the product of the press at the time it comes from the press—a liquid containing no alcohol at all. This use of “wine” in reference to the not-yet-fermented fruit of the vine is not unique. In Jeremiah 40:10 and 12 “wine” is what is “gathered.” In Amos 9:13, “wine” is what the mountains are dripping with. In Haggai 2:16, “wine” is still in the vat, and in Isaiah 65:8 the substance is “wine” even while still in the cluster!

Though it’s true (as far as I can tell) that wine was nearly always consumed with alcohol in it, the evidence does not support using “wine” as a synonym for “alcohol,” nor may we treat alcohol as an essential attribute. We can’t assume that all references to “wine” say something meaningful about alcohol in particular.

The real gladness

If we accept that “wine” does not refer to alcohol specifically, or even consistently to a beverage containing alcohol, we’re free to look at the wine-and-gladness passages with more openness and to allow the context to carry more weight in understanding what each reference reveals.

What that look reveals is that most of the passages which associate wine with gladness are about the gladness of physical nourishment or refreshment, the gladness of abundant harvest or the gladness of God’s blessing in general (many of these passages associate cheer with food as well in the same context). Most of the passages that associate lack of wine with sorrow are really about famine and loss due to God’s judgment. Few of these passages are actually about wine. Nearly all refer to it in service to some larger point.

The table below classifies all of the primary texts from Bob’s essay, and most of the secondary ones as well. (Some passages could be classified under more than one heading.)

Passages associating wine with the gladness of abundant harvest or God’s blessing in general

Jeremiah 31:12-14, Deuteronomy 14:22-26, Zechariah 10:7, Judges 9:13, Isaiah 25:6-9, Isaiah 62:8-9

Passages associating wine with the gladness of nourishment or the pleasure of eating and drinking

Psalm 104:14-15, Ecclesiastes 10:19

Passages associating lack of wine with the sorrow of meager harvest or loss of God’s blessing in general (judgment)

Amos 5:11, Deuteronomy 29:2-6, Deuteronomy 28:39, Micah 6:15, Zephaniah 1:13, Isaiah 24:7-11, Jeremiah 48:33, Isaiah 16:10

Passages associating wine with gladness vaguely (specific reference to intoxicating property not clear, but possible)

Ecclesiastes 9:7, Isaiah 22:13, Song of Solomon 1:2-3, 4:10 (and others in Song of Solomon)

Passages not associating wine with gladness (mostly with other items representative of God’s provision and grace)

Exodus 29:40, Numbers 15:5, 2 Chronicles 31:5, Deuteronomy 12:17-19, Joel 2:24-26, Joel 3:18, Genesis 27:28, Deuteronomy 7:13, Matthew 26:29 (and Luke 22:17, 20), 1 Corinthians 11:21

Passages simply indicating that wine was consumed along with food, mostly on some special occasion

Job 1:13, Esther 1:7, 1 Chronicles 12:39-40, Genesis 27:25, Luke 7:33-34

Passages referring to medicinal use of wine

Proverbs 31:6-7

Passages that do not mention wine but would fit under one of the other headings if wine is assumed

1 Timothy 4:1-5, Luke 13:29, Luke 22:28-30, Matthew 8:11

Since the gladness and cheer in these passages do not depend specifically on the presence of alcohol, those who enjoy the fresh juice of the grape (or of the grapefruit, for that matter) cannot be accurately characterized as rejecting the blessing of “wine” or of missing out on the biblical gladness it brings.

Notes

1 Bixby’s post appears to be no longer available.

2 I also do not believe there is any reason that congregations may not agree together on some matters of conscience/liberty that they deem to have special importance and include these convictions as part of their membership standard.

Aaron Blumer Bio

Aaron Blumer, SharperIron’s second publisher, is a Michigan native and graduate of Bob Jones University (Greenville, SC) and Central Baptist Theological Seminary (Plymouth, MN). He and his family live in a small town in western Wisconsin, not far from where he pastored Grace Baptist Church for thirteen years. He is employed in customer service for UnitedHealth Group and teaches high school rhetoric (and sometimes logic and government) at Baldwin Christian School.

Discussion

[Shaynus] Heh. I have a police officer friend who charged and convicted a man for DUI. The culprit drink? Water. The man had just finished a marathon, then drank a lot of water at once. The effect was intoxication. Since the man was an experienced runner, he should have known it. I wish we wouldn’t focus so much on ingredients, and look at effects.
It’s not clear to me how that would change anything. Maybe you can elaborate?

Views expressed are always my own and not my employer's, my church's, my family's, my neighbors', or my pets'. The house plants have authorized me to speak for them, however, and they always agree with me.

[Shaynus] Heh. I have a police officer friend who charged and convicted a man for DUI. The culprit drink? Water. The man had just finished a marathon, then drank a lot of water at once. The effect was intoxication. Since the man was an experienced runner, he should have known it. I wish we wouldn’t focus so much on ingredients, and look at effects.
Oh yeah- and that happens nearly every day. They have water checkpoints around here during the summer because so many people drink too much water and go barreling riotously around the neighborhood. And you what the Bible says about drinking too much water…

http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys.php] http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/smiley-confused002.gif

I’m not buying the argument that alcohol is just like water or tacos or ice cream. Of course you can abuse various substances, but there is no mistaking that alcohol has properties that the Bible warns us about, and that our society understands and therefore places legal controls over it.

OK Aaron, I gotcha on your point. One quote
The view I’m asserting here is that though people nearly always drank wine with alcohol in it, attributing wine’s gladness specifically to alcohol isn’t warranted by the Scriptures involved.
I counter this with Paul’s argument about hair in 1 Cor 11. He said, “Doesn’t nature itself teach you if a man wears long hair it is a disgrace?” He didn’t give any basis for nature. He didn’t expound on nature. He just threw it out there as if we knew what he meant. There is a basic assumption. In fact, if Paul showed up on SI with that argument, some people would be blasting it as inherently weak.

So when the Scriptures describe wine, we know what wine is because…it’s wine. It’s alcoholic components are part of its constitution. Water doesn’t make the heart glad. Yes, when you’re dying of thirst, lost in the desert (and this happens to me at least once a year), then finding water would gladden your heart. Fructose can make the heart glad, but it’s not the reason people reached for the bottle. I don’t think Scripture needs to certify what wine’s qualities are for us to understand the meaning of the Scripture. But I understand your point and appreciate your position.

And I want to unabashedly say that my acceptation of alcoholic beverages as biblical doesn’t mean I think it’s ok to blur the lines between a party lifestyle, to drink a lot without getting “drunk”, and under many circumstances to drink in public.

Do a search for ‘bread’ in Scripture- it also gladdens and strengthens the heart.

So instead of worrying about the exact contents of which sort of biblical wine one finds in scripture, I’d rather look at the substance (wine, beer, apples, coffee, pork, whatever) and ask what it will do to me in this time an circumstance and amounts.

I take the “be not drunk with wine wherein is excess” as archetypal for all kinds of things that could impair me that are distortions, excesses or misuses of legitimate creation. Paul could have easily said “refrain from drinking wine because it might lead you to excess” but he didn’t. He wouldn’t have it so easy on our hearts. I can chase after improper satisfaction in bacon as much as beaujolais. I can have excess and even impairment of judgement because I’ve eaten too much, or not rested enough. A lifestyle of excess will not lead to a filling of the Spirit. People can tell themselves that “I don’t drink this, or do that, or go there” to the point that they’re blind to really think about their hearts. They shortcut to practices. I’m definitely not accusing anyone here of that, but it’s a tendency that we can all fall into.

Does that help?

A little off topic, but not much is the idea that God isn’t concerned about what we eat or drink as our hearts. Here’s an interesting take from Doug Wilson.

http://vimeo.com/12864307



Even though I feel Christians should abstain, I don’t think we can argue against the fact the “wine” referred to in “maketh the heart glad” was free of alcohol. I don’t know of people noting their happiness after drinking just grape juice. Now, there was consumption of grape juice over water out of necessity because of sanitary reasons, but I don’t think it was a celebratory event.

I do, however, feel with the negative effect of alcohol listed in the Bible, and the bain it is on world’s society today, Paul’s calls for us to not be a stumblingblock screams to us Christians when thinking about alcohol consumption. If that passage doesn’t apply here, what area would it apply?

[Barry L.] Even though I feel Christians should abstain, I don’t think we can argue against the fact the “wine” referred to in “maketh the heart glad” was free of alcohol.
I mentioned in the other thread that bread is also said to comfort the heart, strengthen the heart, be eaten with joy and gladness… why the insistence that being happy in association with wine automatically means being buzzed? One could be happy for sustenance, fruitful vines, health benefits… one does not have to be feeling the effects of alcohol to be comforted.

[Barry L.]…I don’t know of people noting their happiness after drinking just grape juice. …
Can’t speak to grape juice, but I and a plethora of others in my acquaintance note our happiness (translate: sing the praises of) a good glass of cold sweet tea on a hot summer’s day quite often. :bigsmile:

Lee

[Susan R]
[Shaynus] Heh. I have a police officer friend who charged and convicted a man for DUI. The culprit drink? Water. The man had just finished a marathon, then drank a lot of water at once. The effect was intoxication. Since the man was an experienced runner, he should have known it. I wish we wouldn’t focus so much on ingredients, and look at effects.
Oh yeah- and that happens nearly every day. They have water checkpoints around here during the summer because so many people drink too much water and go barreling riotously around the neighborhood. And you what the Bible says about drinking too much water…

http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys.php] http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/smiley-confused002.gif

I’m not buying the argument that alcohol is just like water or tacos or ice cream. Of course you can abuse various substances, but there is no mistaking that alcohol has properties that the Bible warns us about, and that our society understands and therefore places legal controls over it.
It’s not just like tacos or ice cream or water, but if one wants to tell someone that they may not ever have a glass of wine with dinner my point is that the effect of a glass of wine IS comparable to other things we commonly consume in terms of effects. We don’t move to ban or control coffee, but if we did the nation would be an absolute wreak for a few weeks. ;-)

[Susan R]
[Barry L.] Even though I feel Christians should abstain, I don’t think we can argue against the fact the “wine” referred to in “maketh the heart glad” was free of alcohol.
I mentioned in the other thread that bread is also said to comfort the heart, strengthen the heart, be eaten with joy and gladness… why the insistence that being happy in association with wine automatically means being buzzed? One could be happy for sustenance, fruitful vines, health benefits… one does not have to be feeling the effects of alcohol to be comforted.
That’s the thing Susan, there is a gladness wine can well short of being buzzed.

hope this isn’t too off-topic
[dmicah] I counter this with Paul’s argument about hair in 1 Cor 11. He said, “Doesn’t nature itself teach you if a man wears long hair it is a disgrace?” He didn’t give any basis for nature. He didn’t expound on nature. He just threw it out there as if we knew what he meant. There is a basic assumption. In fact, if Paul showed up on SI with that argument, some people would be blasting it as inherently weak.
in fact, this spawns all kinds of interesting discussion even in the scholarly realm like:
  • Martin, Troy W. (2004). “Paul’s Argument from Nature for the Veil in 1 Corinthians 11:13–15: A Testicle Instead of a Head Covering”. Journal of Biblical Literature. 123 (1): 75–84.
  • Goodacre, Mark (2011), “Does περιβόλαιоν Mean ‘Testicle’ in 1 Corinthians 11:15?”. Journal of Biblical Literature. 130 (2): 391–6.
google will reward you with various places for downloading unofficial copies of these opposing viewpoints, but the synthesis is that the argument rests on some kind of commonly accepted ancient conceptions of the function of hair and proper decorum.

I’m going to try to dial us back to my primary argument, if I may. I’m also going to try to spell this out in as clear a manner as possible.

Proposition 1: Scripture connects drunkenness with “making merry”, having “merry hearts” and “shouts of joy”.

Scriptures that illustrate this: Judges 16:25, 1 Sam. 25:36, 2 Sam. 13:28, Esther 1:10, Eccl. 2:3, Jeremiah 51:39, Zech. 10:7. Note especially 1 Sam. 25:36: “Nabal’s heart was merry within him, for he was very drunk” (emphasis added)

Proposition 2: Scripture praises wine for its ability to give joy (without any disclaimer that certain levels of enjoyment and heights of happiness are out of bounds).

Scriptures that illustrate this: Judges 9:13, Ps. 104:15, Eccl. 9:7, Eccl. 10:19, (and other references that fit in with the 8 points I originally made, see the list in Aaron’s post).

Conclusion: The nature of wine that makes it able to produce joy (i.e. the intoxicating effects of wine as a substance), is a God-ordained, good thing.

I would argue that other elements that are said to give joy (twice I believe bread is mentioned in this contect, Eccl. 9:7 and 1 Kings 21:7, other instances are “oil of gladness” and perfume or a wise son) are used in a generic way not innately tied to the nature of the substance. But with wine, its very nature makes it such that when we think of feasting and merriment - we think of wine. There’s a reason for that - again the word for feasting is literally “drinking”. The word for “banquet house” is literally “drinking house”.

I could go on and talk about many of the verses that Mike Harding listed above. I don’t disagree that drunkenness brings problems and is evil and wrong. But some of the passages adduced to illustrate that fall short. I get peeved when Hab. 2:15 is used in discussions like this saying giving your neighbor wine is a sin. The entire context is that you are giving him wine in order to get him drunk in order to then see his nakedness. That is a sin, for sure. But it illustrates the point that we have to look at the context here. Deut. 14:26 for example, is not some libation offering we pour out before God - instead we are to consume strong drink joyfully before the Lord as part of our feasting before him. Or at least that is given as one valid option among many in our celebration.

But as we are celebrating the birth of our first baby boy (he has five excited sisters), I will let this go. I’ve discussed objections and counter agruments at length in the comments on my blog for the 9 posts I’ve done on this. I also have been around the block a few times here on SI on such discussions. There are valid counter arguments. But yes, we do have to take care for weaker brothers and be fully convinced in our own minds. But the answer for taking care of weaker brothers may vary with the particulars of the situation. Enjoying a glass of wine in thankfulness to the God who made it for our good, and doing so in the privacy of my own home with no intent to get drunk and no condoning of a sinful drunken party lifestyle - that does not have to become a stumbling block to a brother. Even so, I don’t want to flaunt my liberty needlessly - that can damage others.

Striving for the unity of the faith, for the glory of God ~ Eph. 4:3, 13; Rom. 15:5-7 I blog at Fundamentally Reformed. Follow me on Twitter.

I haven’t seen anyone discuss the fact that since the 16th and 17th centuries wines are now fortified, which artificially increases their alcohol content dramatically. Natural fermentation can only yield single-digit percentages of alcohol before the beverage becomes unpalatable - unenjoyable: certainly not something to make one merry or to life the spirit. So unless those of you who approve of alcoholic oinos consumption are only drinking a shot glass full of it, you are probably drinking what God considers in excess.

Personally, I can’t imagine why a Christian would help support an industry that is responsible for the vast majority of domestic violence, automobile accidents/fatalities, and lifelong addiction problems. We can debate what we think the passages mean all day long. The simple fact is 21st century “wine” is completely different from naturally fermented “wine” and Christians should always be under the control of the Holy Spirit, not affected physiologically by any substance, whether legal or illegal.

Ashamed of Jesus! of that Friend On whom for heaven my hopes depend! It must not be! be this my shame, That I no more revere His name. -Joseph Grigg (1720-1768)

Single digits is beer. Do you exempt beer from your wine criticism? Wine simply isn’t the major cause of alcohol problems. It’s mostly the liquor.

[JNoël] I haven’t seen anyone discuss the fact that since the 16th and 17th centuries wines are now fortified, which artificially increases their alcohol content dramatically. Natural fermentation can only yield single-digit percentages of alcohol before the beverage becomes unpalatable - unenjoyable: certainly not something to make one merry or to life the spirit. So unless those of you who approve of alcoholic oinos consumption are only drinking a shot glass full of it, you are probably drinking what God considers in excess.

Personally, I can’t imagine why a Christian would help support an industry that is responsible for the vast majority of domestic violence, automobile accidents/fatalities, and lifelong addiction problems. We can debate what we think the passages mean all day long. The simple fact is 21st century “wine” is completely different from naturally fermented “wine” and Christians should always be under the control of the Holy Spirit, not affected physiologically by any substance, whether legal or illegal.
I fail to understand how this applies to this whole question. With the fermentation available to those in Bible times, they apparently were not able to make themselves merry or give life to the spirit? What about all the problems that drunkenness brought as chronicled by Mike H. in http://sharperiron.org/comment/41648#comment-41648] his comment ? The smaller digits of alcoholic content still had plenty of negative damage available.

The problem is degree not kind. Today it is easier to get drunk than it was before the 1600s. I grant that. The question is whether or not in principle, the enjoyment of drinks containing alcohol is forbidden to Christians. Is forbidding alcoholic drinks the only way to prevent us from drinking too much? Again examples of food and sex have been given above. No. We can keep limits and boundaries around our partaking of such substances. I speak from experience and my wife can attest that I’ve never been drunk. But I have enjoyed these kinds of drinks in moderation - and received the benefit of an uplifted spirit and relaxed body. God created this substance and designed it to ferment as it does. And he calls his creation good. Grapes begin the fermentation process naturally after being picked, having yeast naturally growing on them and plenty of sugar and availability of heat (as Noah’s example attests to).

This kind of response comes form those not familiar with drinking. But there is a built in safe-guard in the practice (that is obviously flaunted and ignored by the unrighteous). There is a 2 oz. sized glass for hard liquor (alcohol percentages of 20-40%), a 6 oz. glass for wine (alcohol percentages today ranging from 9-13%), and a 12 oz. mug for beer (alcohol percentages from 3.2%-7%). Each glass or cup is roughly equivalent with one another in the punch that it packs - and this will vary by body type and constitution.

All of this is to say that whatever the percentage was back then (and the data I’ve read says it was between 4 and 8% or so), it was enough to get drunk on (and thus also enough to enjoy without getting drunk on). The same applies today but there is need for more caution.

Striving for the unity of the faith, for the glory of God ~ Eph. 4:3, 13; Rom. 15:5-7 I blog at Fundamentally Reformed. Follow me on Twitter.