Those for and against alcohol use as a beverage for social drinking purposes will determine ones acceptance of ALCOHOL IN COMMUNION. The whole argument for ALCOHOLIC COMMUNION has been white washed by the Roman Catholic Church for the last 1,400 years by Roman Catholic Church supposed authority. Tenure or seniority really has nothing to do with determining the scriptural TRUTH that "yayin" Hebrew and the Greek equivalent "oinos" both are usually translated into English as "wine" can be NON-ALCOHOLIC, instead of always being alcoholic as claimed by those that support ALCOHOLIC COMMUNION. THE FACT is that "yayin" can be UNFERMENTED wine as well as alcoholic GRAPE JUICE. Let everything be established by two witnesses. So the clear two witnesses that "yayin" CAN BE grape juice are two prophets: Isaiah 16:10 and Jeremiah 48:33. by Dale Sabin.
Even Pharaoh preferred grape juice (Gen.40:11) to rotten, decaying alcoholic grape juice.
The unfortunate thing for us in the 21st Century is that early history made little or no written distinction between grape juice (the fruit of the vine) and fermented grape juice containing alcohol which puts the burden of proof upon context and therefore personal opinion.
It is reported in early English the word, “WINE” was used for both the pure blood of the grape undefiled (grape juice) and also for that which has began to decay, rot, and go in the direction of spoilage containing alcohol. In 1380 English the “Wyne” come from the “Vyne”. According to Webster’s 1828 we see even clearer the connection of the original word “wine” being tied to Italian, Spanish, and Russian “vino”, Latin “vinum” we begin to see the connection of VINE (Spanish vina, Latin vinea) to WINE. THEREFORE FRESH SQUEEZED GRAPES WERE SPOKEN AND WRITTEN TO PRODUCE, “WINE”, “yayin” Hebrew, “oinos” Greek, all UNFERMENTED.
Their clear wording for “grape juice” was worded “fruit of the vine” in the New Testament.
We are quickly reminded of 1 Timothy 5:23 by those that endorse or encourage ALCOHOL use, if only for COMMUNION or medical use. However anyone who has had stomach trouble knows that one thing you stay away from is ALCOHOL in any form, because it upsets a sensitive stomach. The Medical Profession states that grape juice unfermented is MORE beneficial for stomach aliments than ALCOHOL in grape juice.
In Webster’s 1828 Dictionary we begin understanding the confusion of terms we use today and what they mean. STRONG-WATER: is Distilled or Ardent (alcoholic) spirit. SPIRIT: definition #18 is strong, pungent, or stimulating liquor usually obtained by distillation . . . But the word LIQUOR in 1828 was a word of general signification, extending to water, milk, blood, sap, juice, etc. . . to include decoctions, solutions, and tinctures. DECOCTIONS definition #1 The act of boiling a substance in water for extracting its virtues #2 The liquor in which a substance has been boiled.
For those of us that have a little understanding of alcohol, we know that if it is boiled, you end up with NO alcohol in the solution.
So when we read Strong’s Concordance wrote in the 1800’s and see the word, LIQUOR used, it does not automatically denote high alcoholic content (though that could be the case); it could also be the case that LIQUOR denotes a very strong high sugar content solution which might have been derived by boiling down sap, juice, or a mixture of fluids to obtain a NON-ALCOHOLIC LIQUOR, i.e. strong drink.
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First, Let it be assumed there are wise and noble men on each side of the ALCOHOL as a beverage argument. Now some ALCOHOLIC COMMUNION folks are going to say that they NEVER endorse ALCOHOLIC beverages, other than for communion. I say open your eyes, because you want your cake and eat it too. The whole basis of ALCOHOLIC COMMUNION rests on making the Saviour’s first miracle INTO ALCOHOL, making the institution of PASSOVER and COMMUNION ALCOHOLIC, which altogether rests on making ALCOHOLIC SOCIAL DRINKING correct, historical, acceptable, and God endorsed.
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Secondly, This point alone makes the issue of Alcoholic Communion one of personal conscience and conviction according to Roman 14:21 and faith (on our individual conclusions) and therefore also a matter of SIN according to Romans14:23.
The argument for ALCOHOLIC COMMUNION MUST BE BASED on the acceptance and allowance for social Alcoholic Beverage drinking. I.E. ALCOHOL WINE as a regular fully acceptable beverage. It would be interesting to know of the people that prefer and practice ALCOHOLIC COMMUNION how many of them also drink ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES socially.
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Thirdly, The Rechabites is one of those illustrations that can be used as a metaphor or analogy cleverly argued both ways many times. Such as relating, “lumber” instead of to “trees” to loggers, sawmills, shipping, then lumber yard delivery. Yet the lumber is in the same ordinal “state” as it was when harvested. And there are ways to preserve unfermented NON-alcoholic WINE as well. Charcoal comes from trees as well, but is processed partial chemically changed to get a substantially different product.
But let there be no mistake in "the Rechabite illustration" that the singular verdict on WINE here if you believe it was Alcoholic is: "NO" ALCOHOL. So don’t try to turn this one around to endorse ALCOHOL. It would be out of context then.
To use the Rechabite Principle to defend Alcoholic Wine or any family tradition (5th Commandment honoring earthly father) it must be seen in the light that the Heavenly FATHER'S honor (first GREAT commandment) must CONTROL when conducting "official" church business and honor to OUR KING in HIS REMEMBERANCE ELEMENTS, which is to be FREE from Drunkenness which is produced by Alcohol.
Hence becoming a controversial topic which is the direct context of Romans 14:17, 21 & 23; 1 Corinthians 8 which the Holy Ghost, Father God, has given us. Let’s honor the Heavenly Father here and walk in 1 Cor. 13 “agape” love that is the NEW COMMANDMENT as well.
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Fourth, I hesitate to bring this up --- but this is clearly an issue of interpretation which like A) the Hebrew name TRUTH B) the head covering TRUTH and C) the word, "wine" a simple reading of most English translations with our secular American Culture will produce --- A) LORD, GOD and JESUS as the only name Acts4:12 B) LONG HAIR as a sufficient Head covering with no other custom otherwise in the majority of Christendom (in 2002 America) C) Products labeled "WINE" in 2002 America are fully acceptable as a beverage in moderation and the same thing as JESUS drank in the upper room with all his disciples and what American's believe the water was turned into by HIS first miracle... But we have no contextual drunkenness at this miracle to prove it was indeed Alcoholic Wine of the same potency labeled as "wine" in 2002 America. Such is the American Gospel that has spread too much of the world.
Or does the Historical Scriptures really teach A) the Hebrew name, YaHWeH and YaHshua (condensed form of YaHWe-shua) B) the Greek and history clearly teaches long hair as “a covering” but not THE COVERING being addressed in 1 Cor.11 and her glory of long hair should be covered by an "artificial" head covering as a symbol of submission even recognized by the angels C) Alcoholic beverages are poison (Deut.32:33) and to be avoided because our PASSOVER is unleavened, both in bread and fruit of the vine. Beware of the Leaven of the Pharisees.
The feast of unleavened, usually found in English versions as the "feast of unleavened bread." What is very unusual here is that the word, "BREAD" is not in the original language of Hebrew or in Greek. Exo.12:17, 23:15, 34:18; Lev.23:6, Num.28:17, Deut.16:16, 2Chron.8:13, 30:13&21, 35:17, Ezra 6:22, Eze. 45:21, Matt.26:17, Mark 14:1, and Luke 22:1.
When he took “the Bread” the Greek word for BREAD is the same as “bread” which ONCE contained leaven, now only having the effects of it. Just as WINE could be unfermented NON-alcoholic or the same word in some contexts is alcoholic discerned by the negative effects of it’s use, evidencing that it contains the effects of being once leavened.
So the word, Bread; shows that the word, Wine; can also be unfermented NON-alcoholic grape juice. Just as bread properly cooked kills all yeast so we just have the end product produced by a yeast action. We do not justify light bread produced through use of yeast in PASSOVER or Communion.
Therefore to remain unleavened, likewise we should not accept a liquid that bares the results and use of yeast that produced the alcohol. It must be rejected as a once leavened product, though it contains no leaven at this time.
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Fifthly, This brings us to the "situational ethics" of man's reason (but this is where we are at) I refer you to YaHshua's prayer, "thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven." Does YaHWeH make ALCOHOL directly in the fruit of the vine in heaven or earth? NO
"Fruit of the Vine" Mat.26:29, Mark14:25, and Luke 22:18 should and must be considered by honest people as NOT alcoholic.
John gives us the analogy of the "grape juice" being HIS BLOOD (NOTE: sinless, uncontaminated CLEAN royal Blood --- Kings not to drink alcohol) John 15:4 shows the true VINE of which we are to abide in --- the grapes on this true VINE are NOT Alcoholic. They are not spoiled, rotten, or decaying.
Sixth, ALCOHOL is evil, ALCOHOL represents evil, and ALCOHOL produces evil, represents a LEAVEN produced product (forbidden during Passover in which communion was instituted from a part of the ceremony). Therefore to link the evil effects of ALCOHOL to the beverage containing it is correct.
I realize the current Jews use ALCOHOLIC WINE for Passover, Kosher 11% ALCOHOL I have been told. This doesn’t mean MESSIAH did and if it were cut with warm water by a 2 to 20 parts of warm water added per part of Alcoholic grape juice a few hours prior to serving (as many scholar say was done) – the alcoholic content would be evaporated or diluted to a point that excessive drinking would NOT produce drunkenness.
When we contrast this to modern day distilled commercially produced Mogen David fortified Wine containing up to 20 per cent Alcohol we could easily compare this to STRONG DRINK in the Bible which was clearly forbidden to Kings and Priests.
But the defenders of this poison then tell us that sex can be good and bad also. The largest connection of alcohol to sex is all bad. He that forms the questions CONTROLS the conclusions to a degree. Here God’s creation of sex for marriage in holiness is attempted to be used to condone ALCOHOL USE. But Alcohol use increases sexual sins (which can easily be documented by scripture), not the holiness of marriage, so who is fooling who?
The clear fact ignored is God created sex to be used as God created it ONLY in ONE FLESH, man concocted sexual perversions of man’s invention. Likewise God created grapes that immediately make good wine unfermented (grape juice) NON-alcoholic that can be preserved also by man's ingenuity or perverted spoiled rotten and decaying made into a concoction made by man’s invention. ALCOHOL that is almost all the time connected with crime and breaking God's laws even in sexual perversion, remember Lot. Alcohol is not to be defended as beneficial and wholesome.
Man's perversion therefore produces more perversion that the devil delights in. Teenage fornication is a major ally connected to ALCOHOL use.
Holy Matrimony, Christ and HIS church, is connected to the "fruit of the vine" before man concocts it over time of rot and decay through fermentation to contain the poison of ALCOHOL. Deut. 32:33 “Their wine is the poison of dragons…”
Compared to the sweetness of the pure blood of the grape: Mat.26:29, Mark 14:25, Luke 22:18.
We are in the days that evil is called GOOD and good is called EVIL. Is the general consumption of ALCOHOL Good or Evil? You must be the judge. We don't condone the use of hard drugs just because we might be given some in a hospital or by our doctor if we are very sick where a controlled use COULD BE beneficial.
Social ALCOHOL drinkers (i.e. communicants) must believe God will provide ALCOHOLIC WINE for us in HEAVEN that is HOLY--- Think about it.
Finally to answer the ridiculous argument of all "fruit of the vine" contains some alcoholic content even if though a very, very, very small amount. The answer is there are many poisons in the world other than alcohol... Likewise some of these are contained in public drinking water in a content even if though a very, very, very small amount. This does not "label" the public drinking water as "Poison" nor does it give any ill effects regardless of the quantity consumed. Such is the case with "the fruit of the vine" grape juice in the kingdom of God. God will not tempt man with sin? (James 1:13) We should be very careful ESPECIALLY WHEN WE ARE IN ANY LEADERSHIP POSITION (family or church) that would FORCE or encourage the family of God to put alcohol to the lips of our children in the name of our Saviour. “lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil”
The evils of alcohol. ALCOHOL and the love of it or its effects have killed both users and those that come in contact with the actions of alcohol users. Auto Accidents, murders, home wreckers, deprive children of food, cause divorce, lost of businesses, reputation, fights, and all kinds of crime, loss of control of ones right mind and will, physical disease and personal death. All brought on by someone’s taste for another drink, another high, or another party. Shall we introduce our children to such a “spirit” or warn them of the dangers so deceptive in the look, smell, and taste of alcohol in any beverage containing enough to cause intoxication with ample quantity drunk.
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Sixth, Churches condoning the consumption of ALCOHOL. Here is the tradition of men and time has shown the results of an "official" church stand for ALCOHOLIC COMMUNION. The Roman Catholic Church first condoned alcoholic communion around 587 A.D. So we have a 1,400-year-old tradition of men. Before this time the churches didn’t condone alcoholic communion. 1 Corinthians chapter 11 is many times used to condone controlled alcohol use (I used to do it myself, before I really studies it out) BUT this is the conclusion of the alcoholic drunkenness in 1 Cor. 11, 1Cor.11:20 “When ye come together therefore into one place, this is NOT to eat the Lord’s Supper.” Let's examine the fruit this doctrine of alcoholic communion has produced over the years.
The majority of Roman Catholics are ALCOHOLIC drinkers both religiously and socially. It is estimated by one raised in a Roman Catholic home that 50% get drunk at least once a year. After all ALCOHOL is OK, and I can control it. Any alcoholic communicant will tell you that, or we automatically know they are a drunk.
Will and can your children handle and control it? Did Job wonder that? Let's see what is being taught now. Roman Catholics promote the direct use of ALCOHOL drinking at their fellowship halls, called Knights of Columbus, their weddings, private parties, and of course during church communion. Here we see the mother of religiously condoned ALCOHOLIC COMMUNION.
Rev.17:4-6 And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup, in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication: And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Yahshua: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration."
This does not condone Alcohol as blood; it shows the symbol of excess as a “spirit” of KILLING those that are YaHshua’s.
Interesting link of sexual fornication, hate and killing the saints as her priests continue to take communion from a GOLDEN CUP - at least gold on the inside.
Do we desire to join in communion with her 1,400 year old tradition of men of ALCOHOLIC communion, as an evidence of being one of her spiritual daughters?
Historically the Roman Catholic Church is the ROOT and fermenter of ALCOHOLIC COMMUNION. It could be said, that if you partake of the tradition of Alcoholic communion your communion is with that of the Roman Catholic Church, the mother of harlots.
The Reformation produced many churches that saw the light of the ALCOHOL issue and the evils of ALCOHOLIC WINE and began practicing NON-alcoholic wine Communion with (grape juice - the fruit of the vine).
Today the Roman Catholic Church is beginning to resurge with her daughters coming home to include various practices one being Alcoholic Communion based on the American 20th Century English translations and cultural interpretations of the scripture which desire to condone social drinking as well. This is an idea produced by novices among once protestant NON-Alcoholic communicants.
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Seventh, If alcoholic wine is OK then we (the church) have nothing to say to the BEER DRINKERS in America. Buy and drink it seven days a week. Isn't it interesting that about the only thing you can't buy every day in some places in America is ALCOHOL and Fire Works. What makes buying ALCOHOL on Sunday bad if they are all sipping saints (Link) down at the local chapel on Sunday? BEER DRINKING should be fully acceptable since the alcoholic content is only about half that of alcoholic wine today. And if you didn’t know it folks the BEER DRINKING crowd is one of the most destroyed people groups, few attend church seriously, rebellious bunch that would be very pleased to know that your church endorses their use of ALCOHOL. Besides is drinking a sin? (Link) Remember their BEER is only half the strength of ALCOHOLIC WINE used in communion services.
The word, wine, is used even by the wine industry for grape juice before alcohol is present. “Winegrowers, winegrowing, winegrapes” all terms used by the Wine Institute's 2001 Vintage Press Conference out of California. Surely they speak in context of “grapes” before fermentation and without Alcohol using our current day language. Yes, they are part of the winebibber community. Manufacturers of ALCOHOLIC beverages made of the pure blood of the grape is their final intent and love as they ruin men’s lives and families for their financial gain. But don’t forget these men and their organizations acknowledge that the word, “wine” is also the fresh squeezed juice of grapes.
If you use Webster’s 1828 dictionary, look up “MUST” which contains: “New Wine; wine pressed from the grape but not fermented.” Webster references the Encyc.; as his reference for that in 1828.
An example from 1737 William Whiton's translation of Josephus' Antiquities of the Jews (published 1737), and William P. Nimmo’s Scotland publishing in 1867, and Kregel Publications editions 1960, 63, 64, 66, 67, 69, 70, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 1980, 1, 2, 3, from which this author verified that the text reveals that the term wine was also commonly used in reference to unfermented grape juice:
2. He therefore said that in his sleep he saw three clusters of grapes hanging upon three branches of a vine, large already, and ripe for gathering; and that he squeezed them into a cup which the king held in his hand and when he had strained the wine he gave it to the king to drink... Thou sayest that thou didst squeeze this wine from three clusters of grapes... (page 48)
This excerpt refers to Genesis 40:11 but does not quote it. Is Josephus giving us a little additional narrative based on Jewish writing, no doubt? The point being we have a reference from the beginning of written history, then a writing referring to it after the time of Christ by Josephus which was then translated from language to language, into English in 1737 or 1867, then 1960 when it was typeset again, then through 17 reprints up until 1983 (doubtless more reprints since then) and grape juice within the clear context is referred to as WINE without alcohol. Called WINE, not grape juice, though unfermented containing NO alcohol.
If this text was to infer 3 bottles from the winery cellar, then he would have poured a drink from a bottle, tested some himself and given it to Pharaoh. But we have the clear reference of squeezing grapes direct from the vine. Pharaoh was a man of good tastes, he desired NON-alcoholic “fruit of the vine”.
Referring to an English dictionary written in 1748 we find the following definition of wine: (this taken from the net)
1. The juice of the grape.
2. A liquor extracted from other fruits besides the grape.
3. The vapours of wine, as wine disturbs his reason.
Lingua Britannica Reformata or A New English Dictionary
Notice that the first definition makes no reference to the fermentation of the juice.
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Wine according to the Hebrew mind and culture:
Like the Greek word oinos, the Hebrew word for wine, yayin, can also refer to both fermented and unfermented wine. The Jewish Encyclopedia defines the precise meaning of yayin:
Fresh wine before fermenting was called yayin mi gat (wine of the vat). The ordinary wine was of the current vintage. The vintage of the previous year was called yayin yashan (old wine). The third year's vintage was yayin meyushshan (very old wine). (Vol. 12, p. 533)
The Jewish Encyclopedia reveals that yayin was used to refer to a variety of grape products, including the newly pressed "wine before fermenting," NON-alcoholic.
Current day again Grape Stompers are as close as Hollister, Missouri. All over America grape growing they call it winegrowing and fresh wine stomping is becoming a fad with contests of happy joyful times and hard work smashing grapes into “WINE”, better known today as unfermented grape juice. Let’s see how some of them, word it, in 2002 America:
“Please under penalty of BAD WINE! The sign outside the garage and the adjacent bucket of water aren't exactly a traditional welcome mat. But to guests of Eric Weinstein's annual wine crush in Northwest Washington, they are a familiar and welcoming sight. Inside Weinstein's tiny one-car garage, 2,000 pounds of grapes are waiting to be turned into wine. It's no coincidence that some 15 barefoot friends, colleagues and neighbors are crowded around two wooden troughs and two giant plastic tubs. Leave shoes here and wash feet” ---
Sounds like a foot washing at communion, if you think ALCOHOL comes out of those grapes that day. You don’t CRUSH alcohol to get wine and those grapes are waiting to be CRUSHED, not fermented. The art of alcohol making is an art, it just don’t happen without knowledge and design.
We should not apply the word, “gay” to the Sodomites no more than we should mentally attach “gladness, joy, or merry of wine” automatically to ALCOHOLIC content. Both thoughts condone sin and apply good to evil. We shouldn't do it.
To drink the sweet gives gladness, merriment, and joy as well; just as the party at the winepress or our current day Grape Stompers. They have fun and they do partake of the fresh crushed grape juice (wine) of their immediate labors.
Soft drinks could be labeled, strong drink, according to Bible times in my estimation. For two reasons: (1) high sugar content (2) (CO2 - a product of fermentation) a carbonated beverage.
Alcohol content of wine can be roughly predetermined by the sugar content of the unfermented wine NON alcoholic product produced by the winepress. The alcohol content will be approximately half of the sugar content. So if you have unfermented wine with a 22% sugar content, it will produce an alcoholic beverage with 11% alcohol.
Sugar is a word that means raw alcohol. When you feed sugar to yeast, it turns into fizzy gas (carbon dioxide) CO2, and a simple molecule called ethanol, or alcohol. You can buy 85% ethanol automotive fuel for cars in some states now for about $1.85 a gallon. Therefore to obtain a higher (ethanol) alcoholic content you need a higher sugar content percentage to start with to make strong drink.
Sugar, n. shoo-gar, (from net).
But the 1991 World Book Dictionary gives the root of this word
in Arabic as
“sukkar” and Persian as
“shakar” both Eastern languages kin
to Hebrew. Strongs lists, Hebrew:
“shekar” as strong drink. I believe that
with the connection of
"sugar" to alcohol and the Biblical Hebrew word,
“shekar”
for strong drink could have just as well stood for strong
"SUGAR" drink as a
strong ALCOHOLIC drink. For it takes a HIGH STRONG "SUGAR" content
drink to produce a potent alcoholic drink, or it just never happens.
The pronunciations being so similar over thousands of years of time are just too close to be coincidence. Surely you have heard people comment they couldn’t drink “such and such” because it was TOO SWEET. Yet other people crave and desire to drink extremely sweet drinks which according to mothers cause children to become hyperactive, joyful, glad and happy to drink the taste they enjoy without losing control of their selves mentally (as is done in drunkenness).
Such is the logical answer to strong drink in Deut. 14:26 instead of a contradiction in YaHWeH’s word, which forbids the same. Context controls whether it was an acceptable “shekar” being a strong SUGAR drink or an unacceptable “shekar” being a strong ALCOHOLIC drink, being of high alcoholic content to produce drunkenness if greatly enjoyed.
Soft drinks could be labeled, strong drink, according to Bible usage. High SUGAR content and a product of fermentation (CO2) a carbonated beverage. If people didn't like the combination we would all just drink cool-aid.
In Isaiah 24:9 the same word, “shekar” is said to be bitter, the result after fermentation has taken place. So the good "shekar" strong SUGAR drink and the bad or evil "shekar" is bitter alcoholic with a bite and burn when drank. See Isaiah 5:20 also. If the sacrifices were to be SWEET (not bitter) to YaHWeH, why would HE want the detesting smell of a brewery with alcohol? The aromatic smell as from a drunk’s breath in HIS temple? Versus the sweet aromatic smell of a high sugar (shekar) content put on the sacrifice. If alcohol is cooked with, the alcohol all evaporates, it's basically good for nothing.
When preaching in Jamaica my host made me his special chicken cooked in a sauce made of Pepsi Cola. Very sweet, very nice, excellent food it smelled very good (SWEET) cooking also. Void of alcohol.
Today many products are called wine both alcoholic and NON-alcoholic: sparkling wine, fortified wine, reduced alcohol wine and/or NONalcoholic WINE. These are flavoured primarily by grapes or mixing wines, even adding 24 carat gold leaf, carbon dioxide is produced also by sugar and yeast when alcohol is produced, colouring, water and spirit used in the preparation of vegetable extracts including of spice, herbs and grasses, and grape spirit to adjust ethanol (alcohol) content following dilution, provided that the addition of grape spirit does not increase the ethanol (alcohol) content of the wine product above the desired level or legal level as may be the case.
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Eighth, All religious condoners of ALCOHOLIC beverages should be willing to take their personal responsibility for opening a door to the temptation to sin A) through excess the named sin of Drunkenness B) To the sin for Christians partaking of Strong Drink 2002 wine 10-20% alcohol.
The cultural argument that our current 2002 American "wine" Kosher or not is actually what the Bible calls, "Strong Drink" by ALCOHOLIC Content.
FOOTNOTE: It only takes a 1/2 of 1 percent alcohol level in your blood stream for DEATH to result. Therefore this is no longer a preference issue but could be direct sin according to
1 Corinthians 6:10 lists drunkards among those who will not inherit the kingdom of God. "Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, NOR DRUNKARDS, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God."
Galatians 5:21 "Envyings, murders, DRUNKENNESS, revelings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have told you in time past, that THEY WHICH DO SUCH THINGS SHALL NOT INHERIT THE KINGDOM OF GOD."
Proverbs 23:19-21, "Hear thou, my son, and be wise, and guide thine heart in the way. Be not among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh: for the DRUNKARD and the glutton shall come to poverty."
And even though society tells you that drinking is fun, that people who drink are social and attractive, and that a little wine is good for your health, the Bible tells us something very different:
Proverbs 20:1 "Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise."
Isaiah 5:11, 22 "Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink; that continue until night, till wine inflame them! Woe unto them that are mighty. "
Hosea 4:11 "Whoredom and wine and new wine take away the heart."
HOW DOES GOD WANT US TO LIVE? Titus 2:11-12 tells us, "For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world.
God does not want us to even spend time with people who are drunkards. 1 Corinthians 5:11, 13 "But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such a one, no, not to eat... therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person."
Ephesians 5:18, "And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Holy Spirit."
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Ninth, The Final judgment therefore must be personal and individual by conviction and for conscience sake that directly refers to 1 Cor. 8 Romans 14:17,21,23. This cannot be done unless a church is walking in the love of the Saviour. “AGAPE” love listed in 1 Cor. 13 will demand that personal conviction and conscience must be allowed for. Remember the New Commandment that the Saviour gave us? Love each other as HE loved us. Are you willing to die for your brethren? It’s done by obeying 1 Cor. 8 and Romans 14:17,21,23.
The attached proofs of Exegesis will be disputed by those that desire to condone ALCOHOLIC COMMUNION and they MUST also condone social drinking by Exegesis or their arguments fail. They need to be reminded that they MUST condone Beer Bellies and social drinking. These proofs will be of none effects for those that desire to continue to drink ALCOHOL and have their friends join in drinking ALCOHOL with them to sooth their conscience. After all isn't a majority right? Not always. Or was a drunkenness spirit of man what possessed society to crucify CHRIST? Yet it was a spiritual drunkenness not one of overall intoxication but the two are very similar. And there well might have been men involved in the crucifixion that were physically drunk to drown their consciences from what society had hired them to do. One disciple even committed suicide that basically is the long-term effect of being an alcoholic. Alcohol is not the fruit of the gods as it is passed off by those that profit from its production.
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Conclusion: Church leaders which therefore take or use Church authority to promote, encourage, even force Alcoholic Communion MUST infer and condone social drinking of alcoholic beverages; they must be warned of the judgment that awaits them for their endorsement of alcohol.
Encouraging grown men (even men which once were ALCOHOLICS) to partake of Alcoholic communion and give ALCOHOL to their little children (which partake of communion - served by their fathers) IN THE NAME OF OUR SWEET, LOVING SAVIOUR. Note: SWEET saviour not bitter, Isaiah 5:20.
His blood that was shed was not corrupted as the juice becomes corrupted to produce alcohol. The Remembrance is of HIS uncorrupted BLOOD HE shed. HIS resurrected body is flesh and bone (devoid of blood). Blood without SIN, the Father's blood, we may drink all we want there is no limit until we are filled DRINK YE ALL OF IT. There is NO poison of death in HIS blood, it speaketh better things than that of Abel's and is still available today to wash away sin just as it was able to by faith the day it was spilt. HIS Remembrance is FRESH every time, having the SINLESS power to produce LIFE, not death. We don't partake of a dead ritual for the sake of the elements, but these are only symbols according to Hebrew understanding that the Saviour used to show the way to Heaven (not the local bar) afterwords.
Matthew 18:6 But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and [that] he were drowned in the depth of the sea. (what if one of these little ones become a drunk from this endorsement, introduction to and influence?)
Matthew 18:10 Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.
There is no child that craves ALCOHOLIC beverages. But children (even sucklings from verse Lam.2:11) do like and desire to drink the sweet wine of fresh crushed grapes, (just as Pharaoh) did drink the pure blood of the grape. Lamentations 2:12 - Children (babies) ask their mothers for "bread and wine." Children were not given intoxicating drinks.
With the several verses against strong drink (alcoholic inferred):
Leviticus 10:9 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:
Proverbs 20:1 Wine [is] a mocker, strong drink [is] raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.
Proverbs 23:31 Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, [when] it moveth itself aright.
Isaiah 28:7 But they also have erred through wine, and through strong drink are out of the way; the priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink, they are swallowed up of wine, they are out of the way through strong drink; they err in vision, they stumble [in] judgment.
Amos 2:12 But ye gave the Nazarites wine to drink; and commanded the prophets, saying, Prophesy not.
The change was from "wine...NOT fermented" -to- "juice...not yet fermented into wine." It is obvious that the Bible uses the word "wine" in both senses: of the "good" UNcorrupt wine pressed from the grape but not fermented, and of the "bad" corrupt fermented wine, which is also called the poison of dragons. (Deut.32:33) In any verse where the sense is not apparent, you should give the Bible the benefit of the doubt, and presume the use to be innocent ("good" new wine) unless proven otherwise. (Skepticism that presumes guilt is not healthy.)
"Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the -will- of the Lord is. And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;" (Eph.5:17,18)
What about loving our brother in all this?
Romans 14:15 But if thy brother be grieved with [thy] meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died.
Romans 14:16 Let not then your good be evil spoken of:
Romans 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
Romans 14:18 For he that in these things serveth Christ [is] acceptable to God, and approved of men.
Romans 14:19 Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.
Romans 14:20 For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed [are] pure; but [it is] evil for that man who eateth with offence.
Romans 14:21 [It is] good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor [any thing] whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.
Romans 14:22 Hast thou faith? have [it] to thyself before God. Happy [is] he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth.
Romans 14:23 And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because [he eateth] not of faith: for whatsoever [is] not of faith is sin.
Romans 15:1 We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.
I Corinthians 8:8 But meat commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse.
I Corinthians 8:9 But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak.
I Corinthians 8:12 But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ.
I Corinthians 8:13 Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.
Do the leaders consider themselves to be the "little ones" or those with the weak conscience or those grieved by alcohol, now walkest thou not charitably serving only alcoholic communion.
Matthew 18:6 But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and [that] he were drowned in the depth of the sea.
Mark 9:42 And whosoever shall offend one of [these] little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea.
Luke 17:2 It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.
Matthew 18:10 Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.
Matthew 18:14 Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.
Matthew 18:1 At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?
Matthew 18:2 And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,
Matthew 18:3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 18:4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 18:5 And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.
Matthew 18:6 But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and [that] he were drowned in the depth of the sea.
Matthew 18:10 Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.
Matthew 19:29 And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or
sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.
Mark 10:29 And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's,
Luke 14:26 If any [man] come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.
John 15:1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
John 15:2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every [branch] that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
John 15:3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
John 15:4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
John 15:5 I am the vine, ye [are] the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
John 15:6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast [them] into the fire, and they are burned.
John 15:7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
John 15:8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
John 15:9 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.
John 15:10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.
John 15:11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and [that] your joy might be full.
John 15:12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
John 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
Isaiah 16:10 And gladness is taken away, and joy out of the plentiful field; and in the vineyards there shall be no singing, neither shall there be shouting: the treaders shall tread out no wine in [their] presses; I have made [their vintage] shouting to cease.
Jeremiah 48:33 And joy and gladness is taken from the plentiful field, and from the land of Moab; and I have caused wine to fail from the winepresses: none shall tread with shouting; [their] shouting [shall be] no shouting.
Genesis 40:11 And Pharaoh's cup [was] in my hand: and I took the grapes, and pressed them into Pharaoh's cup, and I gave the cup into Pharaoh's hand.
Matthew 26:29 But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.
Mark 14:25 Verily I say unto you, I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, until that day that I drink it new in the kingdom of God.
Luke 22:18 For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come.
John 15:4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
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There you go my friend. As a friend I tell you the TRUTH. If I’m in error you won’t miss anything but a possible hangover since God saw fit to honor the Rechabites in their wicked day. Alcohol is a major contributor to wickedness in our present society and a made-man substance that we are able to live without quite nicely. Alcohol is something we can easily live without it is not a necessity of life especially in the USA. Don't let it be any drunken national culture to condone alcohol either.
Be wise, choose life. “The law of the wise is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.” Proverb 13:14
People will have to be their own judge in these things. And the scripture will be fulfilled, “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” Gal.6:7
This represents over two days work, it’s yours for free, think of the real value here instead of what it cost you (nothing). Some people can only appreciate something that costs them something. In this case look at the savings, only then can you appreciate the lost of life, family, and jobs of those which believed in social drinking just to get caught in a web of alcohol which ruined their life and others…
Choose life, choose wisely, and live, and let live.
Copyright 2002
D.H. Sabin
19591 Kelsay Road
Barnett, MO 65011
573-378-1917
You can see this on the web in beautiful color and see the links at:
http://www.modestapparelchristianclothinglydiaofpurpledressescustomsewing.com/is%20alcohol_in_communion%20biblical.htm
Andy Richardson gives Ten Reasons for Total Abstinence from Alcohol
The Bible Recognizes the Danger of Alcoholic Consumption
..
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