RPG Adults
LEGAL TO DRINK WINE DOES NOT MAKE IT RIGHT
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 6
Esther 1:7-8
Proverbs 23:29-35
"… we should live soberly, righteously,
and godly, in this present world."
LEGAL TO DRINK WINE DOES NOT MAKE IT RIGHT
There was free-flowing royal wine provided by the king out of his generosity. The wine served was not only plentiful but was also the finest. Anyone coud drink to his heart’s content at this feast. This would be the dream of many people today. It was an invitation by the king to drink and hence it was legal for anyone to drink as much as he liked. Nevertheless, there was a law which Ahasuerus passed which was that no one could be forced to drink or to drink more than he wished to. All his officers in charge were to ensure that this law was observed and everyone respected it.
Well, it would mean that there would not be "yum seng" shoutings like at many Chinese wedding dinners. "Yum seng" means to finish the drink, i.e. it is a "bottoms-up" toast. Have we not often seen how some people love to insist, force, and challenge others to drink, just to get them drunk? Just because it may be legal to drink in your country, company event, school graduation, etc, does it make it right for the Christian to drink alcoholic wine?
Should Christians drink alcoholic beverages in the first place? There are many different words in Hebrew and Greek which are translated as "wine" in English. The meaning of "wine" in the Bible can range from grape or fruit juice, to water mixed with low alcoholic content for sterilizing purposes, to intoxicating alcoholic wine. Without such a proper understanding, we may think that God is contradicting Himself because He prohibits drinking "wine" and yet allows drinking "wine." When God prohibits (eg. Prov 31:4-5), it refers to intoxicating alcoholic beverages; and where He allows (eg. John 2:1-11), it would be grape juice or water with a very low alcoholic content added for sanitizing purpose (1 Tim 5:23). The context informs us. Jesus turned water into the best fresh grape juice, not into fermented intoxicating wine.
THOUGHT: How should I respond when I am offered liquor?
PRAYER: Lord, help me to be able to explain the right understanding of wine in the Bible.
Posted in Adult RPG
Esther 1:7-8
Proverbs 23:29-35
"… we should live soberly, righteously,
and godly, in this present world."
LEGAL TO DRINK WINE DOES NOT MAKE IT RIGHT
There was free-flowing royal wine provided by the king out of his generosity. The wine served was not only plentiful but was also the finest. Anyone coud drink to his heart’s content at this feast. This would be the dream of many people today. It was an invitation by the king to drink and hence it was legal for anyone to drink as much as he liked. Nevertheless, there was a law which Ahasuerus passed which was that no one could be forced to drink or to drink more than he wished to. All his officers in charge were to ensure that this law was observed and everyone respected it.
Well, it would mean that there would not be "yum seng" shoutings like at many Chinese wedding dinners. "Yum seng" means to finish the drink, i.e. it is a "bottoms-up" toast. Have we not often seen how some people love to insist, force, and challenge others to drink, just to get them drunk? Just because it may be legal to drink in your country, company event, school graduation, etc, does it make it right for the Christian to drink alcoholic wine?
Should Christians drink alcoholic beverages in the first place? There are many different words in Hebrew and Greek which are translated as "wine" in English. The meaning of "wine" in the Bible can range from grape or fruit juice, to water mixed with low alcoholic content for sterilizing purposes, to intoxicating alcoholic wine. Without such a proper understanding, we may think that God is contradicting Himself because He prohibits drinking "wine" and yet allows drinking "wine." When God prohibits (eg. Prov 31:4-5), it refers to intoxicating alcoholic beverages; and where He allows (eg. John 2:1-11), it would be grape juice or water with a very low alcoholic content added for sanitizing purpose (1 Tim 5:23). The context informs us. Jesus turned water into the best fresh grape juice, not into fermented intoxicating wine.
THOUGHT: How should I respond when I am offered liquor?
PRAYER: Lord, help me to be able to explain the right understanding of wine in the Bible.
Posted in Adult RPG