THE LITTLE WINE, HARMLESS, NEUTRAL,

NO EXCESS ARGUMENT

By HERB EVANS, Ltt.D.

157 PATTIES PLACE

PORTERSVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA 16051

E-Mail: herbevans@juno.com

I sought in mine heart to GIVE MY SELF UNTO WINE . . . and to lay hold on FOLLY . . . -- Eccl. 2:3

A bishop then must be blameless . . . GIVEN TO hospitality . . . NOT GIVEN TO WINE . . . deacons . . . NOT GIVEN TO MUCH WINE . . . -- 1 Tim. 3:2, 3, 8

For a bishop must be . . . NOT GIVEN TO WINE . . . NOT GIVEN TO FILTHY LUCRE . . . The aged women likewise . . . NOT GIVEN MUCH WINE . . . -- Titus 1:7; 2:3

Drink no longer water, but use A LITTLE WINE for thy stomach's sake and thine often infirmities. -- 1 Tim. 5:23 (Luke 10:34)

The wino’s "not given to much wine" argument views Titus 2:3, as allowing a "little" wine (versus “not much wine”) as that which is forbidden, often citing the advice to Timothy as support for such an implied "assumption."

We would be happy to accommodate such a distinction, if its devotees would allow the "MUCH wine" to mean alcoholic wine and the "LITTLE wine" to mean non-alcoholic wine.

They, of course, would not accept such a proposition. Still, a little TOXIC wine is not good for the "stomach,” let alone a chemotherapy for the stomach’s infirmities, whereas grape juice or fruit juice is beneficial to the stomach and to the health in general.

The phrase "GIVEN TO" needs to be examined in its context. Still, is being "given to" (enslaved or addicted to) a little wine any better than being "given to much wine.” After all, the context of Titus 1 and 2, prohibits both phrases, being “given to wine” and “given to much wine.” Also being "given to filthy lucre” is also prohibited. Is it that much different to be addicted to filthy lucre than it is to be addicted to alcohol?

Shall we reason that it is permissible to be "given to" a LITTLE filthy lucre? Moreover, are bishops not allowed any wine and deacons and aged women allowed a LITTLE snort once in a while? Then, what does the word "LIKEWISE" mean?

Athens was GIVEN WHOLLY TO IDOLATRY (much idolatry) in Acts 17:16, and Paul did not, from this passage, seem to give Athenians permission to be given to a "LITTLE" idolatry. Solomon mentioned those GIVEN TO WICKEDNESS (Eccl. 8:8), and Jeremiah said some things about those GIVEN TO COVETOUSNESS (Jer. 6:13; 8:10), and Solomon indicated that it was FOLLY to GIVE YOURSELF TO WINE But neither seemed to advocate a LITTLE idolatry, wickedness, covetousness, or wine.

We must consider "who" is given to something. Self! It is self that gives self to such things, including lasciviousness and fornication (Eph. 4:19; Jude 1:7). On the positive side, there are things that one should be "given to" or addicted to; Timothy was told to be “given to hospitality" (1 Tim. 3:2). Still, the emphasis does not belong on the quantity of what one is given to but on the quantity of one’s self that is given to it.

Wine Harmless/Neutral Except in Excess Argument

And be not drunk with wine, wherein is EXCESS . . . -- Eph. 5:18

For the time past of our life . . . when we walked in . . . EXCESS OF WINE . . . Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same EXCESS OF RIOT . . . -- 1 Pet 4:3,4

WINE is a MOCKER, STRONG DRINK is RAGING: and whosoever is DECEIVED thereby is not wise. -- Prov. 20:1

Yea also, because he transgresseth by wine, he is a proud man, neither keepeth at home, who enlargeth his desire as hell . . . -- Hab. 2:5

And they have . . . sold a girl for wine, that they might drink. -- Joel 3:3

Nor . . . drunkards . . . shall inherit the kingdom of God. -- 1 Cor. 6:10

The "no excess" advocates of wine are a bit squeamish when it comes to drinking "too much" and are usually opposed to drunkenness. Still, they are never able to tell you how much is a little or how much is too much or how much makes you drunk. Even drinkers have not solved this problem. If ten drinks make you drunk, five drinks makes you half drunk, and two drinks make you one fifth drunk. Wine gradually but surely “overcomes” (Isa 28:1)!

Actually, the "excess" argument borders on the ridiculous when you consider 1 Peter 4:3, 4. Would our friends be prepared to say that it is only the "excess of riot” that the scriptures speak against? And is a little riot acceptable? A little of anything that mocks, enrages, deceives, and causes one to sell a girl for wine, enlarge one's desire as hell by practicing his transgression, to cause one to miss heaven is neither harmless nor acceptable.

Is alcohol, in moderation, any more harmful than coffee, cigarettes, or even cola? Are total abstainers to be put in the same category as the Mormons, who abstain from all of the above stimulants?

This would be a reasonable objection, if it were not for the fact that alcohol not only poisons and sickens the body (Isa. 28:8; Hosea 7:5), but it also poisons and sickens the mind and soul and the morals.

Coffee, cigarettes, and cola will not poison both body, soul, and spirit nor cause a man to miss the kingdom of God. Coffee is neither a mocker nor raging (Pro. 20:1), and it will not deceive you nor cause folk to engage in immoral thoughts or behavior (Pro. 23:33). Is Alcohol neutral? Never! 