If it is considered wrong to drink alcohol, then why was it ok for Jesus to drink wine?

(madhatter90, look bellow for my response to your comment.

I don't know that I have actually heard an explanation for this that has the weight of doctrine, but I have heard a number of opinions on this subject. The first point was that wine as they drank it back then was not quite what we think of when we use the word. Back then, they generally didn't drink it straight. They diluted it with water (usually 3 parts water to 1 part wine). This actually worked to kill potentially harmful organism in the water. Additionally, this would have made it very difficult to actually get intoxicated on the stuff. On the other hand someone who did drink the undiluted wine and did become intoxicated was referred to as a winebibber. This is a word that had a negative connotation. I have also been told that drunkenness didn't really become a widespread societal problem until after the invention distilled spirits. These are things that others have told me and I do not have primary sources that I can cite on them. So, take them with a grain of salt.

However, there is a larger issue involved here. When you look at the things that are restricted by the Word of Wisdom (the revelation that is pertinent here), you see that all of the things that are restricted are also habit forming to addicting (choose your term). We believe that we are sent here to exercise our freedom to choose whether or not we will follow God commandments. If we allow ourselves to become addicted to some substance, whether it be nicotine, alcohol, caffeine, or whatever, then we are giving up some portion of our freedom to that substance. The only way to guarantee that one does not become addicted to one of these substances is to not use it at all.

Now, these restrictions are not absolute. There is also the belief that everything on this Earth was put here for a purpose. For example, the Word of Wisdom also tells us that tobacco was intended for use as an herb for treating bruises. (When you understand one of the affects of nicotine, then you can see how it would be good for this.) So, all of these things have legitimate uses. However, using them for "recreational" purposes is an abuse of them and is to temp addiction and the loss of freedom for nothing more than a good feeling.

********************
madhatter90, it is my understanding that the word that was translated as wine in the bible is actually quite vague in meaning. It can be used for just about anything that is made from grapes. The term could be applied to fresh grape juice, fermented grape juice, or even jelly. So, there is room for much discussion as to just what they were talking about. I suppose that it is even possible that what Jesus created and was praised for at the wedding in Cana was fresh grape juice. Maybe the guests were tired of the nasty fermented stuff. That of course is just speculation, but it is a possible interpretation based on the original text.

When Jesus changed the water into wine at the wedding at Cana, the guests said to the host (i'm paraphrasing here) "most folks bring out the good stuff at the beginning of the feast and leave the less quality stuff for the end. However, you've saved the best for last."

Jesus, when he changed the water into wine, must have done something to make the ol' vino top-notch. The Bible says nothing about dilution of wine, which is a cop-out I've heard since I was a kid that declares that Jesus didn't drink wine.

I can only assume, therefore, that Jesus gave them the high-quality because of the context-- a wedding, good times, celebration.

It is no accident that every civilized culture on the globe has discovered the art of distillation.

Mormons, no doubt, reconized the problems associated with alcohol abuse and wanted to pre-empt any believer addiction. Since there is no account of Christ imbibing in the Bible (just transforming water into wine) and Christ is the example, Mormons forbid drinking of any intoxicating beverage.

Christ's miracle, however, almost gives tacit approval to drinking within context--- good times, celebration. Don't get drunk every day before work, but feel free to enjoy yourself when the situation encourages it.

The context made it ok if Jesus DID have a sip.

It's not uncommon for some faiths to go extreme... we've seen this with pretty much every faith that has its zealots.

Jesus did not forbid the consumption of alochol, neither did his apostles. He did stress the balance necessary to abstain from overindulgance in it, just like gluttony is mentioned.

If gluttony is wrong, then does that mean we aren't to touch food? No. Drunkenness is wrong, but it doesn't mean that we aren't to touch alcohol.

We need to be responsible with everything we do. Alcohol was used to celebrate occassions in the past, and also used medicinally to ease stomach aches. But people did abuse it in the past and were held accountable for their actions.

If the Mormons have added rules that forbid drinking of any kind in their Book of Mormons... then they are exactly that, additions by their own church founder and not founded by the 66 canonized books of the bible.

the mormons are not the only religion that prohibits alcohol to their members. as a jehovah's witness i come across many religions on a reglar basis and there are other religions that say drinking alcohol is against the bible. the bible does not condemn the consumption of alcohol, as with wine, or otherwise. in the mosaic law there was no prohibition against the use of alcohol. wine was even a substance required in some of their festivities, such as the passover. the notion that this was non-alcoholic wine is absurd. this idea is propagated by religious leaders of religions that condemn the use of alcohol. the bible gives us several cases of God's serveants being intoxicated, such was the case with noah and also lot. no no one is implying that what they did was right, only what happened to them and some of the consequences. the bible though it does state that wine can put a sparkle or twinkle in your eye(a way of saying it is quite fine to enjoy a glass of wine or two), it also warns us about the way alcohol, when abused can be very harmful. this is found in proverbs 20:1 "wine is a ridiculer, intoxicating liquor is boisterous, and everyone going astray by it is not wise." so even though it is not telling us that the consumption of alcohol is wrong, it is implying to exercise great caution when ever we engage in drinking. as you mentioned if it had been wrong to drink alcohol, jesus would never have produced wine as his first miracle. the bible in the greek scriptures, (you call them the old testament) tells us that "drunkards will not inherit the kingdom of God" (1corinthians 6:9) again as you can see what the bible condemns is excess and abuse, not drinking in moderation. so enjoy your cold glass of favorite beer, wine or cocktail. as for me i personally do not drink for health reasons. science has now found out about the benefits of drinking wine for health reasons. interesting the apostle paul advised young timothy to drink a little wine for his digestive problems. for more information go to www.watchtower.org

It is not wrong to drink alcohol, but more "wrong" to get drunk and lose control of yourself to commit sins (anger, violence, rape, etc)

The common misunderstanding involving the use of the term "wine" in the Bible can be attributed to the difficulty caused by translation from one language to another. Words used in the original Bible languages of Aramaic and Greek, do not have direct translations or equivalents with those references available in the English language.

A study of the Bible in the Greek language reveals that there are 7 different meanings for the word "wine" (as translated to English) used throughout the Bible ranging from strong liquor to non-alcoholic pure grape juice, or "fruit of the vine." The Bible in the original Greek uses different words which express the (to them) obvious differences between the plain juice made from grapes, fermented grape juice, and the (then non-existent) distilled hard liquor. These different drinks, when the Bible was translated into English all fell into the word "wine."

Similarly the phrase often used in the America (mostly in the South), "I'm goin' to get a Coke," really refers to any carbonated drink sold at the store, not specifically Coca Cola.

This explanation does not mean that Christ never drank wine with alcohol only that one has to be more careful when throwing around the word "wine" in any explanation of whether or not alcohol is good for the body.

Also, in Jesus' time the dangers of alcohol that we now face didn't exist. There was no danger from drunk driving. People had very little access to "wine" in any form, as most were not rich enough to purchase it as well as distribution problems from a lack of stable transportation of goods from afar (i.e. if you didn't live VERY close to a vineyard, you wouldn't have drank much wine). Also the chemically complicated process of distilling alcohol into hard liquor was not discovered until much, much later.

So, did Christ drink "wine" (w/ alcohol)? Possibly. Is the passage misunderstood? Maybe. The fact still remains that today God has advised against the use of alcoholic beverages (as stated in the Word of Wisdom contained in the book Doctrine and Covenants). And if God advises it, being omniscient, it's probably a good idea to follow His advice.

Mormons have four books of scripture that they follow. There are the Bible, Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and Pearl of Great Price. According to the Mormons, Doctrine and Covenants is a collection of revelations from God to Joseph Smith. These revelations are considered holy writ and as applicable as anything from the Bible. Doctrine and Covenants addresses a variety of topics such as how to form and organize the church.

One particular chapter addresses how to care for your body. After Joseph Smith's wife, Emma, asked him if smoking and drinking were activities of godly men Smith said he didn't know and proceeded to pray to God for the answer. His prayers resulted in what is now referred to as the Word of Wisdom (D&C 89).

The Word of Wisdom addresses the topic of alcohol among other things. D&C 89:5-7 specifically talks about wine and strong drink. It is unclear from the text whether or not beer and ales are included; however the prophets of the church, who are believed to be true prophets who are intermediaries between God and mankind, have interpreted this to include all forms of alcohol.

Just consider the fact that if Jesus DID drink the water (instead of wine), He would probably become sick because of the bacteria that could have been in the water.

  There have been times throughout history, when God has given Man different commandments than what he had given before.  He doesn't always explain why some things change.  Sometimes we can make good guesses, and sometimes we cannot.

  A possible “out” would be to try to argue, as Heidi apparently has, that all of the wine that Jesus seemed to approve of was “new wine” fresh grape juice that had not yet fermented and formed alcohol.  I don't think this is necessarily the case, however.

  It seems to me that although there are occasional passages in the Bible that condemn drunkenness, there really isn't anything that supports a general prohibition against moderate use of alcoholic wine.  I have to say that this is very most likely a rule that God has handed down only now, in this last dispensation of time.  In his Time, Jesus probably drank alcoholic wine, in moderation, and had no trouble with his followers doing so.  In our time, this is no longer allowed.

  Why the change?  I don't really know for sure.  The best guess that I can make has to do with sanitation and health issues.  We have much better capabilities now — that Jesus' contemporaries could never have imagined — for processing, storing, and distributing water and other beverages in a manner as to assure that they are free from bacteria and viruses and other pathogens and toxins.

  In Jesus' time the very best technology for removing pathogens from water was a fruit tree or vine.  The juice from a fruit, such as a grape, was safer to drink than the water that was used to water the plant that produced the fruit.

  And if you had to store the juice for any length of time, the alcohol formed by the fermentation acted as the best disinfectant and preservative that they had available to them; preventing the growth of harmful pathogens in that juice.

  In short, in Jesus' time, it was safer to drink wine than water.  Wine was cleaner.

  Today, most of us get fresh, clean, safe drinking water from multiple taps in our homes.  And if that's not good enough for us, we have a dizzying array of commercially-prepared soft drinks, fruit juices, and other beverages available as close as the nearest supermarket or convenience store.

  For the purpose of preserving our health, it makes much more sense now than it would have made in Jesus' time, to tell us not to drink alcohol.

Jesus turned water into wine, but there are no indications that this was alcoholic wine.

In reference to Mormons, the consumption of wine in the Bible is not proved to be sinful or sinless because we don't know if it was alcoholic or not.

Because like me...Jesus appreciated fine alcoholic beverages.

This buds for you!

It's simple. Mormons believe in keeping their bodies healthy and strong. It's important not to do anything to them or ingest anything in them that impairs them. So that is why no tatoos. No alcohol because it is an addictive substance - it is a drug to some extent. Does this answer your question? Any others?

ok well im not really mormon i am episcopalian and im trying to learn more about your religion. so yea my opinion its not really wrong to drink as long as you dont abuse it. for me i am under age and the only time i have ever really drank alcohol is when my dad was around and making sure i didnt abuse it. i personally think it tasted nasty so i never really did it. so i dont really even get why mormons think drinking is bad as long as u dont abuse it.

A Balanced View
Because of the trouble alcoholic beverages can cause, some have labeled all drinking as ‘evil.’ Others say or imply that all strong drink is condemned by God. But that is not a balanced view. And it simply is not the truth, for it is not God’s view.
Do you remember reading about the first miracle that Jesus Christ performed? It was the turning of water into wine. (John 2:1-11) How reasonable would it be for him to make wine and then forbid people to drink it? And if God disapproved of all drinking, would he tell us in his own Word that he “will certainly make for all the peoples . . . a banquet of well-oiled dishes, a banquet of wine kept on the dregs”? (Isa. 25:6) Then, too, the apostle Paul advised Timothy: “Do not drink water any longer, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent cases of sickness.”—1 Tim. 5:23.
So, of itself, drinking is not wrong. It is like many other things God created for man’s enjoyment. They can be used for good or for bad. For instance, is eating food bad? No, but you can make it bad if you habitually overeat to the point of becoming a glutton. Is your hand bad? Of course not. It is a marvelous instrument for man’s use. But you can make it bad if you use it to commit a crime, such as strangling someone with it. Yes, you can take things that are ‘good’ and make them ‘bad’ by the way you use them. It is the same with alcoholic beverages.
It is not the drinking of alcoholic beverages that God’s Word condemns. It is their excessive use: “Do not be misled. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men kept for unnatural purposes, nor men who lie with men, nor thieves, nor greedy persons, nor drunkards . . . will inherit God’s kingdom.”—1 Cor. 6:9, 10.
Yet, even this chapter of the Bible shows that such persons, including drunkards, can change. Verse 11 adds: “Yet that is what some of you were. But you have been washed clean.” So a drunkard can change, showing that alcoholism is not irreversible. But, of course, the longer one persists in it the more difficult a change becomes.

It looks like this thread may have been dead for a while, but I thought I might throw something in. I was a missionary for the LDS church for two years, and realize everyone likes to give their own answer to this question. Personally I like referring directly to the passage in question.

1 A Word Of Wisdom, for the benefit of the council of high priests, assembled in Kirtland, and the church, and also the saints in Zion—
2 To be sent greeting; not by commandment or constraint, but by revelation and the word of wisdom, showing forth the order and will of God in the temporal salvation of all saints in the last days—
3 Given for a principle with promise, adapted to the capacity of the weak and the weakest of all saints, who are or can be called saints.
4 Behold, verily, thus saith the Lord unto you: In consequence of evils and designs which do and will exist in the hearts of conspiring men in the last days, I have warned you, and forewarn you, by giving unto you this word of wisdom by revelation—
5 That inasmuch as any man drinketh wine or strong drink among you, behold it is not good, neither meet in the sight of your Father, only in assembling yourselves together to offer up your sacraments before him.
6 And, behold, this should be wine, yea, pure wine of the grape of the vine, of your own make.
7 And, again, strong drinks are not for the belly, but for the washing of your bodies.
http://scriptures.lds.org/en/dc/89

My explanation, as I said everyone has their own, is that the church had many enemies, and they were warned against being poisoned. Regarding the whole thing about our water being more pure than before, I submit that that premise is false. Jesus drank from wells, and many people used those wells, which is still the purest form of water. Look at what we have to do to our water now just to make it "safe." I would rather drink water from a well than city water anyday.

Historically speaking, and assuming that the law did get changed (which view I hold), I would say it is this-
In bible times, drinking water from the well was a great way to get a whole host of diseases. Alcoholic drinks in those days were not nearly as alcoholic as they are now - and there was the added benefit of alcohol killing the germs. Now, we do not have that problem with water, so, alcohol is no longer needed. The bad now outweighs the good.

Wine was probably a better substitute than the water which was probably super nasty. Different times, there are different rules. When you are a kid, you can't play or even really get near fire or matches. When you are an adult, you are building fire and lighting all sorts of matches. God knows what is best for us and when it is best for us.

wine in the bible times was symbolic. in todays time, we drink alcohol because it tastes good and that we get a buzz from it etc... its unhealthy to drink alcohol because of the things it does to us.

Well, in Christian faith, is it wrong to have alcohol?

As far as I know of, Christians (as a religious group) don't particularly have anything against drinking.

But if Christians are against being drunk, then yes. And for those who think that wine can sometimes not be alcohol: it wouldn't be called wine without the alcohol, otherwise it's just grapejuice.

Just a thought. John the Baptist was "great in the sight of the Lord" (Luke 1:15) because he didn't drink wine or strong drink. Could Jesus have done the opposite? There is some confusion and contradiction in the Bible on this topic. I have heard that there is no distinction between alcoholic and non-alcoholic wine in the Biblical languages. Logic should tell us, however, that what is righteousness in John would have been righteousness in the Savior. If He had provided alcoholic wine at the wedding feast, it would have been inconsistent with Luke 1:15. Jesus would not have encouraged sin in others. It is interesting to note that the scriptures never describe the Savior actually drinking wine, other than during the last supper.

"For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb."
- Luke 1:15

Jesus only says getting drunk is wrong but he says a little wine is good for the stomach

wine is the fruit of the vine meaning not all wine is alcohlic...Timothy was told to drink wine for stomach problems. could or could not of been alcoholic. Now Noah got drunk from testing his wine, which was foolish but he was human and it caused him shame and his son and grandson a shame...
wine could be used to merry the heart, but not to numb the senses so to speak...even if it was alcoholic , I think the most important thing to KNOW is its not a sin to drink wine it is a sin to be drunk...Psalms tells us a drunk can never enter the kingdom..it causes one to do much foolishness...keep sober.....Nabal should have....

It's only considered "Wrong" like anything else, "IN EXCESS"!!! In "Religious Organizations" the "O'l Adage", 'Don't drink, smoke or chew or go with girls who do' is ARROGANCE & comes under the Doctrine of "Christian Activism", so I include it for Ur enjoyment. Enjoy!!! John

CHRISTIAN ACTIVISM

A. Definition.
1. There is a tremendous emphasis among evangelical Christians today
to enter into activism, to practice social and political engineering. This
arrogance manifests the fact that most Christians don't have a clue about
the Christian way of life.
2. Christian involvement in vigorous and often illegal activity to
achieve political goals is another manifestation of this arrogance.
a. Christians stick their nose into other people's business.
b. Christians intrude into the privacy of other people.
c. Christians violate the constitutional rights of other people.
d. Christians destroy property, e.g., abortion clinics.

B. Client Nation versus "Christian Nation."
1. There is therefore little or no understanding of the role of the
believer in the client nation to God.
2. This lack of understanding is often predicated on the erroneous
theory that we have a so-called "Christian nation." There never has been a
Christian nation and there never will be. This is a misunderstanding of the
priest nation or client nation to God.
3. In a priest or client nation to God, there exist all the concepts
of freedom, including privacy, the sacredness of property and life, free
enterprise, and little government with big people.
4. Yet evangelicals today want to pass laws which would, in effect,
make all unbelievers outlaws. This is wrong and evil.
5. Under freedom, people have the right to believe in Christ, to be
evangelized, and to say no or yes to the Gospel. People's rights must be
protected whether we agree with them or not.
6. Furthermore, believers in a client nation should be free to find
their right pastor and learn the details of the protocol plan of God from
him, and as a result, to have a fantastic historical invisible impact.
7. In any client nation there are both believers and unbelievers, as
well as many other religions besides Christianity.
8. There is no such thing as so-called "Christian laws." The
standards for Christianity are found only in the protocol plan of God and in
our portfolio of invisible assets.
9. Therefore, we have no right to interfere in the lives of others and
dictate what they should wear, how they should think, or what they should
say. The impact of Christianity is found only in evangelism, yet few
believers understand salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.
10. Therefore, to outlaw a certain segment of society because they do
not adhere to Christian principles is a disaster. To force a superficial
theory of Christianity on all people becomes tantamount to tyranny.
11. We have the right to our opinions, but so do other believers and
others who are involved in cults and religions. People have the right to
believe what they want to believe. We have no right to persecute or
imprison such people.
12. The Bible clearly emphasizes that the impact of Christianity on a
nation is definitely spiritual.
13. Christians have civil responsibility in military service, paying
taxes, and in fulfilling certain civic responsibilities. But this does not
include violence, destruction of property, intrusion on the privacy of
anyone, or any form of civil disobedience. Yet Christian leaders in
evangelicalism today are advocating civil disobedience.
14. The separation of church and state demands that the believer
understand his role in society in terms of the will, plan, and purpose of
God for the Church Age believer as a member of the royal family of God.
15. The spiritual impact of the protocol plan of God not only opposes
the present modus operandi of Christian activism, but assigns it to the
arrogance of the cosmic system.
16. Activism among Christians is a sign of a fragmented life in the
cosmic system.
17. As goes the believer, so goes the client nation to God. A client
nation to God is defined in terms of spiritual activity under establishment
freedom.

C. The dual responsibility of the Christian does not include activism.
1. Our Lord Himself anticipated the Church Age when He said, "Render
unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and unto God the things that are
God's." So we as believers have a dual responsibility, but it does not
include activism.
2. "Render unto Caesar" refers to establishment activity.
a. It includes the function of the divine institutions.
b. It includes freedom, the right of self-determination, the
sacredness of property and life.
c. It means freedom through military victory and therefore the
responsibility to serve in the military.
d. It means free enterprise, and the inevitable existence of
wealth and poverty side by side, the healthy sign of the proper working of
free enterprise. The only interference into free enterprise should be that
of law enforcement where criminality exists.
e. It means the separation of business and state, as well as
church and state.
f. It includes civil authority to protect us from criminality.
3. "Render unto God" includes:
a. The execution of the protocol plan of God.
b. The manufacture of invisible heroes.
c. The establishment of a pivot by which the client nation is
blessed by association.
d. Manifest destiny demands blessing by association with the
mature believer.

D. Illustration: The Fall of the Northern Kingdom.
1. There were five Jewish client nations in the past.
a. The theocracy from Moses to Saul.
b. The United Kingdom from Saul to Solomon.
c. The Northern Kingdom from Jeroboam to Hoshea.
d. The Southern Kingdom from Rehoboam to Zedekiah.
e. The Kingdom of Judah from Zerubbabel to 70 A.D.
2. All five of these client nations started out great, and all five
were destroyed due to the shrinkage of the pivot of mature believers.
Instead, most believers were involved in activism, failing to execute God's
plan for the dispensation of Israel.
3. When the Northern Kingdom had an alcoholic and drug problem, there
was no activism, but simply a statement of the problem and the ultimate
solution in Isa 28:8-11. "All the tables are full of filthy vomit, and
there is not even a clean place in any of the joints. To whom shall he
teach the knowledge of doctrine? To whom shall he cause to interpret the
message? Those just weaned from milk [little children]? Those just taken
from the breast, or those who had just been born? Principle added to
principle, principle added to principle; line added to line, line added to
line [exegetical and expository teaching of doctrine]; a little here and a
little there [consistent post-salvation epistemological rehabilitation].
For with alien articulation, and by means of a foreign language, he will
speak to this people. But they would not listen."
a. This message is sanctified sarcasm, for reversionistic
believers are just like babies.
b. But even if there is hope in the next generation, it's too
late because the cycles of discipline have already begun.
c. Verse 10 is one of the greatest Hebrew monosyllabic imitations
of both drunken speech and the babbling of those who reject doctrine. It is
also an imitation of those who would legitimately speak in tongues from 30
to 70 A.D.
d. So the monosyllabic babbling of drunks is imitated to give the
solution, which is not activism, but consistent teaching of Bible doctrine,
line upon line, precept upon precept, a little doctrine here, and a little
doctrine there.
e. The babblings reminded the prophet of speaking in tongues,
which would be the final warning to the final and fifth Jewish client
nation.
f. Having had five client nations, the Jews were responsible for
evangelism, for maintaining freedom in their own nation to that people could
be evangelized. They were responsible for executing God's plan for the
dispensation of Israel and for missionary activity. Yet they failed
completely in all these areas.
g. So what was the sign to the Jews that they would no longer
function as a client nation to God? By being evangelized in their own
country by Gentile languages. This was the sign that there would never
again be a Jewish client nation in history until the Second Advent of
Christ.
h. Therefore, Isaiah's message was a prophecy of the gift of
tongues.
i. 1 Cor 14:21 quotes from Isa 28:11-12. "In the Torah [Old
Testament] it stands written: `"With foreign languages and by lips of
strangers [Gentiles], I will speak to this people.' [Isa 28:12] `And even
so, they will not listen to Me," says the Lord.' Therefore, the gift of
tongues is for a sign, not to those who believe, but to those who do not
believe."
j. Notice that no activism was involved here, but only the
teaching of the Word of God line upon line, precept upon precept, a little
doctrine here, a little doctrine there.
k. That was the answer in Israel's day, but they would not
listen. Today, we do not have the warning of the gift of tongues.
l. Though there is a Jewish nation that exists today, it cannot
be a client nation until the Second Advent. These are the times of the
Gentiles when only Gentile nations are client nations.
4. All client nations of history, Jewish and Gentile, have gone down
in the fifth cycle of discipline. Today, our United States of America is
about to follow the same pattern. The manifestation of our decline is seen
in the failure of born-again believers to learn and execute the protocol
plan of God, to utilize the ten problem solving devices, and the fantastic
invisible assets in our portfolio.
5. For forty years, the gift of tongues was used to warn Israel of the
coming of the fifth cycle of discipline, from 30 to 70 A.D. Israel failed
completely, and will never again be a client nation to God until the
Millennium.
6. Hosea 4:1-6, "Hear the word of the Lord, you citizens of Israel
[Northern Kingdom], because the Lord has a lawsuit against the inhabitants
of the client nation; because nothing of doctrine is being taught, and
nothing about grace is being applied. There is no true knowledge of God in
the land. Instead, there is lying, dishonesty, deception, murder
[homicide], rape, therefore violence. Therefore, the land mourns, and all
who live in it languish [loss of national courage, strength, vitality,
power], along with the beasts of the field [domestic animals suffer]. Yet,
let no one find fault [become an activist], let no one offer criticism
[activism], for your citizens are like those who contend with the
[Levitical] priests. Therefore, you have stumbled in the daylight [cosmic
involvement], and even the prophets will stumble with you in night darkness.
Therefore, I will destroy your mother [nation]. My people are destroyed by
lack of knowledge. Because they have rejected knowledge of doctrine, I will
also reject you from being My priest [client] nation."
a. The Levitical priesthood were still teaching doctrine, like
some pastors today, and avoiding activism. They were faithful in teaching
the Word of God as it existed then.
b. The people stumbled because believers had become activists
instead of Biblicists.
c. The prophets who were supposed to be warning the people had
also pulled the pin of arrogance, and they, too, were involved in activism.
d. A nation without absolute truth is a nation without solutions.
Believers have absolute truth. As they accept it, they begin to grow in
grace and become invisible heroes. When the pivot of mature believers
expands, the nation is delivered.
e. As goes the believer, so goes the client nation to God.
f. Both Old Testament prophecies were fulfilled in B.C. 721 when
the Assyrian armies overran the Northern Kingdom.

E. How can activism be described?
1. Activism in the client nation to God is a terrible cancer.
Christian activism is arrogance and a sign of a fragmented life.
2. Rom 12:2-3, "Stop being conformed to this world, but be transformed
by the renovation of your thought, that you may prove what the will of God
is, namely the good of intrinsic value achievement [advance to spiritual
maturity], the well-pleasing to God [execution of the protocol plan], the
mature status quo [manufacture of invisible heroes]. For I say through the
grace which has been given to me to everyone who is among you: stop
thinking of self in terms of arrogance beyond what you ought to think, but
think in terms of sanity for the purpose of being rational without illusion,
as God has assigned to each one of us a standard of thinking from doctrine."
3. The devil sponsors Christian activism, which is the believer
involved in the improvement of the devil's world. This becomes tantamount
to the Church Age believer being involved in the temporal solutions to the
problems of life when spiritual solutions are available.
a. 2 Cor 2:11, "In order that no advantage be taken of us by
Satan, for we are not ignorant of his strategies." One of Satan's
strategies is to get the believer involved in Christian activism.
b. 2 Cor 11:3, "But I'm afraid, lest the serpent, who deceived
Eve by his craftiness, deceive your minds, and that you should be led astray
from the purity and virtue which belongs to Christ."
c. Jas 4:6, "He gives greater grace. Therefore, the Scripture
says [Prov 3:34], `God makes war against the arrogant, but He gives grace to
the humble.' Therefore, submit to God, resist the devil, and he will flee
from you." The resistance of the devil referred to here means to avoid
Christian activism. Christian activism combines arrogance with legalism, or
self-righteous arrogance with crusader arrogance.
d. 1 Pet 5:6-8, "Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God,
that He may promote you at the proper time. Casting all your cares
[worries] on Him, because He cares for you. Be vigilant [alert], for your
enemy the devil prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking some believer to
devour. But resist him, firm in doctrine."
(1) To wait on the Lord's promotion is the antithesis of
activism.
(2) You are to be firm in doctrine, not in activism.
4. Activism finds the cosmic Christian becoming humanistic in his
philosophy. Therefore, in reversionism he becomes occupied with temporal
solutions. He advocates systems to improve man's environment rather than
his relationship to God.
5. Christian activism includes the social Gospel, social engineering,
social crusades related to moral degeneracy, civil disobedience, violence,
destruction of property, and even revolution.

As far as drinking wine in the LDS Church the bottom line is this: A Prophet of God instructed us not to drink wine. SO, we don't.

Who said it was wrong to drink? I don't consider it wrong to drink.

vvvvLOL. Ok get this...I was LDS (Mormon) for a long time. They actually teach that the wine that was talked about in the Bible is actually GRAPE JUICE!
.
Now I know what some Mormons are going to say: THAT's RIDICULOUS, that's not doctrine. Well, very little is doctrine in that church. The leadership makes a point of not getting really specific about anything unless it is non-verifiable (such as claims about the after-life or "blessings" from paying tithing). There are a lot of beliefs in this church that are VERY widely held, and that pretty much EVERY MORMON I KNOW (and pretty much everyone I know IS Mormon) believes, but that are "technically" not doctrine. That's why it is so frustrating to talk critically to a Mormon about his religion...he can always say "hey we don't REALLY believe that Native Americans are Jewish!" or "We didn't REALLY practice polygamy or keep black people out of our temples." What a sweet deal for them, huh? A built-in escape hatch.
.
Incidentally, the Mormon Word of Wisdom DOES say that mild barley drinks are good for you, and I'm fairly sure that this is a reference to BEER. The Word of Wisdom ALSO says that you may make your own WINE, although I am not sure whether or not it REALLY means GRAPE JUICE!!

Rottweiler Oct, 18 2006 at 03:33 PM
Which is why we don*t even touch it. If you see a cliff by the road you*re driving on, what do you do? YOU STAY AWAY FROM IT!

That simply states my point that all self thought is taken away from Mormons. They do not think for themselves. They are told how and what to think. God gave us a free will and Joseph Smith (among many other cults) took that will away. There is nothing wrong with driving near the edge, to get a good view of Gods creation. You have to use your judgment to determine how close to get. Avoiding it all together is close minded indeed. And it limits your personal and physical growth as a human being. That is probably the main reason when someone leaves the LDS they turn to atheism. There free will is shattered and once removed from the veil of LDS cultism, they are afraid of the real world. Much like slaves were when they were given freedom.

http://willfults.com/christian-alcohol/

Is a great article covering from the Bible the topic of alcohol and the Christian. Also covers whether Jesus drank alcoholic wine or not.

ok ok ok lol. back then, wine wasn't an alcoholic drink. wine was grape juice. lol.

For one thing, Jesus was using this for the sacrament and he wasn't getting drunk. In the early history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, as mentioned in Doctrine & Covenants 89:5-6, the Saints were told to only use wine that they had made themselves out of pure grapes and only for the purpose of the sacrament.

Hey, somebody had to drink all that water he turned into wine, you know?

because jesus wants all the boose for himself . being a mascot for a made up, invented faith based on stolen pagan ideas is stressfull.

I answer this question according to the given category "Mormon eating and drinking customs".

1) Short answer: there are many way to interpret the Bible. Moreover, LDS don't just base their rules on the Bible alone.


2) "The prohibitionist position has experienced a general reduction of support since the days of Prohibitionism as a movement, with many of its advocates becoming abstentionists instead. Groups adopting prohibitionist positions include the Southern Baptist Convention and Seventh-day Adventists. The former group resolved that their "churches be urged to give their full moral support to the prohibition cause, and to give a more liberal financial support to dry organizations which stand for the united action of our people against the liquor traffic." The founder of the Salvation Army William Booth was a prohibitionist, unlike his organization today which is abstentionist, and saw alcohol as evil in itself and not safe for anyone to drink in moderation.
Prohibitionists such as Stephen Reynolds and Jack Van Impe hold that the Bible forbids partaking of alcohol altogether, with some arguing that the alleged medicinal use of wine in 1 Timothy 5:23 is a reference to unfermented grape juice. They argue that the words for alcoholic beverages in the Bible can also refer to non-alcoholic versions such as unfermented grape juice, and for this reason the context must determine which meaning is required. In passages where the beverages are viewed negatively, prohibitionists understand them to mean the alcoholic drinks, and where they are viewed positively, they understand them to mean non-alcoholic drinks. Prohibitionists also accuse most Bible translators of exhibiting a bias in favor of alcohol that obscures the meaning of the original texts.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the largest body of the Latter Day Saint movement, also teaches that "God has spoken against the use of ... [a]lcohol." They base this teaching on the Word of Wisdom, a section in Doctrine and Covenants which is part of the Mormon canon, that recommends against the ordinary use of alcohol, though it makes an exception for the use of wine in the sacrament, a similar rite to the Eucharist. However, the church now uses water instead of wine in the sacrament, and since 1851, the Word of Wisdom's advice for wise living has been considered "a binding commandment on all Church members." "
Source and further information:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianity_and_alcohol#Prohibitionism


3) "The Word of Wisdom is a law—a principle with promise. If we obey the provisions of the law, we receive the promises. If we do not, there will be both temporal and spiritual consequences.

What are the provisions of the law known as the Word of Wisdom?

The revelation defines and admonishes abstinence from harmful substances and beverages in these words:

“Strong drinks [or, in other words, alcoholic or harmful beverages] are not for the belly.” (D&C 89:7.)

“Tobacco is not for the body … and is not good for man.” (D&C 89:8.)

“Hot drinks [defined as tea and coffee] are not for the body.” (D&C 89:9.)"
Source and further information:
http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=da609c84f5d6b010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____

Different places, different customs and different times. The focus should be more upon what is right about doing what the Lord asks of us today. As we show ourselves willing to be guided in small things we demonstrate our trustworthiness in larger things.

Because you can't use the Bible for justification for abstinence. It is an untenable position.

I don't really think it is considered wrong unless it becomes problematic. The Bible speaks against drunkards..those who drink to excess, putting alcohol before other things which should be more important, such as family, responsibility, etc. Also, when you drink to excess your judgment is usually impaired and therefore you are more inclined to do things that maybe you shouldn't.

According to Dr. G, from the show "Medical Examiner, the number one killer in the United States is smoking. Number two is obesity, and number three is alchohol.

Judges 13:4 Now therefore beware, I pray thee, and drink not wine nor strong drink, and eat not any unclean thing:

King Nebudchanezzar wanted Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to eat his meat and wine to help them grow strong. However, they refused.

Daniel 1:
7 Unto whom the prince of the eunuchs gave names: for he gave unto Daniel the name of Belteshazzar; and to Hananiah, of Shadrach; and to Mishael, of Meshach; and to Azariah, of Abed-nego.
8 But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.

Because they ate meat sparingly and ate fruits and vegetables and avoided the King's wine, Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego later proved that they were stronger and healthier than King Nebudchenezzar's men who ate the King's meat and drank the King's wine

drinking wine is not wrong but the actions after u drink that lead u to sin is what is wrong.

Joseph Smith received the revelation of the Word of Wisdom in 1833. Like has been mentioned before, it came as a result of Emma complaining to Joseph Smith about having to clean up the spittoons and tobacco juice off of the floor, and the smell of the tobacco smoke, etc after some of the meetings in the home of Joseph Smith.

As a result, Joseph Smith went to the Lord in prayer. If you remember the promise of James 1:5, "If any of ye lack wisdom, let him ask of God in faith....". Joseph Smith did ask in faith and received an answer to his prayer, as God promised he would.

The actual practice of the Word of Wisdom by entire population of the LDS Church did not occur until 1902. Before this time, however, Joseph Smith expected the senior leaders of the Church and Members of his High Council to adhere to the Word of Wisdom. Then, in 1902, the membership of the LDS Church voted unanimously to accept the Word of Wisdom as a commandment of God.

At the time it came out, it was called a "Word of Wisdom", not a Commandment. However, isn't it interesting to notice Joseph Smith's promise of good health to those who observed it? It wasn't until the latter part of the 19th and 20th Centuries that man began to discover the health benefits of abiding by the Word of Wisdom. So, when you live the Word of Wisdom, that is what you are doing, showing signs of your wisdom by avoiding things that are harmful to your body.

In addition to receiving the blessings of good health promised by the Word of Wisdom, members of the LDS Church observe the Word of Wisdom as a manifestation of their faith that Joseph Smith was a Prophet of God. It is a sign of their faith.

One of the main reasons we come to this Earth is to see if we are willing to manifest our faith in God. Throughout the history of the Bible, God has called prophets to teach man what He requires of us. Those who listened to the living prophets received the blessings from God for obeying the words of the Prophets of God. Those who didn't listen did not receive those blessings, and were oftentimes punished.

It is simple. If you want to enjoy good health, live the Word of Wisdom.

it really doesn't matter what our opinion is, or what Joe or Sally or any other man says. If a prophet of God revealed to us the Word of Wisdom, it is everybody's duty to find out on their own if what the prophet says is true. If Pastor John, or Father Henry tells us its OK to drink, or if Noah or even Jesus drank, it really doesn't matter. The only authority and the only person that we can really trust in telling us if its OK to drink, or smoke, or eat blueberry pancakes is God. If God gave Joseph Smith the Word of Wisdom, who are we to say that Joseph Smith was a fraud or a liar, just because we like an occasional beer or glass of wine? Are you willing to give up your soul for eternity for such frivolous and petty things? What is it that Jesus said? "You strain at a gnat and swallow a camel!"

If you were sincere about your faith, you wouldn't be arguing over such trivial matters as drinking a glass of wine, but you would be spending your time in studying and praying and serving your fellow man, as Jesus taught us we should be doing. Why waste your time arguing over such trivial matters of the Gospel, and over self-gratification? Why put one another down? This isn't Christianity! Contention has no part of the Gospel of Jesus Christ!

God is a God of order, not of confusion. We should all be striving to find the truth and living in unity. After all, if we are to live during the second coming, we must become perfect, so as to bind Satan with our righteousness, that he will have no power over us. That is why Jesus organized His Church while He was upon the Earth. He organized it with "... some apostles, and some prophets, and some evangelists and teachers, ... for the perfecting of the Saints, ... ,till we all come to a unity of the Faith, and to a knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, that we be no more tossed to and fro, and carried with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;" (Ephesians 4:11-14). We should be striving to come to a unity of the Faith, to be a perfect man, like Paul taught in this scripture. This is true Christianity.

The many Churches teaching false doctrine is not new in our day. They had preachers, teacher, etc of false doctrines in Jesus day as well. Part of the mission of Jesus Christ was to organize His Church with apostles and prophets and revelation and confound those preachers of false doctrine. When revelation ceases, men tend to go off on tangents, as illustrated by Ephesians, chapter 4. It is not God that stops talking to man, but man stops talking to God. God will not force Himself upon us. He requires us to manifest our faith by studying, praying and living the commandments. Only after we ask Him for guidance and manifest our faith will He reveal Himself and His will to us.

What it boils down to is how much faith do you have that God will give you an answer? It may not be the answer you want, but then that is where you have to rely on sincere and honest faith. What better way does God have in bringing us to a unity of the Faith than by calling a living prophet to teach us His Gospel, as outlined in the Book of Ephesians? This is how He did throughout the history of the Bible, and this is how He does it today, for God is the same Yesterday, Today, and Forever. Being a God of order and not of confusion, speaking through living prophets is how God brings order into the World.

Joseph Smith instituted the Word of alledged wisdom. WHile he frequently smoked cigars and drank spirits. Oh well, somebody lied... didn't he?

It is OK to have a drink as long as it involves no element of drunkardness whatsoever. The Bible says so that you cannot get drunk and are not allowed to.
Although the actions of effects of drunkardness are sinful - but getting drunk alone is a sin.
Ephesians:5 verse 18+.
Proverbs 23: v 19+.
Proverbs 31 verse 4+.
Your body is Gods if you are a Christian
- 1 Corinthians 3: 16+ & 1 corinthians 6 Verse 19+.