Wine

DEVOTION
1 TIMOTHY
WINE
1 Tim 5:23
23 Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses.
NIV
No problem. I am always amazed though as to how the evangelical church as blatantly opposed this portion of God’s word. Sometimes I think certain people are filled with spiritual pride over the fact wine has never touched their lips. How can someone be proud of being disobedient to the word? I know it also says not to be drunk on wine, but on the Spirit. This whole concept of Jesus making grape juice is so bizarre I cannot even spend time contemplating its validity. Wine is wine, grape juice is grape juice and that is it. I think the church which opposes this truth about wine, and having a little of it has taken that position because of the negative connotation of drinking to the point of inebriation and the bad behavior associated with that. Now, if imbibing in a glass of wine should cause my brothers and sisters who choose to oppose such obedience to the word, should I refrain from my obedience? Well, it may not actually be a matter of obedience, but rather a matter of drinking wine not being forbidden as they would state. It comes down to those man-made rules and regulations again which endeavor to enslave me, and place a yoke of bondage upon me. I have been set free from bondage to sin and I do not think I should place myself back in bondage to some rules man has established thinking obedience to those rules makes them holy. Would it be better for me to enlighten them to the truth or simply not allow them to know if I taste wine on my lips? I do not think it is good to live a double life. Drinking wine in the privacy of my own home, but saying or agreeing with those who oppose drinking wine when I am with them is not a good way to live a life pleasing to the Lord. Yet, how can I teach them, or should I teach them the truth about this? What does it matter? They have so many rules and regulations which have been added to what is though as holy living. I know all about the fact the water certainly was not some purified bottled water bought in the grocery store as we have today. I know the water might well have been contaminated in the sense of when I travel to Mexico, if I drink that water I will have stomach problems too. The locals drink it, but Timothy was not a local and would have had a problem with the water as I would in Mexico. So drink wine instead is the statement. But still the word does not forbid the drinking of wine. I will not forbid it either. Maybe I should not allow others to forbid as well. Or maybe I should just let it be.