From: Nigel B. Mitchell <>
Newsgroups: aus.religion.christian
Sent: Saturday, August 05, 2000 1:58 PM
Subject: Re: Christians & Alcohol


> On Fri, 04 Aug 2000 12:56:21 GMT,  (Michael
> Kennedy) wrote:
>
> >One must recognise that the Hebrew and Greek words (yayin and oinos)
> >which are uniformly translated in the Bible as "wine", can refer to
> >either unfermented grape juice or fermented wine.
> >Consequently the "wine" that God approves of in the Bible is
> >unfermented grape juice, and the "wine" he disapproves of is fermented
> >and intoxicating.
>
> What utter nonsense.
>
> You are back to your usual tricks of twisting the words of scripture
> to suit the peculiar teachings of your church.
>
> You are quite correct that the Bible contains some passages which
> speak of wine as a blessing from God, and as a sign of God's love and
> salvation (eg the wedding at Cana and the Last Supper). There are also
> passages which condemn drunkenness, and yet the Lord Jesus had a
> reputation as a "glutton and a drunkard" (Matthew 11:19). As I have
> pointed out several times in the past, it is unlikely that our Lord
> was in fact a glutton and a drunkard, but more likely that he was
> branded as such by those whose religion was harsh and legalistic, and
> who could not differentiate between the right and moderate use of
> God's blessings to mankind and the abuses which come from
> overindulgence.
>
> Can you tell the difference, Michael?
>
> Or are you like the opponents of Jesus who branded anyone who enjoyed
> the good things of life a "glutton and a drunkard"?
>
> cheers
>
> N+
>
> 
> http://www.perthcathedral.org