Biblical Answer

The Blessing of Wine: A Biblical Perspective

In the Bible, wine is depicted as a blessing from God. In Matthew 26:27, Jesus designates the cup of wine as the cup of thanksgiving, or blessing, reminding believers to give thanks to the Lord when they drink it. This is further reinforced by the Jewish tradition, as seen in M. Ber. 6:1, where believers bless the Lord for creating the fruit of the vine. The New Testament also acknowledges that alcoholic drinks, including wine, were seen as a blessing from God in the Old Testament (Rom 14:14; Col 2:20-23; 1 Tim 4:1-5). However, it also warns of the potential dangers of excessive drinking.

The Complexity of Wine: A Mixed Blessing

While wine can be a blessing from God, it can also be a source of danger. The Bible acknowledges that wine can be a snare, leading to drunkenness and other negative consequences (1 Tim 3:8; Tit 2:3). In fact, Jesus himself warned against the dangers of wine in Mark 7:15, saying that there is nothing outside a person that by going into them can defile them, not going into them, can defile them. This suggests that the danger of wine lies not in its inherent nature, but in how it is used. Furthermore, the Bible teaches that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, and that we should not allow anything to defile them (1 Cor 6:19-20).

The Dangers of Idolatry

In the Bible, wine is often associated with idolatry. Just as the Israelites turned to idolatrous gods when they thought God was not providing for them, we can turn to wine as a substitute for God's presence and blessing. We may think that wine is a way to experience God's presence, but in reality, it is a substitute for the true and living God. As the Psalmist says, "God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea" (Ps 46:1-2). In the end, our trust should be in God, not in wine or any other substance. Rather than relying on wine as a blessing, we should seek to experience God's presence through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.