From: eje@irenaeus.mlo.dec.com (Eric James Ewanco)
Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian
Subject: Re: taking care of your body (was Re: where does the bible mention about smoking?)
Date: 10 Sep 92 07:38:10 GMT
Reply-To: ewanco@kalvin.enet.dec.com
Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation

In article <Sep.6.15.43.21.1992.7818@athos.rutgers.edu>, Malachi.Robertson@lambada.oit.unc.edu (Malachi Robertson) writes:
> From: Malachi.Robertson@lambada.oit.unc.edu (Malachi Robertson)
> Subject: Re: taking care of your body (was Re: where does the bible mention about smoking?)
> Organization: Extended Bulletin Board Service

> I have just read another post speaking about maoderation in several
> activities.  My first problem is that alcohol is on a level with sugar. 
> My second problem is that I question whether this moderation principle
> particularly in the area of alcohol is Biblically compatible.  

> Consideration 1:  The Bible's usage of the word signifying wine is generic
> in that it covers fermented and unfermented grape juice.

I was going to say that it would have been impossible to have unfermented
grape juice (you see, unrefrigerated grape juice has this nasty
tendency to ferment), but then I read your next consideration . . .

> Consideration 2:  The ancients could preserve unfermented grape juice.

How, without refrigeration?  This I must know.

> Consideration 3:  Jesus and wine, particularly the wedding at Cana.  The
> best wine meant the sweetest wine.  The sweetest wine was unfermented. 
> Also, could Jesus still be our sinless savior leaving the door open for
> people to thoroughly intoxicate themselves?

The same way he could open the door for people to commit gluttony.  Gluttony
is just as much a sin as intoxication.  Yet I wouldn't recommend abstaining
from food for this reason.

The Jews used WINE at the Passover.  So did Jesus at the Last Supper
(a Passover seder).  The ancients drank wine because it was the only
drink besides water which did not require preservation.  It also had a
medicinal effect of killing bacteria.

One of the Psalms even sings the praises of wine (Psalm 104:15).

And, finally, I might ask, if Jesus had not instructed us to use wine for the 
Last Supper, why do we find references in early Christian writings to the 
fact that they ONLY used FERMENTED wine in their celebration of the Lord's 
Supper?

Everything in moderation, whether it is food or wine.  Either one can cause
us to sin.

Eric
--
/=============================================================================\
| Eric Ewanco - Software Engineer     For the rash and outrageous opinions ex-|
| Digital Equipment Corp, Maynard MA  pressed herein I alone am responsible;  |
| ewanco@kalvin.enet.dec.com          they do not belong to DIGITAL(TM).      |
\==============================- 2 Th 2:15 -==================================/
    "...[T]he greatest and most ancient Church known to all, founded and
    organized at Rome by [] Peter and Paul, [is] that Church which has the
    tradition and faith which comes down to us after having been announced
    to men by the Apostles.  For with this Church, because of its superior
    origin, all Churches must agree ...  and it is in her that the
    faithful everywhere have maintained the Apostolic tradition."
       -- St. Irenaeus, Against Heresies, c. 180 A.D., 3,3,3.