"Wine is a mocker, strong drink is a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise" (Prov. 20:1).

Alcohol continues to bring harm upon our world. Countless lives and homes have been destroyed by it, and yet it continues to be advertised, sold, and consumed by millions. What is sad are the number of brethren who continue to be "led astray" by alcohol's deceptive influence. From time to time, brethren can be heard justifying social drinking and the consumption of alcohol for medicinal purposes. Such arguments are never helpful in building up our young people or furthering the cause of Christ.

The September 2019 issue of Prevention magazine contains an article by Kate Rockwood titled "5 Myths About Alcohol." I found it to be an interesting read. Some of the myths had to do with curing hangovers, knowing how soon one can drive after drinking, and how to know if you have a problem with alcohol. However, one myth especially caught my attention and I wanted to share it with you.

Myth #2 - Drinking a little alcohol is better for your health than drinking none at all.

Mythbuster - "You've probably seen red wine on some 'superfood' lists, thanks to the heart-healthy resveratrol found in grape skin. But if you don't drink already, don't start for health reasons. A 2018 study found that people who had one or two drinks four or more times per week had a 20% higher risk of premature death. Other studies have shown that even one drink a day ups a woman's breast cancer risks."

Alcohol has no nutritional value. In fact, the body reacts to it as a poison. How the consumption of alcohol can be considered good for one's health is beyond me! When a doctor told a Christian I know to drink a glass of red wine every night for their health, they responded, "I don't drink alcohol." The doctor replied, "Just drink red grape juice." You see, the medicinal property is not in the alcohol, it is in the grape.

Someone may respond, "Why was Timothy told to take a little wine for his stomach's sake?" That instruction is found in 1 Timothy 5:23. "No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for your stomach's sake and your frequent infirmities." Let's consider some things from that verse, and "rightly divide it," before we try to use it as a license to drink alcohol.

The Greek word that is translated "wine" in the New Testament is oinos. This word differs in meaning from our English word "wine." "'Oinos' is a generic term embracing both intoxicating wine and non-intoxicating wine" (Jim McGuiggan, "The Bible, the Saint, and the Liquor Industry," p. 112). When you and I speak of wine, we are always speaking of an intoxicating beverage. In the New Testament, the word "wine" can (and sometimes does) refer to the juice of the grape in non-intoxicating state. 1 Timothy 5:23 does not give us license to purchase and consume alcohol. Paul was likely telling Timothy to drink grape juice.

Second, notice that Timothy's practice was to abstain from drinking wine. Timothy was only drinking water. In his effort to "be an example to the believers" and to "take heed to himself" (1 Tim. 4:12, 16), he stayed away from drinking even unfermented grape juice (He abstained from every form of evil - 1 Thess. 5:22). However, to help with his stomach problems and his frequent infirmities, he was instructed by Paul to "use a little wine."

Third, Paul's concern is Timothy's stomach problems and his frequent infirmities. While wine (grape juice) may have been the best/only thing Timothy could have taken then, today Paul may have told Timothy to take a little Maalox, Pepto-Bismol, Prilosec OTC, or just drink a little soda water. What a shame some people want to use this passage as a license to run to the liquor store when Paul was spelling relief "R-O-L-A-I-D-S."

There is no evidence that the Scriptures encourage the use of alcohol for medicinal purposes. Even modern science is debunking the claim that alcohol is good for one's health. Instead, the Bible tells us to stay away from intoxicating drinks (Prov. 23:29-35; 31:4-7).