The Kingdom of God is not About Food and Drink
Let us major on the majors!
We live in a world of creativity and a desire for new things; usually, these yearnings are for things that are not the norm. Thus, the world tends to discard past things real fast, craving instead for new things, until, of course, these same things challenge their innermost fears.
Man's fascination with new things and the unexplained is not new
In Acts 17, Paul, the apostle, found himself in Athens, a city given over to idolatry. But what fascinated Luke, the human writer of the Book of Acts of the Apostles, was the pre-occupation of the Athenians with discussing the latest new thing; chief of whom were the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers. So, when these philosophers heard Paul preaching the gospel, they were interested in hearing what he had to say. So, giving Paul audience, he said:
People of Athens, I see that you are very religious. As I was going through your city and looking at the things you worship, I found an altar with the words, "To an Unknown God." You worship this God, but you don't really know him. So I want to tell you about him. This God made the world and everything in it. He is Lord of heaven and earth, and he doesn't live in temples built by human hands. He doesn't need help from anyone. He gives life, breath, and everything else to all people. From one person God made all nations who live on earth, and he decided when and where every nation would be. God has done all this, so that we will look for him and reach out and find him. He isn't far from any of us, and he gives us the power to live, to move, and to be who we are. "We are his children," just as some of your poets have said. Since we are God's children, we must not think that he is like an idol made out of gold or silver or stone. He isn't like anything that humans have thought up and made. In the past, God forgave all this because people did not know what they were doing. But now he says that everyone everywhere must turn to him. He has set a day when he will judge the world's people with fairness. And he has chosen the man Jesus to do the judging for him. God has given proof of this to all of us by raising Jesus from death. (Acts 17:22-31, CEV)
When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some of them started laughing, though a few others wanted to hear more at a later date.
Man has always been fascinated by the unexplainable and mysterious. We thrive on mysteries. Little wonder social media has become a place to release all kinds of real and made-up stories. Interestingly, these stories generate many 'likes', 'views', 'follows', and even comments. To get such attention, some so-called "social media influencers" manufacture stories that are, for the most part, the figment of their imagination. Interestingly, such stories excite the ever-adoring yet undiscerning fans' palates.
There is nothing new under heaven
Not wanting to be left out of this trend of 'likes', 'follows', etc., many Christians have become propagators of some weird stories—from the bizarre to the ridiculous! Lately, some stories have been trending on certain social media platforms and spaces, negating sacrosanct biblical, doctrinal issues. Unfortunately, the modern social media trend has enticed pastors to talk about 'new revelations'.
May I remind us that:
Whatever was, is. Whatever will be, is. That's how it always is with God. (Ecclesiastes 3:15, MSG)
Put more succinctly, "There is nothing new under heaven!" What we see today already took place in time past, only perhaps, with less sophistication.
The church's fascination with new revelations is killing its majors
In reality, there is no new revelation. It may be 'new' to someone encountering such for the first time, but it is not new! It reminds me of the distorted history I was taught in elementary school, that Mungo Park, a British explorer, discovered the River Niger. Meanwhile, the natives living in that location showed him the river's source and route! What a fallacy!
I recently listened to two different videos (under three years old) of two preachers circulating some social media platforms. In the videos, the preachers gave their opinions on alcohol and its consumption as though it were a revelation. They postulated that there was nothing wrong with Christians consuming alcohol, including strong drinks or "booze", as one of them called it.
I have been questioned repeatedly by people who wanted to know if there was anything wrong with Christians consuming alcohol. Try as I could to convince them that there indeed were scriptural precepts against the consumption of alcohol, two portions of Scripture are usually thrown at me:
1.    Jesus turned water into wine (John 2:1-12), and
2.    Paul asked Timothy to take alcohol (1 Timothy 5:23)
Indeed, one of the preachers referenced above made both assertions noting that Jesus turned water into "booze"!
Wine as described in Scripture
Let me at this juncture state that in the Bible, there are three distinctions made of wine:
1.    Freshly pressed grape juice—the fruit of the vine or new wine (Matthew 26:29),
2.    Fermented juice—grape juice that has stayed for three days or longer, and
3.    Strong drink—brewed or distilled alcohol, similar to our beer, brandy, whisky, etc.
During wine-making, grapes are placed in a vat or wine-press and pressed with the feet to produce freshly squeezed juice, referred to as wine or new wine. When the new wine is left for some time—three days and beyond—it ferments, and its consumption in some quantity can make people drunk. This fermented juice is also referred to as wine. Finally, those with brewing or distilling capabilities produce strong or intoxicating drinks.
Did Jesus turn water into 'booze'?
When Jesus miraculously turned water into wine, it was freshly pressed juice that was being referred to, not fermented juice, and certainly, not intoxicating drink or booze! How have I arrived at this conclusion? Jewish weddings in Bible times lasted seven days (see Genesis 29:27). On the first day of the wedding, freshly pressed juice is served. But by the third day, the new wine stored for the wedding begins to ferment, becoming pungent in taste and smell and unpleasant to the uninitiated palates. Thus, when the Master of Ceremonies tasted the water which had become wine, he said,
"The best wine is always served first. Then after the guests have had plenty, the other wine is served. But you have kept the best until last!" (John 2:10, CEV)
The Master of Ceremonies could only have referred to freshly pressed juice—the kind served on Day One. Also, if the wine had been fermented juice, it could not have been a miracle!
Biblical stance on intoxicating drink and intoxication
The Bible is unequivocal about fermented juice and strong drink:
Wine is a mocker, Strong drink is a brawler, And whoever is led astray by it is not wise. (Proverbs 20:1, NKJV)
Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has contentions? Who has complaints? Who has wounds without cause? Who has redness of eyes? Those who linger long at the wine, Those who go in search of mixed wine. Do not look on the wine when it is red, When it sparkles in the cup, When it swirls around smoothly; At the last it bites like a serpent, And stings like a viper. Your eyes will see strange things, And your heart will utter perverse things. Yes, you will be like one who lies down in the midst of the sea, Or like one who lies at the top of the mast, saying: "They have struck me, but I was not hurt; They have beaten me, but I did not feel it. When shall I awake, that I may seek another drink?" (Proverbs 23:29-35, NKJV)
It is not for kings, O Lemuel, It is not for kings to drink wine, Nor for princes intoxicating drink; Lest they drink and forget the law, And pervert the justice of all the afflicted. Give strong drink to him who is perishing, And wine to those who are bitter of heart. Let him drink and forget his poverty, And remember his misery no more. (Proverbs 31:4-7, NKJV)
Wine (fermented juice) should not be consumed in a quantity that makes a person tipsy, slurred in speech, walk unsteadily, expose themselves (Genesis 9:21), being unaware of what they are doing (Genesis 19:31-36), etc. This, notwithstanding, fermented wine and strong drink have medicinal value, including its use as anaesthesia. Thus, when Paul asked Timothy to take wine, he said:
Timothy, stop drinking only water, and drink a little wine. This will help your stomach, and you will not be sick so often. (1 Timothy 5:23, ERV)
Paul spoke to Timothy about his frequent illness and recommended that he take a little wine—not get drunk on it! Indeed, Paul admonished Christians not to be drunk with wine but be filled with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5:18). The Bible warns priests and prophets, and by implication, church leaders, to avoid wine and intoxicating drink, lest they fall into error, as Aaron's two eldest sons brought strange fire into the tabernacle and were killed (Leviticus 10:1-2, 6-11; Isaiah 28:7).
The Bible also warns that drunkards or wine-bibbers will not inherit the kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 6:9-10). Indeed, Christians are cautioned not to fraternise nor have fellowship with anyone claiming to be a Christian, who is a wine-bibber (1 Corinthians 5:11)
Why is the subject of wine being addressed here?
I have written this piece so that vulnerable and unsuspecting souls do not fall into the trap of 'Bible scholars' with knowledge but lacking in love (1 Corinthians 8:1-3). The Bible says that if you have faith (about imbibing wine and intoxicating drink—my inference), have it to yourself before God (Romans 14:22), but do not let your knowledge become an offence to the weak in faith!
Paul taught that we should become spiritually mature, and if there is anything that we do not agree with, the Lord will make it plain to us (Philippians 3:15). The point here is that we should not make a brother or sister who is weak in faith fall because of our loveless knowledge, which has puffed up many preachers. The Bible warns:
If you hurt others because of something you eat, then you are no longer acting from love. Do not let the food that you eat ruin the person for whom Christ died! (Romans 14:15, GNB)
Finally, let us remember that
God's Kingdom is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of the righteousness, peace, and joy which the Holy Spirit gives. (Romans 14:17, GNB)
Therefore, let our doctrinal teachings focus on those things that make for righteous living, peaceful co-existence with all peoples, and an inexpressible joy that flows from the Holy Spirit. And as Jesus said,
woe upon you, Pharisees, and you other religious leaders—hypocrites! For you tithe down to the last mint leaf in your garden, but ignore the important things—justice and mercy and faith. (Matthew 23:23, TLB)
A situation where we major on the minors brings the minors to the front burner to the neglect and detriment of the majors—the kingdom of God, righteous living, peaceful co-existence with others, joy flowing from the Holy Spirit, equity and fairness, compassion and mercy, trust and commitment, humility, love, etc. When you look around today, most of these majors have either been neglected or completely ignored in many churches.
May the Lord help us major on the majors. When we do that, the minors will be taken care of by God Himself (Matthew 6:33).
Shalom!