Sarah Nyhan

What would we talk about all the time? A lot of it was stuff like this.

This wasn’t what you sent the Moroccan Bites ladies. That one was a completely different tone. You felt a little more free with me. And you knew it. Made sure to let me know to warn others if I shared it. Which I used to do with my coworkers at the time. But I always wished more people could hear our conversations. Hear you.

Maybe too much for most, but to the audience that needed to hear it probably so much comfort. I felt spoiled to be able to volley ideas like this back and forth with you for so long. Not many could handle how deep I needed to go with some details. But you seemed to be right there with me. I didn’t have to explain myself.

This is one you sent to me after a conversation of ours. I hope others will hear your heart and a taste of the freedom – in truth – that you started to help me grab hold of and live!

From : “Dr. Jonathan Almirudis”
To : “Sarah Nyhan”

As you know I have no problems you sharing the e-mails I send you, but you might want your readers to know that I am a matter of fact person, one that is interested in the truth and may sound insensitive. As you know I am not insensitive, just someone wanting to speak the truth.

I am so used to hearing the responses you received. They take 1 Corinthians 10:31-32:

“Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God”.

And then they use it to defend whatever view they wish.

In this passage Paul is talking about food sacrificed to idols! Yes, the word ‘drink’ is in the verse, but look at it in context. Wasn’t a form of demon worship eating food sacrificed to idols?

Never in the Bible will you find the people being told not to drink alcoholic beverages. Plenty is said on not getting drunk, but not on avoiding alcohol. Yes, there was the Nazarite vow and while serving the Lord, but those were temporary.

Look at Jeremiah 35 and the house of Rechab. They made a vow not to drink and they were the exception. They kept that vow and God blessed them.

But before someone wants to use that as an argument, notice that they also vowed not to build houses, sow seed or plant vineyards – but were to always dwell in tents. Let me see someone make that vow.

I abhor people forcing the Bible to defend whatever point of view they have. Most of what I hear from the pulpit and from people that have grown up in the church when they reference drinking is the fear of offending someone or making someone fall into alcoholism because they saw someone drink.

Really?! Don’t think so highly of yourself; be a little realistic. People can be bombarded with advertising, surrounded by people drinking, and talking about drinking – and have no problem until they see you drink? You are so special.

I think that they would be better off if they saw someone drink responsibly and not abusing alcohol.

People are so set on a belief system and take a holier-than-thou position that they refuse to consider a problem honestly. Their mind is set and no matter what is said they won’t budge. Most people will not consider an opposing view seriously. For them to come to a point where they have to admit being wrong is something that probably won’t happen.

This argument of the alcohol content of wine and that wine was diluted with water is frankly silly and intellectually offensive.

Also, when I hear that people didn’t drink the water because it was polluted – I cringe. When did people realize that water could be harmful? Look at the many purification ceremonies and traditions the people in the Bible had. Most importantly, people were still getting drunk with that dilution at the Lord’s Supper.

The Bible addresses being drunk. And it also speaks well of drinking. Learn self-control, but then that is too much to ask.

Look at how we abuse food, the time we give to media, etc. We are a people that have no self-control and thus think it our job to put demands on others that are un-Biblical.

Deuteronomy 12:32: “What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it.”

It seems that we are more concerned about offending an ex-alcoholic than we are in offending God.

We need to follow the word of God instead of trying to accommodate it to our belief systems.

You want to get technical? Then realize that the Lord’s Supper is to be taken with wine and unleavened bread. The Bible tells us how it should be done, but we know better and serve grape juice and fermented bread. Aren’t we glad that God pours grace upon us?

If we eliminated the taboo of alcohol from our churches and families, and instead followed the Bible, then we would be a better witness to the world.

How is it that we can preach tithing and ignore the blessings that God promises?

Proverbs 3:9-10: “Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.”

Does that mean that you won’t buy a new car, house, clothes or any good thing because it might offend a brother? “Yes, it may cause my friend that was a thief to start stealing again.”

There is a balance that people avoid. Proverbs 21:17: “He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich.” Do I need to explain that verse?

There is a balance and in that balance is the truth. There is nothing wrong with drinking alcohol. We should not teach against it. God gives it to us as a blessing and wants us to enjoy it.

Remember the tithe in Deuteronomy? I’ll remind you once again. Please read it slowly. Deuteronomy 14:22-27.

Notice that it was a command, a tithe that they were to give and in it they are told: “thou shalt bestow that money for whatsoever thy soul lusteth after, for oxen, or for sheep, or for wine, or for strong drink, or for whatsoever thy soul desireth: and thou shalt eat there before the LORD thy God, and thou shalt rejoice, thou, and thine household”.

It says strong drink. So much for diluted wine. And it is for you and your whole household to enjoy.

I am sorry, but it is un-Biblical to preach against drinking. Preach all you want against getting drunk, but don’t call bad what God calls good.