Wine
What does the Bible really say about wine?
According to the Book of Proverbs, "wine is a mocker, a strong drink". The Bible says outright that drunkeness is wrong, not just for health reasons, but because of its overall destruction.
While it is true that Jesus turned water into wine, most people drink wine in moderation. Also, there were benefits to drinking small to moderate quantities of wine such as for the stomach and anti-oxidation. So as with most everything, be careful with what you put into your body. Also know of the consequences of your actions and how they will affect others as well as yourself.
The Bible has answers for all of these questions.
No, the Bible does not contradict itself. To say that the Bible contradicts itself is to say that the Author has contradictory views. That in itself is not true. God cannot lie. He does not compromise. His word says that there is a right and wrong. That is why He wanted Moses to show the newly freed slaves the Ten Commandments. And the reason why Jesus was born of a virgin, preached the gospel, was crucified for the sins of the world, and rose on the third day. That is why Jesus promised us the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth. He teaches us, guides us, and convicts us of sin, righteousness, and judgements.
On this page, I have written questions that people often use to prove that the Bible contradicts itself. The Bible is a book that gives reproof, corrects us, and gives us instruction. It is inspired of by God.(from 1 Timothy 3:16)
We live in a time where people scoff at the Lord's return. People abandoned God and choose to do all manner of evil things. So don't be surprised that people will say unkind things about God, the Bible, and Christians. We have to answer those who are lost and lack understanding. The Truth is our weapon.
Here are answers to common questions people may have:
1. If God is a God of peace, then why did Jesus talk about division? In Matthew 10:34, Jesus said that He came not to bring peace, but a sword. There will be divisions amongst family, for many will sacrifice everything for Jesus. There are some who will love their families, money, or anything other than Jesus. Verses 38-39 state the consequences of this love.
2. I thought people aren't supposed to kill anyone. Why are wars and the death penalty justified? In Numbers 32, God commissioned a war against the Midianites and various people because of their sins. God hates sin and punished those who allowed sin into their camps and into their nations. From Romans, "The wages of sin is death." People tend to forget that God is a God of Justice and yes, He does get angry. As for the death penalty, the death penalty was and still not an act of murder. It was for deterring crimes. It was used against those who murdered someone with malice. There were laws in the Old Testament for things from accidental murder, self defense, to outright lying.
3. If God is love, then why are homosexuality and interracial marriages wrong? Leviticus 18:22 states, "Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination." This is not about hating gays and lesbians. It is about committing an act that is wrong in God's sight. No where in the Bible did it say that interracial relationships or marriages wrong. The Isrealites were not allowed to enter into relationship with neighboring peoples because they were pagans. Race had nothing to do with it.
4. I thought that God is the only one who can judge us; what does the Bible mean when he is supposed to talk about men judging angels? 1 Corinthians 6:3 asks,"Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?" Paul was writing about how the believers shall appear, namely in judicial matters before the world. He did not mean in any other way that we have the right to judge others, because we don't.
5. Does the Bible justify slavery? Remember that the Bible was written in ancient times, and various people enslaved other peoples. But in no way does the Bible justify enslaving other people as was the case in the Americas. People who enslaved others were to treat them humanely and then to set them free. But I haven't read any passages where slavery was outright justified. In fact, Paul wrote that as believers, we should be a slave or servant to no one.
6. Why does one belief have to be better than others?The answers are in Revelation 9 and Revelation 21:8. Revelation 9:20-21 20 And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk: 21 Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.
Revelation 21:8 8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
7. Why does God love some and love others? I was taught to love everybody. You are supposed to love everybody. God was referring to those who obey His commandments and those who don't. He hates sin and punishes sin.
8. Peter denies Jesus and Jesus forgives him. I thought if we deny Him, then He will deny us? True, 2 Timothy 2:12 does say, "If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:" Jesus forgave Peter. Peter was remorceful at what He has done for Jesus' prediction came true. Jesus was God in the Flesh. He died for our sins, including Peter's.
9. Some men in the Old Testament had more than one wife. Isn't that wrong? A man was supposed to have one wife, and for that it is wrong. In many Eastern societies, many wealthy men had more than one wife and many other women.
10. Didn't someone say something about a "perfect hatred"? It was David. In Psalm 139:22 he says, "I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies." David hated them because of their wickedness, not because of who they are. He didn't hate them as in bad blood hatred, but in righteous indignation.
11. Doesn't the curse of Ham and the blessing of Japheth prove that Christianity is a White Man's religion? Was Ham black? Genesis 10 is a genealogy of the human racial family. There is no such thing as a white race, a black race, or any other race except for the human race. We are all descended from one family: the family of Adam and Eve. Christianity is first of all, not a white man's religion. Japheth was not "white" and Ham was not "black". Japheth was the ancestor of the Indo-European peoples which include the English, Irish, Italians, Germans, Armenians, and Cypriots. Ham was the ancestor of the Libyans, Afro-Americans, and the Egyptians. Their brother Shem was the ancestor of the Arabs, and Hebrews. The curse was about Ham uncovering Noah's nakedness, not about race.
12. The Bible said that money is the root of all evil. Does that mean that it is wrong for people to have money? According to 1 Timothy 6:10, it is the love of money that is the root of all evil not money itself. It is not wrong for people to have money. Job, Esther, and King David were righteous people who were extremely wealthy.
13.Do Christians not have to follow the rules that everybody else have to follow? Seems like that most Christians are a bunch of hypocrites. Christians are not supposed to be hypocrites. We all have to give account for how we live our lives on this planet. All of us are supposed to follow God's rules, but most people don't.
14. Why does God love some more than He loves others? He doesn't. Jesus died for the sins of the world so that all might come to repentance.
15. If it is wrong to have money, then what is having life abundant (from John 10)? The abundant life doesn't have to be just financial abundance. It could be spiritual or physical abundance. In other words, Jesus was talking about a person being made whole.
16. I thought believers are supposed to have the Sabbath on the seventh day. Why do Christians celebrate it on the first day? Not all do. Seventh Day Adventists celebrate a Saturday Sabbath. In the Book of Acts, a group of believers began to fellowship the first day of the week. From that, most Christians follow the Sunday Sabbath.
17. Does the Bible condone sexism? No, it does not.
18. Paul said be a servant to no one, but slavery is mentioned to no one and Jesus was talking about servitude. What is that about? It refers to humility and service. There is a difference between servitude and slavery.
19. I thought there were certain things Christians aren't supposed to do. Why did Paul say not to judge them on those things? (from Romans 14) Paul was writing in Romans 14:3 about manmade laws and stumbling blocks that could hurt the unity of the church. Romans 14:3 says, "Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him."
20. I thought all sins are forgiven, no matter how bad. Why not the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit? Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is the outright rejection of the Holy Spirit in word. In other words, you will not be forgiven for saying anything evil,or negative against the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth; He convicts us of sin, righteousness, and judgement. To outright reject the Truth is to reject God, for the Holy Spirit is of the Trinity or Godhead.
21. Is all divorce wrong? No. The only way divorce is acceptable in the Bible is in cases of adultery and fornication.
22. I thought that Jesus was baptized in water. What does Holy Spirit baptism mean? He was. Jesus promised the Holy Spirit to us. The Holy Spirit came upon a diverse group of believers in Acts 2. The congregation received power from on high. When someone is baptized in the Holy Spirit, they receive one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, which include speaking in tongues, interpreting tongues, prophecy, faith, working of miracles, and wisdom.
23.Are some of the Ten Commandments of no effect now that we live in the New Testament? No. The Ten Commandments are still effective, no matter what Testament we live in. We live in the Age of Grace, which means that we don't have to offer sacrifices to be forgiven.
24. What is predestination? Romans 8:30 says, "Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified." God already knew plans for our lives before we did, but God gave us the freedom of choice.
25.Is it wrong to be angry? When we hold on to our anger or when we don't control it, then it is wrong. When anger is righteous indignation, as in the case of Jesus at the temple throwing the moneychangers' tables, then no, it is not wrong. Paul writes in Ephesians 4:26, "Be ye angry, and sin not."
26. Why does God allow suffering to happen? It is best answered with a summary of the Book of Job. God allowed the Devil to inflict him with illness and other problems. He lost his wife, his children, his servants, his home, and his livestock. He was also inflicted with boils. But unlike many, Job did not blaspheme or abandon God. God also gave us freedom of choice and our choices have consequences, some more catastrophic than others.
27. Why did God change His mind about punishing Nineveh? Jonah 3:10 says, "And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not." The Ninevites repented of their sins.
28. If God is such a loving God, then why is there a Hell?There is a Hell because people chose not to accept the free gift of salvation. They would not repent of their sins. They did not put God first in their lives.
29. Why is God considered a Jealous God if jealousy is wrong?Jealousy and envy are wrong, though they are pretty much the same thing. God is a Jealous God because He wants for us to worship and serve Him. He wants us to love Him and obey Him. He is the only True Living God.
I hope I have answered your questions
I hope I have proven that the Bible doesn't contradict itself. While we as humans have so many questions to ask God, never assume that God makes mistakes. Never let your questions cause you to doubt the Bible's validity or God Himself. If your beliefs cloud your judgement about God and the Bible, then you need to open your eyes. If you have never received Jesus, backslidden, or are not sure you are saved, I ask that you pray this prayer, or something similar:
"Lord Jesus, I am a sinner in need of a Savior. I confess all of my sins to You. I am not proud of the fact that I have not put You first in my life. I had doubts about You and didn't trust You at all. I repent of my sins. Forgive me. Come into my heart. I accept You as Lord and Savior. Thank You for saving me, in Your name, Jesus, Amen."
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