Why do most fundamentalist Protestants ban any drinking of wine when the Bible does the opposite?

Good question.

Jesus told them, "Fill the jars with water." So they filled them to the brim. Then he told them, "Draw some out now and take it to the headwaiter." So they took it. And when the headwaiter tasted the water that had become wine, ... (John 2:7-9)

Wine is used throughout both the Old and New Testaments. The first recorded miracle of Jesus was to turn water into wine at the wedding in Cana.

It is true that we should not become drunk but used in moderation, wine is a biblically acceptable beverage.

Go, eat your bread with joy and drink your wine with a merry heart, because it is now that God favors your works. (Ecclesiastes 9:7)

Stop drinking only water, but have a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent illnesses. (1 Timothy 5:23)

Wine and music delight the soul. (Sirach 40:20)

WWJD? What would Jesus do? Jesus had a cup of wine with dinner. In fact, because of this practice, some teetotalers accused him of being a drunkard. See Matthew 11:19 and Luke 7:34.

If some people wish to totally forego alcohol to eliminate the temptation to over indulge, that is fine. However, I do not think they should force that unbiblical practice onto others.

By the way, for those who argue that Jesus and other people in the Bible only drank fruit juice, a process that would stop grape juice from fermenting into wine was not even invented until 1869 by Dr Thomas B Welch when he invented Welch's Unfermented Wine which was renamed later to Welch's Grape Juice. http://www.welchs.com/about-welchs/history

With love in Christ.

They have confused moderate imbibing with excessive imbibing...a big difference.

Getting drunk is frowned upon...

But having a good time is NOT.

After all, did not Jesus turn water to wine?

Yet the scriptures warn of overindulgence.

(Proverbs 20:1) Wine is a ridiculer, alcohol is unruly; Whoever goes astray by them is not wise.

(Proverbs 23:20) Do not be among those who drink too much wine, Among those who gorge themselves on meat,

Scripture does not say...to NOT DRINK ALCOHOL AT ALL...

7th. Day Adventists have added to the scriptures...in opposition to

(Revelation 22:18, 19) “I am bearing witness to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If anyone makes an addition to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this scroll; 19 and if anyone takes anything away from the words of the scroll of this prophecy, God will take his portion away from the trees of life and out of the holy city, things that are written about in this scroll.

Individuals may choose NOT to drink, but should never apply this requirement as Bible direction.

I don't know where you get your assumption, but those who know God's word know that drinking alcohol in moderation is fine. Jesus, who is God, Himself turned water into wine during a wedding celebration. Paul exhorted Timothy to drink a little wine to help his stomach problems. There are other examples, but you get the idea.

There are some fellowships that consciously abstain from alcohol because they have some recovering alcoholics in their midst. It's a spiritually kind and loving thing to do.

What God commands Christians regarding alcohol is to avoid drunkenness (Ephesians 5:18). The Bible condemns drunkenness and its effects (Proverbs 23:29-35). Christians are also commanded to not allow their bodies to be “mastered” by anything (1 Corinthians 6:12; 2 Peter 2:19). Drinking alcohol in excess is undeniably addictive.

Scripture does not forbid Christians from drinking beer, wine, or any other drink containing alcohol. Alcohol is not, in and of itself, tainted by sin. It is drunkenness and addiction to alcohol that a Christian must absolutely refrain from (Ephesians 5:18; 1 Corinthians 6:12).

Alcohol, consumed in small quantities, is neither harmful nor addictive. In fact, some doctors advocate drinking small amounts of red wine for its health benefits, especially for the heart. Consumption of small quantities of alcohol is a matter of Christian freedom.

I really don't know. As others have mentioned, obviously no one is to become drunk, but neither is there a problem with someone drinking a glass or wine or a bottle of beer if done for enjoyment of the taste, and not to avoid one's problems or alter one's thinking and emotions.

If I could tolerate alcohol, I would drink wine and have no problem with it.

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Because YOU James, do not understand what the scriptures are actually saying. You don't seem to understand the fact that "grape juice" did exist, and it did NOT need the 'pasteurization' as you erroneously think.

Jesus NEVER sinned, and that fact tells me that He never drank alcoholic wine.

Also, the bible calls both grape juice & fermented grape juice, wine.

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I was once told that the wine was "grape juice" - in other words, a cop out.

The Jews of the time had no way to prevent the fermentation of grape juice - hence, it was alcoholic.

Wine in biblical times and modern wine are different. Biblical wine was to help prevent water bourne illnesses. The water had many issues....umm people crapped in the streets and wiped their butts with their hands. Ick.

Wine is used many times to mean many different things from grape juice to vinegar to medicine. But the command from God is to be sober minded. One drink to 'unwind' means your mind has already been altered. It is, after all, liquid mind altering drugs.

Is that true?

Most Fundamentalist Protestants ban drinking wine?

That certainly has not been my experience!

- Jim, Fundamentalist Christian