Jesus was not a Teetotaler and Surprise--Facts about Tithing

Posted by Bible Probe on July 26, 2005 at 07:57:02:

Facts about Tithing

You may be shocked to learn that in a key Old Testament passage where tithing (the practice of donating 10% of one’s income for religious use) is discussed, God says in Deuteronomy 14:25-26:
25 Then shalt thou turn it into money, and bind up the money in thine hand, and shalt go unto the place which the LORD thy God shall choose:

26 And 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,

I mentioned the above to show that these churches that falsely teach that one MUST give 10% of their income to the (their) church is 100% off the mark.

This attitude/false doctrine has kept many Christians from giving help to places and charities in the world where it could be most needed--that may help further our 3rd commission Jesus left with us --spread the Gospel around the world.

Jesus Was NOT a Teetotaler

Before those of you look down on us Christians who drink occassionally, consider the fact that Jesus Himself drank alcoholic beverages... Also, remember that Paul advised Timothy to take wine to ease stomach pains...

The ancient Jews were a temperate people—temperate used in the right sense. They used light wine as part of the regular diet.

The New Testament nowhere says the Jews claimed Jesus (as the Messiah) should have been a teetotaler. Wine was used also at weddings, and our Lord clearly approved of the practice of wine drinking since he made wine from water when the wine was depleted at Cana (John 2:1–11).

In (1 Tim. 3:8) we clearly see with the word "much wine" it is understood that drinking wine is exceptable.

"Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;"

We’re also told in Proverbs 31:6-7, "Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts. Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more."

Jesus, you will recall, was called a wine-drinker (Matt. 11:19), the charge being not that he drank, but that he drank too much. Of course that charge of being gluttonous and a winebibber (drinking too much) was false regarding Jesus! The charge itself is recorded in Scripture, and it does reflect the fact that Jesus did drink alcoholic beverages, such as the wine that was required for use in the Jewish Passover seder.

Matthew 11:19 reads: "The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children."

Also, something seldom referred to by strict Christian groups is wine’s medicinal uses (Luke 10:34). You will recall that Paul advised Timothy to take wine to ease stomach pains (1 Tim. 5:23).

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