Should Adventists Use Alcohol?
I have had people ask me, “If the word wine can be used for fermented or unfermented grape juice why cannot Adventists use alcohol?”
My response to this question is, “What has God done for you?”
This is not the expected response. It sometimes has the person pause to think for a time.
I read to them Revelation 1:5-6, “and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead. And the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, and has made us kings and priests unto God and his Father, to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.”
“Do you believe that Jesus has made us kings and priests?” “Did God really make all the members of the seven churches in Revelation chapters two and three kings and priests?” Notice that Jesus does not distinguish between overcomers and non-overcomers for this gift to members. What is more interesting is that these are the only groups Scripture forbids the use of Alcohol (and I expand this to recreational drugs.)
Leviticus 10 is the story of Nadab and Abihu being slain by holy fire from God. In this story, Leviticus 10:10-11 forbids priests from using wine and strong drink. The reason in verse eleven is the inability to tell holy from unholy and clean from unclean.
In Proverbs 31:4-5 Kings are forbidden to use wine and strong drink. The use of wine and strong drink will cause you to forget the law and pervert judgement.
So it does not matter if the word for wine can mean fermented or unfermented grape juice. What matters is, “What has God done for you?” If His word is true, and I believe it is, believers are kings and priests and therefore are forbidden from using wine and strong drink.
Why? Because those who use wine and strong drink cannot tell holy from unholy and clean from unclean. They will forget the law and pervert judgment. In these last days can you risk this? Then the Adventist stand on not using alcohol (and recreational drugs) is still correct.