Rev.J. Thungjamo Lotha | Kathmandu
Introduction:
Any family that has a drunkard in it could tell us how devastating it is to be living with such a person. But how much more devastating it is to miss out on heaven, to not inherit the kingdom of God because of being a “drunkard,” (1 Cor. 6: 9-11). The Saint Paul lists among the unrighteous those who are “drunkards.” Although this is only one type of unrighteousness, this short paper will only focus on the “drunkard.”
“Total Liquor Prohibition Act in Nagaland” is the catch word today in Nagaland. The writer of this paper has also been hearing from some Naga Christians questions such as: “If wine is regarded as sin why did Paul advise Timothy to take wine for his stomach? Why not other medicines? Why did Jesus turn the water into wine? Why did he choose wine?” Regardless of the motive behind such questions, this author feels that these are good questions. Such questions have led to in-depth research regarding the “wine” prescribed by Paul for the stomach ailment of Timothy, and the water that was turned into wine by Jesus. Hence, before the main issue—why drunkards cannot inherit the kingdom of God is discussed—the writer wants to give some answers to the aforementioned questions.
1. The wine prescribed by Paul for Timothy was for his stomach ailment (1 Tim. 5: 23):
In 1 Timothy 5: 23, we find St. Paul advising Timothy, “No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for your stomach’s sake and your frequent infirmities” Paul advised Timothy to take a little wine, not a bottle of liquor. It was for his stomach ailment and not for a pleasure. Paul advised Timothy to take “a little wine,” as a medicine, not to be drunk but for healing. Bryan Matthew Dockens is right when he states that
“The specific purpose for which Timothy was permitted the slight use of wine was its health benefit. It was not given as a social beverage, but as medicine. In particular, it was given for a remedy, not for prevention. Timothy was already known by Paul to experience frequent stomach trouble when the apostle suggested the use of a little wine to alleviate his ailment. The regular use of wine to prevent illness is not under consideration and is nowhere authorized in Scripture.
It was not sin, because it was prescribed as a medicine. It was not for a regular use either. Paul was very specific in his prescription. He said, “a little wine” an amount much less than a full bottle or even a quarter bottle of liquor as is taken by some of our people who then get drunk.
2. Jesus turning water into wine was fresh grape juice (John 2: 1-11.)
The passage of John 2: 1-11 talks about the first miracle of Jesus Christ at the wedding at Cana in Galilee, the turning of water into wine. The question here is “Why did Jesus choose wine?” We can also add one more question, “Was the wine referred to there the same kind of beverage that we speak about today?”
We have an answer from Kevin Cauley:
It cannot be correctly assumed just from a glance at the word wine in John 2: 1-11 that this necessarily refers to an alcoholic beverage. Those who do so ignore the greater context of scripture and how this word is used in the ancient world. Sometimes it is used to refer to intoxicating beverages such as in Isaiah 5: 11 “Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink; that continue until night, till wine inflame them!” However, sometimes it is used to refer to the fresh squeezed juice of the grape such as in Proverbs 3: 9, 10 “Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the first fruits of all your increase: So that your barns be filled with plenty, and your presses shall burst out with new wine.” What comes out of the “wine press?” Does it come out as an alcoholic beverage? No, it comes out as grape juice, which must subsequently be processed and fermented in order to make alcohol. But the Bible describes this fresh juice of the grape as “new wine.” Notice also Matthew 9: 17 “Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runs out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved.” The very concept of “new wine” here is the unfermented type because the process of putting it into bottles is what causes the fermentation and the subsequent stretching of the wineskin. Wine in these contexts refers to non-alcoholic beverages. The word “wine” that we find in John 2: 1-11 is used to describe a non-alcoholic beverage. As Kevin Cauley states, Jesus knew the Old Testament scriptures better than anyone alive. Would he knowingly violate those scriptures to satisfy the festive spirit of his fellow men” Would he do something upon which the Holy Spirit himself had pronounced a woe? Could Jesus cause someone to be drunk with wine and remain sinless?
3. Unrighteous cannot inherit the kingdom of God.
The Bible emphatically warns us that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God: "Or do you not know that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, shall inherit the kingdom of God." (I Cor. 6:9-11).
As God is holy, no form of unrighteousness will inherit the kingdom of God. Paul lists 10 types of people that typify unrighteous ways of living. The drunkard is included in that list and is in danger of missing out on the kingdom of God. Jon W. Quinn has rightly stated, “Children of God have no need to cloud their perspectives nor dull their senses. We must be able to think and reason clearly. Drunkenness causes one to lose focus and rationality. Those who give themselves over to intoxication will find that it keeps them from entering heaven.”
One may think that it since the drinks enters the physical mouth and not the “spiritual mouth” it is possible to defile the one while keeping the other holy. The Bible writers saw the “different aspects of our human nature: body, soul, spirit, mind flesh, etc as a unity, as one living being…. A physical side, a mental side, and a spiritual side… are all interrelated.” Based on this idea, Taylor writes, “Our physical condition can affect our attitudes to other people, or a poor spiritual relationship can cause actual physical pain or sickness in our physical bodies.” This is why Jesus warned his disciples, “woe to the world because of the things that cause people to sin. Such things must come, but woe to the men through whom they come! If your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life maimed or crippled than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire. And if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into fire of hell.” (Matt. 18: 7-9). Our spiritual life cannot be separated from our physical body.
4. What does it mean when it says that the unrighteous cannot inherit the kingdom of God? Does it mean reward in heaven or eternal life itself?
There are two schools of thought on this:
For example, Zane Hodges and Joseph have classified the believers into two categories: (1) the righteous believer and (2) the unrighteous believer. Here the writer quotes the teaching of Zane and Joseph Dillow in toto:
Hodges and Dillow’s idea is that there are two categories of people who will be saved: the spiritual and the carnal, the overcomers (Rev. 2-3), and the non-overcomers, the “partakers” (Heb. 3:14), and the “non-partakers.”
Another school of thought comes from George Zeller who argues that if Hodges & Dillow’s view “were correct, then Paul should have said in 1 Corinthians 6: 9, ‘and such are some of you.’” but instead he says that “such were some of you” indicating that the believer has been washed of such old styles of living. Zeller further states:
When Paul speaks of the “unrighteous” (unjust) in 1 Corinthians 6:9 he is not speaking of some carnal, unworthy, unpersevering members of the Body and Bride of Christ. No, Paul uses the term “unrighteous” (unjust) as a description of unsaved, unregenerate, lost people. This term “unjust” is clearly defined for us in the context of this chapter. In verse 1 Paul says, “Dare any of you having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints?” (1 Cor. 6:1). Paul clearly distinguishes two groups: 1) The unjust (the unsaved) and 2) the saints (the saved). These same two groups are seen in verses 9-11. In verse 9-10 we have the unrighteous (unjust) which are the unsaved. They will not inherit the kingdom. In verse 11 we have those who are justified and sanctified. These are the saints (the saved) who will inherit the kingdom. There is no such thing as a saint or a saved person who will not inherit the kingdom, contrary to the teachings of Hodges and Dillow. It is needless to state that only the righteous will inherit the kingdom of God. Hence, let us not be deceived by our fleshly desires.
We can look at two different passages in the Bible that talk about “to inherit eternal life,” or “to get eternal life.” In Luke 18:18, it says “to inherit eternal life.” Whereas in Matthew 19:15, it says, “to get eternal life.” But we should know that to “inherit” means “to possess, to receive, (and) to have.” George Zeller is right when he states that “to inherit the kingdom (of God) means to possess the kingdom, to have a place and a part in the kingdom (cf. Rev. 20:6 “part”), to participate in its blessings and benefits. Those who do not inherit the kingdom are those who do not possess it, who have no part in it. They are excluded from the kingdom and its benefits.”
Conclusion:
How sobering to think that one might miss out on inheriting the kingdom of God for being a “drunkard,” to lose a holy inheritance because of unrighteous living. Let us not be deceived by our fleshly desires. One can enjoy the life here and now without fornication and adultery, without being an effeminate, a homosexual, an idolater, a reviler, a thief or even a swindler. And happiness comes from being filled with the Holy Spirit (Eph. 5: 18), not with covetousness nor wine. Didn’t Jesus teach us to pray that God’s kingdom would come and that his will would be done on earth as it is in heaven? When we pray and live this way, planet earth is like a second paradise. But this second paradise can be turned into a hell if one does not know how to live a meaningful, purposeful and joyful life given by our Lord- Jesus Christ (John 10:10).
We have a good news, and the good news is “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness,” (1 John 1: 9). Jesus still loves us despite all our unrighteousness. Let us therefore be transformed by the renewal of our mind (Rom. 12: 2) and be righteous to inherit the kingdom of God!
