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Drinking With Calvin and Luther: The Reformational View of Beer and Wine
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July 17, 2024
CAN CHRISTIANS DRINK ALCOHOL? CALVIN AND LUTHER SAID "YES"
Author Jim West wrote in the Preface to the 1995 first edition of this booklet, "This book contains snapshots of the drinking joys of the Protestant Reformers and some of their heirs. Its purpose is historical instead of exegetical. Our mission is not to counter every verse used by Christian Prohibitionists who have created a 'cult of abstinence'... Our goal is to focus upon the great Protestant Reformers, especially Luther and Calvin. Just as our Lord came eating and drinking, so did Luther and Calvin. Their godly example teaches us that we should not hesitate to receive all God's gifts with gratitude. We should be able to eat bread and drink wine to the glory of God (1 Cor 10:31)!"
He admits that "Of course, the Bible condemns winos as well as whiners. Drunkenness is sinful. There is a correspondence between drugs and witchcraft... The Spirit-filled Christian experiences self-control. He will be able to drink in moderation, while praising God excessively." (Pg. 11-12)
He notes that "It is instructive that John Wesley was a teetotaler, which does not mean what many temperance fire-eaters suppose. A teetotaler was a person who was 'totally off tea.' Yet, Wesley was something of an ale expert! (Many of the early Methodist preachers were paid with rum!)" (Pg. 29)
He later reports, "certain enemies of the church have slandered the godly by accusing them of drunkenness by purposefully equating moderation with inebriation. A good example in the twentieth century was J. Gresham Machen... Machen was perceived by his liberal enemies ... as sympathetic toward drunkenness... certain rumors began to circulate (by the Devil!) that Machen was a drunk! It was commonly reported that Machen made all his money in the brewery business..." (Pg. 31)
This is an interesting, popular Reformed perspective on the issue of Christians and alcohol.
Author Jim West wrote in the Preface to the 1995 first edition of this booklet, "This book contains snapshots of the drinking joys of the Protestant Reformers and some of their heirs. Its purpose is historical instead of exegetical. Our mission is not to counter every verse used by Christian Prohibitionists who have created a 'cult of abstinence'... Our goal is to focus upon the great Protestant Reformers, especially Luther and Calvin. Just as our Lord came eating and drinking, so did Luther and Calvin. Their godly example teaches us that we should not hesitate to receive all God's gifts with gratitude. We should be able to eat bread and drink wine to the glory of God (1 Cor 10:31)!"
He admits that "Of course, the Bible condemns winos as well as whiners. Drunkenness is sinful. There is a correspondence between drugs and witchcraft... The Spirit-filled Christian experiences self-control. He will be able to drink in moderation, while praising God excessively." (Pg. 11-12)
He notes that "It is instructive that John Wesley was a teetotaler, which does not mean what many temperance fire-eaters suppose. A teetotaler was a person who was 'totally off tea.' Yet, Wesley was something of an ale expert! (Many of the early Methodist preachers were paid with rum!)" (Pg. 29)
He later reports, "certain enemies of the church have slandered the godly by accusing them of drunkenness by purposefully equating moderation with inebriation. A good example in the twentieth century was J. Gresham Machen... Machen was perceived by his liberal enemies ... as sympathetic toward drunkenness... certain rumors began to circulate (by the Devil!) that Machen was a drunk! It was commonly reported that Machen made all his money in the brewery business..." (Pg. 31)
This is an interesting, popular Reformed perspective on the issue of Christians and alcohol.
Displaying 1 of 1 review