Alcoholic beverages in America and in the Bible
By Shelem Flemons

The word, "wine," occurring 231 times in 212 verses of scripture has always been a subject of much discussion as many denominations now teach that it is permissible to drink alcohol in moderation. In love for people of all faiths and all denominations, an alarm must be sounded. All who are willing to accept the Bible as the word of God and are concerned about the preservation of the family unit, the reduction of crime and the prevention and cure of diseases, must be warned that this theory could not be further from the truth. If you want to know the truth from the Bible, science, and history, this series of articles proves beyond any shadow of doubt that alcohol, even in moderation, in an insidious poison, a mind altering drug and we are only safe in total abstinence.

From an American historical perspective, most Protestant denominations understood and taught that alcohol in any amount was lethal to the health and happiness of society. Around the turn of the century, millions of drinking Catholic immigrants moved from Europe to the industrialized cities of America. Concerned about the moral fall of society that is always the result of an increase in alcohol consumption, Protestants succeeded in added the 18th Amendment to the Constitution. This amendment, prohibiting the manufacture, sale and transportation of alcohol came to be known as the Prohibition Amendment.

?Rural and small town values were being challenged by rapidly industrializing cities. Millions of new immigrants mostly Roman Catholics from Eastern and Southern Europe were viewed as a threat by the Protestant majority. Prohibition was an attempt to reassert what were considered traditional American values and to force newer members of the population into a lifestyle that they were unwilling to accept. Prohibition was enacted because rural, small-town America held the balance of power in state legislatures and in Washington, D.C.? Excerpt from Compton?s Interactive Encyclopedia, 1994,1995.

According to most historians, the prohibition amendment was a failure and after about 14 years from January 29, 1920 until December 5, 1933, this amendment was repealed. When one identifies the forces that led to the crumbling of the Prohibition movement, it seems that the ?battle over booze? was actually a religious war, a crusade of professed Christians defending the teachings of their coveted churches. Although it was illegal to manufacture, sell, and / or transport liquor during those years, alcohol continued to be distributed illegally by the Italian Mafia (also Catholic) with its celebrated bosses such as Al Capone. As organized crime emerged and slit the throat of the Prohibition Amendment, Protestants gave up the fight and they finally proposed a toast together.

?They obtained their liquor supplies from a newly emerging big business called organized crime. The old ethnic city gangs found a new and highly rewarding enterprise in smuggling liquor into the United States. Bootlegging, the illegal manufacturing and selling of liquor, became so profitable that a whole new criminal empire emerged from it. The most famous name in crime was Al Capone, but each city had its own underworld leader, and some cities had several.? Excerpted from Compton?s Interactive Encyclopedia. Copyright (c) 1994, 1995.

This series of articles is not an attack against Catholics, but a lesson in history showing how alcohol made its way into American legal acceptance. In part 2 we will begin to discuss the history of alcohol in the Bible. You will learn that "wine" may not have been what you thought it was.

Look for part 2 in the next issue of the Union Sentinel. Shelem Flemons is the Director and Chaplain of Times of Refreshing Chapel and Biblical Health Ministry. Times of Refreshing will be conducting a free seminar on Natural Remedies entitled "Natural Remedies From Head To Toe" Learn how to treat everything from headaches to athletes feet with natural remedies God made. Seminar is 7:00 p.m. , Tuesday August 1, 2006. Healthy refreshments are served and children are welcomed.