The History of Alcohol in America and in the Bible
To the Editor:

As we progress into the New Testament, what most Christians forget is that when the New Testament writers spoke of and upheld scripture, they were speaking of and upholding the Old Testament scriptures. Christ Himself was no exception. "And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself." Luke 24:27. Their lives and writings would become the New Testament, but it was not finished yet. Other than the ordinances, a part of the ceremonial laws which were nailed to the cross, the New Testament writers upheld binding claims and teachings of the Old Testament. With that thought in mind, Jesus in John chapter 2 did not turn water into a mind altering, addictive drug at the Jewish wedding. He made grape juice, for the Jews understood that alcohol was prohibited by scripture. Paul in 1 Timothy 5:23, was not prescribing a little Budweiser or Busch for the stomach's sake. A little physiology would tell us that we seek alkaline substances such as Tums and Rolaids when we have an upset stomach. We don't go to the liquor store and buy a bottle of "Mad Dog 20/20" to cure our indigestion. Grape juice is alkaline. It is one of nature's antacids. When it ferments, it becomes acidic and would not be good for your stomach's sake. The Bible declares in Hosea 4:6, "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge." In the spirit of love, I would ask, "If Union County is primarily a Bible based community, why was the vote so close?"

Shelem Flemmons