Marriage being an honourable thing (Heb. 13:4), marriage feasts are essential to make it so.  In that old, but good marriage proceedings of Isaac and Rebekah, this ingredient of honour (the feast) was part of it (Gen. 24:54).  Apart from this, the Lord attended a marriage solemnization and provided wine for the feast (Jn. 2:1 11).  He also used a natural human wedding ceremony/feast to illustrate the divine marriage feast that has been slated for the marriage of the Son of God and His bride, the raptured church, after the rapture (cons. Mtt. 22:1 14; Lk. 14:15 24; Rev. 19:6 9).

 

Though marriage feasts are Biblical and should be practised, yet in practising them, our moderation must be made known to all men (Phi. 4:5).  This means that to borrow money and stage elaborate and lavish marriage feasts and become debtors thereafter would be sinful for true believers.

 

Serving alcoholic drinks in marriage feasts (or elsewhere) is not the practice of true believers, being sinful.  To argue that the Lord turned water into wine at the marriage feast of Canna in Galilee, or that Paul enjoined Timothy to use wine is to concede ignorance of, and/or un yeildedness to the following truths:

 

1. Wine In Scriptures: There are three categories of wine shown in the Scriptures, vizdly:
2. AWine, as the unfermented and non alcoholic juice, pressed out of the fruit (ripe grapes) of the vine (Mtt. 26:27 29);
3. AWine, the fermented and alcoholic juice of grapes (Gen. 9:20 21; 19:31 35);
4. AStrong drink, fermented and alcoholic wine made stronger by mixing with some drugs.

 

1. Wine Is A Mocker (Prov. 20:1; 21:17; 23:31 35; Gen. 9:20 25; 19:31 35).

 

It is because of the above situations that alcoholic wine was forbidden to priests, Nazarites (those separated and consecrated to God’s special service) and kings, all being men separated for God’s service (Lev. 10:9; Numb. 6:3; Prov. 31:1 7; Lk. 1:15).

 

All born again believers have been made kings and priests, therefore, have nothing to do with alcoholic or strong drinks (1Pt. 2:5; Rev. 1:4 6).  Those who argue in favour of alcohol have nothing to do with God’s service.

 

At the marriage feast of Canna, the Lord could not have made alcoholic or strong drinks, since He knew all the above Scriptures and would never have done contrary to God’s word (cp. Heb. 10:9).  Also, apostle Paul=s advice to pastor Timothy was not to enjoy alcoholic wine or strong drink, but to use some wine as medicine for his ailment (1Tim. 5:23).

 

Fellowship Song:   HSCF 185