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Concerning The Propriety of
Drinking Alcoholic Wine
An Exchange of Letters on Various Matters
Concerning Alcoholic Wine
In the Old and New Testaments there are many commandments and rules which are all based on heavenly righteousness. I understand that these laws were given so that people, as they were at that time, could have a relationship with the Lord, through His Laws. Perhaps the majority of the first Christians didn't see anything wrong with wine containing alcohol, and that this was the reason why Paul did not forbid the Christian people to drink it in the Lord's Supper, though it would have better if they had not. But he did not mention this because the Christian people were to use their free agency (at last), and it was important to state for the Christian people (freed from the Letter) that the Spirit and God's mercy was the better way for them in contrast to the Old Covenant. In this process (going from the Letter to the Spirit), it was important to let the people understand that the most important thing was to live under His mercy and not get hung on certain doctrines, because His mercy was, and is also today, "enough" for us to live by. For this reason, I will not blame anyone who partakes of the Lord's Supper drinking wine containing alcohol. Let them do so, if their conscience is pure before the Lord. Moreover, I don't think wine containing alcohol exists in the heavens. Therefore I also believe that alcohol is a result of the fall of man and that people with a higher level of light would automatically avoid alcohol, understanding that this poison pollutes the temple (body), which should be pure before the Lord.
It is very important that every man and woman who has "met" Jesus in one way or another and received His victory on the cross, continues to love Him, and grow in grace day by day, by His mercy, and find the better way as He reveals the more perfect pattern to them through the written Word or through personal revelation, etc.. Don't misunderstand me, I am not saying that people should ignore the Laws of God, but rather focus on the greater commandments, i.e. to "love your neighbour as yourself", because if a man doesn't have love, he is nothing. It is important for a man to focus on the higher laws which really count. People who have seen or experienced the true Jesus often change dramatically in character from being a "read-the Letter" person to a "love-your-neighbour" person. It's so much easier to live that way -- under His mercy and love. I know that these thoughts are well known to you, and that every Christian man and woman ought to be familiar with them.
The Patriarch, Prophet and Apostle
I have read about a woman who was taken up into heaven and saw the spirits of the martyrs dressed in white clothes, pure and transparent. In their left hand they had a golden censer and in their right hand a little book. And from the midst and around where these people were gathered, a pyramid arose, and in the midst there were pearls and the most precious stones. It was covered with crosses of spiritually made diamonds. And on these were inscribed the names of the souls who had suffered for their love of the truth, and who had invested all their life for it, until death had set them free from all persecutions.
On this pillar three spirits were standing in a humble and worshipping position. In their uplifted hands they held a cross, and from this a banner unfolded all the time.
"These ones," an angel said, "are chosen -- one patriarch, one prophet and one apostle. They form a trinity of holy ones and they shall be in the service of the Son of Man when He returns. They shall go out on the great day, and gather the chosen ones from the four winds, from the utmost part of the earth to the utmost part of heaven. The books the spirits are holding in their hands reveal the mystery of creation, the redemption of man, and the laws which the God-fearing souls shall keep throughout all eternity." (Life After Death by Marietta Davis, August 1848).
I felt very special about this, as if it might have something to do with this restoration work of the New Covenant.
Trond Standnes
Ytre Arna, Hordaland, Norway
Former Pastor, Bergen Congregation
Reply from the Patriarchate
The official position of the New Covenant is that the consumption of alcohol was permitted as a concession to human weakness as well as being a medical necessity at a time when pure, safe drinking water was difficult to come by. There is no "law" banning the consumption of alcohol in the New Covenant generally any more than there is a law banning Coca Cola or other common beverages that contain harmful substances. The law of Christ states, however, that the physical body is a temple of the Holy Spirit and should be treated as such, and that a person thus treating his body will reap many spiritual blessings, such as heightened spiritual awareness as well as better physical health. The New Covenant Church does not condemn other Christians for drinking alcohol, Coca Cola, or anything else, for such would be to undermine grace. It has, however, voluntarily limited itself by abstaining from these things so that it can fulfil its mission to be a prophetic people living close to the Spirit. It therefore expects it members to abide by these rules. It should be added, however, that the scriptures do place an alcohol ban on the Priesthood for the very reasons stated above; and since those born of the Spirit are a "royal priesthood", it follows that a genuine priesthood will wish to abstain from alcohol. We would therefore question, with some justification I think, the discernment of a people claiming to be Christian who also consume alcohol. They must, however, follow their own consciences based on the light which they have. It is our contention, however, that anyone who makes a serious, prayerful study of the Bible will essentially arrive at the position of the New Covenant Church.
This page was created on 1 June 1998
Last updated on 1 June 1998
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