Your question is irrelevant to me. I don't drink alcohol. I gave it up in 1996. The reason why I am even bothering to address you on this subject is because you are misleading others to believe alcohol consumption, no matter what the amount or for what purpose, is sin.
As I mentioned before, strong alcoholic drinks are only sinful if you consume them for social reasons and not for medical reasons in a rare emergency.
Also, I have talked with people before who told me they gave up alcohol, but they still talk about it like it is God's gift to man. The problem here is that you are simply unaware that alcoholic drinks (of today) are technically a toxin or mild poison that the body's immune system can fight off (for the most part) in moderate consumption. The body cannot absorb alcohol and so it seeks to get rid of it. All calories from alcoholic beverages are empty calories and there is no nutritional value. Also, mothers who are pregnant are told not to drink alcohol because it can harm the child. In fact, even moderate use of alcohol continually can lead to having an irregular heartbeat, receiving a stroke, or heart failure (See this new medical study at this article
here). That is because alcohol is a poison. Once you realize alcohol is a poison and of empty value, you will see it as sinful. For Scripture says that if you defile God's temple, God will destroy that person (1 Corinthians 3:17).
31 "Do not gaze at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly!
32 In the end it bites like a snake and poisons like a viper." (
Proverbs 23:31-32 NIV).
You said:
What do you say about the instruction that was given in the Law to use tithe money to purchase strong drink if the people so desired it (see Deuteronomy 14:26). Would you say we should rip that portion out of the Scriptures because it encourages people to commit sin? And if it were a sin to consume alcohol, then why instruct the people to purchase it if they so desired? To accept your strong position on this subject, one must disagree with the Bible. Are you suggesting you are more inspired than Moses who instructed the Israelites to use tithe money to purchase either "wine or strong drink" as they desired?
There are three types of wine mentioned in the Bible.
Wine Type #1. - Unfermented Wine (Grape Juice).
Wine Type #2. - Wine mixed or diluted by three parts of water
(Wine Low in Alcoholic Content).
Wine Type #3. - Fully Fermented Wine (Wine High in Alcoholic Content).
The Israelite would buy alcoholic beverages with it being high in alcoholic content for storage and for medical reasons, but when it came time to drink it, they diluted it with water. For Scripture says, "She has prepared her meat; she has mixed her wine; she has also set her table." (Proverbs 9:2). In fact, a few chapters later: We learn that the Israelite did not drink strong drink or wine so that they might know that the Lord is God.
"Ye have not eaten bread, neither have ye drunk wine or strong drink: that ye might know that I
am the LORD your God" (Deuteronomy 29:6).
Side Note: Please keep in mind that there is a bad version of mixing wine in the Bible, as well. So yes, I am aware of such passages.
You said:
Regarding the word "sober": Words have different meanings depending on the context in which they are used. For example, people used to say "tempt" when they really meant "to test". Meanings of words can change over time. When you see the word "sober" in the Bible, it doesn't necessarily mean it is referring to abstaining from alcohol. The expression "sober minded" is best understood as: be watchful, discreet, maintain self-control. That could apply to anything. Not just alcohol. And one could consume alcohol and maintain self-control. It may seem impossible to you, but people do it every day.
This is simply not true. A study shows that even after one drink, people's reaction time in driving was seriously slowed from when they were sober. Also, to say that the Bible does not mean sober when it says sober is simply to re-write the Bible because we do not like that word.
You said:
The Bible warns people against being drunkards. It does not say alcohol consumption is sin. Do you also think cancer patients who use THC to treat their pain are sinning against God and on their way to hell? Are people also guilty of sin if they use medication which causes drowsiness?
As I said before, alcohol consumption (other than for medical reasons) is forbidden.
You said:
A person who is caught up in fanaticism will stop at nothing to make a point. Such people do not think rationally. I am afraid that's where you are on this subject.
I can say the same for you. Try doing your homework and look into how the many problems that arise from mild consumption of alcohol. Do a paper on it or something and get back to me.