I think that so far you're on the right track. Drinking isn't prohibited anywhere in the Bible, only getting drunk is. The idea that drinking is a sin, I believe came about during the Prohibition and it's stuck since then. As for people like John the Baptist? Nazarites (Samson) didn't drink fermented drinks (wine etc.) but they were a special case.There's a lot more to be said of course.
Yeah, scripture is pretty clear that wine consumption was the norm. Jesus turned water into wine (John 2), and it's implied that he drank wine in the comparison with John the Baptist. Paul recommended it to Timothy for medicinal purposes (1 Timothy 5:23).
OT scriptures present both sides of the coin; some commend it as a blessing to man and a joy to the heart (e.g. Ecclesiastes 9:7), others warn of its dangers, though excess is implied (Proverbs 23:29-35). Proverbs 31:4-7 is an interesting case; it seems to be altogether against it for kings and princes, but the effects described apply more to drunkenness.
I think Samuel Lopez is right about Prohibition being the source of the idea it's a sin. However, given how widespread this belief is, Romans 14:21 perhaps may apply in some situations.
For me personally, I've chosen not to partake of it for a couple of reasons:
- Given how strongly drunkenness is condemned, and the fact that I don't know if I have a genetic predisposition to alcoholism; I'd rather not take the risk of starting.
- I have no real need to partake of it. (There is some speculation that wine consumption was more common in the ancient world due to the difficulty of obtaining uncontaminated water)
- Romans 14:21 would possibly apply with some of the people I associate with.
It's not a sin, but I don't go around recommending it either.
I would agree that Romans 14:21 is a good reason not to drink alcohol.
As mentioned, drinking wine during biblical times and maybe after, could have been caused by the quality of drinking water. So, in that case it would have been done out of necessity, whereas today we have so many other types of non alcohol drinks, including drinkable water, that drinking wine or other alcohol would not be out of necessity, but out of desire.
Personally I have never met one person whose life was made better by consuming alcohol, but I have seen and known people whose lives were ruined and/or ended because of it. Romans 14:21 warns against doing anything, including drinking wine, that causes a brother to sin.
I would just add: be careful, it doesn't take much. That's why I used to and don't anymore.
