The first battle I had to fight post salvation was with alcohol consumption. It was a battle between the two natures in me: Spirit man and Carnal man. Is drinking a sin for Christians? There are Christians who drink and quote scriptures in support, are they right? What quantity will be just sufficient to wash down food and still keep the head sober? These and such questions kept nagging at my mind even as the thirst kept luring me to the bars. The following is an account of how the battle was won.

One of the scriptures people quote readily in support of alcohol consumption is 1Tim5:23 where Paul advised Timothy to use a little wine for your stomach's sake and your frequent infirmities. Paul was not giving a license for alcohol consumption here. He was recommending wine as mere medication, and as in all medications, in moderate dosage but relevant at their own time because of the limited level of medical knowledge.

This is not be the only time where medical use of wine was mentioned in the Bible. The Good Samaritan, in the parable told by Jesus poured oil and wine on the wounds of the casualty as first aid (Luke 10:34). This might show that wine was used widely as medication. Nowadays, medical science is very advanced and still improving. No one treats wounds with wine now, but we have methylated spirit and iodine among others used for first aid treatment of wounds.

The earliest occurrence of wine in the Bible was immediately after the deluge when Noah planted a vineyard and got drunk from the fruits thereof (Gen 9:20). Later, Lot also got drunk with wine and did not know when his own daughters slept with him to raise offspring.

A good study of the Old Testament showed that Israel made free and acceptable use of wine and strong drinks. Deut 14:25,26 is a useful reference. We must not forget that there was even a wine offering to God (Lev 23:13) Nevertheless, God still gave some caveats. Priests and Levites were not to take wine or intoxicating liquor when attending to God's duties else they die (Lev 10:9). This commandment was repeated through Ezekiel in Ezek44:21. He warned: No Priest shall drink wine when he enters the inner court.

This dispensation's allowance still held up to the time of Jesus ministry. Some have argued that the wine they drank then was not intoxicating but the scriptures did not say so. The Pharisees called Jesus a glutton and a winebibber (Mt 11:19 KJV). The apostles were accused of being drunk with wine

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