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“ Alcohol ” The "wine really means grape juice" is a Mormon belief. It's an example of clear Scripture being muddied to fit a church belief.
From a societal standpoint, condemning alcohol was a valid belief. Alcohol was destroying families wholesale in the early 1900's leading to the Prohibition Movement. The Prohibition Movement was not a religious movement. It was a response to what was occuring in society. Somehow, it managed to become doctrine in many churches.
Jeanne Levrier (8/10/2006)
from Texas
“ Scripture teaches the wisdom of abstinence ” The recommendation of changing the Church Covenant is unfounded based on what the Encyclopedia(quoted in sermon as partial support for change) or other uninspired writings which are given and influenced the sermon. The Church Covenant stands according to the complete word of God taken as a whole. The Bible Support basis for the sermon was Romans 14,consider also the words of the prophets and poets of the Old Testament.
# Proverbs 20:1
Wine is a mocker,Strong drink is a brawler, And whoever is led astray by it is not wise.
# Proverbs 31:6
Give strong drink to him who is perishing, And wine to those who are bitter of heart.
Read Proverbs 23: 29-35 Who has Woe?Who has strife? This is a vivid description of the devasting and deceptiveness of alcohol consumption.
Consider Ephesians 5:18
18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit,
Richard Weinber (8/9/2006)
from Australia
“ Great Sermon! ” Greg I listened to this message on alcohol consumption and "technically" agree with you as I do on most of you sermons, but here is the BUT, you fail to take into consideration our culture, and maybe if Paul reappeared today and saw the massive damage and health costs to the western world he would strongly advise to avoid it like the plague. I am speaking from a position of experience here as my father is suffering and will most likely die from alcohol abuse in the near future. Alcohol as we know it today is the curse of western civilisation, maybe the muslims are wiser than us on this one.
God Bless Brother I love your ministry and will continue to listen.
Richard Flanders (1/30/2005)
from Merrimack, NH
“ The whole truth ” Finally, an accurate historical treatise on how American Baptist churches departed from the biblical position on alcohol. This is a wonderful and courageous sermon.
I've always found it curious how fundamental preaching can be so exact and literal with nearly every word of scripture, but then stumble completely on the word 'wine'. It is fascinating that this conflict between what the Bible says and Baptist tradition can be traced to Charles Finney in the 1830s and his alliance with the prohibition movement of industrial America.
Thank you for preaching the whole truth!
Rob (11/14/2004)
from Virginia
“ Intellectual Honesty ” This one got me started on his teaching. I have always wondered why some teachers want you to use a script to study some passages. I like being able to accept all of scripture without dishonesty in the name of Christ.
If you are willing to see what the
Bible really says, you are ready to hear Gregory Barkman's wonderful expository preaching!
Chris M (10/13/2004)
from Australia
“ This Barkman bloke is a legend! ” It must take considerable courage to publically proclaim what is a simple and clear bible truth when 99.9% of other Baptists just won't accept it and many will probably denounce him. So many preachers have gone to extraordinary lengths to twist simple bible facts into saying the opposite: "We know it says wine in the KJV but it really means juice". Lets hope he will go one step further and use proper wine and bread in the Lords Supper, just as the Lord himself told us to. Cheap grape juice and dry crackers are an affront to Christ IMHO, but are appropriate for many given the state of the worldly, apostate churches.
Michael Coggins (9/6/2004)
from Titusville, FL
“ This is good stuff ” This is they way that people need to be taught.. what does the scripture say... i would encourage all to listen to Pastor Barkmans series on the interpretation of scripture. If you liked this sermon, than you'll love this one...Thanks Pastor B.
Larry Foxx (6/5/2004)
from Coatesville, Pennsylvania
“ Unadulterated TRUTH! ” I so much appreciated the opportunity to listen to this carefully exegeted, scripturally and historically based sermon. For too many years, I had been parroting the phrase "to abstain from the sale and use of intoxicating drink as a beverage" as part of the church creed in a former church. Everytime I said it, I cringed knowing it was extra-biblical, without scriptural foundation.
Praise God for a faithful servant who declares the whole counsel of God, without feeling the need to cave in to the traditions of men. Sola Scriptura!
Thank you Pastor Barkman.
KD (5/24/2004)
from SC
“ Exactly! ” I agree that the "whole counsel of God" is the proper object of our preaching. That's the point! Romans 14 is very clear in it's teaching about relationships, and that the unity of the church isn't to be sacrificed at the expense of individual preferences. It's perfectly fine for you to have convictions of abstinence for yourself and your family; it is a good and reasonable position, and it is fine for you to hold it. The Scripture is clear about the dangers of alcohol and drunkeness. But you can't ignore this essential teaching from Romans 14 about the church. If the Bible teaches it, then you can't pretend it's not there. This is indeed preaching the whole counsel of God.
BH (5/22/2004)
from USA
“ Great Sermon! -cont'd ” The old addage of "we don't major on the minors" is a cop out. There is no such thing as minor doctrines in the Scripture. They are all major because they are all divinely inspired.
(2 Tim. 3:16-17)
"ALL SCRIPTURE is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works."
Every word is God breathed and every word of God is important.
(Matt. 4:4)
"But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by EVERY word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God."
Let's get back to preaching the WHOLE counsel of God.
BH (5/22/2004)
from USA
“ Great Sermon! ” However, a church has every right to protect its outward testimony and to glorify the holiness of our glorified Savior.
The reason why this issue is being brought up is that so many Christians are looking for logical excuses and human reasoning to justify their drinking habits. Nevermind the drunk husbands who are beating up their wives and children. Nevermind the drunk drivers who kill innocent people.
(Prov. 20:1)
Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.
(Prov. 23:29-33)
[29] Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes? [30] They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine. [31] Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright. [32] At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder. [33] Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things.
(1 Cor. 6:19-20)
What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.
Liberty or License?
KD (5/22/2004)
from SC
“ First, take a look at the title of the sermon ” According to the sermon title, the question at hand that brother Barkman is trying to address is what position his individual church should take on this issue in their covenant. He is teaching from Romans 14 that the Bible forbids the local church from excluding people from membership based on their views of alcohol or other non-essential matters. An individual's decision on this matter of liberty should not even be considered in deciding whether or not to have fellowship with him. You may decide to drink moderately or not to drink; this is your liberty before God. But you may not force your views on other believers using the leverage of the church.
Frank Warren (5/21/2004)
from Topeka, KS
“ Please Listen To BOTH Sides Of This Issue Before Making A Decision ” I'm going to be honest and say I don't agree with Pastor Barkman's position on this issue, but it's always good to hear from both sides of an issue. One could listen to this sermon and come to the conclusion that it's OK for Christians to drink, so long as they don't get drunk. But BEFORE you make a conclusion on this issue, I recommend you listen to a sermon by a preacher that gives a very strong argument on why all Christians should abstain from drinking alcoholic beverages. My favorite is by Dr. Greg Mazak called "The Beverage Use Of Alcohol," which can be found at this link: http://www.sermonaudio.com/ser moninfo.asp?sermonID=970221356
Coho (4/22/2004)
from Midway City
“ Good sermon in his context. ” When listen to this sermon, one must remember what church context were Barkman addressing. He was trying to get the church's covenant back to the bibilical ground (from being overzealous on prohibitionists' position). However in doing so, Barkman did not stress the responsibility of the "strong in faith", who should restrain themselves for the sake of not making "the weak in faith" stumble as well. In any case, Barkman had gut to go against the grain and to speak out against legalism from the pulpit, an action which could cost him big time!
Stephen Walker (3/5/2004)
from KY
“ Great Sermon! ” Finally a biblical-driven sermon on alcohol instead of the emotional-driven ones that pick one scripture condemning drunkards or else says that wine in the Bible was really grape juice, which all honest scholars in Old or New Testaments can easily refute from simple Jewish history of wine drinking and, most importantly, the scriptures themselves. By the way, I am a non-drinker 99 percent of the time. I may have a beer or glass of wine once a year. Anyway, why did they call Jesus a winebibber if it was grape juice? Why did Paul not condemn the church for drinking alcoholic wine instead of just telling them not to overindulge in wine in church but to go home to drink? I believe alcoholics, of course, should avoid alcohol like a snake and the Bible teaches this too. But the so-called "7 deadly sins" include gluttony also. Does this mean we must practice abstinence with food? Ridiculous! Let everyone choose abstinence, which is good, if that is what their conscience tells them, but not condemn temporate, moderate drinkers. Let us unite under the banner of Christ and the Holy Spirit and not let nonessentials split us. Drunkards will not inherit the kingdom but the Lord also condemns the practice of dividing the church, judging, etc.Our town voted out wine sale so it's sold unlawful
James (4/9/2002)
from Radford Va.
“ Great Courage ” I have listened to Brother Barkman's message on alcohol and scripture. I have concluded he is Biblical and has the right spirit concerning the issue. It has taken great courage to face this issue, especially living here in the southland.
Gregory N. Barkman moved to Alamance County, North Carolina, with his wife Marti in 1973 at the invitation of nineteen believers who desired to begin a new independent Baptist church. A stong proponent of expository preaching, Pastor Barkman teaches regularly from the Beacon...
