It pains me to see the leader of a denomination that wants to be known for fidelity to the Bible misuse it. Drunkeness is condemned in the Bible. Drinking alcohol is not. While one can lead to another, the conclusion that the Bible requires abstinence from alcohol is neither Biblical nor logical. Virtually every pleasure has a proper and improper outlet: food, work, money, and sex to name a few. To conclude that the Bible requires us to totally abstain from anything that can be misused would cause havoc in many other areas of life.
I must comment on the reference to the Nazirite vows as a justification for abstaining. Numbers 6:3 states that one making a Nazirite vow must abstain not only from wine but also vinegar, grapes and raisins. No Baptist I know of refuses to use vinegar or eat grapes. The real problem is that this position, because it is hypocritical, undermines the message of the Gospel from the Baptists, who, on so many other areas are standing for the truth.

I support the freedom to consume alcohol but warn all those who do so to be careful that it does not addict and enslave you.

As to the SBC being against alcohol....I believe they also forbid speaking in tongues and the Word says:
1 Corinthians 14:39
39Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.

It is because of such twisted doctrine that I will not submit to a worldly authority such as the SBC.

I challenge all of you out there to read the scriptures daily and ask God to teach you with His Holy Spirit what He is saying to us. Do not allow others to take authority over you and question all of what you are told by the Standard of God's Word. If you do this you may find that suddenly you cannot agree with much of what is taught. Jesus broke the slavery of a man made priesthood yet Christians construct these chains of authority over themselves again and again. Think for yourselves and be led by the Spirit...not men! Wine is a minor issue

This is always a contentious issue. The way I see it is with all the beverage choices we now have, why choose alcohol? I for one always like to be FULLY in control of my senses.

A few verses that have stood out to me that NO ONE ever mentions in the baptist church are Luke 7: 33,34, 33For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, 'He has a demon.' 34The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say, 'Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and "sinners." Jesus drank wine! Enough for there to be accusations that he was a drunkard. Why is this never heard???

Another attempt to come to a conclusion that is just not in the Bible. So many verses were left out to let the reader take a complete view of this topic. Over 250 times the word strong drink or wine is used in the Bible with well over 50% of them being on the positive side. When the Bible says wine it means wine not grape juice, why is the this so hard to believe. The last conclusion does not even begin to "hold water". If I applied the same concept to the Internet industry that Ms. Patterson uses against the wine industry I would be laughed at. Internet Porn is probably one of the most horrific "silent" killers of families, marriages, ect.... but I'm on the Internet right now so I guess it's unspiritual of me to use my Internet service provider as they are "contributing to the sustenance of an industry" that allows folks to surf for porn. I felt like I was watching "CNN" when reading this article, totally biased towards one view and not giving the full story to be evaluated.

Well...although a abstainer, you have not used all of the scriptures (only a abstenece bias alone)...the "Corinth church" did get drunk...too much wine,,, and the miracle at Cana, Jesus first... was not a grape juice wedding...sorry.

Moderation is good and abolition a choice... but bias standards are not what learned / honest leaders,believers are looking for...keep it honest and true please...that's what Jesus would do! Proverbs is interesting too!

In taking the position of total abstinence of alcohol (a position that I personally choose for myself) we must be careful not to overstate our case, which I feel this article does. The author feels compelled to make this a cut and dry issue, but the Bible does no such thing. As a result, he is forced to use fallacious logic and bad hermeneutics in his arguments. I wish I could cite examples, but this site limits the length of my comment! One thing he was absolutely right about was his use of 1 Corinthians 10:31.

“Therefore, whether you eat, or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God”