Regardless of how it is clothed for the sake of argument, the prohibition of alcohol sales on Sunday is a religion-based law, specifically supported by certain Christians.

Arguing separation of church and state with regard to Sunday alcohol sales usually falls on deaf ears, as such constitutional arguments are often obscured by deep-seated religious beliefs. In order to make any headway with those opposed to such sales on purportedly religious grounds, one must make biblical arguments to show that the problem is that such a position is not in accord with Scripture.

I am not arguing that anyone should consume alcohol, just that the legal prohibitions relating to alcohol have no biblical backing under the new covenant.

First, as a traditional Christian, one must accept the following tenets: Christ was the son of God. Christ lived without sin. Christ's promise to mankind was a new covenant, setting aside many of the requirements of the Old Testament, specifically many of the requirements from Leviticus.

Thus, as a Christian trying to determine what to do on a religious issue such as the sale of alcohol, one should look primarily to the teachings and actions of Jesus.

Matthew, Mark and Luke contain a story in which Jesus is questioned by Pharisees as to his disciples' plucking grain on the Sabbath. The Pharisees were concerned that it was against the law to work on the Sabbath. Jesus responded that it was OK for David to eat the showbread from the temple, and it was OK for the disciples to pluck grain on the Sabbath, because they were hungry. Clearly, the disciples would not have starved, and it was not a life-or-death matter. They were hungry, and the prohibition regarding work was a religious law that Jesus saw no need to obey. Even he saw the need for a separation of church and state.

But that was food. It was not alcohol! This is true, but what was the position of Jesus on alcohol and acquisition of same for a celebration?

We start at Luke 22: 17-20 (King James Version), from the Last Supper:

"And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves:

"For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come.

"And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.

"Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you."

"Fruit of the vine" is wine. The cup, therefore, has wine in it. Some bend words and try to argue it was grape juice, but this seems ludicrous in an age before refrigeration. Thus, Jesus forged the new testament with bread and wine, his body and blood, and asked we do it in remembrance of him.

Since Sunday is the Christian Sabbath, should not those Christians who follow this custom of Jesus be able to obtain wine to complete this holy Christian ritual? To treat other denominations of your faith so poorly as such is not very Christian. Or do you fall back on the old "they should plan ahead" argument? It is also fatally flawed.

In John 2: 1-11, Jesus, the son of God, and one who is without sin, supplied alcohol to people for consumption at a wedding party. Clearly, Jesus has no problem with consuming alcohol or with its being consumed. No, I do not argue that Christianity condones drunkenness or irresponsible drinking, just that there is no outright prohibition, nor an implication of same.

Second, Jesus supplied the wine for a party at a time when it was otherwise unavailable. Jesus did not say, "Well, you should have planned ahead, shouldn't you?" If there had been another way to get wine, no miracle would be needed. However, for whatever reason, wine was unavailable, so Jesus supplied wine. This is directly analogous to a wedding on Sunday, where no further alcohol could be purchased. Thus, Jesus' actions show that he would not think that this law made sense or should be followed.

It is not our Lord Jesus who commands no alcohol sales on Sunday, nor should the same be said of Christians. It is people using the name of the Lord in vain to support their personal message of forced temperance. The Women's Christian Temperance Union lost. So don't try to pick up their banner; the fight is over.

> B. Emory Potter lives in Norcross.

 TIM BRINTON / newsart.com