The Christian, the Bible, and Alcohol (Part 2)

What does the Bible have to say about alcohol?

The Bible has more to say about this subject than we may realize. And there are times when the use of alcohol is referred to positively and negatively. So let’s consider what the Scripture says, because that is where everything I will say in the next few days will be based.

First, we must start with the sin of drunkenness. I have yet to meet a professing Christian who will disagree with this paragraph, but I want to go ahead and state the biblically obvious. Getting drunk with alcohol is a sin (Deut 21:20; Luke 21:34; Rom 13:13; Eph 5:18; I Pet 4:3). And we are also commanded to never associate or fellowship or spend time with those who get drunk (I Cor 5:11). Leaders especially are to refrain from being drunks (I Tim 3:3; Tit 1:7) and anyone who is a drunkard when they die will not be with Jesus in eternity (I Cor 6:10; Gal 5:21). That is clear: getting drunk is a sin. To be intoxicated is not pleasing to God … period.

Second, if one chooses to be drunk or be a drunkard, there are so many sins that he has opened in Pandora’s box. Those who are drunkards can commit incest (Gen 19), murder (II Sam 11), become violent (Prov 4:17), can become poor (Prov 21:17), complain (Prov 23:29), may hallucinate (Isa 28:7), might go mad (Jer 51:7), could become depressed (Luke 21:34) and might pursue a sexually promiscuous life (Rev 17:2). That is a lot to consider. Too often, being drunk is not the only sin someone might commit. Most often, it leads or is accompanied by other wicked behavior. Drunkenness almost never acts alone.

Third, we are to careful about drinking alcohol in front of someone who is having difficulty with self-control when it comes to their alcoholic habits. For example, to drink even one beer in front of a recovering alcoholic would be sinful (I Cor 10:31-32). Thus, you should always ask those present if they would be offended and tempted if you choose to drink alcohol. To do so without consideration is to offend a brother and that too displeases God.

Fourth, and on the flip side, there are times when alcohol is present or even consumed by saints in the Scripture. It is said to be a remedy to numbing great pain or discomfort (Prov 31:6; I Tim 5:23). And Jesus created wine out of nothing; in fact, this was the first miracle He performed in the Gospel of John (John 2:1-12). We ever read in Psalm 104:14-15 that wine can make a man happy.

So, you can see that the Bible warns of the overuse of alcohol and it celebrates it’s wise consumption. Thus, the Bible is not silent on the issue.

Throughout church history, there have been a number of views that have been driven from these Scriptures. In tomorrow’s post, we will consider the 3 major views.