It is time in our discussion to consider why so many Christians urge God’s people to total abstinence from alcoholic beverages. We have already considered biblical prohibitions and warnings about drunkenness (Part 1), arguments in favor of liberty to drink (Part 2), and historical and cultural differences in the production and consumption of alcohol (Part 3). 

This article seeks to represent the argument of those that urge abstinence but are in full agreement that the arguments given in part two of this series are valid. This article does not represent those that would add abstinence from alcohol to the Scriptures as a new food law that must be kept as a test of faith or godliness. However, these Christians are convinced that total abstinence should be the norm for God’s people around the world today.

So, what is the case for abstinence?

Argument 1: Abstinence demonstrates love and fear of God.

All believers would agree that our personal love for God and fear of Him should motivate us to stay clear of what displeases Him. Numerous passages urge us to avoid sin and temptation. One example is Romans 13:13-14:

Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.[1]

Warnings about drunkenness ought to lead every Christian to take great care to have nothing to do with that which tempts us or makes it easy to get drunk. God continually warns His people to carefully guard themselves against destructive sins, and drunkenness is one of those sins most frequently named. Knowing how the intoxicating beverage industry has significantly changed and how many cultures have embraced drunkenness as a norm, we should be especially concerned.

Believers are expected to step back from people and circumstances that would lead them into sin. Wherever men and women gather to drink, opportunities to fulfill the passions of the flesh multiply. With inebriation, shameless activity, sensuality, violence, arguing, vulgar humor, and other kinds of inappropriate behavior are common. Those arguing for abstinence conclude that only through abstaining can Christians be sure to do this.

Peter exhorts us,

Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy” (1Pet 1:13-16).

Spiritual sobriety

Spiritual sober-mindedness means that we love and fear God in such a way that it causes us to obey Him and avoid things that dishonor His name. Is there a way for us to guard ourselves and avoid catering to sinful passions like drunkenness? Yes–many Christians argue–by avoiding alcoholic beverages, by not participating in those events where drunkenness is encouraged. Peter continues,

Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation (1Pet 2:11-12).

By taking protective measures to keep clear of sin and to live in holiness, we demonstrate the extent of our love for God and fear of Him. Does this mean that Christians who choose to drink do not love and fear God? No, this is not necessarily the case. It is also possible to abstain from intoxicating beverages and still not love or fear God.

Moderation beyond most

The truth of the matter is this: most people in this world do not have the ability to drink in moderation and avoid drunkenness because of the social pressures involved and the nature of modern alcoholic beverages. Because of this, many fall into drunkenness, and, in doing so, they also fall into other sins because of the lack of self-control intoxication brings. Christians who urge us to lay down the right to drink alcoholic beverages conclude that we should show our love for God by shunning that which has led millions of people, including many of their brethren, to lose their integrity. 

And let us not forget this warning to those that wanted to flex their right to eat meat offered to idols: Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall (1Cor 10:12).

Argument 2: Abstinence demonstrates love for unbelievers.

To many believers, abstinence from alcoholic beverages is a clear way to show others that the Gospel of Jesus Christ really does have power to save. False religions teach untold millions of people worldwide not to drink intoxicating beverages because of drunkenness and the many other sins that come with it.

Even with a conscience informed against drunkenness, millions of professed Buddhists, Catholics, Hindus, and professed Christians get drunk regularly. Some are alcoholics. Even many Muslims drink and party when they are away from their strict religious communities.

Alcohol abuse a scourge

Drunkenness is a scourge among mankind. Even a casual study on alcohol will confirm this fact.[2] Millions of unnecessary deaths, health problems, rapes, murders, etc., occur under the influence of alcohol. Sexual immorality, child abuse, and STDs often have direct links to drunkenness. [3]

While it is not the purpose of this series to focus on just how horrible the consequences of the abuse of alcohol have become in our world, it is something that needs to be faced squarely as we consider whether we Christians should drink alcohol at all.

Illustrations of freedom

In Christ Jesus, we have the power to abstain from the passions of the flesh. We have God’s Holy Spirit within us. Those who live outside of God’s grace cannot abstain from sinful passions because they are slaves to those passions. Paul teaches us,

“having been set free from sin, (we) have become slaves of righteousness…For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life (Rom 6:18, 20-22).

Those who urge us to refrain from alcoholic drinks want us to show unbelievers that Christians don’t need alcohol. We don’t need it to handle our stress and problems. It is not needed to have fun. We no longer have a desire to have our natural inhibitions removed. Christians don’t want to be emboldened to act in ways we wouldn’t while sober. We want to demonstrate that we have changed.

For the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry. With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you; …The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers (1Pet 4:3-4, 7).

If we genuinely love the lost, we want them to see that we are changed. They need to know that we have new life in Jesus Christ. We want them to know that we don’t join in with them in potentially out-of-control activities anymore. We don’t want unbelievers to have any doubt where we stand. One major way we can communicate this transformation, it is argued, is through abstaining.

Argument 3: Abstinence demonstrates love for other believers.

Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble (1Cor. 8:13).

A great many of our fellow believers, before they came to Christ in faith, loved getting drunk. Many were addicted to alcohol, and/or lived in the party scene. Any kind of alcoholic beverage is a great temptation for these brethren. Even seeing or smelling these drinks creates longing and temptation or resurrects shameful memories. For some this never changes.

We who are mature believers who are strong in faith must be examples of what it means for Christians to “put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires” (Rom. 13:14). We do not want to lead the weak to boldly drink alcohol, falling back into sin, because they followed our unwise example. Sometimes God’s people simply must sacrifice things we rightly understand as freedoms in Christ, for the sake of others. For believers committed to abstinence, this is one reason for their lifestyle decision.  

Food offered to idols and intoxicating beverages

Those reasons which lead Christians to abstain from eating food offered to idols are the same reasons that I would suggest would lead believers to forgo drinking alcoholic beverages (1 Cor. 8 and 10). I have written a separate series on these chapters which would be very helpful for meditating on these truths and how they apply (Food Offered to Idols Series ).

We who are chosen of God out of this world must not lead others of God’s children to drink against their consciences. We know that many who would drink would fall into sin. A Christian arguing for abstinence would say that a loving Christian gives up alcoholic drinks in order to encourage his brothers and sisters in Christ to be faithful in obedience. To them, it is irrelevant that we ourselves could drink without getting drunk. They believe that Paul’s full treatment of conscience issues should lead to this conclusion (Rom. 13:8-15:7).

Knowing all of what we know from these articles, can we, with a good conscience, drink intoxicating beverages with a full conviction that doing so gives glory to God? Many Christians would resoundingly answer, “No.”

 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God (1Cor. 10:31).

They advocate renouncing alcohol if we want to be used by God to encourage believers to stay free from this vice that plagues our culture.  

Urged but not commanded

Those who argue for abstinence this way believe that if Paul or Peter were alive today, with the Spirit speaking through them on this topic, that the apostles would have similar conclusions about modern day intoxicating beverages to Paul’s conclusion about food offered to idols (See Part 3). They would call us to apply sacrificial love, self-control, and humility, resulting in abstinence from alcoholic drinks.

A biblical position of abstinence should not be legalism, as it would acknowledge that beverages that are potentially intoxicating are not evil in themselves. It is not a sin to imbibe a drink that contains alcohol. Abstinence should not be commanded of all Christians in every and all circumstances, both public and private. Nor would it require policing.

A commitment to abstinence, however, would be urged as the best way to be consistent with love and good works for the good of our own Christian walk, encouraging the saints, and even evangelism. In this way the argument is in line with how God’s Spirit teaches us to deal with food offered to idols.

Photo by Vitalii Khodzinskyi on Unsplash

[1] All Scripture quotations are from the ESV unless otherwise noted.

[2] https://ourworldindata.org/alcohol-consumption

[3] https://drugabusestatistics.org/alcohol-abuse-statistics/