Should Christians Consume Intoxicating Beverages?

We previously published a series of four articles on this topic and thought that some would benefit from having all four articles in one lengthy post. This is a slight revision of those articles except for the added testimony in the introduction below and a conclusion to the series.

Bible in One Hand, Can of Beer in the Other

My parents came to saving faith in Jesus Christ together when I was six years old. My earliest memories from childhood are very loud music, smoke-filled rooms, and lots of people. Mom and Dad were definitely in the party scene.

When my Dad tells about his young faith in Christ, he recalls the day he gave up alcohol. He said that the church he came to Christ in did not emphasize abstinence. When he gave up intoxicating beverages, it was not because the pastor or anyone else urged him too. So, how did he come to this decision?

On that day he was reading his Bible. The Word of God was in one hand and a can of beer in the other. An overwhelming sense of inconsistency hit him–the Bible and a can of beer didn’t go together. It was completely inappropriate. He got up and went to the food pantry to where the cases of beer were, opened each case, and poured every can right down the kitchen sink drain. He never drank alcohol again.

Was my Dad’s experience one that all Christians should resonate with? Or is drinking intoxicating beverages simply a conscience issue for every believer to tackle individually? How does God’s Word address this very practical and divisive subject?

Should Christians Drink Intoxicating Beverages? The First Consideration.

Whether your proclivity is to immediately side with total abstinence or allowance according to conscience, we need humility before God and His Word. We must strive to not take away from God’s revealed will or go beyond it.

The subject of drinking intoxicating beverages is often discussed among Christians, even leading to strong disagreements. Whether or not believers in Jesus should consume intoxicating beverages is a very important issue since drinking and drunkenness are social norms in most of the world. All Christians should know what God’s Word has to say about the matter, as well as how to apply it to their lives.

The purpose of this series of articles is to answer questions like these: Is drinking intoxicating beverages simply a matter of conscience? Are Christians free to drink if they try not to get drunk, or should they abstain altogether? How clear is Scripture on this? Does cultural context matter in how Christians should look at the issue?

A Worldwide Concern

To abstain or not to abstain from alcoholic beverages is an important topic worldwide. It is not just a Christian debate.

Major world religions forbid the drinking of intoxicating beverages, considering it sin. Both Buddhism and Islam forbid it. Islam often enforces abstinence with severe penalties, while Buddhist philosophy simply teaches abstinence without calling for enforcement. However, abstinence is one of the five most important moral precepts for Buddhists, so any remotely sincere Buddhist will abstain.

Bahai, Mormonism, Jainism, Sikhism all completely forbid consumption of alcoholic beverages. Other religions, like Hinduism, discourage intoxicating beverages outside of certain religious rituals and ceremonies. This means that billions of people are told that it is immoral to drink beverages that lead to inebriation.

Does Christianity? Do Christians, as opposed to Buddhism, Islam, and the other religions mentioned above, teach that believers have a moral right to drink alcoholic beverages?

(Photo by Elevate on Unsplash)

God’s Word on Drunkenness

Throughout the world today, most people with a moral compass would acknowledge that drunkenness is sin. It would be very difficult to find anyone upholding morality who would argue that drunkenness is good.

We have all heard of and seen the horrible effects of drunkenness, such as violence, rape, sexual immorality, alcohol-related accidents, and other shameful behaviors and consequences. Today, most people know heavy drinking destroys the body and the mind, often resulting in various diseases.

When we read God’s Word, it does not take us long to understand His mind regarding drunkenness.

Fact 1: God absolutely forbids drunkenness among His people.

And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit (Ephesians. 5:18).[1]

Fact 2: God judges drunkards and those who produce “strong drink.”

Woe to those who rise early in the morning, that they may run after strong drink, who tarry late into the evening as wine inflames them! … Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter! Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and shrewd in their own sight! Woe to those who are heroes at drinking wine, and valiant men in mixing strong drink (Isaiah 5:11, 20-22).

Fact 3: Drunkenness is dangerous and leads to much shame and poverty.

Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaining? Who has wounds without cause? Who has redness of eyes? 30 Those who tarry long over wine; those who go to try mixed wine. Do not look at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup and goes down smoothly. In the end it bites like a serpent and stings like an adder. Your eyes will see strange things, and your heart utter perverse things. You will be like one who lies down in the midst of the sea, like one who lies on the top of a mast. ‘They struck me,’ you will say, ‘but I was not hurt; they beat me, but I did not feel it. When shall I awake? I must have another drink’ (Proverbs 23:29-35).

Hear, my son, and be wise, and direct your heart in the way. Be not among the drunkards or among the gluttonous eaters of meat, for the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty, and slumber will clothe them with rags (Proverbs 23:19-21).

Fact 4: Unrepentant drunkards are outside God’s kingdom.

Those who refuse to put away wicked behaviors such as drunkenness reveal that they do not know God, for they do not have a new heart which seeks to honor Him. Those saved from sin through Jesus Christ do not want to continue in wickedness because they have been made clean in Him.

Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God (1 Corinthians 6:9-11).

Those who profess, “I believe,” but remain enslaved to intoxicating beverages, make it quite clear that they have no true faith in Christ.

Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God (Galatians 5:19-21).

Peter also made it clear that “drunkenness” and “drinking parties” was a practice of “the Gentiles” who live driven by “sensuality” and “passions.” Peter says that true believers have put this lifestyle in the past (1 Peter 4:3-5).

The sin of drunkenness is a serious matter in the eyes of God. Those who commit this sin do not honor Him. Repentance of such sins as drunkenness shows a genuine faith and desire to walk a new life in Jesus Christ.

Fact 5: God commands church discipline for drunkards.

If there is a believer in our assembly who refuses to repent of the sin of drunkenness, God commands us to cast that person out of our fellowship. This is to remain true until he or she willingly forsakes his evil practices.

I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people—not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one. For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? God judges those outside. Purge the evil person from among you (1Cor. 5:9-13).

This much is obvious: inebriation/drunkenness is clearly outside of the will of God. Once we establish what should be obvious, we can consider whether a Christian can please God by drinking intoxicating beverages if he or she is careful to avoid getting drunk.

The Two Sides

Many believe that all Christians in every culture should abstain from alcoholic beverages, regardless of their ability to maintain sobriety. Those who hold to this position urge God’s people not to drink socially, offer intoxicating beverages at wedding receptions, or use them in any public functions.

Others insist that Christians have the freedom to drink in moderation. They argue there should be no restriction other than that of avoidance of drunkenness. Some Christians would even gather to drink alcoholic beverages upon leaving a worship service.

Whose lead should we follow? Should we abstain completely or take the position of freedom to drink without drunkenness? Is drinking in moderation ever permissible for Christians?

The Challenge

I believe that a careful examination of Scripture will guide us to a conclusion about God’s will in this matter. Before you continue to read this series, please take a few moments to prayerfully seek God’s wisdom about the matter. Whether your proclivity is to immediately side with total abstinence or allowance according to conscience, we need humility before God and His Word. We must strive to not take away from God’s revealed will or go beyond it.

We must be willing to side with God’s Word, whether it is popular or unpopular, whether it results in men’s praise or censure. If this is our heart, the remainder of the article will, I believe, prove helpful.

Should Christians Drink Intoxicating Beverages: The Case for Social Drinking

Many people believe that it is okay for Christians to drink intoxicating beverages if they are careful to keep sober. What are their arguments?

(Photo Courtesy of Unsplash)

No Christian should defend drunkenness. Drunkenness is sin, an evil to be repented of, something that cannot be defended or excused by anyone.

Now that we have that clear truth expressed, we can move on to what is controversial. Many Christians today believe that it is okay to drink intoxicating beverages if they are careful to keep sober. Some might go so far as to criticize those Christians that don’t as legalistic or immature believers.

Other Christians believe very strongly that abstinence is the only position on alcohol that is appropriate for believers in Christ. They might wonder how Christians that do drink could possibly be godly. Some would insist that abstinence should be an absolute for all Christians.

After the first article on drunkenness, one reader commented: “I would be interested in knowing why you chose to share only the verses that warn against drunkenness without also sharing verses related to the gifts God has given us, the beauty of enjoying good things in moderation, verses that describe God’s people consuming alcohol, and verses that seem to even permit or promote the consumption of alcohol.” This present article was planned to show how these ideas he mentioned are indeed communicated in Scripture and must be discussed.

Wherever our starting point is on social drinking, it is very important for all of us to think biblically and respond humbly. The fact that good Christians throughout history have strong disagreement on this issue should give us pause and result in a gracious spirit towards those who disagree. The issue is a complex one.

Consider the following common arguments from those that would be in favor of social drinking in moderation (no drunkenness):

Argument 1: God’s Word describes wine as a good thing.

Both the Old Testament and New Testament describe drinking wine as normal. Not only this, but it is described positively.

Many verses describe wine as good, a sign of prosperity, of God’s blessing. God spoke to Israel of the promised land being a place of abundance of wine in many passages. Wine is even tithed upon and given to the LORD (Num 15:5-10). Ecclesiastes tells us that drinking wine has the approval of God ( Eccl 9:7). Another passage expresses that wine given by God can have a positive physical influence on the body and spirit (Ps 104:14-15).

A casual search of “wine” in Scripture shows us Melchizedek, Job, Isaac, Boaz, Jesse, David, and many others drinking wine with no rebuke or negative connotation. Even Jesus and His disciples drank wine (Jn 2). Some Christians read these accounts and wonder how any believers could be zealous for abstinence.

Argument 2: Jesus turned water into wine at Cana.

Those convinced that Christians are free to drink often argue that we can do so because Jesus turned water into wine (Jn 2:1-11). Jesus and His disciples had attended a wedding feast. There Jesus performed a miracle, turning water into wine. We see from this that it cannot be true that wine itself is evil, or Jesus would not have made wine from the water in the pitchers. Jesus was without sin (2 Cor 5:21; Heb 4:14-15).

Argument 3: Jesus declared all foods clean.

Others would argue that Christians should be free to drink because Jesus declared that all food is morally clean. Jesus clearly wanted us to understand that there is no food or drink that is inherently unclean. Sin comes from the heart of man.

Further, it was under the old covenant that God told His people to keep food laws. There were foods declared clean that could be eaten, and there were other foods that were declared to be unclean and could not be eaten. Under the new covenant there are no laws about clean and unclean foods. For instance, believers today can eat pork, but under the old covenant they could not.

In Mark 7:18-23, Jesus said, “Then are you also without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into a person from outside cannot defile him, since it enters not his heart but his stomach, and is expelled?” (Thus he declared all foods clean.) And he said, “What comes out of a person is what defiles him. For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.” (See also Acts 10:9-16.)

These verses teach us that there is nothing from the outside that can make God’s people unclean, and that includes intoxicating beverages. The liquid that contains alcohol is not inherently evil.

Argument 4: Paul told Timothy to drink a little wine.

Some who drink socially appeal to the passage where the apostle Paul told his son in the faith and missionary co-worker, Timothy, to drink a little wine for his ailing stomach’s sake (1 Tim. 5:2-3). Obviously, Paul did not consider the beverage to be inherently evil or unclean.

Argument 5: God did not demand abstinence for church leaders.

Another argument is that the qualifications for leaders in 1 Timothy 3:1-13 and Titus 1:5-11 do not demand that spiritual leaders abstain from all alcoholic beverages. These verses tell us the spiritual qualifications necessary for those who are to be leaders, elders and deacons, in the church. These verses state that leaders must be “above reproach,” “not a drunkard,” “sober-minded,” “self-controlled,” and “not addicted to much wine,” but there is no prohibition of potentially intoxicating beverages. Paul seems to assume that believers had the freedom to drink in moderation.

Argument 6: We must be all things to all men.

1 Corinthians 9 teaches us that we must lay aside all unnecessary offenses to effectively obtain an audience for the gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul says, “I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some” (v.22). Obviously, Paul is not advocating sinful behavior as an acceptable catalyst for gospel proclamation.

Does this principle encourage social drinking without inebriation? Drinking alcoholic beverages is a primary activity of recreation and socializing for countless millions of people around the world, especially men. Most Christians will be invited to drink socially countless times.

Alcohol is usually offered at weekend gatherings, weddings, business functions, sporting events, etc. To be present at the table in a round of “cheers” without alcohol in one’s glass is seen as bad form, even offensive. This issue is very relevant to daily life for many Christians.

A confusing passage

One passage that confuses some is Proverbs 31:6-7: “Give strong drink to the one who is perishing, and wine to those in bitter distress; let them drink and forget their poverty and remember their misery no more.” Some seem to think that this verse dismisses all argumentation for abstinence. However, the context suggests that this statement is sarcasm. It is a contrast between the king, who should never allow himself to be inebriated and his judgment impaired, with a commoner in extreme circumstances who might drown his sorrows in alcohol. Many verses should make it clear that such a response to sorrow could never be God’s will for His people. To use inebriation to deal with their stress and sorrows is not an option (Eph. 5:15-18).

Is the case closed, then?

An obvious conclusion from these many passages is that wine is not evil. We could go further and say that beverages and substances that are potentially intoxicating are not inherently evil. Even more, we see that drinking an intoxicating beverage is not sinful either.

Now that we have seen these things to be true, does this mean, then, that Christians today should embrace social drinking? Could we say that Christians have a right to drink if they so choose? Should Christians be encouraged to drink as a positive recreation to enjoy with moderation? Should social drinking be a non-issue for believers?

After considering the arguments in this article, some might consider the case closed. However, there are other passages of Scripture and biblical principles that Christians bring to bear on this subject that we have not yet considered.

As we begin to consider biblical arguments which favor abstinence, it is important for us to understand the difference between the use of wine in the Bible and the modern manufacture and sale of alcoholic beverages consumed today. We cannot really have an informed or honest discussion about social drinking without considering this difference. That difference is what we will consider next.

Should Christians Drink Intoxicating Beverages? Compare the Production

Christians need to understand the differences in the production and consumption of intoxicating beverages in Bible times compared to modern times. This difference is a significant concern that needs to be addressed as we ponder Christians and social drinking.

Before we get into this, let’s do a quick recap of the first two articles in the series. Drunkenness is not an option for a follower of Jesus. This is quite plain in Scripture. This being understood, the question remains as to whether drinking with moderation is acceptable for a Christian. Arguments in favor of social drinking have already been discussed. It would be most helpful to read these two articles before continuing here.

Now we need to consider the differences in the production and consumption of intoxicating beverages in ancient times compared to today. It seems that not many Christians are aware of these differences. If they are true, these distinctions affect the discussion significantly.

Drinking Wine in Biblical Times

Wine in the Bible was alcoholic; it was fermented grape juice. Those that drank wine in Bible times could get drunk from the wine (and examples in Scripture are easy to find). However, there is a significant difference between the wine that was used then and what is made in factories and distilleries today.

In ancient Bible times, water was scarce. Water that was available was often contaminated and unclean. Fermented wine was used to purify and keep the water for extended periods of time. People did not have many beverage choices like we do today.

What it took to get drunk

People did not have an abundance of fruit juices, soda, bottled water, fresh milk, or other options available all around them like we do today. Wine that was produced in ancient times was mixed with a lot of water.

When they drank the wine, the alcoholic content was not strong enough for them to become easily drunk by it. To get drunk, a person would have to drink many glasses of it. That is why in Proverbs 23 we are told that drunkards are those that linger over wine:

“Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaining? Who has wounds without cause? Who has redness of eyes? Those who tarry long over wine; those who go to try mixed wine”(Prov 23:29-30).

Because of this difference in alcoholic content, Paul could encourage Timothy to drink a little wine as medicine for his stomach without concern for his becoming drunk. However, it’s worth noting that Timothy did not want to drink any wine at all until Paul persuaded him to do so for his health.

“No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments” (1 Tim 5:23).

Now we will look at the differences in how alcoholic beverages were made in ancient times versus the present.[2]

How alcoholic beverages were made in ancient times

In ancient times, there was not yet the technology to distill wine to increase its alcoholic content like there is today. However, they made wine by pressing the grapes with their feet in a stone vat. They collected the grape juice into cisterns, large jars, or leather bottles where the juice fermented on its own over time. In this way the taste also improved as it fermented.

The grape harvest occurred once per year, so they needed to make wine in order to keep the grape juice good over the course of at least a year, until the next harvest. If they did not do this, the grape juice would go bad and the crop would be wasted, as the juice turned to sour vinegar, which is undrinkable.

Furthermore, it was impossible to seal up unfermented fruit juice because it began to ferment starting the very first day it was pressed in the vat. They did not yet have the technology to keep fruit juice from going sour. If they made wine, however, the juice would not be lost, because the alcohol in the wine would preserve the juice, even for many years.

How alcoholic beverages are made in modern times

In modern times many people no longer consider drunkenness a vice or even shameful. Over the course of hundreds of years, the methods and technology for increasing alcoholic content in alcoholic beverages has led to many becoming dependent upon alcohol for happiness. Drunkenness has become a normal part of life.

Today, wine makers are able to alter and select seeds, engineering grapes that have a much higher sugar content than was originally true. The extra sugar results in a much higher alcohol content in the wine because it breaks down, turning into alcohol. Sometimes wine makers even add sugar to the process to encourage higher alcohol content.

Small-scale micro distillery (photo: courtesy Cronkite News)

Modern, high-tech chemical machines heat and pressurize the beverage, resulting in a much higher alcohol content than would be possible through natural processes. Ethanol is also added to some kinds of alcoholic beverages, and other added gases cause the alcohol to enter the blood stream faster than normal, resulting in quicker inebriation. Modern factories are able to make an enormous volume of alcoholic beverages very quickly, lowering the price of the intoxicating drinks in the market and making the alcohol inexpensive so that buyers can drink to their heart’s content.

Contrasting the beverages of the times

The alcohol we see for sale today is very different from the wine made in ancient times. Those who produce and distribute intoxicating beverages know that intoxicating beverages will sell well and make an easy profit. They know that customers want alcoholic drinks for receptions and parties – people want them for every event. Very few people can drink these beverages in today’s world and not get drunk, at least sometimes.

With these differences in mind, It is no surprise that frequent alcohol abuse has become a huge problem in many societies. For example, as of 2021 in the United States, 29.5 million people ages 12 and older (10.6% in this age group) had “alcohol use disorder” in the previous year. The research also says that approximately 10.5% (7.5 million) of U.S. children ages 17 and younger live with a parent who has alcohol use disorder (See: National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism).

When we, as believers in Jesus Christ, read His Word and come across the word “wine,” let us not equate it mentally with modern alcoholic beverages – beer, wine, whiskey, or other liquor. The substances are not the same. Jesus did not turn the water in those pitchers into the kinds of intoxicating beverages that we are so familiar with at the world’s parties in our time. The apostle Paul did not insist that Timothy drink beer, hard liquor, or anything else that you see sold at stores and markets around the world today.

For an accessible and yet well-documented explanation of these differences in production, see Dr. Randy Jaeggli’s book, Christians and Alcohol.[3]

These differences should give pause

As believers take all of this in, they have to reckon with the reality that what people are drinking in their homes, restaurants, sporting events, backyard barbeques, and bars in today’s world is quite different from what is being described to us in the Scriptures. Jesus, David, Peter, and Jacob were not drinking the same thing. This should give us pause.

If the differences in alcoholic beverages then and now really are significant, it should cause Christians to give greater attention to other arguments from those urging abstinence. As we continue, we will look at other biblical arguments that favor abstinence.

Should Christians Drink Intoxicating Beverages? The Case for Abstinence

What is the case for refraining from alcohol?

(Photo by Vitalii Khodzinskyi on Unsplash)

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, arguments in favor of liberty to drink, and historical and cultural differences in the production and consumption of alcohol.

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 comes 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.[4] 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.[5]

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.

If you would like to read that series, it may give further insight as you seek God’s will for you about the consumption of intoxicating beverages. Here is the first article: Food Offered to Idols: A Contemporary Issues.

Should a Bible Be in One Hand and a Beer in the Other?

It may be that some people were immediately put off when they saw the post’s highlighted picture–a Bible with a mug of beer right next to it. The picture reflects the introductory testimony.

Romans 14:23 tells us, But he who is uncertain (about eating a particular thing) is condemned if he eats, because he is not acting from faith. Whatever is not from faith is sin (whatever is done with doubt is sinful)(Amplified Bible).

Maybe one way to determine whether or not our conscience would allow us to drink intoxicating beverages is this: Can we drink while reading our Bible? My dad certainly couldn’t. If he were to continue to drink alcohol with his conscience bothering him that way, it would be sinful, if for no other reason, than that he was willing to go against his conscience before God.

A Christian who drinks should not encourage those with a conscience about the matter to do so. On the other hand, a believer with a strong understanding of abstinence must not question the godliness of others that consume alcohol without drunkenness. A study of Romans 14 should make this clear.

We have two main considerations to work through when making a decision for or against drinking intoxicating beverages. We have the Scriptural arguments to wrestle with, first of all, but secondly, our conscience. To defy either is sin against the Lord.

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

[2] Credit goes to Michael Carlyle for his help in concisely laying out this explanation here.

[3] This book dives deep into all related Biblical texts, the original languages, and ANE (Ancient Near Eastern) cultural studies that come to bear on this topic in Scripture. He also gives helpful illustrations throughout. Many research sources are cited as well.

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

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