Can Christians Drink Alcohol?
We have been covering Bible Basics for a little while now. If you haven’t read my previous articles, I strongly suggest you check them out. So far, we’ve covered homosexuality, women in leadership positions, and Christian couples living together before marriage. Today, we will tackle the subject of Christians drinking alcohol.
Is it sinful for a Christian to drink alcohol? Is it OK for Christians to enjoy alcohol in moderation? Is alcohol a sin, or just drunkenness?
I’m going to answer these questions to the best of my ability and address a few claims I’ve heard regarding this subject. Each point will be backed by Scriptural reference for you to look up and study on your own. Let’s begin!
Can Christians drink alcohol?
I’ll be honest and tell you there is no scripture that directly forbids the consumption of alcoholic beverages. Some might even say there are verses that encourage drinking alcohol.
I Timothy 5:23 KJV, Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach’s sake and thine often infirmities.
Ecclesiastes 9:7 NIV, Go, eat your food with gladness, and drink your wine with a joyful heart, for God has already approved what you do.
It looks like the Word of God is saying it’s okay to drink, doesn’t it? Or, at the very least, it isn’t saying it is wrong to drink… right?
That is right! The Bible doesn’t explicitly say it is sinful to drink alcohol. But it also doesn’t explicitly say it is sinful to snort crack cocaine. And I don’t think I have to explain to many Christians why that’s wrong… unless, of course, I do. Ahem…
The point is, just because the Bible doesn’t directly address something, doesn’t mean it is OK to do that thing. If you’ve read my previous articles in the Bible Basics series, then you probably remember me pointing out Jesus not addressing homosexuality. The point I made in that article is that, no, Christ does not explicitly address homosexuality, HOWEVER, this isn’t because He agrees with it. It is because there is a general understanding and acceptance that it is sinful and, therefore, does not need to be addressed.
I believe the Bible takes this same stance on Christians consuming alcohol. There is already a clear understanding that we shouldn’t partake in it, and the reasons why don’t need to be written down and explained to us. We can see the reasons clear as day.
Drinking alcohol, EVEN IN MODERATION, can lead to drunkenness and even alcoholism. It can have negative effects on your health, and—probably most important—it doesn’t bring light to the Kingdom of God. In other words, it makes you look bad. And, believe it or not, looking bad is actually a pretty big deal to the Lord. Because you are His child, so when you look bad, it makes Him look bad. You know, bad parenting and all that. Think of the time you saw that kid acting out in the grocery store and you heard someone say, where’s his mother? Or, who raised that kid?
That embarrassing feeling is how God feels when we misbehave here on earth. Because He taught us better than that. We don’t need a glass of wine, or a bottle of beer to unwind. We don’t have to have a Budlight when we’re out with our friends. And hard lemonade is not a must have at the family barbecue.
Some of you might say, Jesus turned water to wine [John 2:1-12]! That makes it alright!
Yes, Jesus did turn water to wine. However, the Bible never said He drank any. In fact, the only references we have of Jesus ever consuming wine was for communion—and even then, He vowed to never drink it again until we are united with Him in heaven after the End Times are complete [Matthew 26:29]. Even John the Baptist had a vow cast over him before birth to never drink wine [Luke1:15].
I’m noticing a trend here… Some of the most powerful people in the Bible stayed away from wine and other strong drinks. If we are to strive to live our lives the way Christ did, it seems our only two options are to never drink it at all, as John the Baptist did. Or to only drink it when necessary—in Christ’s case, it was during communion. And since most churches use grape juice during communion, I just don’t see how I can justify telling anyone that it is fine for Christians to consume alcoholic beverages. In moderation or otherwise.
But let’s dig even deeper than this.
First, I want to address the claim that the Bible encourages us to drink wine. Earlier, I used two scriptures to demonstrate where this claim comes from. Let’s look at them now.
I Timothy 5:23 KJV, Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach’s sake and thine often infirmities.
I think the point of this scripture is pretty obvious, but I’ll explain it anyway. This verse is an instruction to drink wine as an aid with digestive ailments. It has nothing to do with relaxing, having a good time, or cracking open a cold one with the boys.
So, yes, this scripture encourages the consumption of wine. It does not, however, encourage the consumption of other alcoholic beverages or the consumption of wine for any reason other than medical benefits. I would even go as far as saying this advice isn’t even for us—it was directed at the Ephesians. Still, Paul’s words are not incorrect. As some of you may already know, wine can help make digestion easier, however, it is not the only form of aid we have access to in this modern era.
If you feel wine helps you digest your food better and you just can’t find any other solution for your ailments, I would suggest taking communion. It works much better for the Believer.
Ecclesiastes 9:7 NIV, Go, eat your food with gladness, and drink your wine with a joyful heart, for God has already approved what you do.
What is really important to remember when reading the Bible is context. What is the bigger picture here in this verse? If you read a few scriptures above this, you will see the author of this book, which most agree is Solomon and will be referred to as such for the remainder of this article, says something very important.
Ecclesiastes 9:3 NIV, This is the evil in everything that happens under the sun: The same destiny overtakes all. The hearts of people, moreover, are full of evil and there is madness in their hearts while they live, and afterward they join the dead.
What Solomon is saying here lays the foundation for his later statements. He is, once again, providing evidence for his belief that everything is meaningless. But why is everything meaningless in this particular passage? Because the same destiny overtakes all. Basically, Solomon is saying that nothing matters—for the living or the dead. The same destiny overtakes all, so go ahead, have your wine and your food and whatever else makes you happy. Because death is waiting in the end, anyway.
Solomon is in no way encouraging Christians to partake in the consumption of alcohol. In fact, this scripture is written in reference to those whose hearts are full of evil. Since the evil is already there, what difference will a little wine make? Your destiny will remain the same.
Now that we’ve established the Bible does not directly restrict nor encourage the consumption of alcohol, how do we answer the big question?
Can Christians drink alcohol?
The scripture I’m going to use in reply is one you’ve likely heard before.
I Corinthians 6:12 AMP, Everything is permissible for me, but not all things are beneficial. Everything is permissible for me, but I will not be enslaved by anything.
This scripture feels like it was written exactly for this topic. Drinking alcohol may not be a sin, but it certainly is not beneficial either. And considering how ruinous an alcohol addiction can be, the latter end of the scripture speaks volumes. I will not be enslaved by anything.
Most people consume alcohol for two reasons: the way it tastes and the way it makes you feel.
If you drink it for the taste, there are plenty of non-alcoholic alternatives available today. But if you drink it for the way it makes you feel, you are walking dangerously close to an addiction.
You can have just as good a time with your friends and family drinking a non-alcoholic beverage as you can with a beer. You don’t need to feel buzzed to relax, you don’t need champagne to get rid of the jitters. Let Christ handle those things, meanwhile, enjoy a drink you won’t have to explain or feel guilty over.
So, no, it is not sinful for a Christian to consume alcohol. But it is not beneficial, either. The next time you reach for a beer, ask yourself how it honors God. Better yet, ask God how He feels about you drinking alcohol.
I have personally never had alcohol in my life. I grew up in a Christian household where neither of my parents drank and my grandparents didn’t drink either. The Lord blessed me with a lifestyle where I had no access to alcohol as a youth and now, nearing my thirties, I have no desire for it. So, I don’t understand the obsession with Christians and their desire to drink alcohol. But I wanted to share my thoughts from a Biblical perspective to help others who are truly searching for answers.
As the Bible says, we are holy and set apart [Leviticus 20:26]. This means we are different from the world. If alcohol is part of worldly culture, then, by scripture, it shouldn’t be part of ours. How are we set apart if we are exactly like the unsaved people around us?
So, now let’s answer the big question.
Can Christians drink alcohol?
In my opinion, No. I see no purpose or benefit in it as a Child of God. The negative connotations it carries are not worth it, and I refuse to take part in anything that could bring shame to the name of the Lord. I won’t use the platform God has given me to encourage others to drink alcohol. As the owner of The Rebel Christian Publishing and sole author of this blog, I don’t believe it is OK, appropriate, or righteous for Christians to consume any alcoholic beverage, in moderation or otherwise.
God bless