Buckle your seat belts and put your tray tables up. The consumption of alcohol has long been a controversial topic within the Christian community. While drinking is accepted in some denominations, others outright forbid it. This article tries to get to the bottom of this complicated issue by looking at the history and beliefs of different Christian denominations to find out how they feel about drinking alcohol. Through this examination, we can gain insight into how each denomination views drinking and how current members live out these teachings in their everyday lives. Can Christians drink alcohol?
Can Christians drink?
Yes, Christians can drink, but it is generally encouraged to do so in moderation, avoiding drunkenness, as excessive consumption contradicts the principle of self-control and can lead to harmful consequences.
Alcohol In The Bible
Alcohol is mentioned often in the Bible; from Genesis to Revelation, references to wine and other alcoholic beverages appear multiple times.
Old Testament verses reference alcohol in a positive light, like, Proverbs 31:6-7. Psalm 104:14-15 praise God for giving us wine as part of his bounty on earth. While some scholars interpret these verses as referring to non-alcoholic grape juice or mead made from honey, many acknowledge the possibility that they may refer to actually fermented drinks containing alcohol.
The New Testament references alcohol in multiple stories. Jesus’ first miracle was turning water into wine. Wine is what represents Jesus’ blood at the last supper. If we weren’t supposed to drink, why would it be used throughout the Bible to show how great Jesus is?
Bible Verses about Drinking
The Bible is very clear in its teachings about drinking. In fact, the word of God contains many verses that refer to alcohol consumption – both positively and negatively. One passage even goes so far as to liken drunkenness to an act of foolishness.
On the other hand, there are several passages in scripture that encourage responsible and moderate drinking of wine or strong drinks in certain contexts.
Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler;
whoever is led astray by them is not wise. Proverbs 20:1
Let beer be for those who are perishing,
wine for those who are in anguish!
Let them drink and forget their poverty
and remember their misery no more. Proverbs 31:6-7
He makes grass grow for the cattle,
and plants for people to cultivate—
bringing forth food from the earth:
wine that gladdens human hearts,
oil to make their faces shine,
and bread that sustains their hearts. Psalm 104:14-15
Old Wine vs. New Wine
The phrase “old wine” appears multiple times in the New Testament, often being contrasted with “new wine” as a symbol for something that is outdated or obsolete. Jesus uses this analogy to encourage his followers to let go of their past traditions and instead follow after Him so they can experience something newer and more meaningful – essentially, the “new wine” He brings into their lives.
I have heard the argument that wine in Bible time was different than the wine we have today. The wine of biblical times was still made from fermenting grapes. Because of this, it had to have some alcohol in it. When we are told not to get drunk on wine, Ephesians 5:18 would support this.
“Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.” Ephesians 5:18
Can Christians Drink Responsibly?
With great power comes great responsibility. Drinking should be taken off the table for some people to enjoy. They just can handle that responsibility.
The first is addiction. I had a pastor put it very clearly once when asked about drinking, saying, “I will have a beer every once in a while, but you will never see us have alcohol at a church event. We do this because we want to show love to everyone. Having a beer at events doesn’t show love to people that might be struggling with their relationship with alcohol.”
This needs to be the foundation for your alcohol consumption, no matter what type it is.
When drinking you need to be aware of why you are drinking. Don’t get me wrong, I have been there. My college years were your typical college years. I drank a lot. It wasn’t because I liked drinking. I liked getting drunk. I didn’t have to feel, think, or be stressed. Even though most of the time getting drunk would lead to more stressful things happening.
Being a Light in a Dark World
While you can only control yourself and what you do with your body, I would like to encourage you to take your drinking responsibility a little further. I have friends I care about who I believe have a drinking problem. In no way would I say they are addicted in such a way that I think we need to have an intervention and get them to meetings. These friends just don’t have control over when they drink. These are the friends that can’t just have one beverage at a party or dinner.
When I am around these friends I am very aware of my drinking and how much a drink much I drink, if any. It is very easy to follow their drinking habits. I would encourage you to be more aware of your drinking habits around who you are drinking with.
Now to the actual drinking. There are two paths I will be to focusing on while discussing this topic. The path of trying to lose weight and the path of being at the weight you want.
Can Christians Drink to Lose Weight
When it comes to how much to drink, Ephesians says it best. It focuses much more on the outcome of drinking then than actual drinking. When you are trying to get to your goal weight, I would encourage you to cut out all drinks. I am talking about wine, beer, and any spirits you enjoy. I find, that I and the client, have a hard time with self-control when drinking. It is not often that you sit down and have a beer with a salad. With that being said, Christians should not drink while trying to lose weight.
Drinking After Weight Loss
Once you hit the maintenance phase of transforming your body into the temple God designed it to be, a drink here and there is not the end of the world.
1 glass of organic red wine, has been found to boost your immune system, lower cholesterol, and reduce the risk of strokes and heart disease.
When you buy organic wine, you know that the grapes have not been sprayed with poisons and pesticides that are bad for you. You can also get sulfate-free wine. Some people have a reaction to the additive that helps preserve the wine. The reaction causes flu-like symptoms within seconds of drinking the wine. Sulfates do not cook out either. I found out the hard way that I am allergic to sulfites. It is not fun.
Health Benefits of Drinking
Studies have shown that moderate consumption of alcohol may reduce risk of stroke, coronary heart disease, and type 2 diabetes. Additionally, low to moderate levels of alcohol consumption may also help increase levels of HDL cholesterol (the “good” kind). Drinking alcohol in moderation can also help reduce inflammation due to a health-promoting antioxidant called resveratrol. Resveratrol is found in red wine but is present in other alcoholic drinks as well.
Can Christians Drink? – Conclusion
There is no Biblical prohibition against the moderate consumption of alcohol. But it is important to remember that people should be aware of their own beliefs and the feelings of others. For example, if Christians know that drinking will lead them to sin or cause another person to stumble, they should abstain from drinking altogether. In the end, what matters most is that all Christians try to live a holy and righteous life as described in the Bible.