Questions and Answers

Is Drinking Alcohol A Sin?
By Adam Bartlett

There are many people that want to justify drinking alcohol by stating that it is in the Bible. In fact they say, "Jesus' first miracle was turning water into wine!" They use these claims to try to alleviate any guilt for what they do. What they fail to understand though is the circumstances surrounding the Biblical situation. Unlike the time we live in presently where any kind of drink imaginable is readily available, during Biblical times the water was not good and there were not many options for consumption.

Although it is true that wine was used throughout the Bible there were also many scriptures that dealt with the responsibilities of it. It was used in celebrations (2 Chronicles 2:10,15; Ezekiel 27:18; Deuteronomy 7:13; 11:14; Judges 9:13; Psalm 104:15; Isaiah 24:9; Amos 9:13-14). It was also used by worshippers in the Tabernacle and later in the Temple as an offering to God (Exodus 29:40; Leviticus 23:13; Numbers 15:7).

Even though these situations were used condoning the use of wine there were also many scriptures that condemned the misuse of wine and drunkenness (Proverbs 20:1; 21:17; 23:31-35; 23:20-21 & 29-32, 31:4-6; Isaiah 5:11; Habakkuk 2:5, Luke 21:34, Romans 13:13, Galatians 5:19-21). It was also used for other reasons like medicinal (Luke 10:34; Proverbs 31:6; 2 Samuel 16:2; Matthew 27:34; Mark 15:23; 1 Timothy 5:23).

As with anything, even though it may be acceptable the enemy will always take occasion to distort it and make it evil. In our world today it is not likely that drinking would be looked at as acceptable because of what the enemy has converted it to be and associated with it. It has been glamorized and no self restraint is used with it in our society. It is not looked at in the same regard as it was in Bible times.

I realize that the scriptures listed deal with drinking usually to the excess and drunkenness. You might ask about social drinking under control. I would say that a person has to judge personal convictions in this area. I would say that Ephesians 5:11 instructs us (Christians) to stay away from all appearance of evil. The concern would be that the act of social drinking would be considered a license to drink in all manors. It may also cause a weaker brother or sister to stumble at this especially if they had a previous problem in this area. Another question I would ask is, "is there not an alternative drink that would satisfy," is it necessary to drink alcohol? As I stated, it is really a matter of personal conviction that you have to get a clear conscience with God about yourself.

As for the question of it being a sin I believe it is only safe to say what the Bible does say regarding this. If you drink to excess and become drunk then it is clearly a sin. Is casual drinking a sin? I honestly cannot say, but as I said above, you must get a clear conscience from God regarding it.

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