What does the Bible say about drinking alcoholic beverages?
PREAMBLE:
The condition of being intoxicated because of excessive drinking of alcoholic beverages. A drunkard is a person who habitually overindulges in strong drink to the point of drunkenness. To get to the stage of being termed a drunkard does not start one day. It is possible that one may have decide be excessively drunken. However, it is crystal clear that a little leaven, leavens the whole lump.
DISCUSSION:
Gen. 9:20-27 Noah’s account on drinking alcoholic beverages
Gen. 19: 30-38 Lot’s account on drinking
The earliest records of drinking alcoholic beverages were that of Noah and Lot. Noah after the deliverance from the flood became an husbandman. He planted vineyard and got himself drunk and he was naked. One of his children saw him naked and spoke about it to others and to the effect Noah cursed Canaan his son. But who caused it? Noah did. The consequence of shame was his and remaining under curse became the inheritance of his children.
Lot’s daughters after escaping from Sodom made their father drunk and he was made to lie with the two of them. Drinking of alcoholic beverages caused these two bad incidences.
It should be observed from the above two personalities that they engaged in drinking after the Lord has granted them victory or released favor unto them. That is not the order of God. Any favor granted man should result to praising our God and not destroying the temple where God is supposed to be living.
In Africa and other parts of the globe, people take to drunkenness when things have been proved good to them. Examples of occasion that calls for the use of beverages are, marriage, christening, house warming ceremonies etc. People say that they are celebrating. Noah did but the consequence was bad not only for him but for his children that were involved in his action. Whether good or bad, blessing is far better than a curse.
Through out the scripture there are warnings against drunkenness. Let us note a few of them for our admonition:
Hosea 4:10-12 “They will eat but not have enough; they will engage in prostitution but not increase, because they have deserted the Lord to give themselves to prostitution to old wine and new, which takes away the understating of my people”
I have discovered in my ministerial experience that those who engage in drinking alcoholic beverages are also prone to adultery. From statistics, about 50% of those who drink alcoholic beverages also smoke. Many of those who are still there started by taking little which eventually tantalized them to take much they cannot control now. Why drinking alcoholic beverages. To receive boldness to misbehave. To join their friends who do not walk in the counsel of God. Some people engage in it in order to conform to social norms of the society in which they belong. This is absolutely unchristian and unacceptable to the Almighty God.
Proverbs 23:21 “For drunkards and gluttons become poor, and drowsiness clothes them in rags”
Can you see that? I have ministered to a few people in the past who don’t have anything to show for their labor. This is because they set aside a particular amount of money for drinks at the end of the month even before the family budget. They are retched, without future and purpose. That is why we rebuke the demon behind alcoholic beverages. Many times, these demons have spoken out to our hearings that they are out to destroy, make poor the person they inhabit. Some of the people engaged in drunkenness die before their time.
I remember before I gave my life to Christ. I used to drink alcoholic beverages. I started from little. From this little I graduated to drinking strong wine. One day, I got so drunk to the extent that I did not know where I was. I was washing my dress in a terrible gutter very close to our family house. I was very young them. My mother, without too much knowledge of God, did not like it. She was sobbing like a baby on me. I was not ashamed until when I was told of my actions of the previous day. One’s focus will tend towards joining drinking mates. I was poor academically then. There was not much to show for my effort. There is demon behind drinking. Thank God I got my deliverance, Jesus came into my heart and I renounced the spirit behind drinking, fornication, lying, deceit, inordinate affection and all kind of social vices I had then.
I Cor. 6: 9-10 “Do you know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterer nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the king of God”
The above is the list of those who will not enter into the Kingdom of our dear God. Yes, God has the list of those who will get to his Kingdom just like you will not like just “anybody” to enter your bedroom. If your bedroom is sacred, heaven is more sacred than your bedroom.
Daniel 1:8″ But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way.”
Israelites considered food from Nebuchadnezzar’s table to be contaminated because the first portion of it was offered to idols. Likewise, a portion of the wine was poured out on a pagan altar. Ceremonially unclean animals were used and were neither slaughtered nor prepared according to the regulations of the law. He asked. not define himself. He demonstrated the courage of his convictions. God enabled the official to show favor to Daniel.
You do can decide today to refrain from what your mates are doing. The grace that Daniel had in his days is not different from the one you also have now. To refrain from alcoholic beverages calls for self-determination, which Daniel exhibited and prospered. The power of Jesus can help your determination if you will allow Jesus into your heart. Confess your sins to him today and be you will be saved. He will give the power to become a child of God. Becoming a child of God will deliver you from every vices including drunkenness.
2 Samuel 11:13 “At David’s invitation, he ate and drank with him and David made him drunk. But in the evening Uriah went out to sleep on his mat among his mater’s servants; he did not go home.
Based on personal determination David would have through drunkenness deceived Uriah unto lying with his wife after she was pregnant. That is what drunkenness can do.
Job 12:25 “They grope in darkness with no light; he makes them stagger like drunkards. This is talking about a drunken man that is also a staggering man. He is not normal. He misbehaves. He loses his senses because he has so much indulged in alcoholic beverages.
Proverbs 31:6 “Give beer to those who are perishing, wine to those who are in anguish. Why must you perish? You should refrain from beer and alcohols and be good instruments in the hands of our God. Let no demon or alcohol destroy your body. It is medically unfit for you to continue to indulge in drinking alcohols.
CONCLUSION:
It is important to say that all these talked about drunkenness. But we need to remember that not many people can discern when they will reach the point of drunkenness. And every drunken man must have started from little drinking. Even juices that have been fermented should be abstained from!.
Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.
JESUS IS LORD!
REV DEBO ADEYEMO ppraise@skannet.com
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The only verse I could think of quickly was Rom 13:13
Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy.
and Num 6:3
he must abstain from wine and other fermented drink and must not drink vinegar made from wine or from other fermented drink. He must not drink grape juice or eat grapes or raisins.
Allan
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Proverbs 23:31-35 says…….Do not gaze at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly! In the end it bites like a snake and poisons like a viper. Your eyes will see strange sights and your mind imagine confusing things. You will be like one sleeping on the high seas lying on top of the rigging. “They hit me,” you will say, “but I’m not hurt! They beat me, but I don’t feel it! When will I wake up so I can find another drink?”………………….May you all be blessed!
BLESSINGS TO YOU!
DeeDee
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Hi,
According to the Bible, there are good occasions to drink alcohol. For example, they had some alcoholic beverages with their lunch. However, there is a clear distinction between having some wine and getting drunk. Jesus drank alcohol, but he didn’t get drunk.
It is the same way, a glass of wine won’t kill you… but there is no reason to drink more than little — and occasionally.. Keep it within reasonable amount, and everything will be fine….
I occasionally take a glass of wine with lunch; and I feel it is perfectly okay and it does not make me to feel more sinful.
…and one more thing — if you decide (for some reason) to drink more than a glass — don’t drive! We have enough DUIs on our roads already…we don’t need more.
Sami
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Wine has been a topic in the bible since it was ever written. From the Old Testament to the New when Jesus changed water into wine. Paul talks ,however, avoid things of the flesh and to lead a holy life.
Dave
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The following study is by the late Bruce Lackey:
The Bible is consistent on this, both in the Old and New Testaments. The two previously quoted passages, Pr. 20:1 and 23:29-35, are good examples of scriptural warnings against consuming alcohol. Pr. 23:32 says “at the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder.” Verse 33 shows that it will cause one to look at strange women (that is, not one’s wife) and to say perverse things, or things which he would not say if he were sober. Verse 34 predicts that it will cause death, such as drowning, or loneliness, such as lying upon the top of a mast. Verse 35 warns against numbness (“they have beaten me and I felt it not”) and “addiction (“when shall I awake? I will seek it yet again”).
One passage,. Ro. 14:21 clearly teaches that Christians should totally abstain, the reason being that it is good “neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.” We have already seen that people may be potential alcoholics.
By the social drinking of alcohol, one might encourage a person to start drinking, who would not be able to stop. Missionaries and tourists to foreign countries, where alcohol is a common table beverage, should remember this. We should also wake up and realize that, in such countries, alcoholism is also rampant. Let us totally abstain, so that we might not encourage someone to drink and go down the road to alcoholism.
The last consideration is 1 Co. 6:9-10. Here, the Bible teaches that drunkenness will send a person to hell. “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.”
This does not mean that a drunkard can never be saved, because the next verse says that some of the Corinthians committed these very acts before they were converted. A person can be gloriously set free from drunkenness, by receiving Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour and by following His teachings. Many people have experienced such a release! But the tragedy is that if a person continues in drunkenness, refusing to let Jesus be the Lord, preferring rather to let king alcohol rule, that one can look for nothing but a drunkard’s grave and eternity in the lake of fire. “Be not deceived,” the Bible says “the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God.”
If you are having trouble with this sin, let me encourage you to realize that you can ask Jesus Christ to be the Lord of your life and Saviour from all your sins, and to set you free. You can know what it means to be free in Christ! The Bible says, “If the Son shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed” (Jn. 8:36). Realize that you are a sinner in God’s sight, “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Ro. 3:23). Repent of your rebellion against God, surrendering to His authority. “Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish” (Lk. 13:3). Receive Christ as your Lord and Saviour. “As many as received him, to them gave he the power to become the sons of God” (Jn. 1:12).
WHAT ABOUT 1 TIMOTHY 5:23? “…drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach’s sake and thine often infirmities.” Many insist that here the Bible gives the privilege, if not a command, of using alcoholic wine as a medicine. However, this cannot possibly be referring to alcoholic wine, because he specifically says that it is to be taken for Timothy’s stomach. He obviously had some kind of stomach disease and any doctor will tell you that such a person must abstain from alcoholic beverage. This author has had much stomach trouble through the years and has consulted various doctors, observing various dietary restrictions. In every case, they warned against drinking any alcoholic beverage whatsoever. If we know that today, surely the Holy Spirit of God knew that when He inspired this verse!
We do not know what Timothy’s specific infirmities were, nor do we know what kind of healing properties there were in grape juice. Maybe Paul was saying that Timothy should not drink the water, since in many parts of the world it is not pure and would cause a healthy person to have trouble from amoebas, etc.
One who already had stomach problems would only multiply them by drinking impure water. Paul might have been recommending that Timothy drink grape juice only. In any case, we can be positive that he was not telling him to put alcohol in a bad stomach!
IS IT ALRIGHT FOR A CHRISTIAN TO DRINK MODERATELY? (1) No, even slight drinking impairs one’s thinking and lowers alertness to spiritual danger (1 Pe. 5:8,9). (2) No, Christians are not to be controlled by liquor (Ep. 5:18). (3) No, Christians are priests, and the Bible forbids priests to drink (1 Pe. 2:9; Le. 10:8,11). (4) No, Christians are not to touch the unclean thing (2 Co. 6:17–7:1). (5) No, Christians are to abstain from every form of evil (1 Th. 5:22). (6) No, Christians who drink cause others to stumble (Ro. 14:21). (7) No, wine is a mocker and a deceiver (Pr. 20:1). No man who takes an alcoholic beverage to his lips knows exactly where it will lead.
Bailey Gertrude E NSSC
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WARNING: Before you read any further, I want you to be aware that you won’t like my answer to this question about alcohol and the Bible! The Truth is not what anyone wants to hear in this world, not even among Christians. We all want everything to conform to our basic prejudices, to fit within our comfortable preconceptions, and will automatically and often angrily reject anything which does not so conform. Those people who are the most rigid and the least open to Truth are, I am sad to say – Christians That being said, here is the Truth about alcohol in Scripture:
(1) Wine and strong drink are spoken of very often in Scripture from Genesis to Revelation and not once is its normal use condemned, no not once. (2) Yes, over-use of alcohol is often condemned in God’s Word, and overuse would a make an otherwise spiritually mature Christian ineligible to be and Elder/Bishop (Minister). (3) Almost every major biblical figure drank wine as a matter of everyday behavior, and sadly even some of them drank to excess on occasions (Noah and Lot are good examples). (4)
Overuse of alcohol would also be covered by the verse about treating the body as the Temple of the Holy Ghost, as abuse will harm both mind and body. (5) Jesus and the Apostles all drank wine daily, for one very good reason, it killed the bacteria in their lousy water, killed the bacteria transmitted in food by their poor personal hygiene, and was healthier for the body. Jesus at the very least drank wine in during the Last Supper. It was not on the table at the Last Supper just for communion purposes, but was conveniently there when Jesus used it to demonstrate His blood sacrifice.
There is no reason to believe that the Apostles were not drinking wine during the meal – it was common in every household, even the most righteous ones, and Jesus tells us He will drink wine again at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. Wine is symbolic of the Joy of the Holy Spirit. (6) The Apostle Paul encouraged Timothy to take wine for his stomach, as it breaks up surface tension in gas bubbles and can aid in digestion. (7) Jesus turned water into wine at the wedding in Cana – His first recorded miracles was making wine an alcoholic drink, and that it was wine of great quality and alcoholic in nature was testified to by the generous comments of the father of the groom. This wine Jesus created out of water was not grape juice as some would contend, it was “wine” a fermented grape juice.
If someone has a weakness for alcohol – they certainly should not drink any alcohol, not because alcohol is sinful in and of itself, but because it is harmful to the alcoholic with a weakness for strong drink. Scripture tells us that getting drunk on wine is bad for the body, mind and emotions, and can open our hearts to evil temptations of other kinds. It is an absolute fact that almost all of the leading characters of the Bible drank wine daily, as was the custom of those times.
It is a fact that until early in this century, almost no leading theologian, even those obviously filled with the Holy Spirit, avoided alcoholic drinks, thinking it sinful. Until this century and in many parts of the world during this century, wine in moderation was absolutely necessary for health and good digestion. While I’ve spoken of wine, there is no scriptural prohibition against any other kind of alcoholic beverage, while abuse (drinking too much, getting drunk) is clearly condemned. Lastly to this point, some modern ministers have tried to construct prohibitions against alcoholic drink, based on the widespread abuse in the population at large. But sadly, they have absolutely no scriptural or historical foundation to prohibit alcohol use in moderation. They have carefully constructed phony scriptural arguments against alcohol, thinking the ends justify their suspect means.
Lastly, two important points: A. Almighty God has created all natural foods, including the fruit of the vine for our blessing. But, anything taken to excess (abused) by someone not able to tolerate it can prove harmful, and change something God meant for a blessing into a curse. For instance, God created many animals which He both instructed His people to slaughter and to eat, but in excess beef for instance can clog our arteries and cause heart disease. Too much beef therefore is harmful and would violate God’s Command that we do everything in moderation. B. God through the Apostle Paul said that all things were lawful, though not all things were expedient (beneficial).
If alcohol is a weakness for you, you should drink it because it is not beneficial. Further, Paul by the Holy Spirit tells us that if we think a thing is a sin and do it, it is harmful to us because we are willingly committing a sin. On the other hand, if we are not convicted in our hearts that something is a sin, then it is not charged against us as a sin. Therefore, let every Christian be convinced in their own heart about the matter of alcohol; if you feel alcohol is a sin then by all means abstain, but that does not give us the right to force our anti-alcohol convictions on a brother or sister in Christ who do not believe it to be sin.
Alcohol is not condemned in Scripture, only alcohol abuse is sin. Most spiritually mature saints until this century have routinely and moderately indulged in wine, beer and other alcohol based drink, believing it was not a sin. Jesus not only turned water into wine, on at least one occasion He drank wine Himself. So, let us not try and bring people into bondage wherein a beer or glass of wine with a meal our on a social occasion makes them feel condemned to the eternal fires of hell or Divine Punishment without clear Scriptural warrant. That does not mean any Christian has to drink alcohol or that they should promote alcohol use,. But, we must avoid using our own narrow beliefs to bring others into unscriptural bondage, just to satisfy our own puritanical urges.
David R. Miser
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I believe, in my own heart, that alcohol, when consumed in great quantities becomes a terrible stumbling block to others, and causes personality changes which come from a demon alcohol. When you drink, make sure you have maybe one and that’s it. The bible says ” Do not be drunk with wine, but filled with the spirit” One drink does not get you drunk, but more than that, you are asking for trouble. I think alcohol is definitely a tool in which the enemy destroys people. I know this because my sister died at the age of 41 due to alcoholism. when she drank, she cursed me out, said horrible things, became very sexual with men. when she was sober, she remembered doing none of those things. Do you see, the devil somehow gets hold of people through drinking. In Him,
Elaine
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I don’t know what it says, but Jesus drank wine. From what I remember it talks about not being drunken, but drinking a couple of glasses of wine with dinner does not make one drunken…..
Love in Him,
Michele Yuval
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Q: I would like to know what the Bible says about drinking alcoholic beverages. A:.” 15 Be careful then how you live, not as unwise people but as wise, 16making the most of the time, because the days are evil. 17So do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18Do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery; but be filled with the Spirit, 19as you sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, singing and making melody to the Lord in your hearts, 20giving thanks to God the Father at all times and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Sneha
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The Bible does not condemn the drinking of alcohol if it is done responsibly. I am a recovered alcoholic of almost twenty years and I could not handle booze. In your heart you know if you are using the drink as a crutch. If so then you should not drink. Like Paul says if it is something that will affect you or someone around you do not do it. Just my thoughts , life has to be met head on with the help of the Lord not booze. You must have a clear mind to do God’s will. Your brother in Christ,
Pat
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The BIBLE says , do everything only in moderation do not abuse or overindulge, and the BIBLE also speaks of drinking wine,,,, so I do not believe you are a sinner if you have an alcoholic beverages in moderation, thank you
Christie