Is Drinking Alcohol a Sin?

If you're like many Christians, you're probably here asking: Is it a sin to drink alcohol?

Let me give you a straight forward answer - No, it is not a sin to drink alcohol.  I cannot find anywhere in the Scripture a defining verse or passage that says that alcohol is intrinsically evil.  I have read tons of books, articles and sermons on this subject and I have never been satisfied that alcohol is intrinsically evil. It is an important question for our time. Millions and millions of Americans have been brutalized and devastated by the abuse of alcohol. I have had to deal as a minister with the shattered lives that occurred through the addiction and abuse of alcohol. This is not just an American issue but I live here so I will talk about what I know. 

Most Christians reference Galatians 5:19-21 and Ephesians 5:18 when trying to answer the age-old question about drinking. Let's take a look at those passages and see the context and intent behind them.

Galatians 5:19–21 (NIV): "The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God."

This passage lists "drunkenness" among various acts of the sinful nature, warning that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. This indicates that habitual drunkenness, as part of a lifestyle of sinful behavior, is condemned.

Ephesians 5:18 (NIV): "Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit." 

This verse explicitly advises against getting drunk on wine, as it leads to debauchery. Instead, believers are encouraged to be filled with the Spirit. The focus here is on avoiding drunkenness because of its negative consequences.

Neither of these passages explicitly states that drinking alcohol in moderation is a sin. The Bible contains instances where wine is consumed responsibly, such as in Psalm 104:14-15, where wine is seen as something that gladdens the heart, and in John 2:1-11, where Jesus turns water into wine at the wedding at Cana.

The key point from these scriptures is that the Bible warns against excessive drinking and drunkenness, which can lead to sinful behavior and poor judgment. Drinking alcohol in moderation is not condemned, but believers are encouraged to exercise self-control and avoid excess.

I am going to make some preliminary remarks and then do my best to back them up with the Scriptures and reason. 

1.  Jesus made wine. 

His first miracle was turning water into wine. I have heard many pastors that I respect go to great lengths to demonstrate that the wine that Jesus made was basically non-alcoholic. They talk about how the distilling of alcohol didn’t really happen until centuries later. 

Problem: People got drunk in the Bible. There was such a thing as “strong drink” beginning in ancient times.  Therefore, the argument that the wine that Jesus made was almost non-alcoholic seems farfetched to me and to most Bible scholars. 

I don’t think Jesus made wine to have a party or to even enjoy it. I think He did it to demonstrate his divinity.  Nonetheless, I am sure the people enjoyed it. 

In fact, the Bible contains a few passages that mention wine being beneficial for health. Here are some key scriptures:

1 Timothy 5:23: "Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses."

In this verse, the Apostle Paul advises Timothy to drink a little wine for the sake of his health, particularly his stomach issues.

Psalm 104:14-15: "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."

Here, wine is described as something that gladdens the heart, indicating its potential to bring joy and well-being.

2.  There has been a HUGE paradigm shift in American Evangelicalism concerning drinking alcohol

It is hard to believe that most pastors now advocate drinking in moderation compared to how I grew up.  Abstinence was just about THE litmus test for sanctification! The party line was almost “We are godly because we don’t drink!” That idea, although extreme, was a reality. 

I think the reasoning behind it is simple: if you don’t drink you won’t ever have to worry about abusing alcohol. That is a decent argument.  However, there has been a grace revolution in our thinking over the last 20 years. I think this paradigm is for the better but it opens up the can of debate that can lead to disunity.  Sometimes debate is worth the possibility of disunity.  Sometimes. 

1 Cor 10:23 “Everything is permissible”—but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible”—but not everything is constructive. 24 Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others."

I love what John Piper said in a video I watched a while back.  He intimated that although there is grace and “tee-totaling” is a choice not a law, as pastors we must not be cavalier in the advocacy of drinking alcohol. 

I think there are way too many Christians that just blurt out a quick “yes” or “no” without really thinking through the complexities of this question.  I used to be one of them. 

I do NOT want to present the advocacy of drinking alcohol in a cavalier way.  We live in a culture of addiction and abuse.  Drunk driving, teenage alcoholism, child abuse stemming from drunk parents are HUGE issues.  Moderate drinking CAN lead to alcoholism.  It is a possibility so we must be extremely careful. 

3.  It is a sin to cause another person to stumble into alcohol addiction

Romans 14:20 “Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a man to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble.”

If a mature Christian’s freedom causes a person to fall headlong into sin then it is wrong.  This is not a warning for people who walk in grace to be stifled because they are worried about legalistic Christians criticizing them.  This is a warning to make sure that we never destroy the work of Christ in a believer’s life by abusing our freedom. 

Scripture Support for Choosing to Drink or Abstain from Alcohol

1.  Is it wise to drink alcohol? 

Not necessarily.  For many, many people it is unwise to drink at all.  A person’s background, disposition and environment must be factored into this discussion. 

Proverbs 20:1 “Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler; whoever is led astray by them is not wise.”

What this passage means is that wine and beer are powerful and one must not be led astray. The fact that one could be led astray by these liquid entities should give every Christian a heart check. 

I have heard often people comparing overeating to overdrinking.  Here is the difference: if you go to Cracker Barrel and eat 6000 calories of saturated fact you are not likely to get pulled over by the police because of your fat saturation level.  You are not likely to drive into a mini-van and kill a whole family because of it. 

There is the possibility that you may have gastrointestinal issues that cause the people in your vehicle to vomit but you won’t be going to jail for manslaughter.  You are just guilty of air-quality slaughter. 

2.  Is it unwise to drink alcohol?

Not necessarily.  A Christian can enjoy a glass of wine or a glass of beer and it not cause havoc in the world. Here are a few verses that my super-fundamentalist pastors never preached on when I was growing up.

Psalm 104:14–15 “You cause the grass to grow for the livestock and plants for man to cultivate, that he may bring forth food from the earth 15 and wine to gladden the heart of man, oil to make his face shine and bread to strengthen man’s heart.”

Ecclesiastes 9:7 “Go, eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a merry heart, for God has already approved what you do.”

Isaiah 62:8–9 “The Lord has sworn by his right hand and by his mighty arm: “I will not again give your grain to be food for your enemies, and foreigners shall not drink your wine for which you have labored; but those who garner it shall eat it and praise the Lord, and those who gather it shall drink it in the courts of my sanctuary.”

3.  Is it a sin for a Christian to drink in public?

I think the correct answer to this question is going to be found in the context of each unique situation. 

Remember that we are not talking about getting drunk.  We are talking about having a glass (or 2) of wine or beer. 

If by drinking a glass of wine, a Christian selfishly causes a weaker Christian (a former addict or one who may have an over proclivity to become one) then the answer is yes.  Don’t guess and don’t go there would be my strong recommendation. 

If a Christian is sitting down to a nice dinner with their spouse or friends and has no fear or guilt about drinking a glass of wine but has faith that God has given them the freedom to do so then the answer is no it is not a sin. 

Romans 14:22-23 “So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the man who does not condemn himself by what he approves. But the man who has doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin.”

What the Bible Says About Drunkenness and the Dangers of Drunkenness

The Bible is clear in its warnings against drunkenness, emphasizing both the moral and practical dangers associated with it. In Ephesians 5:18, we are instructed, "Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit." This verse highlights that drunkenness leads to a loss of self-control and indulgence in sinful behaviors, steering believers away from a life led by the Holy Spirit.

Similarly, Galatians 5:19-21 includes "drunkenness" in a list of sinful acts, warning that "those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God." The implication is clear: habitual drunkenness is incompatible with a life committed to following Christ and can jeopardize one's spiritual well-being.

The dangers of drunkenness are manifold. Firstly, it impairs judgment and lowers inhibitions, often leading to actions that one would not ordinarily consider, resulting in moral and legal consequences. Proverbs 20:1 cautions, "Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler; whoever is led astray by them is not wise." This underscores the foolishness and potential for conflict that accompanies excessive drinking.

Moreover, the physical health risks associated with heavy drinking are significant. Chronic alcohol abuse can lead to liver disease, heart problems, and other serious health conditions. It also negatively impacts mental health, contributing to depression, anxiety, and other psychological issues.

Drunkenness can also strain or destroy relationships. It can lead to irresponsible behavior, neglect of responsibilities, and emotional harm to loved ones. In many cases, it can result in addiction, where the individual becomes dependent on alcohol, further compounding these problems.

In summary, while the Bible acknowledges that wine can have its place, it unequivocally condemns drunkenness due to the myriad dangers it poses to both spiritual and physical health. Christians are called to exercise self-control and live in a way that honors God, avoiding the pitfalls of excessive drinking and its destructive consequences.

Summary:

I have not addressed every single issue on this subject but I have tried to give us a “helicopter ride” over this subject. The possibility of fallout is okay with me because I really believe that a pastor must dive into the complex issues of our time with honest questions and thoughtful answers.

Joel Engle is a church-planter who pastors The Exchange Church in the D/FW Metroplex. He is the author of The Exchange, The Father I Never Had, and has written several top 10 songs in Christian music. He married to Valerie and has 4 perfectly amazing children. Joel's latest CD is titled The Great Exchange and is available at joelengle.com, iTunes, and Amazon.

Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/KatarzynaBialasiewicz