Is it wrong for a Christian to drink alcohol?
Q: I am a Christian and a deacon in my church. When I drink, I don’t drink in public. Not because I am scared of people seeing me but because I like it at home with my wife to relax after the day’s work. And we drink late in the night in our bedroom where we have a private refrigerator and when the children are asleep. So what is wrong with that? This is an issue I can’t raise with my pastor. [First published on 8 March 2009]
The Bible warns against the misuse of alcohol just as it warns against gluttony. For example, the priests were to avoid strong drink (Lev. 10:8-9). And Solomon wrote, “Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging:” (Prov. 20:1). Rulers should not take strong drink, for it distorts their ability to think and judge clearly. Strong drink is not for kings lest they pervert justice” (Prov. 31:4-5). Isaiah wrote, “Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink” (Isa. 5:11).
The Bible also condemns drunkenness and its effects (Proverbs 23:29-35). According to 1 Corinthians 5:11, Christians are to separate themselves from a person who claims to be a Christian but who is a drunkard. Drunkards are among those who “shall not inherit the kingdom of God” (1 Corinthians 6:9-10). Paul also wrote in Ephesians 5:18, “be not drunk with wine.” And drunkenness is listed in Galatians 5:19-21 among “the deeds of the flesh”.
Christians are commanded to not allow their bodies to be “mastered” by anything (1 Corinthians 6:12; 2 Peter 2:19).
‘Should I or should I not drink?’ is a question for the individual but here are a few tests we may subject our decision(s) to:
Does it glorify God? Paul wrote, “Whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” (1 Cor. 10:31). If a Christian cannot be praising God and glorifying Him while he is drinking, then it is not good for him, and it is not glorifying to God.
Does it provide a good example to other Believers? “Set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.” 1 Timothy 4:12 (ANIV)
Will it lead anyone else to sin? We are to be concerned not only about our own lives but also about others. Philippians 2:4, “Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.” And Christians should seriously consider Romans 14:21: “It is good neither to eat meat nor drink wine nor do anything by which your brother stumbles or is offended or is made weak” A believer should ask himself, “Will my drinking cause anyone else to sin? Even if it would not be a problem to me, is it possible that it would cause someone else to stumble?”
Does it have any health implications? Before a person decides to drink or to continue drinking, he should be fully aware of the relevant facts about alcoholic drinks and their deleterious effect.