Let’s tackle an age-old argument between many in the church body and among believers in Jesus. Is it ok to drink wine or beer? Is it a sin, does God disapprove entirely of it, or is it a deeper issue that makes consuming alcohol a problem for some, such as drunkenness?
We will use the scriptures and what God has said, what Jesus said, and what His Apostles taught, rather than our own opinions. But first, God may prefer you not to drink alcohol, because science has shown that it may cloud your judgment when you drink. It affects the brain and nervous system, which causes impaired judgment, loss of coordination, slowed reaction time, confusion, memory loss, and an increased risk of accidents.
But as we will see, it is not a sin to drink alcohol, but it is a sin to become drunk. Since drunkenness is a sin spelled out in God’s Word, God would rather you be filled with His Spirit and walk in obedience to all His commandments. Yet, He knows that we will never be perfect until He comes or we go to Him. Because of this, there will come times that you will stumble, sin, and, Lord willing, turn back to Him in repentance. Then, because of His grace, He will forgive you. But to merely take a drink of wine or beer is no sin. Let us now look at what the Word of God says, if you are not convinced.
Paul said in Ephesians 5:18, “And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,” but then he also told Timothy in 1 Timothy 5:23, “No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments.”
And even Jesus made this point, “The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at Him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds.” Matt 11:19
We see here that neither Paul nor Jesus condemned drinking, but said that you need wisdom, that a little wine is ok and beneficial, and that being filled with the Spirit of God is a more important topic. The truth is that the Pharisees lied about Jesus and said He was a drunkard because He drank wine, since they knew that being drunk is a sin.
But Jesus never sinned as the Scriptures state, and yet drank wine. So we can conclude that He never drank wine to excess and never became drunk. Another important point is that Jesus also turned water into wine, His first public miracle, which may have led some to become drunk, but He was not the one who became drunk.
Yet the truth of the matter is, it was never about drinking but drunkenness. The sin is drunkenness, just as overeating is gluttony. However, we don’t hear that sermon often in our world, which is known for excessive eating. Not to mention other things you may do wrong, such as driving too fast, which would break the “Speed Limit Law,” cheating on your taxes, which would be lying and stealing, and gossiping about others’ sins and evil ways, and yet completely ignoring their own.
The real problem is your own sins and what is coming from your heart. These are what need to be dealt with and what you need to seek the Lord to be changed by His power of transformation through His Spirit.
Jesus said, “Are you also still without understanding? 17 Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the stomach and is expelled? 18 But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. 19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. 20 These are what defile a person.” Matt 15:16-20
Many make this argument about alcohol because they have experienced the effects on themselves or others and, therefore, have written it completely off as wrong. It is a good point and should not be avoided, as it is good advice to avoid the things that cause them to stumble and fall. Yet this is not true of everyone; it is always between you and God.
Question yourself, what hold does alcohol have on you? Just as other sins may have a hold of you. Such as coveting others’ possessions. There is a difference between wanting a better car and coveting, which is an intense desire: a passionate craving for what isn’t yours, a lustful desire for something outside your rightful possession.
Each one of us needs to look in the mirror and see where we stand before God. What sins and desires you may struggle with, or things you lust after that you should not? It is important to point out that, instead of continuing to sin in many different ways, you should turn back to following God’s ways and repent, thereby building up treasures in Heaven rather than facing His judgment to come.
If you are to call out a sin you see in someone else, that instruction must be true, honest, and according to what God says it is, and not our own interpretation.
Paul instructed us, “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 9 What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.” Philippians 4:8-9
Everyone has sin, such as lying, stealing, lust, hatred, disobedience to parents and God, rebellion against God, idol worship, and more. But everyone must also look at themselves soberly and truthfully, turning to God with repentance.
Some struggle with alcohol and should not drink, but others do not, so it is ok for them to drink in moderation. As some say, “one and done.” Remember that man judges the outward appearance, but God judges the heart. You can not decide what is best for the other. But that is God’s job.
But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart.” 1 Samual 16:7
The Lord also said, “I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.” Jeremiah 17:10
David said, “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.” Psalm 19:14
Jesus said, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:21
And finally, James the Apostle strikes a chord when He tells everyone of us to look into the perfect Law of the Lord to examine our own hearts and ways. Do not hear His commands and not do them. Seek the Lord’s instruction with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength that you may do your best, knowing that you will fall and rise again by God’s forgiveness and grace. Then move forward and do not worry about the judgment of men, but do what is good, honorable, and acceptable in God’s eyes. Then you will know that you are following in the Lord Jesus’ footsteps, and that is what truly matters the most.
James 1:22-27 says, “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. 24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. 25 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.
26 If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless. 27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.
