Is Drinking Alcohol A Sin?

By Robert Waters

 It is abundantly clear from Scripture that drunkenness (abuse of alcohol and self) is a sin; thus, this issue is not debatable. Unfortunately, many Christians totally miss the point of the biblical mandates regarding alcohol. Even though no passages support their thinking, they seem compelled to condemn people who drink a single glass of wine with their meal. Furthermore, they sometimes even “unfriend” and “block” (on Facebook) those who endeavor to show them the truth (Gal. 4:16). While these Christians consider themselves to be on the “high road” in teaching the word of God and actually helping people, there is nothing “high” or good about misusing Scripture to bind where God has not, which can result in actually turning people away from the gospel. This unrighteous judgment casts aspersions upon virtually everyone in European countries where it is a custom to drink wine with a meal. In these places (and in the United States as well) wine is considered a healthy drink; so we see the wisdom of God, who did not condemn such beverages.

In addition to misusing passages of Scripture, Christians who oppose alcoholic drinks ignore conundrum passages (or vainly seek to explain them away) and make arguments that defy common sense. For example, since they know that no passage says drinking is sinful, some have argued that “one drink is one-drink drunk.” But the fact is, alcohol produces no recognizable effects until a certain amount is consumed. By their argumentation these same people condemn eating, and thus revile everyone, including themselves. You see, the Bible disapproves of gluttony, which includes overeating (Prov. 23:21). Thus, if one is drunk when he takes a sip of alcohol, and therefore sins, then one is a glutton when he takes one bite of food, and therefore sins. What proves too much proves nothing. But some Christians do not give up. To save their “one-drink drunk” argument some actually try to defend gluttony. But overeating and eating too much of bad foods, and even non-foods, often have very serious harmful effects on the body, to include diabetes and heart disease. So gluttony is indeed comparable to drunkenness. God even puts them together as if they are equally sinful (Prov. 23:21).

The teetotalers insist ANY use of alcohol is a sin. But I wonder how many avoid using vanilla extract, cough syrup, ripe fruit, energy drinks, hot sauces, protein bars, sugarless gums, vitamins, medicines, and fermented soda drinks. These all contain alcohol.

Passages that indicate it is not a sin to drink: 

Those who seek to persuade others that drinking is sinful have at least thirteen passages to deal with that establish that alcohol is not a sin to drink:

First, Jesus provided wine at a wedding (John 2).  

Second, Paul told Timothy to "drink no longer water" but to use a little wine for his stomach (1 Tim. 5:23). 

Third, Paul stated that it is not good to drink wine if it will cause a brother to stumble or be made weak (Rom. 14:21). This passage not only implies that it is not a sin to drink wine if no brethren are around to be affected, but it also indicates that the “wine” that is under consideration is NOT merely grape juice, for no one would be offended by a brother's drinking mere juice. 

Fourth, a qualification for being a deacon is that he not “be given to much wine” (1 Tim. 3:8). This implies two things: 1) that a little wine is okay; and 2) that the wine under consideration is not just grape juice, for if that were the case it would not matter how much the deacon drank. Thus, it is clearly implied that the sin is not the drink (even though it is capable of making one drunk), or in drinking, but drinking to the point that one’s judgment is impaired.

Fifth, a directive was given to the Levites to “not drink wine nor strong drink…when ye go into the tabernacle” (Lev. 10:9). Thus, by deductive reasoning we see that even the religious leaders of the Jews were permitted to drink—just not in the tabernacle. 

Sixth, those who took the Nazarite vow were prohibited from consumption of wine or strong drink as well as grapes and raisons (Num. 6:2, 3).   

“He shall separate himself from wine and strong drink; he shall drink no vinegar of wine, or vinegar of strong drink, neither shall he drink any juice of grapes, nor eat fresh grapes or dried” (Num. 6:3 ASV). If God had wanted us all to abstain from drinking he would not have been specific in condemning it for those who took the Nazarite vow—those words would have been directed to everyone. Perhaps the reason for excluding the use of wet grapes and dried was to distinguish the difference—that the items being excluded were indeed capable of intoxication.

Seven, God specifically authorized drinking wine, and even strong drink. "And thou shalt bestow that money for whatsoever thy soul lusteth after, for oxen, or for sheep, or for wine, or for strong drink, or for whatsoever thy soul desireth: and thou shalt eat there before the LORD thy God, and thou shalt rejoice, thou, and thine household," (Deut. 14:26).

Gil

“or for wine, or for strong drink; to drink with his food, whether wine or any other liquor; the Targum of Jonathan is, wine new or old, which he chose; but the latter, strong drink, Aben Ezra says, was a liquor made of honey and of dates, of wheat and of barley:”

Clark

“This one verse sufficiently shows that the Mosaic law made ample provision for the comfort and happiness of the people.”

Eight, wine is even recommended for people on occasions. In Proverbs 31:6-7, we read: “Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, And wine unto the bitter in soul: 7 Let him drink, and forget his poverty, And remember his misery no more.”

Barnes

The true purpose of the power of wine over man's mind and body, as a restorative and remedial agent. Compare the margin reference. The same thought showed itself in the Jewish practice of giving a cup of wine to mourners, and (as in the history of the crucifixion) to criminals at their execution.

Gil

“Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish… Thou, O Lemuel, and other kings and judges, rather than drink strong drink yourselves, least to excess; give it out of your great abundance and liberality to poor persons in starving circumstances, who must perish, unless relieved; it will do them good, moderately used; and should they drink too freely, which they ought not, yet it would not be attended with such bad consequences as if kings and princes should;”

“and wine to those that be of heavy heart; of melancholy dispositions, under gloomy apprehensions of things; pressed with the weight of their affliction and poverty: or, "bitter in soul" 1; such as God has dealt bitterly with, as Naomi says was her case, and therefore called her own name Marah, which signifies bitter; of such a sorrowful spirit, and one thus bitter in soul, was Hannah; and so Job, and others; persons in great affliction and distress, to whom life itself is bitter; see Ru 1:20; now wine to such is very exhilarating and cheering; see Jg 9:13.”

Nine, Psalm 104:14, 15  “He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, And herb for the service of man; That he may bring forth food out of the earth, ¹⁵ And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, And oil to make his face to shine, And bread that strengtheneth man's heart.”

Regarding the phrase “maketh glad the heart” Clark says, “Wine, in moderate quantity, has a wondrous tendency to revive and invigorate the human being.”

Ten, the apostle Paul said, “All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any” (1 Cor. 6:12). There can be no doubt as to whether alcohol was meant to be included in the phrase “all things.”  Paul did not say he did not drink—only that he would not allow it to take over his body and mind.

Eleven, in the letter to the Corinthians (ch 11), Paul addressed the churches' abuse of the Lord’s Supper. He noted that some were getting drunk. Thus, alcohol HAD to be present. It is significant that Paul said nothing about the wine—that maybe they should have been more careful to assure that it was not fermented and contained no alcohol. He simply noted that some were “drunken,” which meant they drank too much. The wine evidently contained alcohol, but the tenor indicates that the wine was not the problem. Only in the last 100 years have churches been able to obtain and use grape juice that is not fermented; thus it cannot be said that the drink authorized for use in the Lord’s supper contained no alcohol, for it is not only reasonable that it did but it was also capable of making one drunk if too much was consumed.  

Twelve, some have misused Ephesians 5:18 (“And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess”) to try to prove that one drink condemns the very process of getting drunk. But being drunk is EXCESS; thus if you drink a little you are not guilty of excess nor of being drunk. Thus, this text actually proves that drinking, if not to excess, is not the behavior condemned in the text and that it is not condemned at all. Another truth this text presents is that the wine is not just unfermented grape juice; for unfermented grape juice, no matter how much one drinks, will not result in drunkenness.

Thirteen, Jesus said the Old Wine is better.

“No man also having drunk old wine straightway desireth new: for he saith, The old is better” (Luke 5:39). Old wine is sure to have alcohol in it.

Does the Bible Contradict Itself on the Matter of Drinking?

We have seen from the Bible that it is not a sin to drink, but what about those Old Testament passages that are typically used to condemn drinking? Some Old Testament passages certainly warn about being deceived by the use of alcohol, and one should heed the warning because drunkenness can mess up not only one's day but one's life, just as misuse or abuse of various foods can do. But do these passages teach that drinking is sin? Let’s take a closer look.

Proverbs 20:1 “Wine is a mocker, strong drink is a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise.” The message is: Don’t be deceived by wine nor by strong drink, for it is not wise. If you drink know what you are doing and avoid overindulgence. “Temperance” (self-control) is one of the “Christian graces” Peter lists that involve criteria whereby one may know he is saved (2 Pet. 1:5-10).

Isaiah 5:11 “Woe to those who rise early in the morning, that they may follow intoxicating drink; who continue until night, till wine inflames them!” 

This passage is obviously a warning against abuse and addiction, but nothing more.

Proverbs 23:31 is often used to teach that it is even sinful to “look upon” drinks that contain alcohol. But this passage is ripped from its context, which is the deplorable depiction of a drunkard—addicted to the use of alcohol. The context begins at verse 29 and ends at verse 35, and when read by one with an open mind to truth is quite revealing. Regarding verse 31, Gil makes the following comment:

Gil 

“…not that it is unlawful to look upon the color of wine, and thereby judge of its goodness; but it should not be looked upon with a greedy eye, so as vehemently to desire it, which will lead to an intemperate use of it; just as looking upon a woman, so as to lust after her, is forbidden, Mt 5:28.”

That Clark recognized the true context is evident by what he wrote:

“Look not thou upon the wine - Let neither the color, the odor, the sparkling, etc., of the wine, when poured out, induce thee to drink of it. However good and pure it may be, it will to thee be a snare, because thou art addicted to it, and hast no self-command.”

A careful examination of these and other verses reveals that while God strongly condemns the ABUSE of alcohol (drunkenness), drinking for the common man who is able to remain temperate is not condemned. And since God doesn't condemn the use of alcohol, neither should we.

Conclusion

While it is good to avoid anything that might offend a weak brother or cause one to stumble, it is better to teach the truth to those unlearned. Weak brethren can, of course, be caused to stumble. But our biggest problem is not with the weak brethren but with those who are “strong” but ignorant, and who are often completely close minded. They endeavor to promote their thinking tirelessly, but in no way honorably or scholarly. The consequences of teaching error on the matter of the use of alcohol are as follows: 1) the teacher is seen as immature and unable to handle the meat of the word; 2) one becomes guilty of binding where God has not—something for which he will have to give an account; 3) evangelism may become ineffective, especially in countries where wine at meals is a custom, common practice, and considered health food; and 4) since God has authorized drinking, those who tell others it is a sin to drink have judged God.

It is good to be conservative with the word of God. But we must be as careful not to bind where God has not bound as we are not to loose where God has not loosed. And God has chosen not to bind upon his people the idea that they must be teetotalers. Therefore, they are free to enjoy a glass of wine with their meal if they so choose. Far be it from us to condemn our brethren who choose to enjoy God's gift of alcohol; for when we do, we become the transgressor rather than the good news bearer.

Recommended Reading: 

Damning Alcohol Use Damns Jesus | SwordmasterPublications Wiki | Fandom

https://www.jw.org/en/bible-teachings/questions/is-drinking-a-sin/

https://www.gotquestions.org/sin-alcohol.html

https://lifehopeandtruth.com/relationships/health/is-drinking-alcohol-a-sin/