–– David de Bruyn & Tim Cantrell

The audio version of this article is available here: YouTube, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify.

The holiday season is fast approaching, with all of its blessings but also its dangers – of which one of the most notorious and widespread is the abuse of alcohol.  It was more common in my father’s generation for Christians to stand firm and swim upstream as teetotallers who abstained from alcohol.  But in our day, a trendy ‘Young, Restless & Reformed’ generation has arisen and at times foolishly flaunted their liberties in an effort to be more contextualised and hip with the culture.  A hyper-grace (antinomian) mood has fallen on the modern church and calls a “legalist” anyone who makes you uncomfortable in their zeal for holiness.

If our Lord taught us to look for “the fruits”, and about “reaping what you sow” (cause and effect), we dare not ignore the statistics.  Alcohol is a factor in 57% of marital violence; 46% of all thefts; 41% of child molestation; over 40% of all teenage suicides; 59% of all murders; 47% of industrial injuries; 54% of all rapes; 80% of suicides; 66% of traffic fatalities.  In South Africa, it is estimated that 10-12% of our total GDP is wasted on alcoholism, a burden of nearly R300 billion.

One disclaimer: The Bible recognises other uses for alcohol or narcotics.  It had medicinal uses (1 Tim. 5:23).  It is described as an antiseptic (Lk. 10:34).  It was used not only to disinfect wounds but to sterilise water.  It was used as an opiate for the terminally ill (Prov. 31:6).  The matter under dispute is whether alcohol or drugs should be used merely for pleasure.  

Scriptural Principles

1. Christians are not to be drunk with wine, or controlled by any other substance (Eph. 5:18).
2. Drunkenness is a sin (Deut. 21:20-21; Amos 6:1; 1 Cor. 6:9-10; Gal. 5:19-20).
3. At least three groups in Israel were forbidden from, or advised against drinking alcohol: priests (Lev. 10:9-10), kings (Prov. 31:4-5), and Nazarites (Nu. 6:2-3).
4. The Bible also warns of the many dangers of drinking alcohol (Prov. 20:1; Isaiah 5:11; Hab. 2:15-16).  Perhaps the most vivid biblical description of inebriation is found in Proverbs 23:29-35.  The writer depicts the drunk as experiencing woe, sorrow, wounds and bloodshot eyes.  Drunken people “behold strange women” and “utter perverse things.”  Although the experience is like being sick or physically beaten, alcohol has such a hold on the drunkard that he seeks to indulge again as soon as he wakes from his stupor. 

A wise person will avoid wine because in the end it “bites like a serpent and stings like an adder.”  Solomon advises his readers not to spend time among poverty-stricken, raggedy “winebibbers.”  Perhaps the most well-known warning about alcohol abuse asserts that “wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise” (Prov. 20:1).  The Bible conclusively condemns the abuse of alcohol.

Wine & Strong Drink

The word “wine” occurs about 230 times in the Bible.  It is often used in the context of getting drunk (or making merry), showing that in general the word “wine” refers to an alcoholic beverage (Hos 4:11; Acts 2:13; 1 Cor. 11:21, etc.), which was usually fermented (by natural means) and able to intoxicate.  In those days, wine was usually served mixed with water.  It was considered barbaric to drink wine unmixed with water.  It often took a great deal of drinking to get drunk because the alcohol content of wine was so low (around 22 glasses would have been needed).

The Bible warns about “strong drink” (22x, e.g., Isa. 5:11; 28:7; 52:12-13).  This refers to an intoxicating drink of any sort not made from grapes, but from other concoctions.  Most of the alcoholic drinks of our society today would be considered “strong drink” by biblical standards because of their high alcohol content.  Many modern wines have been strengthened to increase their alcohol content far beyond the wines of biblical times.

Should Christians Drink Alcohol?

1. The abuse of alcohol is clearly sinful. One should never get drunk.
2. On the other hand, one must admit that several texts of Scripture seem to allow for and even commend the use of wine and/or strong drink (Deut. 14:26; Ps. 104:14-15; Prov. 3:9-10; Eccl. 9:7; Joel 3:18).  Wine and strong drink are not evil in and of themselves.  They do not cause drunkenness just as the presence of food is not the cause of gluttony.  All sin proceeds from the sinful heart of man, not from part of the created order.  The general tenor of biblical teaching is that wine, like any good gift from God, is easily abused: in this case, abuse involves addiction and drunkenness.

This leads to two possible positions, both of which can be held by godly, sincere believers:

(1) Moderationism – Some Christians say that the Bible condemns the abuse of alcohol (drunkenness) but not the moderate enjoyment of it.  We must admit that the Bible does not absolutely prohibit the consumption of alcohol for the believer.

(2) Abstentionism – Some Christians believe the best policy when it comes to wine, beer and other alcoholic drinks is total abstinence.  To live a holy, righteous, blameless lifestyle in our drunken age, abstinence from alcohol can be a wise commitment to make.  Refraining is not a biblical mandate but a choice to avoid the stain that alcohol can represent.  Drinking may be lawful, but not profitable (cf. 1 Cor. 6:12).  For one’s own sake and for the sake of others, the best practice may be to abstain from alcohol use, especially in some cultural contexts.  Consider these further reasons for abstaining:

• South Africa has an alcoholic culture (as noted above).  Drunkenness and the accompanying tragedies are common.  In biblical times, drunkenness was not a major problem in comparison to our day, especially in Jewish society.  
• For those in Christian leadership, it is wiser.  We are to avoid even the appearance of evil, to avoid tripping up weaker believers, and strive to be a godly testimony in a wicked culture, as those called to be “above reproach”.

Ask Yourself:

1. Is there a danger that a drinker may be brought into bondage? (1 Cor 6:12)  Alcohol has the capacity to influence and control even strong believers.  In our pastoral experience, the risk of a casual drinker becoming a problem drinker is significant.
2. Not everything lawful is helpful (1 Cor. 6:12).  Ask:  Are you fleeing temptation by doing this? (2 Tim. 2:22)  Does it make provision for the flesh? (Rom. 13:14)  Could Satan exploit this for evil ends? (Eph. 4:27).  Can you do it in faith (Rom. 14:23)?
3. Will it lead others to stumble or sin (1 Cor. 8:10-11)?  While you may have the drinking under control, what about those watching your example?  The ex-alcoholic, whose conscience is teetering between total abstinence, and plunging back into alcoholism, may take your drinking as permission, and be destroyed.  
4. Will it confuse an unbeliever’s understanding of the Gospel?  Paul tells us that if the unbeliever associates your actions with his unbelieving life, you should abstain for the sake of his conscience (1 Cor. 10:27-28).  
5. Will my drinking harm my Christian testimony?  Why risk tarnishing my reputation in the church or in the community, instead of adoring the gospel? (Tit. 2:10)
6. With modern refrigeration and a plethora of non-alcoholic choices available today, is alcohol necessary for my enjoyment and relaxation?  If my joy and rest flow from a bottle, have I gone beyond being a recreational user?  

May our Lord give each of us wisdom for ourselves and for our household to know how best to use our Christian liberties for His glory as we seek to live holy lives in an unholy age.