What about alcohol?

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Question 12003

Few subjects generate more heat and less light in Christian circles than the question of alcohol. Some traditions teach total abstinence as a biblical command; others treat drinking as an unremarkable part of ordinary life. The Bible itself is more nuanced than either position allows, and a careful reading of the relevant texts yields a position that is neither prohibitionist nor permissive but genuinely balanced.

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Wine in Scripture

The Bible does not prohibit the consumption of alcohol. Wine is presented in Scripture as a gift of God. Psalm 104:15 describes wine as something that “gladdens the heart of man,” set alongside bread and oil as provisions from God’s hand. Jesus’ first recorded miracle was turning water into wine at the wedding in Cana (John 2:1-11), and the quality of the wine was noted by the master of the feast. The Lord’s Supper was instituted with a cup that represented Christ’s blood, and there is no serious textual basis for claiming this was unfermented grape juice. Paul’s instruction to Timothy to “use a little wine for the sake of your stomach” (1 Timothy 5:23) assumes wine as a normal part of life in the ancient world.

Those who argue that the wine of the biblical world was fundamentally different from modern alcoholic beverages are overstating their case. While dilution with water was common practice at meals, the warnings against drunkenness throughout Scripture presuppose that wine had genuine alcoholic content. If it could not intoxicate, the warnings would be pointless.

Drunkenness is Sin

The biblical position on drunkenness is unambiguous and repeated. “Do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18). Galatians 5:21 lists drunkenness among the works of the flesh. Proverbs 20:1 warns that “wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise.” Proverbs 23:29-35 contains one of the most vivid and unflinching descriptions of alcohol’s destructive potential anywhere in ancient literature. The consistent biblical witness is that losing control of one’s faculties through drink is incompatible with a life governed by the Holy Spirit.

The distinction is between use and abuse. Scripture permits the one and condemns the other. The line between them is not always as clear as some Christians would like it to be, and the honest believer will exercise caution rather than testing how close to the line they can walk.

Wisdom, Love, and Conscience

Beyond the clear prohibition of drunkenness, the Christian must apply wisdom and love. Some believers have a history with alcohol that makes any consumption genuinely dangerous for them. Others live or minister in contexts where drinking, even in moderation, would cause offence or stumbling. Paul’s principle in Romans 14:21 applies: “It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble.” A Christian who insists on their right to drink without any regard for its effect on others has misunderstood what Christian freedom is for.

Church leaders face additional considerations. Paul’s requirement that elders and deacons not be “given to much wine” (1 Timothy 3:3, 8) sets a standard of moderation and self-control that is appropriate for those who lead. The issue is not whether a leader may ever drink but whether their pattern of life demonstrates the kind of self-mastery that befits a servant of Christ.

So, now what?

The Bible permits the moderate consumption of alcohol while unequivocally condemning drunkenness. It also calls believers to exercise wisdom, self-control, and genuine love for others in how they use their freedom. Some Christians will choose total abstinence, and that is a perfectly legitimate decision that should be respected. Others will drink moderately and thankfully, and that too is within the bounds of Scripture. What is not acceptable is drunkenness, recklessness, or a refusal to consider the effect of one’s choices on others.

“And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit.” Ephesians 5:18