What the Bible Says About Alcohol?

I have an extended family member who is a missionary. Recently, she hit me up on Facebook to ask me some questions about what the Bible says about 3 areas. I have been scrambling to find the time to respond. Since I write here about different issues, I thought I would answer her questions on the blog (my cousin reads it regularly). I thought some of you might find the answers helpful as you wrestle with some of these questions. I will warn you, these are not 3 easy areas to address in today’s society and church. So, I will stick with what the Bible says on each subject. This will be a short series on this blog. The three subjects: Alcohol, role of women in church, and the gift of tongues.

One request: Please read all the way to the end of each post, no matter your view. I will add some personal thoughts at the end.

Let’s start with an easy one (LOL): Alcohol. So, what does Scripture say about alcohol?

Let me get this part on the table right up front. Nowhere does the Bible prohibit the use of alcohol in all circumstances. In other words, nowhere does the Bible say you are to avoid alcohol completely. However, Scripture gives a number of very strong warnings about its use.

Let’s begin with this thought. Drunkenness is a sin, not a disease. We talk about those that regularly overindulge in alcohol as if they are simply ill in the same way we might speak of someone with cancer or heart disease. What does Scripture say?
1 Cor. 6:9-12 9 Do you not know that the unjust will not inherit God’s kingdom? Do not be deceived: no sexually immoral people, idolaters, adulterers, male prostitutes, homosexuals, 10 thieves, greedy people, drunkards, revilers, or swindlers will inherit God’s kingdom. 11 Some of you were like this; but you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. 12 “Everything is permissible for me,” but not everything is helpful. “Everything is permissible for me,” but I will not be brought under the control of anything.
Drunkards (we use the term alcoholics) is listed right up there with thieves and the sexually immoral. Not that everyone who drinks is a drunkard, but where there is no alcohol, there are no drunkards / alcoholics.

Second, alcohol impairs wisdom.
Prov. 31:4 4 It is not for kings, Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine or for rulers [to desire] beer
Those with big responsibility (kings) were forbidden to drink all forms of alcohol. Why? Think it through. They had the greatest of responsibilities. At no time would they wish to be in a state of mind where they could not make clear decisions. The next verse says:
Proverbs 31:5 Otherwise, they will drink, forget what is decreed, and pervert justice for all the oppressed.
I would take the position that too much is dependent on the wisdom of all of us. OK, so you are not a king. Maybe you are “just” a father or “just” a mother.
The Old Testament is clear the priests were not to drink (8 The Lord spoke to Aaron: 9 “You and your sons are not to drink wine or beer when you enter the tent of meeting, or else you will die; this is a permanent statute throughout your generations. Lev 10:8-9 (HCSB)}
Those taking a Nazarite Vow were commanded not to drink (When a man or woman makes a special vow, a Nazirite vow, to consecrate himself to the Lord, 3 he is to abstain from wine and beer. He must not drink vinegar made from wine or from beer. Num 6:2-3 (HCSB))
John the Baptist (forerunner of Christ and great prophet) was forbidden to drink. (15 For he will be great in the sight of the Lord and will never drink wine or beer. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit while still in his mother’s womb. Luke 1:15 (HCSB))
Scientifically, we know that even small amounts of alcohol slows response times. One ounce of alcohol slows decision making time by 10%.

Next, alcohol is an unnecessary drug. An informed debater would point out Proverbs 31:6-7 which says, “6 Give beer to one who is dying, and wine to one whose life is bitter. 7 Let him drink so that he can forget his poverty and remember his trouble no more.” What is the meaning of this passage? Sounds like we should be handing out alcohol. A couple of thoughts. First, notice this is not for individual consumption where a person might down with a 6 pack or a glass of wine at the end of a hard day to take the edge off. This person referred to in Proverbs is “one whose life is bitter”. It’s the kind of experience like losing a child, or just finding out you have terminal cancer, or having your house burn to the ground losing all your personal belongings. This is not someone who had a bad day at the office. Keep in mind, this was before the days we would prescribe drugs for such things. The command is that we are to share alcohol with one who desperately needs it to get through a mind altering event. Not as a regular nerve drug. However, today we have medications that can be accurately prescribed with accountability for such things. An interesting note here is Jesus’ response at the point of greatest personal pressure in all of history: His death on a cross bearing the sin of the world. (34 they gave Him wine mixed with gall to drink. But when He tasted it, He would not drink it. Matt 27:34 (HCSB)) The single greatest coping mechanism known to man is the peace that comes through knowing you are in the center of God’s will, which Christ clearly was.

Next, alcohol is destructive. It cannot be argued that alcohol can lead to some diseases. (Of course, this could be said of many things we consume :-)) (1 Corinthians 6:19-20 19 Do you not know that your body is a sanctuary of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, 20 for you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body) Paul could have said, "Your soul" or "Your spirit" is the sactuary of the Holy Spirit. But he did not. He said "your body" (physical body).
Alcoholism is a factor in 30% of all completed suicides. 7% of those with alcohol dependence die of suicide. Some estimates are as high as $100 billion / year to society in alcohol abuse related expenses. Alcohol related accidents cost taxpayers 21 – 24 billion dollars a year in America. Some estimates are much higher. This does not include higher insurance premiums we all pay due to the problem.
Enough statistics, what does the Bible say? (Proverbs 23:29-30 29 Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has conflicts? Who has complaints? Who has wounds for no reason? Who has red eyes? 30 Those who linger over wine, those who go looking for mixed wine) There are 6 results of alcohol use in these verses. None of them are good or positive in any way.
But he goes on: Prov. 23:31-34 31 Don’t gaze at wine when it is red, when it gleams in the cup and goes down smoothly.32 In the end it bites like a snake and stings like a viper. 33 Your eyes will see strange things, and you will say absurd things. 34 You’ll be like someone sleeping out at sea or lying down on the top of a ship’s mast.
Maybe I’m a bit weird (OK, so I am a bit weird), but I don’t really like being bitten by a snake or a viper. And I know, many who may read this would say, “But I don’t abuse alcohol.” I’m sure that is true. It is certainly possible to consume alcohol and not abuse it. But it’s a dangerous game to play to say, “how close can I get to the edge and not fall over it?” Maybe if you take a drink every now and then you are probably 99% sure you will not fall off the cliff. But if I never take a drink I can assure you I am 100% sure I will not fall off that cliff.

Next, alcohol, by its nature is addictive. Prob. 23:35 35 “They struck me, but I feel no pain! They beat me, but I didn’t know it! When will I wake up? I’ll look for another [drink] .” The writer of Proverbs is saying the danger is that one given to drink will turn to alcohol in a time of stress. Why would one who belongs to Christ need to turn to anything other than Christ Himself?

Finally, wisdom calls me to set it aside. (Prov. 20:1 1 Wine is a mocker, beer is a brawler, and whoever staggers [led astray] because of them is not wise.) The Scripture does not prohibit its use, but it does recommend we avoid it.

This is what Scripture says. My conclusions for why I don’t use alcohol at all are as follows based on what Scripture teaches.

Life is full of choices to be made between good, better, and best. I’ve tried to be fair in stating that Scripture nowhere prohibits alcohol use in all circumstances. (There, I said it again J). I simply believe, based on what Scripture teaches it is the best choice for all the reasons above. I am fully aware there many devoted followers of Christ (some in the church I pastor) who do not see this the same way I do. Let me be clear: THIS IS NOT ONE OF THE ESSENTIALS of the faith. Therefore, it is certainly not a basis for parting fellowship. But I continue to come back to the question of, not what Mark thinks, but what does Scripture say?

I also do not drink alcohol because it’s not about me. We all love that line when it's about something that doesn't affect me personally. But really, it's not about me. Paul said it like this: Romans 14: 15-17 15 For if your brother is hurt by what you eat, you are no longer walking according to love. By what you eat, do not destroy that one for whom Christ died. 16 Therefore, do not let your good be slandered, 17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.
Romans 14:2121 It is a noble thing not to eat meat, or drink wine, or do anything that makes your brother stumble.
As a mature believer, we make choices not for what is best for ME, but what is best for others.

I am fully aware it is in vogue today to speak of our liberties (freedoms) as Christians. It has become in vogue for church leaders (i.e., some pastors) to take a different position than I do on this one. Some of them are my friends. And our different positions on this one does not hinder that relationship. In the essentials, unity. In the non-essentials, liberty. In all things, charity.