Christians And Beer: Is Drinking Allowed?

Whether or not Christians should drink alcohol has been a topic of debate for many years. While some Christians advocate for the total abstinence of alcohol, the Bible does not explicitly require believers to refrain from drinking beer, wine, or any other alcoholic beverage. Instead, the Bible condemns drunkenness and warns against the negative effects of excessive alcohol consumption, such as addiction and loss of control. The Bible also instructs Christians to avoid causing offence to other believers or encouraging them to sin against their conscience. As a result, many Christians choose to abstain from alcohol to avoid the risk of drunkenness and to respect the beliefs of their fellow believers. However, others argue that drinking in moderation is acceptable, as alcohol can be used to enhance social gatherings and promote relaxation and happiness. Ultimately, the decision to drink alcohol or not is a personal one for Christians, and there is no clear consensus on the matter within the Christian community.

Drinking in moderation is not a sin for Christians

The Bible never says that abstaining from alcohol is the wisest way to avoid getting drunk. Alcoholism has been rampant through every age, but the Bible never says that all believers should refrain from drinking. If Christians want to forbid all alcohol consumption to avoid drunkenness, then to be consistent, they should also avoid making a lot of money to guard against the crushing sin of materialism and the misuse of wealth.

The Bible also doesn't forbid Christians from drinking beer, wine, or any other drink containing alcohol. Alcohol is not, in and of itself, tainted by sin. It is drunkenness and addiction to alcohol that a Christian must absolutely refrain from. Alcohol, consumed in small quantities, is neither harmful nor addictive for most people—the exception being those who struggle with addiction.

In fact, some doctors advocate drinking small amounts of red wine for its health benefits, especially for the heart. Consumption of small quantities of alcohol is a matter of Christian freedom. Drunkenness and addiction are sin.

Jesus drank wine on occasion, and his first miracle was turning water into wine. In New Testament times, the water was not very clean, and people often drank wine because it was far less likely to be contaminated. In 1 Timothy 5:23, Paul instructed Timothy to stop drinking water exclusively and drink wine instead.

Drinking alcohol can even be a blessing. The Bible doesn’t present drinking in moderation as merely neutral; it is also depicted as a blessing. The Psalmist says that, in addition to the many earthly blessings God bestows, the Lord gives "wine to gladden the heart of man" (Psalm 104:15). Friends enjoying a meal together may choose to enhance their gathering by sharing drinks. Alcohol can encourage relaxation, happiness, and laughter. These are all blessings from God.

Alcohol can also be used for medicinal purposes. "Give strong drink to the one who is perishing, and wine to those in bitter distress" (Proverbs 31:61, 1 Timothy 5:23). In the past, it was alcohol that provided relief from pain. This, too, is a blessing from God. In a broken world full of pain, the Lord has provided help in our times of suffering.

Finally, the Lord promised that in the New Heavens and New Earth, there will be wine when we feast with God Himself. "On this mountain the Lord of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wine, of rich food full of marrow, of aged wine well refined" (Isaiah 25:6). The Lord will share a drink with us in heaven.

Drunkenness is a sin

However, the Bible also contains many warnings about the dangers of alcohol and the importance of drinking in moderation. For example, Ephesians 5:18 says, "Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit." Proverbs 20:1 and 31:4 also warn against the negative consequences of excessive drinking.

The Bible makes it clear that drunkenness is a form of idolatry, where one gives themselves over to the control of something other than the Holy Spirit. Getting drunk leads to a loss of self-control, which is condemned in the Bible. Christians are called to glorify God in all they do, including their drinking habits.

The apostle Paul, in 1 Corinthians 10:31, sums up this attitude towards drinking: "Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God." While enjoying alcohol in moderation is not inherently wrong, drunkenness is a sin that Christians must avoid.

Jesus drank wine

The Bible does not forbid Christians from drinking alcohol. In fact, some passages discuss alcohol in positive terms. For instance, Ecclesiastes 9:7 instructs Christians to "Drink [their] wine with a merry heart". Similarly, Psalm 104:14-15 states that God gives wine "that makes glad the heart of men".

However, the Bible also warns against the dangers of drunkenness. Ephesians 5:18 says, "Be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit".

Jesus's first public miracle was turning water into wine at a wedding feast in Cana (John 2). This was not grape juice, but wine with an alcoholic content, as evidenced by the rave reviews it received from guests. During the Last Supper, Jesus also took a cup of wine and gave it to his disciples to drink.

The Bible does allow Christians to partake of alcohol in a responsible way. Jesus saw nothing wrong with drinking a little wine now and then.

However, due to the biblical concerns regarding alcohol and its effects, and the possibility of causing a fellow Christian to stumble, it is often best for a Christian to abstain from drinking alcohol.

Alcohol can be used for medicinal purposes

Alcohol has been used for medicinal purposes since antiquity. It has been used as an antiseptic, disinfectant, and antidote. Applied to the skin, alcohol can be used to disinfect before surgery or needle injections. Ethanol, when ingested or injected into a vein, can be used to treat methanol or ethylene glycol toxicity. Alcohol is also used in mouthwashes and hand sanitisers.

In the past, alcohol was used as a cardiac stimulant, believed to increase cardiac output and blood pressure. It was also recognised as a sedative and was used to treat insomnia. Alcohol was also used to treat hypothermia, as it causes peripheral vasodilation and a feeling of warmth. It was also used to treat angina, due to its vasodilatory effects.

In modern times, alcohol is still used medicinally in some cases. Some doctors advocate for drinking small amounts of red wine for its health benefits, especially for the heart. During the COVID-19 pandemic, some claimed that drinking alcohol could prevent or cure the disease, but this was found to be untrue.

Alcohol can be a blessing

Alcohol can encourage relaxation, happiness, and laughter, and these are all blessings from God. Additionally, alcohol has been used for medicinal purposes throughout history. The Bible acknowledges this in Proverbs 31:61, which says, "Give strong drink to the one who is perishing, and wine to those in bitter distress." In modern times, stronger medications are available, but alcohol was once relied upon for pain relief.

The Bible also mentions that, in the New Heavens and New Earth, there will be wine when we feast with God Himself (Isaiah 25:6). This indicates that alcohol is not inherently sinful and can be enjoyed as a blessing from God. However, it is essential to remember that drunkenness is a sin, and Christians are commanded to avoid losing control due to alcohol consumption.

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