Should Christians drink alcohol?

Question:      Is alcohol considered something you don’t consume, if you are born again?

Answer: There’s a lot of confusion concerning the consumption of alcohol, because so many pastors and teachers have vowed not to drink alcoholic beverages.  Let’s take a look at what scripture has to say on this matter.

Jesus himself turned water into wine; Joh.2:9, “…..the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine…..”  Jesus himself also partook of wine; Luke 4:34, “the Son of man is come eating and drinking; and ye say, Behold a gluttonous man, and a winebibber…..”  Paul instructed Timothy to drink wine; 1 Tim.5:23, “drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach’s sake and thine often infirmities.

So, you see, there are numerous occasions in the Bible where it was permissible to drink alcoholic beverages.  Some pastors and teachers have vowed not to partake of them, but that’s a matter of choice on their behalf.  Scripture say one should not drink alcoholic beverages when they enter into a tabernacle or church setting; Lev.10:9, “do not drink wine nor strong drink…….when ye go into the tabernacle of the congregation…..”  Paul gives the qualifications of a bishop concerning alcoholic beverages; 1 Tim.3:3, “not given to wine….”  This statement is misleading, because the phrase, “given to wine” in the Greek, literally means “staying near wine or partaking in the habitual use of strong drinks and wine.”  This is made clear when Paul gives the instructions for a deacon; 1 Tim.3:8. “…not given to much wine…..”  Paul goes on to say that if you drink alcoholic beverages, do it in moderation; Eph.5:18, “…..be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess…..”

To answer your question, alcohol is permissible to anyone, but here are two stipulations. First, alcoholic beverages should not be consumed in excess, where one is drunk or in violation of the local laws.  Second, one should not enter a religious setting while under the influence of alcoholic beverages.  There’s nothing wrong with having an occasional beer or having a glass of wine with your meal.  A word of caution, if one beer or one glass of wine leads to abnormal behavior, then it is in excess and should be avoided.