As we began our look at the subject of alcohol, we noted Genesis 1 and God’s creation. All that God created is good, yet man has twisted God’s creation into something into something other than God intended. This is the case with alcohol. Having considered the negative examples and dangers of alcohol over the past few weeks, it may seem strange to consider that there are times when the Bible speaks favorably of alcohol. What we will discover, however, is that even in these contexts, there is something very specific about the situation that seems to make it okay. The Proverbs teach us the folly of alcohol in passages such as Proverbs 20:1 or 23:29-35 (NKJV). At the same time, however, Proverbs 31:6-7 offers what appears to be an acceptable usage of alcohol – “Give strong drink to him who is perishing, and wine to those who are bitter of heart. Let him drink and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.” King Lemuel is told by his mother to give alcohol to those who are perishing and facing great affliction. In this sense, alcohol is used as a type of medicine to try and numb the pain and cause one to lose sight of his problems. Within the same context, however, King Lemuel is told to stay away from alcohol himself as it causes one to “forget the law, and pervert the justice of the afflicted.” It is clear that this mother is wisely teaching her son …

At the end of last week’s article, we noted how some use the New Testament to try and justify the consumption of alcohol. Passages such as Romans 14:20-21 or 1 Timothy 3:8 (NKJV) are often given as reasons why it is okay to drink alcohol. Let’s briefly consider these passages and determine whether they give the right to drink or not to drink alcohol. Some claim based on Romans 14:20-21 that it is acceptable to drink alcohol, yet this misses the point of Paul’s teaching. Paul’s teaching is to avoid that which can cause a brother or sister to sin. Even if one finds no issue with alcohol, there must be a concern for the brother or sister who may be overcoming an alcohol addiction from the past. In this way, to drink would most certainly be a sin. Moreover, Peter condemns not only “drunkenness” but also “drinking parties” (1 Pet. 4:3). These “drinking parties” were literally gatherings at which wine was served.[1] In 1 Timothy 3:8, it is said that deacons must not be “given to much wine.” Does this mean that it is okay for deacons to drink a little wine? In considering this passage, we would be amiss not to refer to 1 Timothy 3:3 where it is said that elders are “not given to wine.” Literally, the Spirit is saying that an elder or a deacon is not to be “addicted” to wine (1 Tim. 3:3, 8, NASB). As noted by the National Institute of Health …

The majority of those claiming to be religious will agree that it is sinful for a Christian to consume alcohol to the point of drunkenness (after all, this is what the negative examples considered from the Old Testament reveal as we considered a couple of weeks ago). Even in the New Testament, we find very clear condemnation concerning the sin of drunkenness (1 Cor. 6:9-10; Eph. 5:18, NKJV). So does this mean that it is okay for us to drink just a little? As we begin to consider this thought, let’s keep 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 in mind. Our bodies are not our own, but they are God’s, therefore, we are to “glorify God” in our bodies and our spirits. We must be wise stewards of our bodies and take care of them to the best of our abilities to bring glory to God (a lesson that applies to more than just the consumption of alcohol). As it relates to alcohol, we must consider whether it is safe for our bodies in any amount. Researchers from the University of Oxford have determined that there is “no safe dose of alcohol for the brain.”[1] As soon as the consumption of alcohol starts, the brain is affected. One such danger is the way that alcohol grips and holds many of those who consume it. The National Institute of Health recognizes the danger of alcohol because of its addictive nature.[2] Those who struggle with alcohol addiction do not begin drinking with the intent to …

Over the last couple of weeks, we have been considering the Bible’s teachings on alcohol and whether or not Christians should drink it. As mentioned at the end of last week’s article, many will turn to John 2 and use Jesus’s miracle as their justification for the ability to drink alcoholic wine. When we honestly consider the context, however, I believe it is clear that the wine made by Jesus could not have been alcoholic – meaning that John 2 is no justification for drinking alcoholic drink. When considering Jesus’s miracle, it is important to remember the purpose of turning the water to wine – to manifest “His glory” and to cause “His disciples” to believe “in Him” (Jn. 2:11, NKJV). With this in mind, we know that turning water into wine would produce these results. In turning the water to wine, Jesus miraculously turns roughly 120 to 180 gallons of water into wine (Jn. 2:6-10). We learn as well from John 2:10 that the guests at the wedding feast were already “well drunk.” Therefore, if Jesus created 120-180 gallons of alcohol and we assume what was already provided at the feast was alcoholic, Jesus just provided more alcohol to an already drunk crowd. If this were so, Jesus would have been violating the teachings of the Old Testament (Hab. 2:15), but He also would be violating what the Spirit would go on to teach under the New Testament (Eph. 5:18). How could this possibly bring about His “glory” and …

As we noted in last week’s article, when the Bible speaks of wine, we must consider the context to determine whether the wine being spoken of is alcoholic or not. This being the case, it requires us to reason through the Scriptures and determine whether or not what is being suggested is positive or negative so that we can determine whether we as Christians should or should not drink alcohol. The first context we must consider is the first mention of “wine” in our Bibles. In Genesis 9:20 (NKJV), we learn that Noah plants a vineyard. Genesis 9:21 tells us that Noah “drank of the wine and was drunk, and became uncovered in his tent.” The text goes on to reveal that Noah was in such a state that one of his sons reveled in his “nakedness” while the other two sons thoughtfully covered their father’s nakedness (Gen. 9:22-23). Based on the context, Noah was acting in a way that was out of the norm. In fact, it was not until he “awoke from his wine” that there was any recognition of what had taken place (Gen. 9:24). What we see in Genesis 9 is a negative example of alcoholic wine. The next context we might consider is Genesis 19:30-38. In this context, Lot and his daughters have fled from the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah and have arrived to the mountains outside of Zoar. While staying in this cave, Lot’s daughters scheme together to “make [their] father drink wine” …