What Does the Bible Say About Alcohol?

FAITH:
In my early walk of faith I was always taught that drinking was spoken against in the Bible and that it was wrong. Recently, I talked to a Christian friend who told me that it was actually all right to drink alcohol according to the Bible. Now I need to sort out these conflicting values.

This is not talking about teens drinking: It’s against the law. Alcohol is absolutely off-limits until you’re 21. God commands us to obey laws like these when He says, "Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established." (Romans 13:1) If you disobey the law, then you’re also disobeying God.

But what about after you turn 21? Is it okay for a Christian to drink then? Although there are some situations in which the Bible forbids alcohol, it never says that alcohol is always wrong. Since the Bible doesn’t absolutely forbid alcohol, whether or not you should drink as an adult becomes a personal decision you have to make for yourself.

Although I cannot make that decision for you, I can share with you what the Bible does say about alcohol:

The Bible allows Christians to drink alcohol for medical reasons. Paul told Timothy, "Stop drinking only water and use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illness." (1 Timothy 5:23)

The Bible sometimes portrays alcohol as something good and enjoyable. Jesus’ first miracle involved turning water into wine for a wedding celebration. (John 2:3-11) Psalm 104 says, "He makes grass to grow for the cattle, and plants for man to cultivate—bringing forth food from the earth; wine that gladdens the heart of man, oil to make his face shine, and bread that sustains his heart." (v. 14-15)

The Bible forbids drunkenness. Although the Bible never says that alcohol itself is sinful, it does say many times that drunkenness is a sin. God says, "Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit." (Ephesians 5:6) In fact, there are many verses in the Bible which speak out against drunkenness. (For a few examples, see Romans 13:13; Galatians 5:19-21; 1 Peter 4:3.) Then how does one decide where sobriety stops and drunkenness starts?

The Bible forbids drinking if it offends fellow believers. God explains in Romans 14 and 1 Corinthians 8 that we should be considerate of other Christians who have different convictions than we do. Some Christians believe that alcohol is always sinful. And their convictions should be respected. God says, "If your brother is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy your brother for whom Christ died. "For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit...Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification....It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother to fall." (Romans 14:15-21) That verse says it loud and clear: Don’t drink alcohol if it will offend a brother or sister in Christ.

The Bible forbids drinking if it hinders the gospel. Paul explained in 1 Corinthians 9 that even though he was allowed to eat and drink anything he wanted, he was very careful not to do things that would hinder the gospel of Christ. He said, "Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many a possible. "I became all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings." (1 Corinthians 9:19-23)

If someone was trying to witness to a person who thought it was bad for Christians to drink, then hopefully there’s no way they would drink alcohol in front of that person! But, what if you are not drinking around anyone but by the mere fact of the knowledge that you drink alcohol, you cause a new Christian to stumble? Is it then all right in God's eye's to have those few drinks? Should we err on the side of caution?

Is this being a stumbling block and doesn't the Bible caution about what happens to stumbling blocks?

The Bible warns that drinking is often dangerous and unwise. The Bible contains lots of warnings about how tempting and dangerous it is to get involved with alcohol. A wise mother told her son, "It is not for kings, O Lemuel - not for kings to drink wine, not for rulers to crave beer, lest they drink and forget what the law decrees, and deprive all the oppressed of their rights." (Proverbs 31:4-5) And Solomon, one of the wisest men who’ve ever lived, said, "Do not gaze at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly! In the end it bites like a snake and poisons like a viper." (Proverbs 23:31)

These passages suggest that it is often wise to totally stay away from alcohol since it can be a difficult thing to control. Alcohol can easily seduce you, and before you know it, it controls you. How many girls have had a few drinks and then ended up in bed with a strange man? How many people have had a few drinks and then ended up in a serious car accident? How many hurt feelings are there because someone had a few too many?

These situations are all too common. God is looking out for you when He warns you about the dangers of alcohol and drunkenness. Getting drunk causes you to lose control of yourself and do things - dangerous things - that you wouldn’t do if you were sober.

I wonder if it is possible to live a godly life and enjoy a small amount of alcohol? If a person who chooses not to drink at all, also lives a godly life, then he should do it without condemning those who do.

PLEASE feel free to respond to this topic in the comment section of this blog, right at the end of the post or you may email me directly and I will post your response if you would like me to.

FRIENDS:

Father, Thank you for your love and for your Word. You have placed a wonderful plan for living in a wonderful book, we call the Bible. Help us to understand and apply your wisdom to our lives, so that we may glorify You. Lord we do not always hit the mark, thank you for loving us even when we fail and forgiving us when we repent. Give us the strength that only you can give, to be more like your Son, Jesus. In His precious name we pray, Amen.

DAILY BIBLE CHALLENGE
9. LUKE 22:31-38; HEBREWS 6:1-12; PROVERBS 22:17-29; ISAIAH 24-26
10. LUKE 22:39-46; HEBREWS 6:13-20; PROVERBS 23:1-18; ISAIAH 27-28

FOOD:

BREAKFAST BREAD PUDDING with HAM SPINACH AND CHEESE

For Custard:
4 large egg whites
4 large eggs
1 cup skim milk

For Seasonings:
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
1 teaspoon minced fresh rosemary

For Bread & filling:
4 cups whole-grain bread, crusts removed if desired, cut into 1-inch cubes (about 1/2 pound, 4-6 slices)
5 cups chopped spinach, wilted (see Tip)
1/2 cup chopped jarred roasted red peppers
1 cup diced ham steak (5 ounces)

For Topping:
3/4 cup shredded gruyere cheese

Tip: To wilt greens, rinse greens thoroughly in cool water. Transfer them to a large microwave-safe bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and punch several holes in the wrap. Microwave on high until wilted, 2 to 3 minutes. Squeeze out any excess moisture from the greens before adding them to the recipe.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Coat an 11-by-7-inch glass baking dish or a 2-quart casserole with cooking spray.

To prepare custard: Whisk egg whites, eggs and milk in a medium bowl. Add mustard, pepper and rosemary: whisk to combine.

Toss bread, spinach, roasted red peppers and ham in a large bowl. Add the custard and toss well to coat. Transfer to the prepared baking dish and push down to compact. Cover with foil.

Bake until the custard has set, 40 to 45 minutes. Uncover, sprinkle with cheese and continue baking until the pudding is puffed and golden on top, 15 to 20 minutes more. Transfer to a wire rack and cool for 15 to 20 minutes before serving.

FUN:

A farmer went to town to buy a pickup truck that he saw advertised in the paper for a certain price. After telling the salesman which truck he wanted, they sat down to do the paperwork. The salesman handed the farmer the bill, and the farmer declared, "This isn't the price I saw!" The salesman went on to tell the wise old farmer how he was getting extras such as power brakes, power windows, special tires etc. And that was what took the price up. The farmer needed the truck badly, paid the price and went home.

A few months later, the salesman called up the farmer and said, "My son is in 4-H and he needs a cow for a project. Do you have any for sale?" The farmer said, "Yes, I have a few cows, and I would sell for $500.00 apiece. Come look at them and take your pick." The salesman said he and his son would be right out. After spending a few hours in the field checking out all the farmer's cows, the two decided on one and the salesman proceeded to write out a check for $500.00.

The farmer said--------"Now, wait a minute, that's not the final price of the cow. You're getting extras with it and you have to pay for that too." "What extras?" asked the salesman.

Below is the list the farmer gave the salesman for the final price of the cow..........

BASIC COW...............................$500.00
Two tone exterior..........................$45.00
Extra stomach...............................$75.00
Product storing equipment..........$60.00
Straw compartment....................$120.00
4 Spigots @$10 ea......................$40.00
Leather upholstery......................$125.00
Dual horns.....................................$45.00
Automatic fly swatter....................$38.00
Fertilizer attachment..................$185.00
GRAND TOTAL......................$1,233.00