People who wonder if drinking alcohol is a sin might be surprised to find what the Bible has to say on the subject.
- Jesus not only drank wine, but the first recorded miracle in his ministry was to turn water into wine.
- Paul told Timothy to “drink a little wine for your frequent infirmities“.
- Jesus said that nothing that enters into a man can defile him.
Christians and Alcohol
The Bible does speak though, to the subject of Christians and Alcohol. There are two reasons for Christians to abstain: One is if drinking alcohol controls you. That place in our lives belongs to the Holy Spirit of God. The other reason is discussed in 1 Corinthians chapter 8. In Biblical times, some Christians were buying meat leftover from pagan idol sacrifices. Paul pointed out that they we were free to do so. He adds though, that we should “take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to them that are weak.” That principle applies to the question of drinking alcohol too. if your drinking alcohol causes someone else to stumble, or to reject your message because they view your drinking as sin, then your godly love for that person should prompt you to not drink alcohol – at least in their presence.
Christian parents and alcohol
I happen to be a non-alcoholic person. As I often explain though, that has more to do with how I was raised than with my being a Christian. I spent some time during my college years going to bars with the guys. When I accepted Christ a few years after that, it was easy to leave that lifestyle behind for good. I’ve never been tempted to return to drinking alcohol, and I’m so glad it was out of my life when our family came along!
Have you noticed the apparently universal human tendency to smile when anyone mentions having a drink or getting drunk? Why is that?! During my college drinking years I witnessed and experienced things that are anything but funny. If you’re a parent, be careful to not send the wrong signal about drinking or getting drunk. Vomiting into waste baskets isn’t funny, or fun, or anything they’ll want to choose for themselves.