Can Christians Consume Alcohol?

Christian views on the consumption of alcohol are varied. The Scripture have several things said about alcohol; there are both positive things that are mentioned and warnings about abuse. Therefore, when Christians ponder on the issue of drinking alcohol today, both ends of the spectrum have to be considered. On one hand, wine itself is a gift from God, which is comparable to many other entities that are gifts from God. For example, money is a gift from God, so are food, work and relationship. However, any of these entities can be abused by making an idol out of them. As Timothy Keller says, we can take a good thing and turn it into an ultimate thing, and then it becomes an idol. Hence, when we take this good gift of wine and turn it into an ultimate thing and begin to use it in ways that God has warned us not to, then it becomes disruptive.

Let us evaluate from three different perspectives and give ourselves a heart check before consuming any alcoholic beverages.

1. Biblical perspective

There are no defining verse or passage in the Scripture that states that alcohol is intrinsically evil. In fact, most biblical reference to wine (in particular) is positive. In John 2:1-11, Jesus Himself made His first miracle by turning water into wine at the wedding in Cana of Galilee. He did it to demonstrate His divinity. Hence, it would not have been a sin for Jesus to create a fermented drink that contained alcohol. What can be certain is that the wine that was produced at that era is fermented, not distilled; the introduction of distillation did not happen until centuries later.

Some scholars raised the questions on whether Jesus transformed the water into wine (fermented and alcoholic) or into grape juice (non-alcoholic). Throughout the passage, the Greek word translated "wine" is oinos, which was the common Greek word for normal wine - wine that was fermented/alcoholic. The Greek word for the wine Jesus created is the same word for the wine the wedding feast ran out of. It is also the same Greek word that is used in Ephesians 5:18 (NIV), "... do not get drunk on wine". Therefore, there is simply no solid historical, exegetical, cultural, contextual, or lexicon reason to understand it to have been grape juice.

There are many verses in the Scripture that reveal that abundant wine is one of the blessings of the age to come, including:

He makes grass grow for the cattle, and plants for people to cultivate - bringing forth food from the earth: wine that gladdens human hearts, oil to make their faces shine, and bread that sustains their hearts. (Psalms 104:14-15)

Go, eat your food with gladness, and drink your wine with a joyful heart, for God has already approved what you do. (Ecclesiastes 9:7)

On this mountain the Lord Almighty will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples, a banquet of aged wine - the best of meats and the finest of wines. (Isaiah 25:6)

The Lord has sworn by His right hand and by His mighty arm: "Never again will I give you grain as food for your enemies, and never again will foreigners drink the new wine for which you have toiled; but those who harvest it will eat it and praise the Lord , and those who gather the grapes will drink it in the courts of my sanctuary." (Isaiah 62:8-9)

Although wine was given a blessing and celebratory impression, Christians should have a heart check before consumption to avoid being led astray by these liquid entities. Moreover, Christians should really think through the complexities before blurting out a quick "yes" or "no" simply.

Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler; whoever is led astray by them is not wise. (Proverbs 20:1)

2. Personal perspective

"I have the right to do anything," you say - but not everything is beneficial. "I have the right to do anything" - but not everything is constructive. (1 Corinthians 10:23)

There is grace in this matter; teetotalling (the practice of personal abstinence from alcoholic beverages) is a choice, not a law. However, one must not be an advocate for alcohol consumption. Moderate drinking can still lead to alcoholism. Therefore, one should be extremely careful while drinking alcohol. Again, Christians should have a heart check prior to consumption on:

(i) whether to enjoy or abuse alcohol

(ii) whether it benefits or harms the body

3. Others' perspective

No one should seek their own good, but the good of others. (1 Corinthians 10:24)

Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a person to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble. (Romans 14:20)

If a mature Christian's freedom causes a person to fall into sin, then it is wrong. It is a warning to ensure that one should never destroy the work of Christ in a believer's life by abusing our freedom.

If by drinking a glass of wine in public, a Christian selfishly causes an individual to stumble (might be a former addict, or one who may have a tendency or inclination to become one), then the Christian should not be consuming wine.

If a Christian is having a nice dinner in public with their spouse or friends and has no fear or guilt about drinking a glass of wine but has faith that God has given them the freedom to do so, then it is not a sin to drink.

So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who does not condemn himself by what he approves. But whoever has doubts is condemned if they eat, because their eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin. (Romans 14:22-23)

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