The Bible Speaks On Alcohol
The Bible Speaks On Alcohol
Fermented beverages have been consumed by mankind since Noah made wine and got drunk after the flood (Genesis 9:20-21). In another era, before the time of distilled spirits with their much higher alcohol content (up to eight times as much as wine), Jesus could turn water into wine at the marriage feast at Cana (John 2:1-11) and Paul could admonish Timothy to "use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments" (1 Timothy 5:23). After the introduction of distilled spirits in the Middle Ages, the problems caused by alcohol greatly increased. The widespread use of alcohol as a consciousness-affecting drug in the modern era has caused terrible problems and has brought untold suffering to multiplied millions. Although the alcohol situation in Bible times does not completely parallel that of the modern era, there are many Bible passages dealing with alcohol and its evil effects. The Bible speaks clearly on some important matters related to alcohol.
I. THE BIBLE PRESENTS AS AN IDEAL TOTAL ABSTINENCE FROM
ALCOHOL
While total abstinence from wine with its relatively low alcohol content was not demanded in Bible times, both general Bible principles and specific Bible teachings inspire Christians today to abstain from this dangerous drug. The Bible also encourages Christians to deliver society from alcohol's devastating personal and social effects. Alcohol is treated in the Bible somewhat like slavery and polygamy, which, though not universally condemned, are undermined and ultimately doomed by the high moral principles set forth in the Scriptures. The Bible presents the challenge of a life style characterized not by the need for alcohol to obtain chemical stimulation, but by inner peace and joy and love through the Holy Spirit.
All Scripture is from the Revised Standard Version unless otherwise indicated.
Published by The Christian Life Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention
Fermented beverages have been consumed by mankind since Noah made wine and got drunk after the flood (Genesis 9:20-21). In another era, before the time of distilled spirits with their much higher alcohol content (up to eight times as much as wine), Jesus could turn water into wine at the marriage feast at Cana (John 2:1-11) and Paul could admonish Timothy to "use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments" (1 Timothy 5:23). After the introduction of distilled spirits in the Middle Ages, the problems caused by alcohol greatly increased. The widespread use of alcohol as a consciousness-affecting drug in the modern era has caused terrible problems and has brought untold suffering to multiplied millions. Although the alcohol situation in Bible times does not completely parallel that of the modern era, there are many Bible passages dealing with alcohol and its evil effects. The Bible speaks clearly on some important matters related to alcohol.
I. THE BIBLE PRESENTS AS AN IDEAL TOTAL ABSTINENCE FROM
ALCOHOL
- Nazarites.
"And the Lord said to Moses,'...
When either a man or a woman makes a special vow, the vow of Nazirite, to separate himself to the Lord, he shall separate himself from wine and strong drink...All the days of his separation he shall eat nothing that is produced by the grapevine, not even the seeds or the skins'" (Numbers 6:14).
- Daniel.
"But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king's rich food, or with the wine which he drank; therefore he asked the chief of the eunuchs to allow him not to defile himself" (Daniel 1:8).
- John the Baptist.
"But the angels said to him, 'Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer is heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth; for he will be great before the Lord, and he shall drink no wine nor strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit...'" (Luke 1:13-15).
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"Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler; and whoever is led astray by it is not wise" (Proverbs 20:1).
"Hear, my son, and be wise, and direct your mind in the way. Be not among winebibbers..." (Proverbs 23:19-20).
"Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaining?
Who has wounds without cause? Who has redness of eyes? Those who tarry long over wine, those who go to try mixed wine. Do not look at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup and goes down smoothly. At the last it bites like a serpent, and stings like an adder. Your eyes will see strange things, and your mind utter perverse things" (Proverbs 23:29-33).
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"...The drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty..." (Proverbs 23:21).
"Let us walk becomingly, as in the day; not in reveling and drunkenness..." (Romans 13:13, ASV).
"Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters...nor drunkards...shall inherit the kingdom of God: (1 Corinthians 6:9-10, KJV).
"Now the works of the flesh are plain: fornication, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, anger, selfishness, dissension, party spirit, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and the like...Those who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God" (Galatians 5:19-21).
"Now a bishop must be...no drunkard..." (1 Timothy 3:2-3; See also Titus 1:7).
"Deacons...must be...not addicted to much wine..." (1 Timothy 3:8).
"...Do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery; but be filled with the Spirit..." (Ephesians 5:18).
- Care of the body is important.
"I appeal to you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may prove what is the will of God, what, is good and acceptable and perfect" (Romans 12:1-2).
"Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit...?" (1 Corinthians 6:19).
"...We are the temple of the living God...Therefore come out from the, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch nothing unclean; then I will welcome you, and I will be a father to you, and you shall be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.' Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, and make holiness perfect in the fear of God" (2 Corinthians 6:16-7:1).
- No Christian's life should be an impediment to others.
"...Let us...decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother...It is right not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that makes your brother stumble" (Romans 14:13, 21).
"Only take care lest this liberty of yours somehow become a stumbling block to the weak" (1 Corinthians 8:9).
- Christians should always be in control of their minds and actions.
"...Let us keep awake and be sober" (1 Thessalonians 5:6).
"Therefore gird up your minds, be sober..." (1 Peter 1:13).
"...Keep sane and sober..." (1 Peter 4:7).
"Be sober, be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking some one to devour" (1 Peter 5:8).
While total abstinence from wine with its relatively low alcohol content was not demanded in Bible times, both general Bible principles and specific Bible teachings inspire Christians today to abstain from this dangerous drug. The Bible also encourages Christians to deliver society from alcohol's devastating personal and social effects. Alcohol is treated in the Bible somewhat like slavery and polygamy, which, though not universally condemned, are undermined and ultimately doomed by the high moral principles set forth in the Scriptures. The Bible presents the challenge of a life style characterized not by the need for alcohol to obtain chemical stimulation, but by inner peace and joy and love through the Holy Spirit.
All Scripture is from the Revised Standard Version unless otherwise indicated.
Published by The Christian Life Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention
