To drink or not to drink, that is the question

There is the age old question about drinking and someone who is a Christian. Is it ok? Well, there is a lot of controversy about this.

There seems to be a gray area about this but, there are those who are not definite not oks. First let’s look at some scripture that seems to be that it is ok:

1. We are told not to be drunk with wine but to be full of The Spirit.

Ephesians 5:15-21 (NKJV): See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, 16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, 20 giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one another in the fear of God.

It would appear that Paul is suggesting here that to be drunk with wine would inhibit our thinking and decisions. He exhorted the church to be filled with The Spirit, so that the church could be fully used by God. But, there is a small suggestion that it is ok to drink wine, in moderation. We have to remember though that a bottle a day is not moderate.

2. For medicinal reasons: 1 Timothy 5:23 (NKJV): No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for your stomach’s sake and your frequent infirmities

Now, we need to remember that the wine in Paul’s days was not anything like what we see today. It was not uncommon for grape juice to become a little fermented. However, the alcohol content was so minute, you could hardly tell. The other thing to remember that wine is considered to be something that comes from fruit. It is understood by many scholars that sometimes wine could refer to juice.

Medically, alcohol can be used to help someone’s ills, IF, prepared correctly. Many cough syrups and things like them have alcohol to help preserve the medicine as well as help in reducing the symptoms. However, one needs to remember that this needs to be prepared correctly by someone who is qualified, and is taken properly.

3. Social gatherings, Example would be the Wedding in Cana found in John 2. Again, this is something that is to be done in moderation and should not be practiced by someone who is struggling with addictions.

There may be legitimate reasons people use to say it is ok to drink alcohol and this is not meant to be an exhaustive list, just some examples. The things we should ask ourselves when answering the question if it is ok to drink alcohol are:

1. What is the reason behind it?

2. Is it so we can appear cool?

3. Is it because of struggles?

We can look at scripture to see what happens if it is because one of these questions:

Noah, Genesis 9:20-27

David with Bathsheba and Uriah, 2 Samuel 11

Proverbs 31:4-7

Basically, if a person is drinking to cover pain, sorrow, or is doing it without moderation, it inhibits his/her time that they grow in their Relationship with The Lord. It is socially accepted when done in moderation but, still, you need to check your heart on this matter

There are times that say definitely not to drink alcohol:

Pastors/Bishops, it would seem that scripture is talking about associate Pastors too. 1 Timothy 3:1-7

Also, when we can become stumbling blocks to someone. 1 Corinthians 8

It seems that deacons/ministry leaders are allowed in 1 Timothy 3:8-13 but why would we if we are leading those who may have a problem? In Today’s society, we never know who is struggling. Again, it’s a heart issue.

Until Next Time:

Ezekiel 37:1-6 (NKJV): The hand of the Lord came upon me and brought me out in the Spirit of the Lord, and set me down in the midst of the valley; and it was full of bones. ² Then He caused me to pass by them all around, and behold, there were very many in the open valley; and indeed they were very dry. ³ And He said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?”

So I answered, “O Lord God, You know.”

⁴ Again He said to me, “Prophesy to these bones, and say to them, ‘O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord! ⁵ Thus says the Lord God to these bones: “Surely I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live. ⁶ I will put sinews on you and bring flesh upon you, cover you with skin and put breath in you; and you shall live. Then you shall know that I am the Lord.”’”