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➡️I was raised in a small town outside of Birmingham, Alabama where there was a church about every quarter mile. Our southern town was strongly influenced by the Baptists, who still today have in their by-laws that “drinking alcohol of any kind is prohibited”.  We were not Baptists, but we never had alcohol in our home of any type, and I never saw my parents with alcohol at any restaurant.  For us, it just wasn’t the right thing to do. 

However, according to the Bible, when Jesus had a special meal with his friends, they did drink wine – it was a part of the Jewish culture.  In those days, wine was a common drink, kind of like sweet tea was for us. Therefore, some Christians believe that the most important thing is to be responsible and not drink too much, just like you should be careful with anything you eat or drink!  

So what does the Bible say about alcohol? 

Well…actually it never does say do not drink alcohol.  

Romans 13:13, Galatians 5:19-21, I Timothy 3:1-7, and I Peter 4:3 all say do not get drunk, but it doesn’t say do not drink at all. 

In I Timothy 5:23, Paul, the author of most of the New Testament, even advised Timothy, his spiritual son, to drink a little wine for his stomach. 

And, of course, everyone knows the story in John chapter 2, where Jesus turned water into wine.  I actually looked up the word wine in the original language, to make sure it didn’t just mean grape juice, and it doesn’t. It was a fermented drink.  

Christians can easily argue the fact that Jesus and his followers drank, the Jews of that day drank, and the Bible never does say do not drink.  

So why do some Christians still say drinking alcohol is wrong?

1…Life is not about you.  I Corinthians 10:23-24, says “I have the right to do anything…but not everything is beneficial. No one should seek their own good, but the good of others.”  Life is always about the other person.  Matthew 5:13 says that we are the salt of the earth – we are called by God to make things better, for others. Ask the question, does alcohol make me better, and does it bring life to others around me?

2… Don’t do anything that would cause someone else to stumble.  Romans 14:20-21 says, “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.  It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother or sister to fall.”  The very fact that Christians are still having this discussion today means that opinions are very strong – and people that we love and respect could be offended by our choices.  I work every week, for example, with people who are trying to come out of addictive, and abusive, situations, therefore I have to answer the “stumbling block” question, with them in mind – because, again, life isn’t about me.  

3…Would Jesus order a beer?  The famous author and pastor Max Lucado once said, “One thing for sure, I have never heard anyone say, ‘A beer makes me feel more Christlike.”  We’ve got to ask the question in everything we do, what would Jesus do?  I can’t answer that question for you – but I challenge you to listen to God’s voice, and obey it.  Don’t do anything just because it has become the norm, or the trend.  There are many examples of people in the Bible that did not drink any alcohol at all, they were set apart, including Daniel, Samson and John the Baptist; and yet, Jesus did drink wine – but was it the same back then as it is today?  According to my research, their wine was extremely diluted, not at all like today – and the word wine in the original language could also mean pressed grapes.  I don’t know – but we still have to ask the question what is God saying?  According to John 10, you can know God’s voice – he wants to speak to you; he will speak to you.  Listen to that voice. 

Bottom line, alcohol is one of those grey areas for Christians – it can go either way.  For me personally, because of my students, my influence, and definitely, my three kids – I don’t drink alcohol.  Plus, if I decided to order a beer this weekend with my burger and fries, I’m convinced my 85 year old southern baptist mom would somehow find out and give me a call.  And Exodus 20:12 does say to honor your mom. 

It’s in the Bible and the Bible is always right.

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