by Kevin Mcdaniels

Created on: July 30, 2009

Is Drinking A Sin For Christians?

Drinking in itself is not a sin. Becoming drunk is spoken about and highly discouraged in the bible. During biblical times, many people drank. The bible openly speaks of people drinking wine. The main reason for drinking wine between now and then has greatly changed. I will use several biblical references to show that while drinking is not wrong, becoming drunk is a problem.

While wine was a popular drink during biblical times, it was usually drunk for health reasons. It is widely believed that the wine most people drank thousands of years ago was very diluted with water. One reason that it was diluted was because it was too expensive to have wine very often. Another reason for drinking diluted wine is that the alcohol would help kill bacteria in the water, which may have made some people sick. Unlike today, they did not have Brita water filters then. Most people would get water from a river or lake, or if they were lucky enough a town well which a lot of people used. None of these sources were guaranteed to be free of bacteria, especially the rivers or lakes in which animals washed.

If you look through the bible, (especially in the Old Testament), you will find cases in which someone became drunk. In many if not all of these circumstances, the people who became drunk did things they should not have. From Genesis 9 when Noah became drunk, through Habakkuk 2:15a which says "Woe to him who gives drink to his neighbors, pouring it from the wineskin till they are drunk,.." Nothing good comes to those who become drunk.

The New Testament speaks many times of drinking and becoming drunk. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 speaks of the wicked who will not inherit the Kingdom of God. 1 Corinthians 6:10 says: "nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God." Ephesians 5:19 says, "Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit."

If you look back at the original question for this article, and my first sentence, I say that drinking is not a sin. Becoming drunk is wrong. If you over do it, and drink too much, then my advice would be "Just don't drink." If you enjoy the taste of alcohol, then it would not be against biblical principal to drink, if it is done in a responsible manner.

I know of may Christians who don't drink. They refrain from drinking not because they feel it is wrong, but because they feel that it would be a bad witness. They feel that if they drank, even one drink, especially in public, people would get the wrong idea, and think them a drunkard. They set the example by not drinking.

Learn more about this author, Kevin Mcdaniels.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.