Is It Ok To Drink Alcohol?
Since Jesus turned water into wine, then is it ok to drink alcohol?
The Scriptures indicate that “the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” Romans 14:17 (NASB) Do we need to get all bothered about this topic? Aren’t we free in Christ to decide to drink or not to drink? Didn’t Jesus turn water into wine, thereby making drinking alcoholic beverages ok?
All of these are great questions and we need to see how to answer them from the principles taught in Scripture. Let us press on to see if we can find any clarity on this topic.
The Scriptures read,
“Now accept the one who is weak in faith, but not for the purpose of passing judgment on his opinions. 2 One person has faith that he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats vegetables only. 3 The one who eats is not to regard with contempt the one who does not eat, and the one who does not eat is not to judge the one who eats, for God has accepted him. 4 Who are you to judge the servant of another? To his own master he stands or falls; and he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.”Romans 14:1-4 (NASB)
Here we find a difference of opinion as to how to observe different practices. Some in the new church thought that eating only vegetables was the only proper way to approach our bodies being the temple of God; others believed that eating meat and vegetables were ok. How do you decide what is right when people in the church have varying views on this topic?
“”Therefore, let us not judge one another anymore, but rather determine this—not to put an obstacle or a stumbling block in a brother's way.” (Romans 14:13) The issue for us is to decide if our behavior will cause someone else to stumble. We may believe we are free to drink, but if we discover that our drinking causes someone else to stumble in his walk with God, our drinking becomes a sin for us. It is a sin not because it is wrong in and of itself, but because it sets a stumbling block before our brothers.
Let’s put it this way. If we are on a college campus where alcohol is a pervasive problem, and we know many young Christian students may be encouraged to drink because of our stand that drinking is ok, then our stand becomes a stumbling block for many students who would not otherwise consider drinking.
14 I know and am convinced in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself; but to him who thinks anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean. 15 For if because of food your brother is hurt, you are no longer walking according to love. Do not destroy with your food him for whom Christ died. (Romans 14:14)
If you have someone who thinks it is wrong to drink because of their background, and you drink openly in front of them or even speak openly of your drinking, then according to Romans 14:15 you are no longer walking according to love. Since we belong to Christ and the Church, we are no longer free to live as we choose, but we are only free to live in such a way that will benefit those among whom we live. Consider the following passage:
“ 20 Do not tear down the work of God for the sake of food. All things indeed are clean, but they are evil for the man who eats and gives offense. 21 It is good not to eat meat or to drink wine, or to do anything by which your brother stumbles. (Romans 14:20-21)
Paul alludes to the principle that we can no longer live in such a way that would bring a brother to stumble, even though for us that practice may be perfectly ok. If our drinking would cause anyone to stumble, then we must not, not because it is wrong, but because we would cause a younger brother to stumble.
Romans 14 indicates our stand on alcohol on the basis of being a stumbling block, but let us consider several other passages that may shed even more light on this topic.
In Leviticus Moses instructs the sons of Aaron, who will serve Israel as priests,
“8 Then the LORD said to Aaron, 9 "You and your sons are not to drink wine or other fermented drink whenever you go into the Tent of Meeting, or you will die. This is a lasting ordinance for the generations to come. 10 You must distinguish between the holy and the common, between the unclean and the clean, 11 and you must teach the Israelites all the decrees the LORD has given them through Moses." Lev 10:8-11 (NIV)
In Proverbs the scripture reads,
4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, It is not for kings to drink wine, Or for rulers to desire strong drink, 5 For they will drink and forget what is decreed, And pervert the rights of all the afflicted. 6 Give strong drink to him who is perishing. And wine to him whose life is bitter. 7 Let him drink and forget his poverty And remember his trouble no more. Prov 31:4-7 (NASB)
Notice the command and the reason for not drinking. Priests are to distinguish between the holy and the common, and kings are to rule their kingdoms with righteousness. They need to be able to see clearly to make right decisions. If priests or kings give themselves to drink, their minds will be clouded and their senses dulled. So, if you want to be a priest or a king and think like a priest or a king, do not drink. There is too much riding on your ability to see and hear God’s word and make a righteous judgment.
From what we have seen so far, the issue of drinking is fairly clear. In the Old Testament, if you were a priest or a King, drinking was prohibited as long as you served in that capacity. Drinking was known to dull your senses so you could not make a righteous judgment; therefore, it was prohibited.
Now that we are in the New Testament age and those who are followers of Christ are both priests and kings, it behooves all of us to submit to the law so that we will not be clouded in our judgments. Even if you disagree on this principle, you must certainly be considerate of your weaker brothers who may have serious problems with drinking. To benefit them, you forgo your own right to drink because you do not want to harm your weaker brother.
The end result is this:
“20 Do not tear down the work of God for the sake of food. All things indeed are clean, but they are evil for the man who eats and gives offense. 21 It is good not to eat meat or to drink wine, or to do anything by which your brother stumbles.” (Romans 14:20-21)
I hope you have seen how the Scriptures do contain within them all that you need for life and godliness. Now, go and follow the Word of God as you meditate on it and put it into your heart.
Small Group Discussion Questions:
What principles of discerning God’s will from Scriptures can you take with you from this study?
Are there other habits that may be offensive to those in the body of Christ that you may not be aware of?
Read Ephesians 5:17-21. Answer these questions from this passage
Why do people get drunk?
What happens to people when they get drunk?
Why should we seek to be filled with the Spirit of God?
What happens to people when they are filled with the Spirit of God?
How does Paul’s admonition to live in light of how your behavior affects others make you feel?
What areas of your life do you need to examine more closely as a result of this discussion?