Let's get the basics out of the way first. When it comes to 'drinkers'...we have three main types; 1) Casual drinkers taking in a bit once in a while but drinking very little when doing so e.g. a champagne toast at weddings, birthdays and other formal occasions. 2) Those who drink for "medical" reasons - in some cultures, partaking of herb-based fortifications especially post-partum seems to be the norm, but in such instances, a bare tablespoon is taken once a day. In other cultures, moderate amounts of wine are taken daily at some meals, especially in certain European or Mediterranean cultures. Again, such cultures do not promote drunkenness. 3) Drunkards (people intentionally consuming large amounts of alcohol to get high, tipsy or drunk or just to "relax", justifying alcohol as a social "lubricant".) So the alarm bells start ringing...are any of you brothers and sisters in Christ in the third category? Lets take a look at the bible:- - The acts of the SINFUL NATURE are obvious:...drunkenness...those who live like this WILL NOT inherit the kingdom of God. (Galatians 5:21) - This verse is self-explanatory.
- Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you unexpectedly like a trap. (Luke 21:34) - again, we are warned to be careful of drunkenness, amongst other things.
- Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaints? Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes? THOSE who linger over wine, who go to sample bowls of mixed wine. Do not gaze at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly! In the end it bites like a snake and poisons like a viper. Your eyes will see strange sights and your mind imagine confusing things. You will be like one sleeping on the high seas, lying on top of the rigging. "They hit me," you will say, "but I'm not hurt! They beat me, but I don't feel it! When will I wake up so I can find another drink?" (Proverbs 23:29-35) - Sound like a drunkard to you?
- And be not drunk with wine, in which is debauchery; but be filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18) - Another verse to emphasize that we should not be under the intoxication of alcohol, but on the contrary, to be under the power of the Holy Spirit.
So, are we allowed to drink at all? Let's take a little look at John Chapter 2 in which Jesus changes water into wine. In this chapter, a wedding had taken place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus and his disciples were invited to a wedding. Halfway through, the wine was gone, everyone had drunk it all and there was none left. So Jesus said to the servants, "Fill the jars with water" and the servants did as He commanded. Jesus turned this water into wine in which He let the master of the banquet taste. The master replied, "Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you saved the best till now." - Jesus would not have turned the water into wine if He prohibited alcohol, am I not right?
No longer drink water exclusively, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments. (1 Timothy 5:23) - This was written concerning elders who had ailments - what sort, it was not clear, but it was recommended that elders (as in older folk, those who are 40 years or older - someone who is old enough to be your father or mother) take some wine for their "frequent ailments". Note that the verse says "use a little" - this is not a licence to drink heaps, certainly not to the point of being intoxicated. Research demonstrates that males should take no more than 2 standard drinks a day (this is roughly, 200ml of wine per day) and for females, one standard drink, which is of course, 100ml per day.
Jesus turned water into wine. If wine was sinful, then Jesus made something sinful. There are some that argue that the wine Jesus made was 'grape juice' or some really diluted alcohol. This interpretation is wrong. The bible clearly states that Jesus made the 'best wine'. People with sound knowledge in the area of winery would know that the best wine takes longer to make and certainly would have a higher alcohol content than cheaper wine. Putting it simply, this wine could certainly get someone drunk if they had drunk in excess. So it all comes back down to INTENT and CONTROL. Wine was drunk back then as it was a special drink for good occasions. These fellows did not get drunk, and Jesus Himself certainly didn't get drunk. Ultimately, they had control over the alcohol, not the other way round. My friend, can you see that the key here is not to have something else take control of your life. Let your life not be taken control by alcohol, but rather, be filled with the Spirit.
"Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters." (Romans 14:1) One man's faith allows him to drink alcohol, but another man, whose faith is weak, may feel convicted if he did drink. The Christian who drinks must not look down on the Christian who chooses not to drink at all, and the Christian who chooses not to drink at all must not condemn the Christian who does, for God has accepted him.
So in conclusion, it isn't a sin to drink alcohol as long as you have control of what you drink. Hence being intoxicated is out of the picture(being tipsy, drunk etc.). And of course, do not be a stumbling block to those that may end up sinning if you drink with them. In such situations, do not drink lest you drag them down.
