What does scripture say about drinking alcohol?

“Can Christians drink alcohol?” Is a question that people ask me as they want to do the right thing. Advocates for drinking will often bring up the scripture where they say for the first miracle, Jesus turned the water into wine. However, on the other side, I have yet to hear anyone say how alcohol enhances anything you do or helps you to be a blessing to someone. Max Lucado said, “One thing for sure, I have never heard anyone say, ‘A beer makes me feel more Christlike … Fact of the matter is this: People don’t associate beer with Christian behavior.” Let me ask you this, have you ever heard how drinking improves someone’s testimony or makes you a more effective witness for the Lord?

So, “Can Christians Drink Alcohol?” Let me step you through this. You may hear people say, “I drink to be social or when I’m out with my co-workers.” The problem is that we don’t think about the possible repercussions. For instance, what if I get hooked on this drink and it becomes an issue? Do I want to risk losing my job, my health, my self-respect, my marriage or even my family?

If I get hooked on drinking, do I want to risk becoming dependent on alcohol to get through my day? Look at how it is promoted in movies and in commercials. They portray drinking as making you popular, powerful, social, and will enable you to have friends. However, the truth is that if you get attached or dependent on drinking, you will find that it gets to be expensive, and you may later find that you are a slave to it because you cannot get along without it. You are addicted.

For some, you may be able to handle your liquor just fine but remember who is watching you. For instance, if your child is watching you drink and wants to be like you, he/she could end up drinking and may end up with a drinking problem. Could you live with the knowledge that your liberty to drink caused your child to ruin his or her life? What if your loved one is killed one day in a head on collision by their driving drunk? Would you still defend drinking to the extent where it’s okay to get drunk? So let’s get to the point. What does the bible say about drinking? You should be aware that you most certainly will find that drinking at the very least wine in both the old and new testaments.

Proverbs 20:1 says, “Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.”

King Solomon, the wisest person who ever lived, said this about drinking in Ecclesiastes 3:13, "And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labor, it is the gift of God."

Ecclesiastes 5:18: "Behold that which I have seen: it is good and comely for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labor that he taketh under the sun all the days of his life, which God giveth him: for it is his portion."

Ecclesiastes 8:15: "Then I commended mirth, because a man hath no better thing under the sun, than to eat, and to drink, and to be merry: for that shall abide with him of his labor the days of his life, which God giveth him under the sun."

Ecclesiastes 9:7: "Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart; for God now accepteth thy works."

1 Timothy 5:23: "Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake and thine often infirmities."

So, it’s clear that the bible says that’s it’s OK to drink, however — before you shout — there are some conditions around drinking that you need to be aware of:

Romans 14:21 says, "It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak."

Luke 21:34: "And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares."

Romans 13:13: "Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying."

Galatians 5:21: "Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God."

You may have noticed a continuous thread in those verses. They all make it clear that you should not be drinking to get drunk. But here’s what you should focus on, if you take a look at Ephesians 5:18, it says, “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit.” Which means don’t get drunk where your drunkenness gets you to the point where you lose control of yourself, and it clouds your better judgment. For instance, if you drink enough wine, it will make you do ridiculous things, and if you drink enough strong drink, it will provoke you to want to fight, provoke people, or start trouble. If you think drunkenness will not affect you, you are being foolish.

Don’t allow drinking to be the only way to get you in the mood or get you to feel good about yourself or your life. Whatever we do should honor God because in 1 Corinthians 10:31 it says, “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.”

Our lives should reflect God living in our lives. So, in short, in answering the question Can Christians drink, the short answer is yes, but remember do not drink in excess to the point where you get drunk. I used to drink on a regular basis — I didn’t get drunk, but I did drink. One day, I don’t remember when, God took the desire for something to drink out of my mouth and since that time I have not had a desire to drink anymore. And I don’t judge anybody that does drink. However, if in the future you see me having a sip of wine or champagne one day, know that it is permissible and no, I’m not looking to get drunk.

If you have a drinking problem, God can deliver you from drinking. But until that time, control yourself and control your liquor and do not allow it to control you. At the end of the day, the question really isn’t, "Can Christians drink alcohol?" Rather, it is more personal, "Should you drink alcohol?" Consider your ways. What you do is leading you somewhere. The question is where?

Rev. Clyde D. Talley is the senior pastor of Belmont A.M.E. Zion Church.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Keep the Faith: Can Christians drink alcohol?