Temptation comes in many forms. One of the ways is through alcoholism. We will explore if getting drunk is a sin in this article. Let’s talk about your question, Is getting drunk a sin?
| “Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging, and whoever is deceived by it is not wise” (Proverbs 20:1).
The Bible condemns drunkenness as a sin for everybody. For believers, being controlled by anything except the Holy Spirit is a sin.
|“Do not be drunk with wine, for that is reckless living. But be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18).
To learn about overcoming addiction, please read “How to Overcome Relapse and Maintain Sobriety.”
Strong Opinions
Christians have strong feelings about whether it’s okay to drink any alcohol. Some think it’s a bad look, i.e., bad for anyone’s testimony. Others that it’s a bad example and might cause other Christians to drink when they otherwise wouldn’t have:
“It is good neither to eat meat nor drink wine, nor do anything whereby your brother stumbles or is offended or is made weak” (Romans 14:21).
Anyone who’s an alcoholic or has problems controlling their drinking should avoid alcohol altogether.
God’s Gift?
However, wine is mentioned many times in the Bible, and sometimes it’s called a gift God has given to humanity:
“You (God) cause the grass to grow for the cattle and plants for the cultivation of man, that he may bring forth food from the earth and wine that makes glad the heart of man, and oil that makes shine his face, and bread that strengthens his heart” (Psalm 104:14-15).
Not Really Wine?
Some Christians try to explain away the mentions of believers drinking wine by saying it was diluted with water (three parts to one) so no one could notice its intoxicating effects. Or it was only used to purify the water for drinking. Though some wine may have been used that way, it’s clear from the references that the wine mentioned had its usual potency.
On the Day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came from heaven to indwell all believers in Jesus. He came with visible signs, e.g., tongues of fire, and gave the believers the ability to speak in other languages:
“They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to speak” (Acts 2:4).
Drunken Believers?
When the crowd saw the signs, they didn’t know what to think. Some said these believers were drunk:
“Others mocking said, “These men are full of new wine” (Acts 2:13).
Their comments are meaningless if the wine they drank didn’t have its usual effects.
Jesus’ Miracle
When Jesus did His first miracle and turned water into wine, He turned it into undiluted wine. Jesus responded to His mother’s request for additional wine:
“There was a wedding in Cana of Galilee. The mother of Jesus was there.Both Jesus and His disciples were invited ….When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to Him, “They have no wine” (John 2:1-3).
When the head winetaster at the feast tested the water Jesus turned to wine, he found it of the finest quality:
“When the master of the feast tasted the water that had been turned into wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who drew the water knew), the master of the feast … said …, “Every man serves the good wine first, and after men have drunk freely, then the poor wine is served. But you have kept the good wine until now” (John 2:9-10).
Quality Wine
Jesus gave them ‘good wine.’ Fermentation typically takes weeks, if not years, and that was a significant factor in this wine Jesus created. We lessen Jesus’ miracle if we say it wasn’t wine in its full glory. Also, Jesus produced the wine after ‘men have drunk freely,’ meaning after their senses were affected.
What Shall We Sing?
Jesus came to His people, the Jews. Still, they didn’t accept Him as their Messiah or His offer to establish His Kingdom. Jesus pointed out that they didn’t accept John the Baptist’s invitation either. And Jesus acknowledged the fact that His partaking gave Him a bad reputation among some people.
Jesus pointed out that it wasn’t a matter of style. Because John’s style contrasted with Jesus’ style. Jesus said,
“For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ The Son of Man (Jesus) came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a gluttonous man, a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ But wisdom is justified by her children” (Matthew 11:18-19).
They rejected John’s message given by a man of abstinence, and they rejected Jesus’ message given by a man who wasn’t abstinent. They didn’t respond to any song or either prophet:
“We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge to you, and you did not mourn” (Matthew 11:17)
Summary
- The Bible condemns drunkenness for everyone.
- The Bible says believers sin when they’re not controlled (filled) by the Holy Spirit.
- The Bible warns against misusing wine.
- Some Bible passages only make sense if the wine mentioned is intoxicating, and one of Jesus’ miracles is diminished if it isn’t wine.
- Some Bible verses present wine as a blessed gift from God.
Believers must exercise wisdom when deciding their personal views.
