Christians and Alcohol.

Is it a sin to consume alcohol?

Many people will want to use the Scriptures to say that Alcohol can never be consumed by a Christian. They argue using verses such as: Ephesians 5:18 “do not be drunk on wine which leads to recklessness…”, Galatians 5:19-21, 1 Peter 4:3, Proverbs 20:1, Proverbs 31:4-5 etc. They will say the passages expressly forbid us from drinking alcohol. And perhaps on a proof text reading of these passages, it does seem that it is forbidden for a Godly person to consume alcohol. However, this is a very narrow proof text of Scripture on the subject, in fact, there are many places in the Bible that state the contrary. In fact, in Matthew’s Gospel the lord tells us that it is not what enters a man that defiles him, rather what comes forth from a man that reveals the corruption of his heart, thus rendering all things food clean.

Matth. 15:11, Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man. Wherefore it is not unlawful to drink wine as such. In the book of Genesis, God creates all things and calls them good. In the book of Sirach: “Wine is like life to men, if you drink it in moderation. What is life to a man who is without wine? It has been created to make men glad. Wine drunk in season and temperately is rejoicing of heart and gladness of soul. Wine drunk to excess is bitterness of soul, with provocation and stumbling. Drunkenness increases the anger of a fool to his injury, reducing his strength and adding wounds. Do not reprove your neighbor at a banquet of wine, and do not despise him in his merrymaking; speak no word of reproach to him, and do not afflict him by making demands of him.” -Sir 31:27–31.

And the final passage I would like to refer to here is the Wedding Feast at Cana. “On the third day there was a marriage at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there; 2 Jesus also was invited to the marriage, with his disciples. When the wine failed, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” And Jesus said to her, “O woman, what have you to do with me?* My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” Now six stone jars were standing there, for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to them, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. He said to them, “Now draw some out, and take it to the steward of the feast.” So they took it. When the steward of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward of the feast called the bridegroom and said to him, “Every man serves the good wine first; and when men have drunk freely, then the poor wine; but you have kept the good wine until now.” This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory; and his disciples believed in him. -Jn 2:1–11.

Some will argue that the wine in the biblical world was much different than the wine today, with an alcoholic content of near 0%ABV. However, this is simply ignorance of history. The Romans ni biblical times would have “conviviums”, or wine parties, dedicated to the Roman god, Bacchus, god of wine. It is very clear that these parties were for the express intention of drunken impropriety. Throughout the Scriptures, the biblical authors would refer to drunkenness as reprehensible, but would defend the moderate consumption of alcohol.

Is it a sin to become drunk?

But is it is a sin to become drunk? Yes, it is the sin of gluttony. To consume an inordinate and over the limit about of any substance is sinful! In fact, it is one of the seven deadly sins. Drunkenness can be the negative consequence of a sinful disposition. That is to say, that a person who does not possess the virtue of temperance or moderation becomes drunk, not from desire but from immaturity and lack of self mastery. Thus the sin here is a worship of the belly, a worship of bodily desires, over and above his ultimate good, union with God.

However, drunkenness can also be the direct sin of desiring and pursuing becoming drunk. This could be, perhaps, a more grievous sin, the direct action of rejecting the rational ability that is our creation in God’s image and after His likeness. It can also be an abuse of one own body to escape from some stressor.

Is it a mortal sin to become drunk?

When alcohol is consumed for the direct intention of becoming drunk, it would be a mortal sin. If a person consumes something they are not aware would cause drunkenness, and become drunk, they would not be in sin. If one is aware of the intoxicating nature of what they consume, but becomes drunk unintentionally, it would be considered a venial sin. However, if a person consumes an intoxicating substance, knowing the result to be drunkenness, and intentionally consumes too much so as to intentionally become drunk, this is to be seen as a mortal sin. This is a grave sin precisely because it is a rejection of God’s gift of rationality, which is what distinguishes us from the lower animals of creation.

For more on this topic, I would encourage you to watch the video put out by Matt Fradd above.