What The Bible Says About Drinking Alcohol, Part IV
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Most Christians who believe that the Bible is the Word of God agree that it is sinful to get drunk, but some do not know that the Bible teaches against the drinking of any alcohol. Here are some more Scriptures:
“Woe to them… who drink wine in bowls, and anoint themselves with the chief ointments: but they are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph” (Amos 6:1, 6).
The context of these verses is about the Israelites:
- Trusting in a false peace because of pride in their self-righteousness (Amos 6:1).
- Taking for granted the blessings of the Lord (Amos 6:2).
- Refusing to listen to predictions of God’s judgment (Amos 6:3).
- Living in luxury while sinning (Amos 6:4).
- Using music for entertainment instead of worship (Amos 6:5).
- Drinking alcohol from bowls used for making sacrifices in the temple (Amos 6:6).
- Using the Holy anointing oil to anoint their bodies during their parties and worshipping idols (Amos 6:6,13; 5:26).
“Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith. Yes also, because he transgresses by wine, he is a proud man, neither keeps at home, who enlarges his desire as hell, and is as death, and cannot be satisfied, but gathers unto him all nations, and heaps unto him all people” (Hab. 2:4-5).
These verses indicate that sinning in drinking alcohol leads to pride and not living by faith. The desire for alcohol is never satisfied like hell and death that are continually drawing and pulling people to them.
“Woe unto him that gives his neighbor drink, who puts your bottle to him, and makes him drunken also, that thou may look on their nakedness” (Hab. 2:15).
This verse specifically refers to the Jews in the Babylonian Captivity who were exposed to the drinking of alcohol and immorality involved in the Babylonian’s idol worship. It can also apply to those who make and distribute alcohol or to those who give alcohol to other people.
“But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delays His coming; and shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; the lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looks not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, and shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Mat. 24:48-51).
These verses describe a person who was once a believer, but who became unfaithful, careless, hypocritical, and indifferent because of unbelief. He continued claiming to believe and pretending to do the Lord’s work, but he began abusing his authority over others for his own gain, stopped rebuking and confronting sin, separated from the saints, and chose friends in the world. He stopped living for the eternal in exchange for the temporary. Since his heart changed to believing God’s judgment would not soon come, he believed he could live it up now and get ready later. It does not say he got drunk, but he was drinking with the drunkards.
“A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behavior, given to hospitality, apt to teach; not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous” (I Tim. 3:2-3).
Although there can be some controversy about the phrase “not given to wine” and “vigilant” in these and other verses, let us focus on the word “sober.” It means to be of a sound or right mind. How can a Christian be in their sound mind if they have been drinking any alcohol? It also means to curb, control, or restrain one’s desires, impulses, and passions. If a person is certainly hindered in these areas when they are drunk, are they not partially hindered in these same areas if they take any alcohol?
Similar terms are used for elders (Titus 1:8); aged men (Titus 2:2); young women (Titus 2:5); young men (Titus 2:6); women (I Tim. 2:9,15); and all believers (II Tim. 1:7; Titus 2:12).
Therefore, the Bible teaches Christians should not drink any alcohol.
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