The use of alcoholic beverages, or drinking, is a controversial issue in the Christian realm. Some Protestant denominations, and also individual believers, cling to strong beliefs and practices regarding drinking alcoholic beverages, whereas for others it is a non-issue. A large number of sincere Christians believe any consumption of an alcoholic drink is wrong, but other equally sincere believers are convinced that moderate drinking does not constitute a sin. Those conflicting views have resulted in judgmental attitudes and much disharmony within the Christian community.
Does the Bible condemn moderate drinking? The answer depends on one’s interpretation of pertinent Scripture passages, but involves two crucial questions. 1) Can limited use of alcohol be wrong for some believers but not be wrong for others? 2) Must we accept and respect the beliefs of other Christians on this controversial issue, although their views and practices may be quite different from ours? My recent book, “PLEASING GOD: THE JESUS AGENDA,” contains a comprehensive analysis of this contentious issue, so let us review a few conclusions from that book.
Scripture does condemn excessive use of, or addiction to, wine (alcoholic beverages). The same is true for use of nicotine products, gambling, gluttony, or other such activities which can be harmful. Numerous Bible passages address such excesses, including Proverbs 20:1, 23:19-21, and 23:29-32, as well as 2 Peter 2:18-19. Those Scripture passages and others warn of the potential danger associated with consumption of alcoholic drinks.
The above passages present the use of alcohol in a negative sense, but does the Bible ever address drinking in a neutral sense, or even with a positive slant? Scripture passages such as Ecclesiastes 2:24-25 and 9:7, Proverbs 3:9-10, Genesis 27:25, 1 Timothy 5:23, and John 2:1-11 seem to present consumption of wine as an accepted practice in the various settings and time periods of the passages cited. Wine appears to be the beverage of choice in Biblical times, and an ample wine harvest is shown as a blessing from God in numerous Scripture passages.
The Apostle Paul refers to “disputable matters,” or grey areas, in the Book of Romans and in his First Epistle to the Corinthians. A grey area is defined as an activity wherein it is a sin for one Christian to engage in that activity, whereas it may not be a sin for another Christian to do the same thing. Paul’s disputable matters included Jewish dietary restrictions, eating meat that had been sacrificed to idols, observing the Sabbath, partaking of wine, and other similar activities. Possible grey areas in today’s society include moderate drinking, dancing, wearing makeup and jewelry, working on Sunday, gambling, gluttony, and other such activities. Pertinent Scripture passages include Romans 14:1-4 and 14:5-6, 1 Corinthians 8:4-9, Romans 14:14-19 and 14:20-23, and Colossians 2:16.
Romans 14:20-23 is of particular interest: “Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a man to eat anything that causes someone to stumble. It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything else that will cause your brother to fall. So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the man who does not condemn himself by what he approves. But the man who has doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin.” Consumption of wine (“eat meat or drink wine”) is included in Paul’s grey areas, and “these things” refers to all the disputable matters addressed by him in the preceding verses. It is thus a sin for a Christian to drink if he or she regards use of alcohol as wrong. On the other hand, if he or she considers use of alcohol to be acceptable, drinking in moderate amounts would not be a sin for that believer. Note also that what we believe about grey areas should be kept between ourselves and God.
The primary focus of Paul’s discussion about disputable matters is on Christians’ relationships with one another, not on whether we drink or not. We are to respect the beliefs and practices of others, not try to force our views and convictions on them, not criticize or look down on fellow believers because they have different beliefs about alcohol use, and live together in peace and harmony. I welcome your comments about this divisive issue.
