There is No Good Reason to Drink
Sep 18, 2007
When we think of sins, we probably most often think of things such as murder or theft. These are things that our culture does not accept. If I were to get caught committing murder or stealing, I would be a criminal. I would go to prison and most people would certainly think poorly of me. Those types of activities are not acceptable to the majority and are sins. There are other activities, however, that have achieved acceptance in our culture despite being sins. One such activity is getting drunk. When someone talks about how “wasted” they got, most people think that it’s funny. In fact, it usually seems like the only time drunkenness is frowned upon by the majority is when it is combined with driving. Even though drunkenness has become acceptable in our culture, the Bible is clear in condemning it. While drinking without necessarily becoming drunk is not explicitly called a sin, it is dangerous, unwise, and there is no good reason for it.
Drunkenness is a sin. It would be very hard to read the New Testament honestly and not come to that conclusion. Galatians 5:19-21 includes drunkenness in a list of “works of the flesh.” Other examples of “works of the flesh” listed in these verses are adultery, fornication, and murder. It also says that “those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” Drunkenness is a “lust of the flesh;” it is part of a “flood of dissipation;” and it is “not the will of God” (1st Peter 4:1-4). Elsewhere in the Bible, we can read that older men are to be sober and older women should not be “given to much wine” (Titus 2:1-3). Finally, as recorded in Luke 21:34, Jesus warned His disciples not to be “weighed down with…drunkenness.” If we are going to be people who claim to believe that the Bible is good and true, then condoning and participating in drunkenness makes us hypocrites.
The Bible clearly defines drunkenness as a sin. It does not make that same clear distinction with drinking in general. Even though the Bible does not specifically call it a sin, Bible principles still show us how unwise drinking any amount of alcohol is. Because drunkenness is a sin, it is evil. As a means to drunkenness, drinking is a means to accomplishing evil and 1st Thessalonians 5:22 says to “abstain from every form of evil.” In addition, drunkenness is called both a “work of the flesh” (Galatians 5:19-21) and a “lust of the flesh” (1st Peter 4:1-4). We are warned in the Bible to “make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts” (Romans 13:14). We are also warned to “flee…youthful lusts” (2nd Timothy 2:22). Drinking any amount of alcohol puts us in danger of failing both of those instructions.
A case might be made that drinking is technically lawful under God’s law because God’s law does not specifically address it. But what would the point of drinking be? If it is to get drunk, then that is a sin. If the point is to quench one’s thirst, then why not use a different type of beverage? We have far more beverage choices then the people living during biblical times did. Even if you believe that drinking is technically not a sin, there is still no good reason to do it. 1st Corinthians 6:12 says, “All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.” In other words, even if something is technically lawful, it may not be in any way helpful. Such is the case with drinking. It may cause us to sin and it serves no useful function, so why do it?
Drunkenness is a sin. It would be very hard to read the New Testament honestly and not come to that conclusion. Galatians 5:19-21 includes drunkenness in a list of “works of the flesh.” Other examples of “works of the flesh” listed in these verses are adultery, fornication, and murder. It also says that “those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” Drunkenness is a “lust of the flesh;” it is part of a “flood of dissipation;” and it is “not the will of God” (1st Peter 4:1-4). Elsewhere in the Bible, we can read that older men are to be sober and older women should not be “given to much wine” (Titus 2:1-3). Finally, as recorded in Luke 21:34, Jesus warned His disciples not to be “weighed down with…drunkenness.” If we are going to be people who claim to believe that the Bible is good and true, then condoning and participating in drunkenness makes us hypocrites.
The Bible clearly defines drunkenness as a sin. It does not make that same clear distinction with drinking in general. Even though the Bible does not specifically call it a sin, Bible principles still show us how unwise drinking any amount of alcohol is. Because drunkenness is a sin, it is evil. As a means to drunkenness, drinking is a means to accomplishing evil and 1st Thessalonians 5:22 says to “abstain from every form of evil.” In addition, drunkenness is called both a “work of the flesh” (Galatians 5:19-21) and a “lust of the flesh” (1st Peter 4:1-4). We are warned in the Bible to “make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts” (Romans 13:14). We are also warned to “flee…youthful lusts” (2nd Timothy 2:22). Drinking any amount of alcohol puts us in danger of failing both of those instructions.
A case might be made that drinking is technically lawful under God’s law because God’s law does not specifically address it. But what would the point of drinking be? If it is to get drunk, then that is a sin. If the point is to quench one’s thirst, then why not use a different type of beverage? We have far more beverage choices then the people living during biblical times did. Even if you believe that drinking is technically not a sin, there is still no good reason to do it. 1st Corinthians 6:12 says, “All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.” In other words, even if something is technically lawful, it may not be in any way helpful. Such is the case with drinking. It may cause us to sin and it serves no useful function, so why do it?