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The other day, a few teenagers asked me about drinking.
Why isn't it okay for adults to take a sip of alcohol ---
they won't get drunk --- what if no one sees them do it?
Since teenagers originally asked me about drinking alcohol,
I've written this article to make these points meaningful
to them.
Important Questions
Questions about drinking and intoxication are very important,
especially for young people and new Christians, trying to
learn God's word and please Him in every respect.
Answering these questions are important because they involve
our souls. If we answer them correctly and obey God, we
can be saved. But if we answer them incorrectly and disobey
God, we'll be lost.
It's also important to answer these questions because
alcohol destroys lives. A quick Internet search for "first
drink" and "drunk driver" pulls up heart wrenching stories
of loved ones who lost family and friends to drunk drivers.
These stories often display messages like, "If you never
take the first drink, you'll never kill someone as a drunk
driver!"
Sinfulness
of Intoxication
Intoxication is a sin (Rom. 13:13; Eph. 5:18; Gal. 5:19-21;
1 Pet. 4:3). It is a deed of darkness (1 Th. 5:7). Therefore,
we shouldn't participate in drinking to any degree.
- "For those who sleep do their sleeping at night, and
those who get drunk get drunk at night" (1 Th. 5:7).
- "Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what
partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what
fellowship has light with darkness" (2 Cor. 6:14)?
- "Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness,
but instead even expose them" (Eph. 5:11).
- "Abstain from every form of evil" (1 Th. 5:22).
Based on these Scriptures, we must conclude that Christians
should stay away from every form of drinking and intoxication.
We shouldn't drink alcohol, not even a sip.
Intoxication Results In More Sin Studies show that a person
is impaired with one beer, or four ounces of table wine,
or a mild mixed drink. The only way to avoid impairment
is not drink (Blood Alcohol Calculator,
The Police Notebook, Board of Regents of the University
of Oklahoma, http://www.ou.edu/oupd/bac.htm).
In other words, intoxication and drunkenness begins with
the first drink.
Not only is intoxication sinful, it results in other sins,
bringing sadness and despair into the lives of people who
drink.
- Pr. 4:17 Wine figuratively represents wickedness.
- Pr. 20:1 "Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler,
and whoever is intoxicated by it is not wise."
- Is. 5:11-12 People involved in drinking aren't
mindful of God.
- Is. 5:22-23 People involved in drinking involve
themselves in wickedness.
- Is. 24:9; Ezek. 23:33 Drinking results in sadness.
- Is. 19:14; 28:7; 56:12 Drinking results in impaired
judgment.
- Matt. 24:48-49 Drinking and drunkenness in the
parable of the evil slave relate to sin.
- Rev. 14:8 Drinking wine figuratively represents
immorality, in Revelation.
In the Old Testament, we have two very poignant examples
of sin connected to drunkenness.
- Gen. 19:32-35 Lot's daughters got him drunk with
wine to coerce him into committing incest.
- 2 Sam. 11:13 David purposely got Uriah drunk,
trying to coerce him into doing something he didn't want
to do.
Drinking
Parties
It's a sin to go to a drinking party, whether or not you
drink.
- "For the time already past is sufficient for you to
have carried out the desire of the Gentiles, having pursued
a course of sensuality, lusts, drunkenness, carousing,
drinking parties and abominable idolatries" (1 Pet. 4:3).
The word "carousing" in 1 Peter 4:3, also translated revellings,
is the wild parties where there is drinking. A frat party
is an example of this type of party, where people drink
massive quantities of alcohol.
The phrase "drinking parties" in 1 Peter 4:3, also translated
banqueting, denotes the milder parties where people assemble
to drink. A cocktail party is an example of this type of
party, which is usually calm compared to a frat party.
It's A Sin To Go To The Party
Sometimes I'm asked a question like, "Is it okay to go to
the party, if I don't drink?"
The answer is no. Peter tells us it's a sin to go to drinking
parties, whether we drink or not.
Christians don't participate in the deeds of darkness,
exposing them as sinful (2 Cor. 6:14; Eph. 5:11). Therefore,
we must stay away from drinking parties, and all the sin
associated with them (1 Pet. 4:3).
Drinking
Alcohol Is Harmful
As Christians, we must take care of our bodies.
- "Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the
Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and
that you are not your own? For you have been bought with
a price: therefore glorify God in your body" (1 Cor. 6:19-20).
From a common sense perspective, we know drinking alcohol
is harmful by observing that doctors order pregnant women
and nursing mothers not to drink, because it harms their
babies.
From a technical perspective, we also see that drinking
is harmful to our bodies.
- "When an alcoholic beverage is consumed, ethanol is
absorbed in the bloodstream, depressing the central nervous
system and altering the function of cells and organs throughout
the body" (Canadian Health Network, article
prepared by the Centre for Addictions Research of B.C.).
- "Approximately 20% of ethanol is absorbed into the
bloodstream directly from the stomach, and 80% from the
small intestine" (Alcoholic Intoxication,
eMedicineHealth, http://www.emedicinehealth.com/alcohol_intoxication/article_em.htm).
Drinking Ethanol
After reading the above quotes, you may wonder if the ethanol
in an alcoholic beverage is the same ethanol in gasoline.
The answer is yes.
One way of producing ethanol is through fermentation.
- "Ethanol fermentation is the biological process by
which sugars such as glucose, fructose, and sucrose, are
converted into ethanol and carbon dioxide. Yeasts carry
out ethanol fermentation on sugars in the absence of oxygen.
. . . Ethanol fermentation is responsible for the rising
of bread dough, the production of ethanol in alcoholic
beverages, and for much of the production of ethanol for
use as fuel" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethanol_fermentation).
"A standard 'drink' of ethanol consists of 10 grams. This
amount is equal to 10 ounces (300 cc) of regular beer (5%
alcohol content); 3-4 ounces of wine (12% alcohol content);
or 1 ounce of hard liquor (40% alcohol content, 80 'proof')
(Alcoholic Intoxication, eMedicineHealth, http://www.emedicinehealth.com/alcohol_intoxication/article_em.htm).
Drinking Alcohol is Harmful
When a person drinks a modern alcoholic beverage, he is
harming his body with the same chemical in gasoline ---
ethanol.
As Christians, our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit.
Therefore, we are responsible for glorifying God in our
bodies. Harming our bodies with alcohol is a sin. And going
to drinking parties where people are assembled for that
purpose is a sin.
Wine
in the Bible
There is much debate over wine in the Bible. Some people
believe some wine was unfermented grape juice, without any
alcohol. And others believe all wine in the Bible was fermented,
and had alcohol.
Frankly, it's difficult to nail down absolute specifics
about New Testament wine, but there are a few general things
we know that are helpful.
Fermentation: A Method of Preserving Wine
Researchers suggest that ancient societies had numerous
ways of preserving the fruit of the vine: boiling, filtering,
cooling, adding preservatives, and fermentation.
Fermentation is a naturally occurring process that results
in a low-level alcohol content, and preserves the juice.
In Palestine, the fermentation process began almost immediately.
But the juice wasn't considered wine until fermenting forty
days (International Standard Bible Encyclopedia).
Three Greek Words Translated "Wine"
There are three words translated "wine" in the New Testament.
Oinos "is the general word for 'wine.' The mention
of the bursting of the wineskins, Matt. 9:17; Mark 2:22;
Luke 5:37, implies fermentation" (Vine's
Dictionary).
- Since the juice was fermented, it had an alcohol content.
Typically the alcohol content of first century wine was
2-3%, perhaps reaching as high as 5%.
- The alcohol level of first century wine was about
the same as low-alcohol, twenty-first century cider.
- The alcohol level of present-day wine in the United
States ranges from 11-14%.
- Modern wine has a significantly higher alcohol content
than first century wine, as much as 600%. (Note: Some
modern wines have alcohol added to them to make them
more intoxicating.)
- In the first century, wine was diluted with water,
significantly reducing the alcohol level.
- In Revelation 14:10, John uses a phrase associated
with mixing wine with water. He says the wine of God's
wrath is "prepared unmixed" (ASV). The Greek here
is "used of wine unmixed with water (usually so mixed)"
(Robertson).
- Also from the Jewish Mishna, we learn that water
was added to wine to dilute it. "The proportion of
water was large, only one-third or one-fourth of the
total mixture being wine" (International
Standard Bible Encyclopedia).
- The alcohol content of wine, after it was diluted
with water, was about 1%.
Gleukos is translated "new wine" and "sweet wine,"
appearing only in Acts 2:13, where the apostles were accused
of being drunk with new wine.
- New wine is "juice of the grape which distills before
a pressure is applied, and called must" (Barnes'
Notes). It was very intoxicating.
Oxos is translated "sour wine" and "vinegar." It
was "the ordinary drink of laborers and common soldiers"
(Vine's). It was given to Jesus by
Roman soldiers before He died.
- Vinegar was mixed with other foods, and sometimes used
as a condiment. It was mixed with water to create a cheap
drink.
- Typically, vinegar does not contain alcohol.
Alcoholic Beverages From a New Testament Perspective
When we talk about alcoholic beverages from a New Testament
perspective, we must understand that the wine (oinos)
of their day was much weaker than twenty-first century wine.
Then, they made it even weaker by adding water, resulting
in about 1% alcohol, which was only intoxicating in very
large quantities.
Intoxicating beverages with higher alcohol content were
considered liquor (strong drink, Lk. 1:15). These beverages
had ingredients added to them, to make them more intoxicating.
If we try and compare New Testament wine, after it was
mixed with water, to something in the twenty-first century,
we could compare it with non-alcoholic wine, which is about
0.5% alcohol.
Scriptures
Erroneously Used To Justify Drinking
Jesus Turned Water To Wine
Some people argue that it's okay to drink alcoholic beverages,
based on the fact that Jesus made wine at a marriage feast
in Cana (John 2:1-11).
Other people believe Jesus wouldn't have made alcoholic
wine, because it would be a sin to contribute to drunkenness.
They believe Jesus made grape juice, rather than alcoholic
wine. But the fact is, we don't know whether the wine was
fermented or unfermented, or whether it had alcohol.
For the sake of argument, let's say the wine (Greek, oinos)
Jesus made was naturally fermented for at least forty days,
according to tradition:
- If it was fermented wine with an alcohol content, it
would be mixed with water, as we've already learned. Notice
that Jesus had the servants take the wine to the headwaiter
(Jn. 2:8), whose traditional job was to taste the wine
and mix it with the appropriate amount of water before
serving it.
- If it was fermented wine, mixed with water, it would
have an alcohol content of about 1%, making it comparable
to our non-alcoholic wine today.
From Jesus turning water to wine, twenty-first century
Christians can conclude it's lawful to drink grape juice
or non-alcoholic wine. We can't conclude it's lawful to drink
what's considered to be alcoholic wine, or any other alcoholic
beverage.
Use A Little Wine For Your Stomach's Sake
In Paul's first epistle to Timothy, he says, "No longer
drink water exclusively, but use a little wine for the sake
of your stomach and your frequent ailments" (1 Tim. 5:23).
- Remember, wine was mixed with water.
Some people use this passage to justify drinking twenty-first
century alcoholic wine, and other alcoholic beverages. But
when we examine this Scripture, we see that such conclusions
are unfounded.
Here are a few things we learn from the context of 1 Timothy
5:23:
- Timothy wasn't drinking wine at the time of
Paul's writing.
- Remember, wine was mixed with water.
- Paul told him to "use" wine. Timothy's use of
wine was not recreational, but for the specific purpose
of relieving his "frequent ailments."
- The use of wine was on par with medicine,
to relieve ailments.
- Paul told him to use a "little wine," not a
lot of wine.
- Traditionally, a very small amount of wine was
mixed with water, "only one-third or one-fourth
of the total mixture being wine" (International
Standard Bible Encyclopedia).
- In Revelation 14:10, John uses a phrase associated
with mixing wine with water, as we've already
discussed.
Now let's apply the principles of 1 Timothy 5:23 to twenty-first
century Christians:
- We should avoid drinking wine.
- We have good water quality and readily accessible medicine
in the USA. There is no need to "use" wine for
"frequent ailments."
- If people in a particular area of the world need to
"use" wine as medicine because of poor water or
their infirmities, a small amount of low-alcohol wine
could be used to relieve their "ailments."
- The wine Timothy drank, which was mixed with water,
had the alcoholic content of twenty-first century non-alcoholic
wine.
Paul's command to Timothy does not authorize Christians
to drink alcoholic wine, as we think of it in the twenty-first
century. At most, it authorizes Christians to drink grape
juice and non-alcoholic wine.
Qualifications
of Elders and Deacons Don't Justify Drinking
In giving the qualifications for elders and
deacons, Paul says:
- Elders: "not addicted to wine" (1 Tim. 3:3; Tit. 1:7)
- Deacons: not "addicted to much wine" (1 Tim. 3:8)
Based on these Scriptures, some people think it's okay
to drink wine as long as they're not addicted to it. But
when we investigate the meaning of these Scriptures, we
learn that's not the case (cf. Tit. 2:3).
Elders' Qualifications
The Greek word (paroinos) regarding the qualification
of elders is translated differently in various translations:
- "addicted to wine" (NASB)
- "given to wine" (NKJ)
- "brawler" (ASV)
Here Paul is talking about one who is a drunken brawler,
a drunk who is engaged in noisy fights or quarrels.
Deacons' Qualifications
The Greek phrase here regarding the qualification of deacons
is translated:
- not "addicted to much wine" (NASB)
- not "given to much wine" (NKJ, ASV)
Robertson's comment on this phrase gives the meaning: "Not
holding the mind (ton noun understood as usual with
prosexw, 1 Timothy 1:4) on much wine (oinwi,
dative case). That attitude leads to over-indulgence."
Example: Cooking Wine
Cooking wine is used by many Christians today. Ironically,
it has a significantly higher alcohol content than first
century wine (oinos).
When using cooking wine, the alcohol is cooked out, flavoring
the food and resulting in little or no alcohol. This closely
corresponds to first century wine, which was diluted with
water, leaving a very low alcohol content of about 1%.
If a twenty-first century man improperly uses cooking
wine, resulting in intoxication, he would sin and wouldn't
be qualified as an elder or deacon. But as long as the cooking
wine is used properly, not resulting in intoxication or
any other sin, a man could be qualified.
Similarly, in the first century, people diluted wine with
water (Rev. 14:10). As long as a man used wine properly,
as commanded by Paul (1 Tim. 5:23), he did not sin and could
be qualified to serve as an elder or deacon.
Summary: Qualifications of Elders and Deacons
To be qualified as an elder, a man can't be addicted (given)
to wine, and thus engaged in drunken brawling.
To be qualified as a deacon, a man can't have his mind
fixed on wine. If he used wine as a first century Christian,
he had to do so properly, as commanded by Paul to Timothy,
using a "little wine" for his "stomach" and "frequent ailments"
(1 Tim. 5:23).
These Qualification Don't Justify Drinking Alcohol Today
In the same epistle in which Paul gives the qualifications
for elders and deacons, Paul commands, "No longer drink
water exclusively, but use a little wine for the sake of
your stomach and your frequent ailments" (1 Tim. 5:23).
As we've already learned, first century Christians used
low-alcohol wine, which they diluted with water before drinking.
Using this wine, for the sake of one's stomach and ailments,
was lawful. And remember, the alcohol content of the diluted
wine was about 1%, making it comparable to twenty-first
century non-alcoholic wine.
The qualifications of elders and deacons do not justify
drinking alcohol in our culture. At best, they justify drinking
grape juice or non-alcoholic wine.
Do Not
Get Drunk With Wine
In Ephesians 5:18, Paul says, "And do not get drunk with
wine, for that is dissipation. . . ."
Some people contend it's okay to drink wine, as long as
they don't get drunk. But upon examining this Scripture,
we see that's not true.
"Get drunk" (Eph. 5:18) is translated from the Greek verb
methusko, meaning "make drunk, or to grow drunk"
. . . "to become intoxicated." It's "an inceptive verb,
marking the process or the state" (Vine's).
In other words, Paul tells us the process of getting drunk
is a sin, in addition to the state of drunkenness.
Getting Drunk Begins With The First Drink
As repeatedly noted in our study, first century wine was
diluted with water, and compares to non-alcoholic wine today.
Diluted wine in the first century had about 1% alcohol,
compared to wine in our culture that has 11-14% alcohol.
We've also learned that a person in our culture is impaired
with one beer, or four ounces of table wine, or a mild mixed
drink (Blood Alcohol Calculator, The Police
Notebook, Board of Regents of the University of Oklahoma,
http://www.ou.edu/oupd/bac.htm).
With this information, we must conclude that a person
begins to get drunk with the first drink, violating the
command in Ephesians 5:18 by drinking one alcoholic drink.
If someone asks if it a sin to drink just one beer or
glass of wine, we must answer yes!
God Commands Sobriety
"So then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert
and sober. For those who sleep do their sleeping at night,
and those who get drunk get drunk at night. But since we
are of the day, let us be sober. . . ." (1 Th. 5:6-8).
As God's children, we have a responsibility to be "sober
in all things" (2 Tim. 4:5). We constantly prepare our minds
for action, being sober in spirit, every minute of every
day (1 Pet. 1:13; 4:7; 5:8). God commands sobriety; therefore,
we shouldn't drink intoxicating beverages, not even one.
Summary
We've learned it's a sin to be intoxicated, concluding
we shouldn't participate in drinking to any degree.
- "Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what
partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what
fellowship has light with darkness" (2 Cor. 6:14)?
- "Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness,
but instead even expose them" (Eph. 5:11).
- "Abstain from every form of evil" (1 Th. 5:22).
We've learned it's a sin to go to drinking parties, whether
we drink or not.
- "For the time already past is sufficient for you to
have carried out the desire of the Gentiles, having pursued
a course of sensuality, lusts, drunkenness, carousing,
drinking parties and abominable idolatries" (1 Pet. 4:3).
We've learned that drinking alcohol (ethanol) is sinful,
because it harms our bodies.
- "Or do you not know that your body is a temple
of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God,
and that you are not your own? For you have been bought
with a price: therefore glorify God in your body" (1 Cor.
6:19-20).
We've learned Scriptures people use to justify drinking
alcohol, don't justify the behavior. Scriptures such as
Jesus making water into wine justify drinking grape juice
or non-alcoholic wine, nothing more.
We've learned the process of getting drunk is sinful,
in addition to the actual state of drunkenness, concluding
it's a sin to drink just one beer or glass of wine.
We've learned God commands sobriety; therefore, we shouldn't
drink intoxicating drinks, not even one.
Conclusion
Our purpose in life is to expose the evil deeds of darkness,
by abstaining from every form of evil (Eph. 5:11; 1 Th.
5:22).
We don't drink intoxicating beverages. Rather, we expose
the sin of intoxication with a steadfast life of sobriety.
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