Drinking and religion?

Question

Does it not say in the Bible that the man who knows sorrow should drink to forget his woes? I'm not saying it says we should become alcoholics, but it does say we're entitled to some short escape from the sadness of reality, does it not?

Answer 1

Yes it does say that in the Old Testament.

Proverbs 31:6 Give strong drink to the one who is perishing, and wine to those in bitter distress; 7 let them drink and forget their poverty and remember their misery no more.

In the New Testament it says a drunkard will not inherit the Kingdom of Heaven and...

Ephesians 5:18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, 19 addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with all your heart, 20 giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,

In other words, we are supposed to receive our comfort from our relationship with God through Jesus and only drink in moderation not as a form of anesthesia for our sorrows.

Answer 2

The Bible does not forbid drinking completely. It does condemn drinking to the point of drunkeness. If you have woes that you are needing help with you should speak to your minister about it instead of just getting drunk. As far as drinking goes a glass of wine with dinner every now and then probably wouldn't be a sacrilege.

Answer 3

why is there sadness in your reality? If you are looking to the Bible I am assuming you are a believer. The apostle Paul says "To live is Christ and to die is gain". A believers life is supposed to be filled with joy, peace, happiness and all the other fruits of the spirit. If you are attached to the vine (Christ) you should be bearing fruit of the vine. Alcohol covers up the sadness of reality for those who aren't believers and don't have eternal securtiy and the hope of glory. Instead of pondering if drinking to medicate yourself, ask God to heal you and fill you of his Spirit that Christ has enabled us to have by his sacrafice on the cross. Eternity with God in heaven should bring you joy... remember what the apostle Paul says, "All things are permissible, but all things are not beneficial" ... Alcohol falls under this category, Christianity isn't about cans and can nots... its about eternal life with Christ.

Answer 4

From so many people I know, using alcohol/drugs is kinda dangerous -- best to try and help w/ the sadness in other ways (group therapy, mind training, meditation, zen, a course in miracles, 12-step programs, etc.). If ya do choose alcohol, remember not to judge yerself for it --just be aware of whether it helps or buries the problem and creates a dependency.

Answer 5

Although moderate use of alcohol is approved in the Bible, drunkenness is strongly opposed in both the Old and New Testaments:

Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, And whoever is intoxicated by it is not wise. (NASU, Proverbs 20:1)

Woe to those who rise early in the morning that they may pursue strong drink, Who stay up late in the evening that wine may inflame them! Their banquets are accompanied by lyre and harp, by tambourine and flute, and by wine; But they do not pay attention to the deeds of the LORD, Nor do they consider the work of His hands. (NASU, Isaiah 5:11-12)

"Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you unexpectedly like a trap. (NIV, Luke 21:34)

Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy. (NASU, Romans 13:13)

Don't be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, let the Holy Spirit fill and control you. (NLT, Ephesians 5:18)

Now the works of the flesh are obvious: fornication, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these. I am warning you, as I warned you before: those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. (NRSV, Galatians 5:19-21)

Answer 6

wait.you see to much drink is not good, but moderate drinking is fine.

(Proverbs 21:17) 17 He that is loving merriment will be an individual in want; he that is loving wine and oil will not gain riches.

(Proverbs 23:20-21) 20 Do not come to be among heavy drinkers of wine, among those who are gluttonous eaters of flesh. 21 For a drunkard and a glutton will come to poverty, and drowsiness will clothe one with mere rags.

(Proverbs 23:29-30) 29 Who has woe? Who has uneasiness? Who has contentions? Who has concern? Who has wounds for no reason? Who has dullness of eyes? 30 Those staying a long time with the wine, those coming in to search out mixed wine.

(Ecclesiastes 2:3) 3 I explored with my heart by cheering my flesh even with wine, . . .

(Ecclesiastes 9:7) 7 Go, eat your food with rejoicing and drink your wine with a good heart, because already the [true] God has found pleasure in your works.

(Ecclesiastes 10:19) 19 Bread is for the laughter of the workers, and wine itself makes life rejoice; . . .

Answer 7

(They ask you about drinking and gambling. Say, "There is great harm in both, though there is some benefit also for the people. But the harm of the sin thereof is far greater than their benefit. ")

(O Believers, wine, gambling, (ungodly) shrines and divining devices are ai! abominable works of Satan: therefore refrain from these so that you may attain to true success. Indeed Satan intends to sow enmity and' hatred among you by means of wine and gambling, and to prevent you from the remembrance of Allah and from Salat. Will you not, , therefore, abstam from these things?)

Answer 8

well, there is that line (I think from psalms) about how "wine gladdens the heart".
However, as the noah story illustrates, alcohol should not be allowed to overtake a person, because once it becomes a habitual "escape", you'll need help escaping from it!

Answer 9

well the bible also says do not b drunk w/ wine, but i kno mature christians who drink every1nce in a while just 4 the taste. i think it is 1 of those grey areas. but as 4 me i wouldnt drink bcuz it might cause my brother 2 stumble or think wrong about me, and im 2 young 2 drink neways. so i think its not a sin, but i wouldnt do it

Answer 10

But if your a Christian the Bible also says to live in joy even in persecution. So no Christian has an excuse for drinking based on the proverb (I think its a proverb) you quoted.