Did you know drinking is a sin?

Question

Jesus loves you! Praying for the lost.

Answer 1

Yes. It defiles your body. If you are saved, you really shouldn't be drinking. It is God's temple.

Answer 2

Nowhere in the Bible is the use of alcoholic beverages prohibited. If it were sinful, would Jesus have changed water into wine at Cana (John 2:1-11)? Jesus drank wine and was falsely accused of being a drunkard (Matthew 11:19).

The drinking of alcoholic beverages is nothing more than making use of what God has provided and is not a sinful act. In fact, the Bible says
"He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth; And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengtheneth man's heart." (Psalm 104:14-15, KJV)
"Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake and thine often infirmities." (1 Timothy 5:23, KJV)

Notice that Holy Scripture says "a little wine," not copious quantities. Use of any alcoholic beverage to the point of becoming intoxicated is a misuse of God's gift and is a sinful act. Throughout the Bible there is a clear distinction made between the use of alcohol and the abuse of alcohol (Ephesians 5:18 & Proverbs 20:1 for example).

Answer 3

Another person who answered this question identified himself as a member of the church of Christ and he said drinking is not a sin. I am also a member of the church of Christ, but I must respectfully disagree with him on this point.

While the Bible specifically says that drunkenness is a sin, I believe there is also evidence that choosing to drink alcoholic beverages is also sinful.

First, this is flirting with temptation. When a person begins to first drink during his life, he does not know if he will become addicted.

I have known many people who have had problems with alcohol, but I have never met a first time drinker who said that he has decided to become an alcoholic, loose his job, break up his family, have health problems and the other problems associated with this vice.

In fact, everyone I have known that began to drink would say that they are NOT going to be one of those people with alcohol problems. The problem is, alcohol is deceptive (Proverbs 20:1).

We are called by the Bible to avoid temptation whenever we can. Drinking alcohol is playing as close to the line as you can get, and sometimes you will fall over that line.

Secondly, drinking, even a little, reduces your resolve to resist other temptations. Proverbs 31:4-5 says, “It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink: Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.”

Third, under the Old Testament, the priests were forbidden to drink. In New Testament times, all Christians are priests.

There is evidence that Timothy would only drink water, and he was becoming ill. Paul told him, “No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments.” (1 Timothy 5:23, English Standard Version).

This was not permission to become a social drinker, but it was rather instruction to take a little medicine.

Why would Timothy have only been drinking water and, apparently, resisting taking wine? I believe it is likely that he was watching out for his influence.

If you drink, you may influence others to drink also, either by example, or by direct invitation. If these people become drunk, wouldn’t that make you an accomplice in their sin?

Are we showing love to our fellow man by introducing them to something that has a good chance of destroying their life?

The Bible calls for us to set good examples for others.

Alcohol destroys lives. We should stay away from such vices!

So why did Jesus turn the water into wine?

The word “wine” in the Bible can mean only fermented juice, only non-fermented juice, or either, depending on which Greek or Hebrew word was used.

I believe Jesus turned the water into non-fermented juice because the people at the party had already “well drunk”, or they had drank a lot. In fact, they had drunk so much that they ran out of “wine”.

If they were drinking alcoholic wine, and Jesus created more alcoholic wine, then Jesus would have been contributing to their intoxication.

Drunkenness (intoxication) is a sin. I don’t believe Jesus would have contributed to this sinful condition, therefore, I believe Jesus created non-alcoholic juice.

Answer 4

Jesus turned water into wine at Cana(John 2:3), and drank wine at the last supper(John 6, 1 Cor 11,Luke 24). He used wineskins as part of a parable in Matt. 9: 16-17.

Paul, concerned that Timothy was being too severe in his fasting, commands him "Stop drinking only water, but have a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent illnesses" (1 Tim. 23).

Paul does advise in Romans 13: 13: "Let us then throw off the works of darkness (and) put on the armor of light; let us conduct ourselves properly as in the day, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in promiscuity and licentiousness, not in rivalry and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the desires of the flesh."

Therefore, it is a sin to get drunk, but a small amount of alcohol can aid in digestion and also relax those who are overly stressed

It is also a sin to drink if it causes another to sin (like in the presence of an alcoholic):
" For the sake of food, do not destroy the work of God. Everything is indeed clean, but it is wrong for anyone to become a stumbling block by eating; it is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble" (Rom. 14: 20-1)

Answer 5

Drinking is forbidden to Christians, as the Bible states that we are Kings and Priests, and Proverbs states that wine and strong drink are not for kings or priests lest they pervert the Law. As for it being a sin for unbelievers, I do not agree. It is however unwise..again the Book of Proverbs states that wine is raging and strong drink a mocker, who ever is deceived thereby is unwise. Also it says that to the Pure all things are pure. I agree that drinking is not wise but it is not a sin in itself. Drunkenness is a sin, on that I will agree. And since it is hard to determine the point at which drinking becomes drunknness it is better to err on the side of caution and abstain.

Answer 6

Look, even Jesus Christ, the Son of God Himself, drank. Drinking is not a sin, okay, but deliberately taking in mind altering substances, such as alchohol to inebriate ones self is a sin. In smaller words for you, drinking to get drunk is a sin, but drinking to celebrate or something similar (i.e. toasting at a dinner, having a ceremonial drink at a passover dinner, drinking a glass of wine with dinner etc...) is not a sin.

Answer 7

Did you know that too much of anything...even brocolli, can be harmful to your body?
Eating too much brocolli is a sin. Eating some brocolli is not.
Drunkeness is a sin, of course. Having a glass of wine at dinner once in awhile is not.
One must be very careful with the word "sin"...
And always remember that ALL have sinned...ALL would include the members of your choir, the deacons and elders, that sweet little old lady with the thinning hair in the third pew from the front...ALL would include your pastor, his wife, his mother....ALL would include me...and ALL would also include you.
I am happy to pray for the lost with you...as long as we begin by thanking God for forgiving our own sins, first.
God bless you!!

Answer 8

No, drinking is not, drunkardness is. Study Proverbs 31 4-7

It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine nor for princes strong drink
Lest they drink and forget the law, and pervert the judgement of any of the afflicted.
Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine to those that be of heavy hearts.
Let him drink and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.

Drinking is like many things we can do, it is acceptable as long as we control it, but when it controls us, we have let it become sinful for us.

Answer 9

Then why did Jesus turn the water into wine at the Wedding at Cana? It's not drinking that's a sin. It's getting drunk.

Answer 10

My Lady, I don't mean to sound sarcastic, but, it does say in His word that a little wine is good for the stomachs sake. It also say, don't drink in excess.

Smoking is sin. All who do not accept Him as there Lord and Savior will be smoking in hell.

God bless my dear Lady Saphire

Answer 11

I am a member of the church of Christ. I am against drinking, but drinking is not a sin. The Bible doesn't speak against drinking, getting drunk is a sin.