The thing is though, people genuinely believe it is a sin. I’ve asked people about drinking and a lot of them appear to profess teetotalism. But why?
[Teetotalism is the practice or promotion of complete personal abstinence from alcoholic beverages]
Their justification tends to be rooted in Ephesians 5:18 which says, “And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit, “ (NASB: Lockman) I feel like they’re afraid that drinking alcohol is flirting too close with the line of sin, with it being the opposite of being filled with the Holy Spirit.
If we were to consider scripture, there is two sides to this.
Ephesians 5:18, “Do not get drunk with wine.”
Romans 14:21, “It is good not to . . . drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble.”
Hosea 4:11, “Beware of wine, and new wine, which take away the understanding.”
Ezekiel 44:21, “No priest shall drink wine when he enters the inner court.”
Proverbs 20:1, “Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise.”
But Jesus turned water into wine!
And I would assume He did such with the expectation that they would drink it. There is also the example of Paul who told Timothy to drink alcohol medicinally (1 Timothy 5:23). And that the church leaders are not to be enslaved to it, which can imply use of it, though in moderation (1 Timothy 3:8). Psalm 104:15 also says it’s a gift from God: “Wine [is] to gladden the heart of man, oil to make his face shine and bread to strengthen man’s heart.” So, can anyone make a case from Scripture that teetotalism is required, not really.
If you choose not to drink alcohol, as a kind of default way of life, it needs to be based on some principle other than what the Bible requires of us. What might that be?
I do not always like the effect it has on me, I guess. Or, that it stops me from following God’s will to the fullest. It is not good for my health, that’s a reason?
Really to decide whether to drink alcohol, we need to understand the effects of alcohol and why the Bible warns against its consumption. Without this, any decision to not drink would likely derive from a legalistic position.
So, tell me about alcohol.
Let’s play a game: Name the Song!
“There’s something in this liquor, The air is gettin’ thicker, I can’t help but to stare at you, Oh yeah, girl what did you do?” – Chris Brown
“Pardon my behaviour, I’ll apologize later, Say sorry later, Blame it on the drank, baby” – Jeremih
“Blame it on the booze, Got you feeling loose, Blame it on ‘tron, Got you in the zone, Blame it on the a a a a a alcohol” – Jamie Foxx
“I can make anybody pretty, I can make you believe any lie, I can make you pick a fight, With somebody twice, Your size” – Brad Paisley
There are plenty of songs which detail the effects and mindsets involved with the consumption of alcohol. But I get it. They are just songs. So, let’s ask elsewhere.
“Many people in the ancient world believed that drunkenness could produce a sort of inspiration or possession by Dionysus, god of wine. Dionysus’s most active worshipers yielded control of themselves to him and performed sexual acts or acts full of sexual symbolism (often to the distaste of conservative Romans). People did not think of Dionysus every time someone became drunk, however; drunkenness was more commonly associated simply with loss of self-control.” – The Bible Background Commentary
“[Alcohol] is not a stimulus, it is a depressant. It depresses first and foremost the highest centers of all in the brain. They are the very first to be influenced and affected by drink. They control everything that gives a man self-control, wisdom, understanding, discrimination, judgment, balance, the power to assess everything; in other words, everything that makes a man behave at his very best and highest. The better a man’s control, the better man he is.… But drink is something which immediately gets rid of control; that indeed is the first thing it does.” – Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
T–“Alcohol really effects people differently, depending on all sorts of factors. I can only speak for myself. And as for me, I react to it very badly. I’m a lightweight.”
O – “It doesn’t add anything to you, it only detracts. I actively avoid getting drunk. It’s on my mind whilst I drink, not to go too far, but that’s because I can handle a bit. A next man might be more or less tolerant. Like for me, on my first cocktail or drink, I will observe its effects before I take another.”
S – “I used to feel like it gave me a pass, I won’t lie. Like you know. I could try be a bit more reckless, and plan to do certain and in the end I can blame it on the alcohol. That would be a great idea, if I could remember the plans and do the things. A lot of the time, it really was the alcohol. I lost control.”
But what about your own experience?
My experience with alcohol…I feel like I am largely the same. I am a lot like myself. Maybe more like myself than without it. Only thing is that this self I speak of, is me before being saved, my more fleshy self. The things I used to do. The things I actively try to avoid. Here they come, rising. Past desires and vices, climbing back up. I am fortunate enough to say that it takes a good amount to get me to that point, but nevertheless, there is a point. And at the point, it is hard to argue that I am being Spirit-led rather than liquor-led.
And so, I understand the command to “not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit.” I would suggest this implies that you cannot do both (be drunk with wine, while filling yourself with the Holy Spirit). Maybe this is the reason as to why the Bible warns so heavily against the consumption of alcohol, especially in Ephesians 5:18.
“There is a direct parallel drawn between being drunk with wine and being filled with the Spirit. What precisely is the point of comparison between wine and the Holy Spirit? Doubtless the issue is influence or control. A person under the influence of wine experiences altered behaviour. He may say or do things he would not ordinarily do. Emotions may be heightened for a brief period, causing the person to experience anger followed quickly by elation followed quickly by depression.
If the person drinks enough wine, his mental processes will be affected and decision-making ability radically altered-almost always with a negative result. Likewise, the filling of the Holy Spirit produces a change in behaviour.
In the Book of Acts, once timid disciples became flaming evangelists for Jesus Christ. In Ephesians 5:19, 20, 21, Paul mentioned three practical results of the filling of the Spirit: Singing, a thankful heart, and an attitude of mutual submission. The last result is most significant because true submission always involves giving up your right to be in control in every situation. When we submit from the heart, we are saying, “I don’t have to have my way all the time.” Only a heart touched by the Holy Spirit can maintain such an attitude in every relationship of life.” – Ray Pritchard
Let’s wrap this up. To drink or not to drink?
Well, I cannot really answer that for you. I know my answer, and I hope there’s at least some information here that could help you in making your decision.
God Bless
My Sunday Skl 