Question from a friend of WordTruth Ministries:

WordTruth.Com Response:

This is a controversial issue in many churches today. There are so many heartbreaking stories of individuals and families being destroyed by alcoholism. For this reason, many have decided not to drink alcoholic beverages at all for the sake of the kingdom of God.

The Bible provides ample warnings against excessive drinking:

Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler; whoever is led astray by them is not wise. (Proverbs 20:1, NIV)

Listen, my son, and be wise, and keep your heart on the right path.  Do not join those who drink too much wine or gorge themselves on meat, for drunkards and gluttons become poor, and drowsiness clothes them in rags. (Proverbs 23:19-21, NIV)

Clearly, drunkenness is a sin and Jesus was without sin (2 Corinthians 5:21, NIV) - so Jesus never became drunk on alcoholic beverages. As Proverbs 23:20 indicates, we are not to join in on the excessive drinking of others - yet Jesus did socialize with drunkards and sinners (Matthew 11:19) in order to build relationships and share the truth of God's word and the good news of eternal life through Him, the Son of God (John 3:16; 14:6).

Did Jesus Himself drink alcoholic beverages? Scripture does not say specifically but we may infer that He did. Water mixed with a little wine (2 to 3 parts water to 1 part wine) was the common table drink of the 1st century. This had the effect of purifying common bacteria and germs from the water. Also, at the wedding in Cana, Jesus turned the water into wine (John 2). Some argue that the "wine" was unfermented. However the passage makes it clear it was a most excellent fermented wine:

They did so, and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside and said, "Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now." This, the first of his miraculous signs, Jesus performed in Cana of Galilee. He thus revealed his glory, and his disciples put their faith in him. (John 2:8-11, NIV)

If the water was miraculously turned into only unfermented wine, the master of the banquet could not have made this statement. People cannot have "too much to drink" meaning drunkenness from unfermented wine.

Be careful not to let this become a stumbling block to you or your friends. If you decide that social drinking is OK for you, do not flaunt it before other believers who believe it to be a sin. If you decide to abstain from drinking for the sake of the kingdom, do not condemn other believers who see no problem with social drinking. Read all of Romans chapter 14 for detailed instructions on this issue - but here is the key passage:

¹³ Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother's way. ¹⁴ As one who is in the Lord Jesus, I am fully convinced that no food is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for him it is unclean. ¹⁵ If your brother is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy your brother for whom Christ died. ¹⁶ Do not allow what you consider good to be spoken of as evil. ¹⁷ For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, ¹⁸ because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men. (Romans 14:13-18, NIV)

May God bless you with His wisdom and the courage to follow Jesus!

Rev. Randy Lariscy :-)
Director - WordTruth Ministries