The Christian and Alcohol: Does the Bible Permit Drinking in Moderation?
In recent days, the subject of Christians and alcohol has become front and center. Not that this problem is new. 
This debate is a long one, and one that is not likely to be settled any time soon. Recently, our friend Scott Aniol offered an interesting series of blog posts on the Christian and alcohol. Many believers today permit drinking, and some argue that prohibiting it is sinful. Mark Driscoll, for instance, suggests that it is a sin not to drink. God made alcohol, and so long as one does not drink to excess, one is free to enjoy God’s good gifts.
Well, I want to ask the question . . . does the Bible permit “drinking in moderation”? This is no mere academic debate, for since the Temperance movement of the 19th century, many Christians have argued that the Bible teaches total abstinence from alcohol. This is done in some rather creative ways, all in an effort to keep the saints sober. Some might argue that despite the fact that people drank some alcohol in Bible times and that the Bible seems to sanction it, no Christian today should drink. Others suggest that since Jesus drank wine, so can we. So which viewpoint is correct? Can Christians drink in moderation or not?
My contention is that the Bible does not address at all “drinking in moderation.” This is not a question any Old or New Testament person would ever have asked. For him, it was a fact of life that there was a very high probability that everyone would consume alcohol. It was virtually impossible to avoid it. The emphasis of the Bible was on warning the saints to exercise great caution lest they fall victim to the pernicious effects of consuming too much alcohol. But how does what the NT believer did out of necessity intersect with the modern believer who drinks alcohol out of choice? The real question today is, “Is there any real correlation between the use of alcohol in the culture of the Scripture and the use of alcohol in our day?”
This is a much more complex question and one that needs an answer. In Jesus’ day, what were the hydration choices? The three basic options were water (often unsanitary), animal milk (hard to keep for any length of time without refrigeration), and the fruit of the vine (also hard to preserve in its fresh, unfermented state). Fermentation is a natural process that changes the chemical structure of the juice from sweet to alcoholic. This happens quickly in the absence of refrigeration. At the same time, it was discovered that alcohol actually had helpful qualities. It apparently had some limited medicinal value where modern medicine had not discovered antibiotics. It also killed bacteria in other liquid—like water. In biblical times, alcohol was often mixed with water to purify the water and make it safe to drink.
But by itself, wine was also very dangerous—thus the numerous warnings against drunkenness. From the time of Noah, the Bible cautioned of alcohol’s power to wrest control of the individual and cause him to do some very sinful things. Why the need for these statements at all if the OT or NT saints were expected simply to abstain? Answer: virtually everyone consumed the fermented fruit of the vine—it simply could not be avoided.
So back to my question—what does the result of a natural process in ancient times have to do with the commercially produced beverages of today? Little if anything. Alcohol consumption today is a social activity, often associated with raucous living. This hardly fits the biblical world where alcohol consumption in some form was virtually unavoidable. Today, we have numerous choices for hydration. In the first century, those choices were greatly reduced. Alcohol was a safe choice, provided it was used very carefully. In our current American culture, we actually forbid children from consuming because of the ease of abuse. I find no contemporary arguments for the use of alcohol among Christians for hydration. The arguments simply revolve around Christian liberty. Many argue that they have liberty to drink because the Bible does not forbid it.
How would I respond to this? In the same way I would respond to the Christian who would try to make an argument for polygamy or for slavery. The Bible never expressly forbids either practice, though clearly Christians are right today to reject them both. Can a Christian drink? My answer is simple—why should they? What benefit does alcohol offer today?
There are, of course, several good biblical reasons for choosing to abstain from alcohol today, and I will seek to provide these in an upcoming post.
Jeff,
When I saw the title of your article, I began reading with great interest. You are correct to make the call that this issue is HUGE in our world today. Our young people are especially looking for answers in this area.
I am not a drinker myself, in any form. I even recently gave up Diet Coke for health reasons. I am going through physical and emotional withdrawel, but that is another story……………
I appreciated your article so much, up to a certain point. Until the last 3 paragraphs, you make very valid points and stick to facts. In the last 3 paragraphs, you lose focus and start to swerve toward opinion.
While I agree that you cannot compare the drinking of wine in biblical days to the modern world, you also cannot compare the decision to drink wine today with slavery and polygamy. You will lose readers and young people if you turn your discussion in this direction.
I have met many committed Christians today who do occasionally drink wine. I have never seen any of them drink to excess. It is always in a social setting, with no intent to “get drunk” or to offend. To them, it is a beverage. While they acknowledge that there are some Christians who chose not to drink at all, they consider that a personal decision. I have never looked down at these fine Christian people for taking an occasional glass of wine or a can of beer. They do not look down on me for choosing not to.
This is the area where there is question today. I look forward to what you have to say on this subject. Please do not be tempted to fall into invalid arguments, the way so many have done before. Young people today will not accept that, the way that I would have back in the 70′s. Again, don’t get me wrong, I do not drink and would wish that others would abstain as well. However, what I need to see, and what our young people need to see is a completely biblically based argument. It may be there, or it may not. If it truly is not there, then state clearly the logic and sense involved in abstaining.
I hope that you won’t receive my comments as merely critical. I want to see a good article on this subject. I look forward to your future comments.
Dale:
Of course you are right–there is no real comparison to drinking alcohol and slavery or polygamy for that matter. But don’t miss my point. One of the most oft used justifications I have personally heard from Christians who wished to drink is “the Bible does not condemn it” or “Jesus drank, ” etc.
My real point is that the Bible does not have to PROHIBIT something directly or even indirectly for good Christians to decide that it is unwise at best or sinful at worst.
The problem with a blog venue is not being able to say all that needs to be said to make a cogent argument. More of that will follow, I assure you! (At least I hope it will be cogent!)
But remember one thing, no argument will suffice in the face of one who is determined to exercise their “liberty” to drink. Anecdotally, I have found pro-alcohol Christians who argue essentially “You cannot give me a good enough argument for me not to drink!” So my response to them is . . . go ahead and drink, I am not your judge. Do what you think will please the Lord!
Dr. Straub,
You said in your response to Dale that “My real point is that the Bible does not have to PROHIBIT something directly or even indirectly for good Christians to decide that it is unwise at best or sinful at worst.” I would agree that Christians can decide that things the Bible does not prohibit are unwise, and they will not take part in them. I would disagree that we have the authority to call things sinful that the Bible does not call sinful. When Christ interacted with the Pharisees in Mark 7, He said ” 7 Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. 8 For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. 9 And he said unto them, Full well ye rejectd the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition. . . .13 Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.” There are many things I think unwise for a Christian to do, but lacking Biblical warrant, I dare not call them sinful. I think we often want the added gravitas of calling something sinful, to back up our personal preferences. We need to stick to the Biblical categories and be guided by the text. I personally do not drink alcohol because I am an officer in a church that teaches Christians should not drink. I see nothing wrong with teaching this, as long as it is in the context that it is not wise for Christians to drink – but if total abstinence becomes essential for salvation, I would object strongly.
“My contention is that the Bible does not address at all “drinking in moderation.” This is not a question any Old or New Testament person would ever have asked. For him, it was a fact of life that there was a very high probability that everyone would consume alcohol. It was virtually impossible to avoid it. The emphasis of the Bible was on warning the saints to exercise great caution lest they fall victim to the pernicious effects of consuming too much alcohol.”
Hmmm…a warning about consuming “too much” (i.e. moderation) appears to be exactly what the author asserts is not addressed in Scripture.
“So back to my question—what does the result of a natural process in ancient times have to do with the commercially produced beverages of today? Little if anything. Alcohol consumption today is a social activity, often associated with raucous living. This hardly fits the biblical world where alcohol consumption in some form was virtually unavoidable.”
So if in this “biblical world” where the author claims the consumption of alcohol was not associated with “raucous” living then one must wonder why he stated right before this:
“But by itself, wine was also very dangerous—thus the numerous warnings against drunkenness. From the time of Noah, the Bible cautioned of alcohol’s power to wrest control of the individual and cause him to do some very sinful things.”
It appears quite clearly that there is plenty of “raucousness” associated with alcohol in the “biblical world”. What I believe the author is failing to do is distinguish between the misuse of alcohol and the appropriate use of alcohol. I find no one, either in today’s world or the biblical world associating “raucousness” with the appropriate use of alcohol, only in its misuse.
What would the “appropriate” use of alcohol be in today’s world from the stand point of the Bible? Frankly, I’m not sure that alcohol had an “appropriate” use in biblical times.
You are correct, I did not distinguish between use and misuse of alcohol in today’s world. I think implicitely I assumed that for biblical times. It was used for hydration in a diluted form and with great caution. Maybe I am missing something, but this does not seem to be the goal behind its use today. Ever seen a Superbowl Budweiser commercial touting its hydrating virtues? There is a reason alcohol is called an “adult” beverage in our world (culture).
It wasn’t an adult beverage in the NT and water certainly isn’t an adult beverage today. In common usage, alcohol has come to be viewed by our world (at least in our culture) as something much different than it was viewed in biblical times.
In response to David above, I think that we have liberty to call something sinful that the Bible does not address as such. For instance, is the recreational use of marijana a sin? Even if it were to be legalized, would it be ok for the Christian? What about the use of tobacco? Are these things merely adiaphora? Things can be sinful for any number of reasons and not be addressed directly as such in the Bible.
Jeff
I don’t think your post adequately assesses the Bible’s commendation of wine. It is associated with joy and labeled as God’s good gift to man. It “cheers the heart of God and man” Jdg. 9:13. The spirit-uplifting effects of wine are said to produce joy. Where no wine is, there is no joy. In other passages, the merry heart is associated with drunkenness, but in some passages it is associated with a positive enjoyment of wine (Eccl. 9:7). This indicates that it is the intoxicating effects of the alcohol itself that is being praised. Prov. 31:7 indicates it has such a positive effect.
Yet Scripture praises wine, and calls for its use (as well as for strong drink’s use) in joyful celebration before God, Deut. 14:26.
This attitude is contrary to Scripture. Scriptures praise of the substance wine, is not at all incongruous with warnings about its abuse. Like Alex mentions above, wine was abused and a party lifestyle was quite as readily available in Bible times as it is today. Furthermore, your discussion of the dilution of wine doesn’t apply to OT times where diluted wine was a sign of judgment — it was a bad deal, not a normal table necessity, see Isaiah 1:22.
You speak on the one hand, quite negatively about the prohibitionist tendency to force the text to uphold abstinence. Yet on the other hand, you do the same thing. Your exegesis is totally shaped by prohibition, the practice of Christians pre 1800 would argue against your view here.
I don’t mean to hijack your thread, just sharing some reactions to your post.
God bless,
Bob Hayton
Bob:
I want to answer you carefully. You make the huge assumption that OT wine is the same as Ernest and Julio Gallo . . . This is an assumption at best and one that for the purposes of this discussion is really unwarranted. One of the underlying points I made is that the biblical alcohol and the commerically made alcohol of today are really two different things.
Before you can even begin to argue what Ecc. 9:7 means for us today, you must make the case for what the text meant in its context and that means a full understanding of the substance called “wine” was in Solomon’s day. Whatever else it was, it wasn’t commerically produced to control its precise alcoholic content as modern wine is.
Alex, I don’t believe that you have understood the point of the article. The issue facing believers today is whether to abstain from drinking alcohol or to drink in moderation. Dr. Straub has asserted that this choice did not exist in the ancient world and that the Bible therefore does not address the issue. Drinking alcohol was a necessity for basic hydration which meant that everyone did it. As for your second point that the author has confused misuse and appropriate use, you have probably been too hasty. The raucousness caused by alcohol in the Biblical world is associated with excessive use, not the everyday use for hydration. Therefore it is fair to say that in general, alcohol was not associated with unruliness the way it is today. Besides, Dr. Straub has already said he will further develop his thesis in the following posts. We should wait to make that judgment until he has been given a full hearing.
Jeff, I have a question about this statement = “It also killed bacteria in other liquid—like water”. I’ve heard this a number of times over a number of years but I’ve never seen any documentation of this.
Jim:
The use of alcohol as an antiseptic has a long history in medicine. Did you get your flu shot this year? If so the nurse used an alcohol swap to disinfect the skin to cleanse the skin and prevent bacteria inflitration.
They don’t call me “Dr. Straub” around here for nothing! Take two aspirin and call me in the morning!
JS
I doubt the ancient world knew that alcohol is a mind altering chemical in liquid form. It has the potential for creating trouble through impaired decision-making ability and judgement. Ever watch those cop reality shows where a impaired driver is pulled over and the driver doesn’t even know he is impaired?
The presence of a mind-altering substance in our body may create the psychological need to have more or something stronger until we become dependent. I also understand that not everyone may metabolize alcohol in same manner thus creating “alcoholics.”
I find it particulary troubling that “craft beer” or home brewed beer is gaining acceptance because a distinction is made between such products and regular can of beer. Alcohol is alcohol and the effects are the same.
We today have much greater scientific, physiological and psychological knowledge than existed in ancient times. We as Christians have the responsibility to apply that knowledge as we read the bible.
In response to Jason’s comment “this choice did not exist in the ancient world”.
Apparently it did!
Romans 14:21, “It is good neither to eat meat nor drink wine nor do anything by which your brother stumbles or is offended or is made weak” and 1 Tim 3:3, “not given to wine”.
Jim makes a valid point. People like John the Baptist and others of his generation who took the Nazirite vow were apparently able to find drink that was not from the vine. However, I think research would indicate that the normal means of hydration in the first century was connected to wine. Jason could have nuanced his statement a bit on this point.
Good point. In fact, I wonder if Paul’s recommendation to Timothy to drink a little wine had anything to do with a decision on Timothy’s part to completely abstain from wine. I haven’t done any research to support this point, just speculation.
“Mark Driscoll, for instance, suggests that it is a sin not to drink.”
Do you have a link where I can read more about this? I found one place where Driscoll wrote about alcohol, but I can’t see where he claims non-drinkers are sinning. Maybe he says this somewhere else.
http://web.archive.org/web/20071217021319/http://www.marshillchurch.org/content/alcohol
Chris:
I think this is what Driscoll implies in Radical Reformission, chapter six which he titles “The Sin of Light Beer.” He says of the prohibitionist, for example, that it is a sin to try to be holier than Jesus (149). He also says that “only a demon would compel Bible teachers to forbid things that God made good . . .(150).” From where I sit, he implies that to NOT drink is sinful since God made it and it is good. Does he says Not to drink is a sin in so many words. No. But I think this is the implication of what he is writing.
Jeff
Jeff,
I believe that the Christian should approach the subject of alcohol with all the caution that Scripture gives the subject; however, it does appear to be a liberty issue as it is clearly included in Romans 14:21.
Regarding the percentage of alcohol in modern wine as opposed to ancient wine, I too have often heard this. I have heard that ancient wine was often diluted with water to make it acceptable for drinking and to purify water. I have also heard that undiluted wine is what the Bible calls “strong drink.”
Here’s my dilemma: the Bible clearly distinguishes between wine and strong drink in passages like Proverbs 20:1. However, it seems both have the potential to deceive us and control us. Plus, in passages like Acts 2:13, even sweet wine (gleukos) appears to be a substance that could intoxicate.
And what do passages like Psalm 104:15 really mean if the wine in question is simply grape juice or a diluted fermented wine? How does diluted wine “gladden the heart”?
These are the issues I wrestle with on this subject.
Jeff, I think you made a hugely important but often excused statement when you said, “no argument will suffice in the face of one who is determined to exercise their “liberty” to drink.” Any number of issues can and are being used in place of the word “drink.” When someone is determined to do something questionable, the excuse I hear most often is that “I have Christian liberty to do _____.” The statement of 1 Cor 10:31 is completely overlooked, as people just don’t care whether they are glorifying God or not in all the aspects of their conduct.
Secondly, 1 Cor 10:32-33 is equally applicable: Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God, just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved. (ESV) The possibility of giving offense or hindering someone’s salvation doesn’t bother those who want to wave the “liberty” flag.
Regarding the strength of wine in Bible times, Isaiah 1:22 is important. It indicates that wine mixed with water is a condition that would not be preferred (it’s a condition caused by judgment). From my studies on the topic it seems that wine in OT times was not diluted like it was in NT times.
In NT times, Robert Stein’s research (in the ETS Journal) indicates a ratio of 4 parts water to 1 part wine was likely the prevailing mixture. This would put the alcoholic content at around 3-4% from what I’ve heard, rather than today’s 11% that most wines would have. (Interestingly many of the most widely available beers in America have a 3.2 or 4% alcoholic content.)
In my estimation, since Scripture praises wine’s heart-gladdening effects, the difference in alcohol content becomes a non-issue. Both wine then and wine now could make one drunk, and both could make your heart glad prior to the point of becoming drunk. You might have been able to drink more wine then than you can now, but you would still enjoy it for the same reasons (produces “cheer”, etc.).
I’m interested in the follow up posts on the subject here, this is a difficult issue. The bar-culture is certainly a worldly one and we do need to be careful not to approve alcohol in a glib, care-free way. The series that Scott Aniol references in the post which Dr. Straub links to at the top of the post here, is a pretty good assessment of the Biblical passages pertinent to the discussion. It’s an even-handed, careful treatment of the topic that I recommend.
Blessings in Christ,
Bob Hayton
Jeff, will there be any discussion of “mingled” wine vs. unmingled wine and the fact that ancient texts still called mingled wine “mingled” (such as early eucharist texts and passover texts)?
Is not the point of mingling wine a significant issue in the ancient use of wine? (2 Macc 15:39 For as it is hurtful to drink wine or water alone; and as wine mingled with water is pleasant, and delighteth the taste: even so speech finely framed [i.e. mingled with brevity] delighteth the ears of them that read the story. And here shall be an end.)
Tim:
My intention was never to write a full statement on alcohol and the Christian. I really, really, really just wanted to debunk the notion that the Bible addresses “drinking in moderation,” a concept that I think is driven more by contemporary culture than the biblical world.
JS
thank you!!!!!
centralmn.wordpress.com’s done it once more. Great writing!
Mr. Straub, you say,
“Can a Christian drink? My answer is simple—why should they? What benefit does alcohol offer today??”
I know of one. I have endometriosis, which can be a VERY painful disease. I have found myself curled up in a fetal position in the bathtub at 3 a.m. in tears, literally praying for death. I have had to go to the ER because the pain was so bad. They prescribe Vicodin which barely touches the pain. What’s left after that? Morphine? Well who would give me that, and even if they did I wouldn’t want to take it.
An expert on endometriosis, ironically named Dr. Redwine, was asked what those with severe and painful endometriosis should do to curb the extreme pain. He said,
“It’s whatever works. It may be anything ranging from heat to cold to pain pills to wine, to massage, to wine, to physical therapy, to wine. There is no one thing; it’s just whatever you find that works” (http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=54511).
At first I thought he was joking about the wine, but then I tried it, and it was the *only* thing that relieved my pain completely. While total acceptance should not be given to today’s doctors (for instance, abortion is absolutely wrong as is euthanasia, both of which many of today’s doctors have no problem with) or all of western medicine, I think a Biblical and medical case for alcohol for the eradication of pain can legitimately be made.
I started thinking about how cowboys used shots of whiskey for the pain when they had to dig out bullets, or cauterize a wound. We’ve all seen this in Westerns. And yes, there’s definitely something to it. And really, what would my alternatives be? My doctors won’t even prescribe me Vicodin anymore for fear of lawsuits, and so what’s left?
In researching the alcohol topic, I came upon Paul’s advice to Timothy: “Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach’s sake and thine often infirmities ” (1 Timothy 5:23). Someone named “Jason” talks about this in an above comment too. Timothy was apparently a bit sickly, and probably was drinking the water to avoid wine. So Paul tells him to take the dilute water/wine mixture you were all talking about. Paul’s argument was basically that Timothy would serve no purpose as God’s servant if he were laid up all the time due to dysentery or other ailments. So I think my example, and the example of Timothy, should show that there were/are legitimate medicinal purposes for alcohol, then and now. I think the trick is to not use that as license, which goes to the liberty issue. And believe me, it’s not like I’m partying, but drinking wine to ease pain at least for me is the difference between being able to get out of bed and do the Lord’s work that day, or being laid up for at least 5 days. As a Christian too, I try to be as moderate as possible of course.
In terms of moderate social drinking for the Christian, seems to me this issue is just one of those things where every Christian must be convinced in their own minds what is correct based on their own biblical and theological research. I do not think the topic should be left unresolved for any believer, however, since “A double minded man [is] unstable in all his ways.” (James 1:8). Fretting over something and feeling guilty, especially if it’s unnecessary guilt, leads only to evildoing (Psalm 37:8). James 1:5 also states that, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all [men] liberally, and upbraideth not [without reproach]; and it shall be given him.”
You will note that 1.) I am not a physician and cannot address the legitimate medical uses of alcohol and 2.) My posts were really targeted at social drinking.
I’d like to respond to Brian, above who is struggling with the difference between wine and strong drink. They are definitely not the same thing. Let’s look at winemaking, which is essentially unchanged for thousands of years:
Grapes are harvested during the peak of ripeness, which lasts only about two weeks.
Once picked, the grapes will last for a few days as long as the skins aren’t broken.
The skins are covered with natural yeasts, primarily Saccharomyces cerevisiae. And as soon as the skins are broken, fermentation begins. Indeed, Pasteur demonstrated this right around 1869 with a microsocope. (In fact Pasteurization was entirely about Pasteur “fixing” grape juice so it would not ferment for churches who were concerned about consuming wine!)
If left in an open container, within 3-5 days primary fermentation will be complete and alcohol content by volume will be 4-5%; but wine is not drunk in this stage when the obvious bubbling of CO2 is still seen. In fact the Bible say we should avoid drinking it at this “mixed wine” stage (Proverbs 23).
If then enclosed in goatskins, secondary fermentation will take two more weeks at which point the wine will be complete and will yield 10-15% alcohol by volume, depending on temperature. In Palestine, during a normal year, it would be around 14% abv; which, contrary to some opinions, is exactly the same potency it has today. (Grapes and yeast have not evolved into more potent versions of their Biblical selves!)
The end result of this is that for two weeks of the year, fresh grapes could be eaten. Pure grape juice could only be consumed on the day it was created, because within six hours measurable amounts of alcohol will exist.
For fifty weeks of the year, fully fermented wine was all that was available, at three times the strength of a typical American pilsner beer. This was called “new wine.”
It would last for up to a year in the goatskin (or decades in a bottle once those came around). After about a year, the goatskins would begin to lose their efficacy, air would leak in, and oxidation would begin to turn the wine into vinegar. This wine-vinegar mixture was called “old wine” and was not as palatable.
Contrast this with alambic distillation, which was known as early as 3000BC and was definitely in use in Palestine, Greece, and Rome in Biblical times. A fermented mash of corn, potatoes, or rye would be filtered and distilled to create a drink with alcohol by volume of 40-80%. This, is what the Bible refers to as “strong drink” and is to be avoided.
While wine is (essentially) always fermented in the Bible, unless you believe that all good or neutral references to it were written during that two-week grape juice window, it is *not* what the Bible refers to as strong drink. In March and April, when Passover arrives, all that is available is fully fermented wine.
Dilution and filtering as discussed by some church documents did happen at later times, but to assume it was the normal course of events during Biblical times or that the wine was somehow weaker is merely an exercise in eisegesis.
There still remain good reasons to not consume, especially in excess. Let the plain meaning of the Bible be your guide; and especially avoid usage if you may cause a brother to stumble. This does not mean, by the way, to avoid alcohol if another Christian isn’t happy about it. It means, don’t do it if you have a Christian brother who has had some alcohol problems in the past and it could cause him to return to sinful consumption.
Regards…