Should a Christian drink?

What Does The Bible Say About Drinking?


Genesis 9:20-27 The first "man of distiniction" and the tragic consequences of his alcohol abuse.

Genesis 19:30-38 Drinking contributes to Lot's debauchery of his own daughters.

Leviticus 10:8-11 God commanded Aaron and his sons not to drink wine nor strong drink while serving God.

Numbers 6:3 The Nazarite's vow excluded drinking wine or other strong drink.

Deuteronomy 21:20 Drinking alcohol was one of the attributes of a stubborn, rebellious and disobedient son.

Judges 13:4, 7, 14 Samson's mother was commanded by the angel of the Lord not to drink wine or other strong drink.

1 Samuel 25:36-38 Nabal, an evil, drinking man was smitten ny the Lord.

2 Samuel 11:13 David, by the use of strong drink, leads Uriah into a fatal trap.

2 Samuel 13:28-29 Amnon, is murdered by his brothers servants while on a drinking spree.

1 Kings 16:8-10 Elah, King of Israel was murdered by one of his captains "While drinking himself drunk".

1 Kings 20:13-21 Ben-hadad, the King of Syria and 32 other kings were drinking themselves drunk when a small band of Israelites fell upon the Syrians and put them to fight. Esther 1:5-22 King Ahasuerus, after a week of feasting and drinking, drunkenly tries to subject Vashti, his queen, to the beastly gaze of the drunken princes and people.

Proverbs 20:1 No wise person will allow himself to be deceived by wine which is a mocker, or by strong drink which is raging.

Proverbs 21:17 Drinking Leads to Poverty.

Proverbs 23:21 Admonishes to refrain from even looking upon wine.

Proverbs 23:29-30 Strong drink produces sorrow, woe, contentions, babbling, wounds without cause and redness of eyes.

Proverbs 23:32 At the last alcohol bites like a serpent and stings like an adder.

Proverbs 23:33 Alcohol fills mens minds with impure and perverse thoughts.

Proverbs 23:24 Alcohol brings on danger, accidents and insecurity.

Proverbs 23:35 Insensibility follows drinking, rendering man into a clod; and it is habit forming so that the drinker upon awakening seeks it "Yet again".

Proverbs 31:4-5 Officials with the responsibility of human life on their hands should not imbibe.

Ecclesiastes 2:3 The writer of Ecclesiastes tried strong drink but in the end admitted that this too was vanity.

Ecclesiastes 10:17 That nation is blessed whose leaders eat for strength and refrain from drunkeness.

Isaiah 5:11-12 Woe in pronounced of those who give themselves to strong drink.

Isaiah 5:22 Further woe is pronounced upon drunkards.

Isaiah 22:13 Drinking often goes with carnal living.

Isaiah 28:1 A woe is pronounced upon the drunkards of Ephraim.

Isaiah 28:3 The drunkards of Ephraim are to be trodden down and destroyed.

Isaiah 28:7 Prophets and priests become incapable of spiritual leadership because of their drinking.

Isaiah 56:12 Drinking accompanies foolish optimism and the sinner's vain hope that his sins will not find him out.

Jeremiah 35:5-8,14,19 Reohabites who steadfastly held to total abstinence assured of God's continued blessings.

Daniel 1:5, 8, 16; 10:3 Daniel, who refused to drink the king's wine was especially blessed by the Lord.

Daniel 5:1-2 This is a tragic example of a king who drank and led his people to also.

Daniel 5:3 Drinking leads to profaning sacred things.

Daniel 3:25-28 Moral degradation, of which drinking is a symptom, is ultimately punished by God.

Hosea 4:10-11 Strong drink and immorality go hand in hand. Hosea 7:5 The king, by his drinking was not only made sick, but became scornful as well.

Joel 3:3 Young women were sold for the price of a drink.

Amos 4:1 Dissolute women, oppressors of the poor, call for their drink.

Amos 6:3-6 The evil, idle rich who are given uimbibing wine were not concerned about the affliction of the poor.

Habakkuk 2:5 Arrogance is inflamed by drink.

Habakkuk 2:15 It is wrong to lead another to drink.

Habakkuk 2:16 Drink leads to shame and humiliation.

Matthew 24:48-51 Drinking is not consistent with alertness.

Luke 1:15 The greatness of John the Baptist is linked with his total abstinence.

Luke 12:45 Christ warns against drunkenness.

Luke 21:34 Drinking prevents men from being prepared for the judgement day. Romans 13:13 All are admonished to walk honestly, not in rioting and drunkeness.

Romans 14:21 Christians are admonished not to drink lest a brother be caused to stumble. 1 Corinthians 5:11 Christians are forbidden to keep company with drunkards.

1 Corinthians 6:10 No drunkard shall inherit the Kingdom of God.

1 Corinthians 11:21 The Lord's Supper is no time for drunkeness.

Galatians 5:21 Drunkeness prevents men from inheriting the Kingdom of God.

Ephesians 5:18 Christians are commanded not to be drunk with wine but to be filled with the spirit.

1 Timothy 3:3, 8 Church leaders must be "not given to wine."

 

When reading Prov. 31, one should start with verse 1.

Proverbs 31:1 The words of King Lemuel, the utterance which his mother taught him:

 

And when or how can a Christian know when they have a propensity for alcoholism? My only sibling has tortured himself and our family with his drunkeness since he was a teen. One drink, after 4 sober years, has him living in the woods and eating out of dumpsters again.

Gotta run pick up some allergy meds but would like to discuss the 'witness' of a Christian spotted having a drink after work by someone they've been witnessing to.

 

Pastor Bob, a slip of the fingers... I had quoted:
Proverbs 23:21 Admonishes to refrain from even looking upon wine.

 

Diane's question wasn't "is drinking a sin," it was, "should a Christian drink."

There is a subtle difference.

Before you drink, do you stop and ask yourself who is watching?
Who is immitating?

Especially if you are a leader in a church?

Does the 10 year old looking up to you, that sees you with a beer in your hand know that you only have one beer once a year?