The Bible is VERY clear about this issue. There is NO guessing as to how much alcohol a Christian should drink. In Titus 2, God commands older men to "be sober." He commands older women to be "not given to MUCH wine." He commands young women to "be sober." He commands young men to be "sober minded." In verse 2, Paul writes, "Teaching that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world."
Paul writes in 1 Timothy 5:23, "No longer drink water exclusively, but use A LITTLE wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments." In Titus 1, Paul gives the qualifications for an elder, "not given to wine....sober" and in 1 Timothy 3:8, "sober...not given to wine." For a deacon, he writes, "not given to MUCH wine."
Therefore, it is clear to me that we, who call ourselves Christ followers, are supposed to be sober; drinking A LITTLE or NOT MUCH wine. Elders in the church are not to even drink wine! The dictionary defines sober as "habitually temperate, especially in the use of liquor." Temperate means "moderate as regards indulgence of appetite or passion, especially in the use of alcoholic liquors."
This looks pretty clear to me, women! We are to only drink a little or not much wine and always be sober, which means to not be tipsy at all. For this reason, I can only drink a few sips and I don't care to drink any. It just doesn't hold any appeal to me anymore. When I was younger, I would drink a glass of wine occasionally, but I never felt good the next day.
Also, alcohol is a drug and all drugs have side effects, especially today's wine that is made from grapes which are some of the most heavily sprayed crops on the planet. Yes, there's organic wine but it's still a drug that is unnecessary to consume, if you choose not to.
However, if you know Christians who enjoy an occasional glass of wine, remember this is their liberty in Christ. Yes, it should only be a little and not much but this isn't our job to monitor how much that is for each person. Each person knows how much they can drink without feeling the effects of it and still remaining sober.
Logging you in...
Dave · 502 weeks ago
Lori Alexander 122p · 502 weeks ago
Katie · 502 weeks ago
Personally, I do not feel it's a sin for a Christian to have an occasional drink, as long as they aren't going against any conviction they have or causing another to stumble. That is my other reason - I am very involved in our church's music ministry with playing piano and organ, and I also teach Sundy school to preschoolers. I feel wrong having even one drink in front of any kids or adults with weaker faith... And as my father explained to us when we were still at home, you can think having one drink is harness, and usually it is. But after one drink, you are not thinking with the same mind as before, you are now thinking with a mind that has had a drink. It does make a difference! Thank you for sharing God's truth on this subject.
Katie · 502 weeks ago
Part of the classes I took involved going to treatment centers to observe group therapy, and some of the stories I heard about families and marriages being torn apart were absolutely heart-wrenching. The stories of financial ruin, all kinds of abuse you can imagine and then some, and the devastating toll it takes physically were horrific. I remember sitting there trying to hide the look of shock and tears. Most of the alcoholics started off innocently enough, not drinking much, but then enjoying the relaxation it brought they then continued to drink to deal with stress and so would increase their tolerance level. Each time they became impaired or drunk, they got closer to their personal trigger level (we all have a personal trigger level) until it became an addiction.
I firmly believe that overall, alcohol causes more harm than good. It is not a safe escape from our problems, but God is :)
lauraashley · 502 weeks ago
As an adult I don't follow that belief. The Bible is quite clear you may drink alcohol in moderation.
Becky · 502 weeks ago
If you are unclear about your postion-his sermon is wonderful.
Angela · 502 weeks ago
The next day I read 1 Peter 2:9: "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light." and I thought to myself, am I behaving like a chosen person, part of a holy nation and God's special possession? or am I behaving like the rest of the world does? And I know that when I have a few drinks I cannot declare the praises of Him who called me out of darkness into His wonderful light, because I am still behaving like I am in the darkness!
I read further into 1 Peter and read "For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do—living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry." (1 Peter 4:3) and "be alert and of sober mind" (1 Peter 4:7, 5:8)
I think that drinking alcohol is a personal conviction, but for me I am strongly convicted that I need to be alert and sober, so that I can live for God's glory amongst unbelievers and believers alike, and to declare His praises because He is good! :) and ultimately much better than a tasty glass of sauvignon blanc ;) haha
cherylandmisten 0p · 501 weeks ago
Scripture never says that drinking wine is a sin. It's fine to choose not to drink, just as it is fine to choose not to marry. But neither abstaining from marriage nor abstaining from wine is more "holy" than accepting God's gift, nor more likely to impress the unbeliever.
Judee Pearson Grodesky · 501 weeks ago
Judee Pearson Grodesky · 501 weeks ago