Whether or not Christians should drink alcohol has been debated for hundreds of years so I am just going to give my opinion as I see from reading the Bible. Jesus was not against drinking wine since his first act was to change water into wine. Wine was also used to symbolize Christ's blood during the Passover supper. However, we do have some guidelines in how we are to drink it.
Paul writes that we can drink A LITTLE for our stomach's sake. Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake and thine often infirmities {1 Timothy 5:23}. Older women are told to NOT DRINK MUCH wine. The aged women likewise, that [they be] in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things {Titus 2:3}.
In describing elders in the church, the Bible states NOT given to wine {I Timothy 3:3} while deacons are not given to much wine {1 Timothy 3:8}. Older men are commanded to be sober {Titus 2:2} In 1 Timothy 3:11, Paul commands wives to be sober.
We are also warned wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise {Proverbs 20:1} and in Romans 14:21, It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.
Therefore, from these verses, I believe most can drink A LITTLE and NOT MUCH wine. We are commanded to be sober at all times many times throughout the Scripture so each person needs to know how much they can drink to remain sober and to never be drunk. A little and not much is very clear about how much wine Christians should drink; just a little and not much. These words should be your guidelines if you do drink wine.
The Bible is clear that hard liquor is not good unless one is dying. Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts {Proverbs 31:6}. It can probably be compared to giving someone morphine to dull the pain. In giving wine to those who have heavy hearts, I would still say that the amount should be just a little and not much.
If you are eating with an alcoholic or someone who has struggled with alcohol in the past or been negatively affected by alcohol in some way {alcoholic parents, major car accident, abused, etc.}, you should not be drinking any so as to not cause a brother or sister to stumble or be offended. Whatever we do, whether we eat or drink, should be glorifying to the Lord!
Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise. Proverbs 20:1
Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise. Proverbs 20:1
