Being drunk is condemned in many scriptures. Therefore, excessive use of alcohol is frowned upon by most Christians. Then the question remains: can you, as a believer, drink a beer or glass of wine every now and then?
These kinds of issues are often looked at through the lens of the culture in which you live. In our society moderate alcohol consumption is accepted by many. For healthy adults, 5-10 glasses of alcohol per week, spread over several days, with at least two alcohol-free days is referred to as 'healthy use of alcohol'.
It is also said that alcohol is a harmful product and there are no safe limits. Drinking alcohol is never without risk.
As Christians, we should not look at the society we live in when we search for the answer to a dilemma. Paul warns, “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” Romans 12:2.
Rather than looking at what might just be okay, we must have the discernment to determine what God's will is for us personally
“All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.
... What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.” 1 Corinthians 6:12, 19-20. Is drinking alcohol helpful? Even in small amounts, alcohol has an influence on our body and mind. That's why I decided (years ago) to stop drinking alcohol at all. There are several other arguments from the Bible on this subject that are not often mentioned. That is why I would like to share them here.
Priests
The precepts for priests are strict. Leviticus 10 describes and explains the laws for the priests.
“Do not drink wine nor strong drink, thou, nor thy sons with thee, when ye go into the tabernacle of the congregation, lest ye die: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations: And that ye may put difference between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean; And that ye may teach the children of Israel all the statutes which the LORD hath spoken unto them by the hand of Moses.” Leviticus 10:9-11.
The priests must have a clear mind in order to have a right understanding and to be able to judge well. A second reason is that they are role models and have a duty to teach others.
Nazarites
Nazarites are individuals who dedicate themselves to God. During their separation they are holy to the Lord (Numbers 6:8). They are also not allowed to drink alcohol.
“When either man or woman shall separate themselves to vow a vow of a Nazarite, to separate themselves unto the LORD: He shall separate himself from wine and strong drink, and shall drink no vinegar of wine, or vinegar of strong drink, neither shall he drink any liquor of grapes, nor eat moist grapes, or dried.” Numbers 6:2-3.
Well-known examples from the Bible are Samson and John the Baptist. You can read about it in Judges 13 and Luke 1:15.
Kings
According to the wise Solomon, the use of alcohol is not in line with the function of king or judge.
“It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink: Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.” Proverbs 31:4-5
The underlying reason is to ensure that he does not forget the rules and regulations and makes correct decisions.
A call for today
You may be wondering what this means to you nowadays. Does this apply to you if you are not a priest or a king? Read this passage from 1 Peter 2:9: “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.”
Peter says that whoever believes in Christ is a chosen generation. We are God's people, holy as the Nazarites, and as His children are accorded the dignity of a king and priest (Romans 8:17). If we belong to this group, is it appropriate for us to drink alcohol? We must live according to the will of God. “That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries. … But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.” 1 Peter 4:2-3,7
In the end time
Like many Christians, I am convinced that we are living in the end times. Jesus' return will not be long in coming. Several Bible texts warn to be vigilant and sober at this special time in history. We must be clear-headed to have the discernment needed to be prepared for His coming.
Jesus himself warns us in Matthew 24:36-51 and Luke 12:35-48 to be vigilant. Those who drink are not prepared for the Second Coming. The steward who is faithful, wise, and acts according to His will, is blessed in contrast to the one who actually knows what is right, yet goes to party and is under the influence of alcohol.
“And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.” Luke 21:34-36
Paul also talks about this. We must be prepared for Jesus' return and forsake evil things. In the Epistle to the Romans chapter 13 he writes that we should walk properly and treat our bodies in such a way that we do not arouse wrong inclinations. In the letter to the Thessalonians, he exhorts us to be vigilant in the end times.
“Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.”
1 Thessalonians 5:5-8
We started with the question ‘what is God's will for us?’ In the fourth chapter of 1 Thessalonians, Paul exhorts to live holy lives because this is God's will (1 Thessalonians 4:3-7). Holy, consecrated to God as a Nazarite, priest and king. Watchful, thoughtful and sober to be prepared for Jesus' return.
Source
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-022-28735-5
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