Over the fifty-three years of my life, I’ve seen alcohol addiction destroy lives and families. Frankly, it’s been destroying lives for most of recorded history.
Indeed, as soon as Noah and his family get off the boat, drunkenness comes roaring into the story–and not in a good way. It leads to one of the most disturbing (and variously interpreted) passages in the Bible (see Genesis 9:20-27).
Clearly, when alcohol enters the picture (especially in excess), things get messy. Often, very messy.
Here are six (6) Bible verses that specifically warn us away from addiction to alcohol:
- “Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.” (Proverbs 20:1)
- “Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright. At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder.” (Proverbs 23:31-32)
- “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit.” (Ephesians 5:18)
- “For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags.” (Proverbs 23:21)
- “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)
- “Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink; that continue until night, till wine inflame them!” (Isaiah 5:11)
While beer and mead were around in ancient times, fermented wine was the most popular alcoholic beverage common to Israelite culture. This is why the ancient biblical writers focused on it, though Proverbs alludes to other alcoholic beverages when it uses the broader term “strong drink.”
There is no question — and should be no debate — that the Bible condemns drunkenness and explicitly warns against any reliance upon alcohol to help get through life. It’s that kind of reliance (and habit) that can (and often does) lead to addiction.
Yet there are a sizeable number of Christians who believe drinking alcohol in moderation is perfectly acceptable. Let me address that on a personal note…
Personally, though I have tasted alcohol on three occasions in my life, it has been my practice to abstain. I’ve never seen anything positive come from alcohol — with the exception of many people using it for disinfectant or medicinal purposes over the years (especially prior to modern medicines).
Many Christians (and certainly many non-Christians) feel such abstinence is unnecessary. Indeed, more than a few over the years have found my outspoken abstinence offensive. On the few occasions I’ve addressed this on social media, the response has been…shall we say…passionate.
I want to strike a reasonable tone with this post. What you do is ultimately between you and God (and your family and your doctor). But please consider the following…
First, I know of no one who began drinking alcohol with the ambition of becoming an addict. And yet, alcohol addiction is a serious problem in our society today. As is alcohol abuse and/or excess in general. The best way to avoid going down that road is to not get on the road to begin with.
I’ve yet to hear anyone dispute that.
There are good reasons to abstain from alcohol altogether. You not only have the biblical warnings against drunkenness and alcohol addiction above, but you also have these exhortations from health experts:
- “Abstinence from alcohol is the only certain way to avoid the harms that come with drinking.” (“Alcohol Facts and Statistics.” NIAAA, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2021)
- “There are many good reasons to avoid alcohol. For one, it’s a toxin that can damage the body’s organs and tissues over time. It also impairs judgment and can lead to accidents, injuries, and other health problems.” (Harvard Health Publishing. “The Truth about Alcohol and Your Health.” Harvard Health Blog, 24 August 2018)
- “Giving up alcohol can have a positive impact on many aspects of health, including mental health, weight management, and cardiovascular health.” (“Questions and Answers on Alcohol Consumption.” WHO, 15 June 2020)
Ultimately, what you decide is between you, your family, your doctor, and God. And don’t forget to include those parties in your decision— especially the last One.
But I’ve never regretted my choice to abstain. And that is my honest advice to you.
God bless you!
