The use of alcohol is an area in which we see a lack of moderation and self-control in our current society. Some totally abstain because they think it is sinful to consume it. Others habitually become intoxicated.

Even for Christians, alcohol can be a tricky, touchy subject.

Some may see it as an utter evil and are ashamed to get caught walking out of a grocery store with a six-pack of beer, even though God says it is fine that we drink alcohol.

When introducing the Passover symbols in Matthew 26:27, Jesus commanded His disciples to “drink you all” from the cup. Verse 29 makes clear there was wine involved.

At the Feast of Tabernacles each year, Christians are allowed to purchase whatever we desire within the bounds of God’s Law (Deut. 14:26). The examples in the chapter include both “wine” and “strong drink.”

Yet our alcohol choices must be governed by this command in Philippians 4: “Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand” (vs. 5). Failing to follow this bedrock principle can lead to the human tendency of overdrinking, resulting in drunkenness and embarrassment on yourself, the Church and the God you represent.

It is important to internalize the biblical standards for alcohol consumption. This will not only ensure you stay out of trouble, it will allow you to access the benefits—physical, mental and emotional—that moderate alcohol consumption can provide.

Warnings

One might ask, since alcohol is acceptable for a Christian and since alcohol can cause intoxication, is intoxication acceptable? The answer to that question is an emphatic NO!

The Bible is full of plain verses condemning drunkenness. Galatians 5:19-21 includes it with many other sins: “Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revelings, and such like…”

Drunkenness can be as devastating to your spiritual life as heresies, idolatry and illicit sex! Eternal life is at risk when a person repeatedly becomes intoxicated.

Note the rest of the passage: “…of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the Kingdom of God.”

Ephesians 5:18 commands: “Be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit.” The implication is that drunkenness inhibits the Holy Spirit.

Jesus Christ warned in Luke 21:34: “Take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life.”

Here, surfeiting means “a headache from drunkenness.” This describes a hangover. Symptoms can include the more commonly known effects like headaches and muscle aches, fatigue and weakness, excessive thirst and dry mouth, nausea and vomiting or stomach pain, increased sensitivity to light and sound, dizziness or a sense of the room spinning, and shakiness.

Other less obvious but common symptoms are poor or decreased sleep, decreased ability to concentrate, mood disturbances such as depression and anxiety and even irritability, and a rapid heartbeat.

Obviously, this misery alone makes a single night of overindulging not worth it! But it is only the beginning of sorrows for those who do not use alcohol wisely.

A passage in Proverbs 23:29-35 describes a person who has not shown self-control. It states that “they that tarry long at the wine” have woe, sorrow, contentions, babbling, “wounds without cause” and many other life difficulties. This is because losing control of inhibitions usually leads to other sins, especially those listed in Galatians—fornication, emulations, wrath, strife. The sorrows that result can come in the form of lost jobs, failed marriages, broken families and even lost lives.

One single occasion of intoxication can be associated with acute poisoning, even to the point of death. Chronic recurrent abuse has several known poor health associations. According to the U.S. National Institutes of Health, this abuse has negative effects on the heart, liver, pancreas and immune system. Many types of cancer have increased risk with chronic abuse of alcohol.

Of course, such issues are not as prevalent in the Church, but we can be influenced by societal trends. If your drinking is keeping you from fellowship or causing you to shirk your responsibilities, seek God and reevaluate your relationship with alcohol.

The Opposite Ditch

The opposite ditch Christians can fall into is seeing alcohol as sin or as a guilty pleasure. The greatest danger with this mindset is you reap spiritual consequences.

God does not want us to be rigid, holier-than-thou people who pride themselves in “touch not; taste not; handle not…which things have indeed a show of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body: not in any honor to the satisfying of the flesh” (Col. 2:21-23).

Abstaining from all alcohol consumption for the purpose of appearing “above others” is not what God intended. Self-righteousness is a sin and can cause even more harm than drinking too much accidentally, due to its eternal spiritual impact.

Consider that it is not what is in the bottle that is the problem. Rather it is the person holding the bottle or the person drinking what is in the bottle who can cause the problem.

This is not to say it is wrong to abstain from recreational drinking. If you have had a problem in the past or have health issues triggered by alcohol, naturally you may choose to avoid it.

Whether you choose to drink or abstain, remember your focus as a Christian is on spiritual matters. “Be filled with the Spirit” is the instruction in Ephesians 5:18. Our goal of salvation depends on it.

Balanced Approach

In addition to all the warnings the Bible contains about overdrinking, God’s Word is filled with examples of how alcohol was made for man’s benefit.

In Psalm 104, which contains a list of God’s works in His Creation, it states He made “wine that makes glad the heart of man” (vs. 15).

John 2:1-12 shows Jesus Christ’s miracle of turning water into wine at a wedding celebration. Wine used here means exactly that—wine that contains alcohol. The Son of God Himself made it for the occasion of a wedding, presumably for merrymaking.

Verse 10 shows the reaction of the wedding’s attendants, who said to Christ: “Every man at the beginning does set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but You have kept the good wine until now.”

The phrase “men have well drunk” means to drink to intoxication. This of course does not condone intoxication—people were not intoxicated when the miracle was performed. However, the miracle itself shows wine was to be consumed at this occasion.

There are three factors with alcohol consumption that Christians must know in order to use it safely and wisely.

First is volume of drink.

The amount of alcohol you can consume before your body begins to show signs of intoxication depends on your body type and gender. According to widely used guidelines by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, moderate drinking is considered no more than two drinks a day for men and no more than one for women.

Your body processes about one drink per hour. Drink slowly and be conscious of your emotional state. Recognize the signs of inebriation and stop yourself if you must. Be sure to eat some food to help mitigate the speed at which your body absorbs the alcohol.

The second factor is location. As in the miracle, a moderate portion of alcohol is appropriate for festive occasions and with meals. But you should not frequent bars seeking to drink heavily. Likewise, regularly drinking alone to avoid accountability is a sign of deeper issues.

The third and perhaps most important is your purpose for drinking.

Ecclesiastes 10:19 makes clear one reason alcohol may be chosen to be consumed: “A feast is made for laughter, and wine makes merry.” Alcohol consumption can increase our enjoyment of fellowship and fun when used appropriately.

This is the reason God allows alcohol consumption at His Feast of Tabernacles. Read Deuteronomy 14:26 in its entirety: “You shall bestow that money [second tithe] for whatsoever your soul lusts after, for oxen, or for sheep, or for wine, or for strong drink, or for whatsoever your soul desires: and you shall eat there before the Lord your God, and you shall rejoice, you, and your household.”

Strong drink is a reference to liquor, which contains a higher concentration of alcohol. It is easy to see from this passage alone that it is appropriate to consume alcohol at God’s festivals.

Another use for alcohol is for medicinal purposes. This was clear in ancient times. The apostle Paul recommended Timothy, another minister, to “drink no longer water, but use a little wine for your stomach’s sake and your often infirmities” (I Tim. 5:23).

Whenever you drink, do not use alcohol as an escape or as a way to boost your confidence. Feelings of inadequacy or difficulties are to be combated through prayer and God’s help. Alcohol may mask the effects of the problems for a few hours, but it will weaken your ability to actually overcome the underlying issues.

What It Reveals About You

When used wisely, alcohol can enrich our lives. It is also a tool that can help you develop self-control.

As with other gifts from God—food, money, time, sex within marriage, and other blessings—alcohol requires wisdom and restraint. The ability to enjoy it without abusing it is a mark of maturity. It requires a sound mind (II Tim. 1:7) to discern how much is too much and when it is appropriate.

Temperance, or self-control, is one of the nine fruits of the Spirit listed in Galatians 5:22-23. Exercising restraint in an area as tangible as drinking builds the same spiritual muscle used to resist anger, lust, laziness or pride.

Choosing to stop after one or two drinks because you know that is the best choice for you builds character. Being moderate with your alcohol consumption or removing yourself from the situation when those around you are overindulging shows you care more about what God says than the “pleasures of sin for a season” (Heb. 11:25).

Examine your relationship with alcohol. Do you tend to use it responsibly? Or do you occasionally compromise and drink more than you should? The answers provide a window into your character. If you are honest with yourself, these observations can fuel growth and change in your life. If you find you need to develop more self-discipline with alcohol, you may identify other areas to work on as well.

Remember, our focus as a Christian is primarily spiritual matters. Being filled with the Holy Spirit instead of alcohol is the instruction in Ephesians 5:18.

So enjoy what God has given you. Just make sure your alcohol use reflects balance, self-control and good judgment.