Author Archives: Andrew Schank

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Is it ever appropriate to drink fermented beverages like wine, beer, hard liquor, etc.? Is there Biblical foundation for the social drinker? Did God ever condone this? These are all valid questions that people have. Like many pastors, I have been guilty of just preaching against something without much consideration of thoughtful explanation. This post seeks to provide just that… a document that will help one come to a Biblical position. I will let this post speak for itself.

Although many good men in the last many years, who were at one time opposed to drinking alcohol, have now come out in support of it. (In moderation and such.) I should be careful to remind you that man may change his position, for various reasons, but God does not change. It is very important that whatever position we take on a particular issue, that we build it upon a Biblical foundation! Listed below are 50 Bible references to the subject of alcohol in the Bible. There are various Bible terms for the fermented beverage, as well as for those who enjoy its taste. Many more verses and thoughts could be provided, but the 50 below should help us gain a Biblical perspective on the issue.

1. First Impression… Wickedness Is Associated! Genesis 9:20-26 First Biblical case of drunkenness and the accompanying behavior.
2. Used As A Wicked Tool! Genesis 19:30-38 Lot is drunk and commits incest with his own daughters. He probably would not have done this had he been sober. However, if it were not for the New Testament reference of 2 Peter 2:7, then we would not consider Lot to be saved; but he was. This should serve to warn all believers.
3. Hinders Good Decision Making! Genesis 27:25 Isaac was drinking wine when he blessed Jacob, thus causing a huge mess. God brought some good in spite of it.
4. Commanded Not To Drink! Leviticus 10:9 Plain command. No way to escape this here.
5. Abstaining Brings Leadership Opportunity! Numbers 6:3 Relates part of the vow of a Biblical Nazarite.
6. Leads To Other Sins! Deuteronomy 21:20 Drinking leads to many other sins; including dishonoring your parents.
7. Sure Way To Have A Closer Walk With God! Deuteronomy 29:2-6 Complete abstinence from drinking is the best pathway to a closer walk with the Lord.  
8. Abstinence Helps When Pregnant! Judges 13:4, Judges 13:7, Judges 13:14 The Bible records the truth about the need of abstinence from drinking while pregnant. This was also a case of the child being a Nazarite. 
9. Hannah’s Example Of Abstinence! 1 Samuel 1:14-15 An example of a God honoring mother, Hanna abstained from drinking. 
10. Drinking Can Lead To A Premature Death! 1 Samuel 25:33, 1 Samuel 25:36-38 Nabal died after a drunken spree. Drinking, no doubt, played a role in his death like so many today.
11. Only Way For King David To Manipulate Uriah! 2 Samuel 11:13 How strong drink can loosen up peoples morals!
12. Murder Was The Result Of A Drunken Brawl! 2 Samuel 13:28-29 The result of Absalom’s plot.
13. Getting Drunk Can Bring Tragedy! 1 Kings 16:8-10 A king is susceptible to being killed because he is drunk.   
14. Wrecks Homes And Divides Families! Esther 1:5-22 King Ahasuerus tries to subject his wife to a terrible thing while he and his friends are drunk. 
15. People Are Often Caught Unawares To Their Immediate Circumstances! Job 1:18-19 Job’s children caught in a deadly cyclone. 
16. Violence Often Associated! Proverbs 4:17 
17. Foolish Men Indulge! Proverbs 20:1
18. Leads To Poverty! Proverbs 21:17, Proverbs 23:21
19. The Human Body Rebels From Drinking! Proverbs 23:7-8
20. Brings Enormous Hurt And Self-Inflicted Wounds! Proverbs 23:29-30
21. Warned Against Intoxicants! Proverbs 23:31
22. Brings Harm For Sure! Proverbs 23:32  
23. Creates The Opportunity For Willful Sin To Take Place! Proverbs 23:33
24. Fills Minds With Impure Thoughts! Proverbs 23:33
25. Is A Companion Of Insecurity! Proverbs 23:34
26. Leaves One Irrational In Their Thinking And Actions! Proverbs 23:35
27. One Drink Leads To Another! Proverbs 23:35 Habit forming to say the least! The drunk never set out to be a sot when he first sipped the poison!
28. Hinders The Leadership Of Those In Authority! Proverbs 31:4-5
29. Only Used As A Medicine And for Those At Point Of Death! Proverbs 31:6-7 Better anesthetics are used now to minimize the harmful effects of drinking.
30. Blessing Are Promised To Individuals And Groups Of People Who Abstain! Ecclesiastes 10:17
31. Woe To The Drinkers! Isaiah 5:11-12, Isaiah 5:22
32. Drinking And Carnality Are Bedfellows! Isaiah 22:13
33. Drink Is Bitter To The Drinker! Isaiah 24:9
34. Errors Are Made By Spiritual Leaders When Drunk! Isaiah 28:7
35. Drinking Brings Spiritual Blindness! Isaiah 28:7
36. Priests Are Not To Drink! Ezekiel 44:21
37. Leaders Who Drink Enable Others To Drink! Daniel 5:1 Belshazzar is a great example of this!
38. Women Are Often Degraded By Drinking… Will Participants Or Not! Hosea 3:1
39. Drunken People Are Usually Awakened Out Of A Sleep! Joel 1:5 Needs no further explanation.
40. Can Bring Pollution To Innocent Parties! Amos 2:12 People are misled by those who lead from error.
41. Drinking Inflates Arrogance! Habakkuk 2:5
42. Absolutely Wrong To Enable Someone To Drink! Habakkuk 2:15
43. Drinking Leads To Shame And Humiliation! Habakkuk 2:16
44. John The Baptist Is Highlighted By His Abstinence! Luke 1:15
45. Christ Warns Those Who Drink! Luke 12:45
46. All Are Admonished To Walk In A Way Not Characterized By Drunkenness! Romans 13:13  
47. Drinking Can Cause Others To Lose Their Way! Romans 14:21 
48. No Drunkard Shall Inherit God’s Kingdom! I Corinthians 6:10 Note: Because of this, one must warn people about this when they are preaching about salvation, etc.
49. Brings About Disorder! 1 Corinthians 11:21 Corrupted the Corinthian church.
50. Should Not Be Under The Influence Of Strong Drink! Ephesians 5:18 We should however, be filled with the Holy Spirit. UNDER THE RIGHT INFLUENCE!

Conclusion

More can be stated on this subject. What has been posted should serve to convince anyone who has an open heart for God that drinking alcohol is not right for anyone… especially the child of God!

Source: 
In research for this post, I used, in part, an article from: The Baptist Challenge page7 of July 1994 “70 Bible References On Drinking”.

The Pursuit of God

By A.W. Tozer / Wingspread Publishers

In the muddle of day-to-day life, have you somehow forgotten that Christianity is a living, vibrant relationship with a personal God? In this classic bestseller and recipient of both the ECPA Gold and Platinum Book Awards, The Pursuit of Godreminds and challenges you to renew your relationship with your loving God. In each of the 10 chapters, Tozer explains one aspect of hungering for God and ends with a prayer.