Most Christians Get This Wrong About Alcohol

Let me say something that might upset both sides.

The Bible does not say that drinking alcohol is a sin.

There. I said it.

For some Christians, that sentence feels dangerous—almost rebellious. For others, it feels like relief. But here’s the truth: most believers don’t actually struggle with what the Bible says about alcohol. They struggle with what tradition, culture, or personal experience says about it.

And those are not the same thing.

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Some grew up hearing that a single sip equals compromise. Others grew up watching alcohol destroy families and assume total abstinence is the only righteous stance. Still others swing the opposite direction—“Jesus turned water into wine, so it’s no big deal.”

But what does Scripture actually say?

When we slow down and read the Bible honestly—without adding to it and without subtracting from it—we discover something both freeing and sobering.

First, the Bible acknowledges wine as a normal part of life in biblical times. Psalm 104:14–15 (NKJV) says God gives “wine that makes glad the heart of man.” That’s not written as a warning. It’s written as a blessing within proper bounds.

Even Jesus Himself drank wine. In Matthew 11:19 (NKJV), He said, “The Son of Man came eating and drinking.” His critics even accused Him of being “a glutton and a winebibber.” They were wrong—but the accusation only makes sense if He participated in ordinary meals that included wine.

And yes, at the wedding in Cana, He turned water into wine (John 2:1–11). Not grape juice. Wine.

So where do Christians get it wrong?

Here’s where the balance comes in.

While the Bible does not condemn drinking, it absolutely condemns drunkenness.

Ephesians 5:18 (NKJV) says, “And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit.” Proverbs is filled with warnings about alcohol’s dangers when abused. Scripture never glamorizes losing control. Never excuses addiction. Never justifies harm.

So the real issue is not the existence of alcohol. It’s mastery.

Does it control you—or do you control yourself?

That’s the deeper spiritual question.

And here’s where it gets even more serious.

Christian living is not just about asking, “Is it allowed?” It’s about asking, “Is it wise? Is it loving? Does it glorify God?”

Paul says in 1 Corinthians 10:23 (NKJV), “All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful.” That changes the conversation, doesn’t it? Something can be permissible yet still unwise. It can be allowed yet unloving if it causes a brother to stumble (Romans 14).

If you have freedom—but your freedom damages someone else’s faith—love says limit your freedom.

That’s maturity.

This is where most Christians miss it. We turn alcohol into a scoreboard issue. We argue over whether it’s permitted or forbidden. Meanwhile, the Bible keeps steering us toward self-control, wisdom, and love.

Let’s be honest for a moment.

Some Christians hide behind “Christian liberty” to justify habits that are slowly dulling their spiritual sharpness. Others hide behind man-made rules and quietly judge everyone who doesn’t follow them. Both miss the heart of God.

The Father is not looking for technical compliance. He is shaping sons and daughters who reflect His character—self-controlled, discerning, loving, and spiritually awake.

Ask yourself:

If I drink, does it strengthen my witness—or weaken it?
Does it sharpen my mind—or make me careless?
Could it enslave me—or someone watching me?

And here’s the part we don’t talk about enough: in some cultures and families, alcohol carries wounds. Trauma. Generational pain. In those contexts, abstaining may not just be wise—it may be an act of compassion.

Christian freedom is real. But so is Christian responsibility.

The goal is not to see how close we can get to the line without crossing it. The goal is to honor God in body and spirit.

1 Corinthians 6:12 (NKJV) says, “All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.” That’s the line that should sober us.

Will it bring you under its power?

If the answer is yes—or even maybe—then it’s not worth it.

This conversation isn’t really about alcohol. It’s about lordship. It’s about who governs your appetites. It’s about whether you are led by the Spirit or driven by desire.

Some believers need to release unnecessary guilt. Others need to confront quiet compromise. Both need truth wrapped in grace.

So let’s stop fighting culture wars over wine glasses.

Let’s pursue holiness.

If you choose not to drink—do it unto the Lord.
If you choose to drink responsibly—do it unto the Lord.
But in everything, guard your heart. Protect your witness. Love your brother. Stay sober in spirit.

Because at the end of the day, the real question is not, “Can Christians drink?”

The real question is, “Does this draw me closer to God—or further from Him?”

Answer that honestly.

And you won’t get it wrong.