Only if I got mad about it! Because of course the State has every right to give me a ticket, just no right to tell me its a sin. A: It is good to hear that you have entered the Church. If you want to read all the verses you can find them here: List Of Bible Verses About Alcohol. Some Christians think it is perfectly fine to drink alcohol, while others believe it is sinful to partake. It was commonly served during sacrifices and feasts. Or if youre an alcoholic, going to the bar and getting a drink and saying Ill just have one is a very dangerous thing and could be a near occasion for sin, or be a sin, especially if you play it out. Is drinking alcohol a sin? - CompellingTruth.org To use the argument that the State says it is illegal and thus a sin may be easier and more effective, but it does in fact stunt a students moral growth. He not only approved of drinking wine but he, himself, drank wine on several occasions. For instance Ecclesiastes 9:7. The Catholic Church does not prohibit the consumption of alcohol. When youre drunk, you wont have full control of your faculties. To make things very concrete, drunkenness has set in when you cannot (or should not) drive a car. It would be better for him if a millstone were hung round his neck and he were cast into the sea, than that he should cause one of these little ones to sin. Now there is some truth in that. It specifically says that wine is a gift from God that makes our human hearts happy. That it is always a sin to break a law of the State is believed by the majority of Catholics because, as the late Cardinal George once said, American Catholics are Puritans who go to Mass on Sunday. In the moral realm Americans tend to adopt toward State law a puritanical thinking sometimes mixed with small amounts Jansenism. Believers who feel it is safer not to drink any alcohol have the freedom to abstain. A person who is at home and plans to stay at home might be able to have a second or third beer without any problem (read: without sin). We may lose influence because of the choices we make. Instead, let it bring you together with your fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. But drink because you do not need it, for this is irrational drinking, and the ancient health of the world.. Of course, the Bible strongly warns against the overconsumption of beer. Is drinking alcohol a sin? - The Irish Catholic document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Your email address will not be published. The login page will open in a new tab. Problems arise when alcohol is abused through drunkenness. No. Some verses warn about the dangers of alcohol while others talk about it as a blessing. On its face, perhaps there is an air of plausibility here. Are we even allowed to drink? It is one of Gods good gifts that can beand often isabused (Psa. Many years ago it was not uncommon for a Diocese to ask their newly ordained priests not to drink for the first five years or so of their priesthood. Is Drinking Alcohol a Sin? | Bible Questions - JW.ORG If you are harming your health - It's our responsibility to take care of our health, which is a gift from God ( CCC 2288 ). Enjoy wine, beer, or any other alcoholic beverage if you so choose, but only as is honoring to Christ and your fellow human beings. However, thats not what the Bible is saying. Would I do so if a police car was parked on the side of the road? In fact, we can see how relevant wine is even in the bible as in John 2:1-12 this is where Jesus performs his first miracle involving turning water into wine at the wedding at Cana. He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth . We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Something else to consider is the health effect of smoking. Fasting means taking a break from it for a time to grow closer to God. On the other hand, everyone reading this most likely knows someone who has been hurt in some way because of alcohol. an unjust law. What Does The Bible Say About Drinking Alcohol? That same person might do well to skip the second or third beer if he has to drive a car afterward. Yet despite all the content, I have seen very little clarity on this question, is drinking a sin? Even Scripture praises God for having made wine to gladden their hearts (Psalm 104:15) that is, the hearts of men. In some cases there are benefits to drinking. So, why do so many Christians push for the abstinence of drinking when its not in the Bible? The Bible keeps this issue in the grey, up for each Christian to decide whats the wisest and most loving thing for them to do. Jeffery Curtis Poor | March 1, 2022March 22, 2021 | Featured, What Does the Bible Say About What does the Bible say about drinking? Current scientific evidence points to the fact that there is no safe amount of tobacco. The alcohol in the Bible did not have a lower alcohol content. Lets jump in, what does the Bible say about drinking? Outright disobedience to the civil law must be treated with the utmost seriousness. This is because excessive drinking robs us of our reason and leads us to act in destructive ways that simply are not in harmony with our own human dignity and the dignity of those around us. He makes grass grow for the cattle, and plants for people to cultivatebringing forth food from the earth: wine that gladdens human hearts, oil to make their faces shine, and bread that sustains their hearts. , The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say, Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners. , For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to doliving in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing, and detestable idolatry.. Also, wine isnt the only alcoholic drink mentioned in the Bible. Its become a societal norm to celebrate things over food and drinks. Names Of The Twelve Disciples {Explained!}. Feeling the effects of alcohol is not the same as outright drunkenness. It's forbidden. But in the first century there were certain benefits to light drinking. Have you ever found yourself giving gifts to others while neglecting to give gifts to yourself? Cheers! Jesus drank wine and was falsely accused of being a drunkard (Matthew 11:19). He also drunk and was even accused by the Pharisees as a drunkard: The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say, Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners. Luke 7:34. For example, in the Proverbs verse above, its talking about drinking too much wine because the next few verses describe things that typically happen during drunkenness like, Your eyes will see strange things and your heart utter perverse things. Rather we should see them as they are intended and not elevate them to an unhealthy level. as the disposition of the mind which binds the passions. We should also consider how it effects those around us. Why would a State that allows 19 year old people go to war, have abortions, smoke marijuana, have a sex change operation, marry and divorce, not allow 19 year old people to have a drink at a bar? I said Id take a glass of Sangria, they said, We dont make it by the glass, only by the pitcher. So they brought a pitcher of sangria, and it didnt taste like alcohol to me, it just tastes like grape juice, so I drank the whole pitcher. This does have its good points, a people who slavishly follow the laws of the State make for a well ordered society, and it does help keep people from being lax and disregarding State law as unimportant. When one looks at the priest scandal, a curious thing arises. What ever other benefits a higher drinking age might bring, that is the purpose of the law. Heres a quick guide to clear things up. Like the one we are asking, is drinking a sin? But in some topics the Bible just doesnt do that. Inevitably, students point to the fact that they can go to war and vote at eighteen. Trying to be more like Jesus each day. If we ever choose to do this, it can be gravely immoral and a mortal sin. However, the vast majority of non-christians are not put off by drinking in western culture. However, we do advise that it is a must for you to always follow the legal drinking age. But on the other hand it warns of the damaging effects it can have if its abused. But I wanted to address it from the other side. However, if you find yourself in an instance where you got drunk because someone drugged your drink, or someone forced you to drink without any of your knowledge and consent, that is not a sin. In fact, alcohol is inherently good. In some states like Texas its perfectly legal to drink with parental supervision. (1 Cor. The reason is that in the act of drunkenness we are forfeiting two of Gods greatest giftsour intellect and will. It had no part to play in it, I drank wine before I was Catholic. For if anyone sees you, a man of knowledge [i.e., a mature Christian], at table in an idols temple, might he not be encouraged, if his conscience is weak, to eat food offered to idols? The New Testament is even more emphatic in discouraging drunkenness. Is Drinking a Sin for Catholics? - Lay Cistercians However we know from the Bible that the wine still had plenty of kick in it to get wasted on. However, sins of priests and bishops that were not crimes were easily overlooked. We regard drunkenness as a sin. The people around you are more important your personal freedoms. There are other aspects of drinking that may be sinful;for example, its impact on the health of the body. So, what I want to do is take a look at what the Bible says about alcohol and then look if Christians should drink. Is drinking a sin isnt the only question we should ask. To sum it up, God created wine and drinking for our enjoyment. And this, according to St. Peter, isnt the true mark of a Christian: For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to doliving in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing, and detestable idolatry. 1 Peter 4:3. The short answer is, if you are trying to get drunk on purpose, then the answer is basically "yes." That is a sin, and a grave (mortal) one. Drinking should be a time of joyful celebration and fellowship! There are lots of bible verses about drinking and drunkenness. Never drink when you are wretched without it, or you will be like the grey-faced gin-drinker in the slum; but drink when you would be happy without it, and you will be like the laughing peasant of Italy. Husband. [] This appeared at Ascension Press. Why? For me to go to a bar and have a drink wouldn't be a sin. For neglect of bodily health due to drinking there has to be a grave physical danger to which the drinker is knowingly exposing himself. What does the Bible say about drinking? Listen to Jesus words when it comes to leading others into sin, whether intentional or not: Temptations to sin are sure to come, but woe to him by whom they come! No. And lets not forget the focus of Jesus first miracle at Cana (see John 2:1-11). To legalistically use the State to reinforce sin does not help matters. Thus, sinning against your brethren and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ (1 Corinthians 8:10, 12). Its almost as if the house party culturewhich might not be as bad as the average fraternity party at a state universitybegins to dominate the lives of otherwise serious Catholic college students. Drinking is a sin when done in excess. Read on to learn more. Not only has it not been condemned, but beer and wine have played a role in church tradition. I hope this post gave you some comfort if you are planning to have a drink sometime soon. 2023 Ascension Press. She holds a Master of Arts in Theological Studies from Westminster Seminary California. Just like oil and bread, it comes from the fruits that grow on the same ground that provides us with food. And ten minutes later, ka-BOOM, it hit me and I was on the floor. And there were many monks that brewed their own beer. []. Lets look at a traffic example. Drinking alcohol becomes a sin when you abuse it to the point that you are no longer yourself, and is incapable of making conscious decisions. We believe everyone should have access to this, which is why we offer so many of our resources for free. Sports teams, some religious orders, and many other organizations all have forbidden drinking alcohol. The law is very clear in stating the speed that is legal in that area. If on a lonely country road in the flat land of Illinois I drive on the wrong side of the road in order see over the left side of a bridge am I breaking the law? Driving in an impaired state could be a mortal sin since it puts others as well as oneself at risk of death or serious harm. What does the Bible say about drinking? Drinking alcohol becomes a sin when you abuse it to the point that you are no longer yourself, and is incapable of making conscious decisions. What would you tell religious people about alcohol consumption Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. "Ask a Priest: How Much Beer Is OK to Drink?" - RC Spirituality Not only is it not, but among Greek-speakers, the Lenten discipline of abstinence from wine is relaxed on Sundays. The virtue of temperance disposes us to avoid every kind of excess: the abuse of food, alcohol, tobacco, or medicine. Would I be upset with a fine? However, drunkenness is a big no-no both in the Church and in the Bible. What does the Bible say about drinking? Problems arise when alcohol is abused through drunkenness. St. Paul speaks out against drunkenness multiple times3. Throughout the Old Testament alcohol is seen as a blessing from God. This teaching is echoed in the New Testament . Part of the reason people drink alcohol is for the relaxing effects. or altar wine thats specifically intended for Eucharistic celebrations. God created it for joyful celebration, as seen repeatedly in the Bible1. We should keep a close eye to make sure nothing takes the place of God in our life. So I think if someone has a propensity to alcoholism and to not being able to control it, I think it would be considered a sin to go and tempt yourself there; but I think each one of those is kind of between you and God. Being drunk is certainly a sin. This seems to approach relativism in my opinion. Steve Ray: I was in bed in that hotel for 24 hours, and I said to my wife, Im never gonna get drunk again ever, that was horrible. So thats the only time Ive ever been drunk, and I didnt do it on purpose. Widespread and more or less universal custom takes on the authority of law. St. Paul writes: For if anyone sees you, a man of knowledge [i.e., a mature Christian], at table in an idols temple, might he not be encouraged, if his conscience is weak, to eat food offered to idols? Sunday April 30, 2023 - Mass for the Fourth Sunday of Easter. | Sunday That is, Jesus was not with sinners. Regarding intoxication, Wikipedia gives this rather technical passage: Symptoms of alcohol intoxication include euphoria, flushed skin and decreased social inhibition at lower doses, with larger doses producing progressively severe impairments of balance, muscle coordination (ataxia), and decision-making ability (potentially leading to violent or erratic behavior) as well as nausea or vomiting from alcohols disruptive effect on the semicircular canals of the inner ear and chemical irritation of the gastric mucosa. The virtue of temperance disposes us to avoid every kind of excess: the abuse of food, alcohol, tobacco, or medicine. If you will remember, Jesus first miracle was turning water into wine (. Sometimes you have to give up something so that you can gain influence in someones life to help them see the change they need to make. In this latter case the intoxication would be a venial sin. If you will remember, Jesus first miracle was turning water into wine (John 2:1-11). And as modern medicine advances theres much better options to deal with issues. Caller: Recognizing that Jesus turned water into wine, the question is: is it a sin to drink? Drinking of wine and alcohol is fine, its one of the reasons I became Catholic. Alcohol is simply a gift, not our end goal. Drunkenness is a sin. Frankly, a serious Catholic should never need a designated driver. Here are two Bible verses that warn against excessive use of alcohol: Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise. As Ive said to some of my studentstongue and cheek, of course: Look, if I drive by your house at 7 a.m. and I see your girlfriends car outside, Im not going to assume that she slept on the couch. And the same is true of the young freshman who looks up to these studentswho inevitably says: If thats what good Catholics do, then it must be OK.. This leads you to do things that you wont otherwise do when youre sober such as brawling and excessive cursing. You may have the conviction that it is allowable to drink alcohol in moderation. But observing such a dynamic over several years, I can only conclude that rather than seriously evangelizing others, the purported evangelizers simply begin to lose their spiritual edge. An inconvenient law (i.e., the drinking age) is not an unjust law. Also, if we were pulled over for going three miles per hour over the speed limit, we would be justifiably upsetbecause such an action would contradict nearly universal custom in terms of the enforcement of speeding laws in our country. In reality, the exact opposite is true. OpenBible.com lists 75 passages from the Bible about drinking alcohol. Is drinking a sin? This is absurd. (Eph. Is drinking a sin? If I eat too much and I stuff myself like a pig, then I could say Oh my goodness, I just sinned through the sin of gluttony, and then the near occasion of that. And in so doing, it often leads us to more sin such as violence and fornication. Writer. Many Christians completely abstain from consuming any alcohol, since they believe Scripture declares it to be sinful. Of course that will depend on where you live, thats not universally true. Jesus had the following to say regarding people who criticized him for drinking alcohol: For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He has a demon. The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, Look at him! But I think that its a matter of being moderate about things. There are relationships worth holding onto. A hard lesson for us to learn is that while we may have the freedom to do something, it still has a consequence. (Prov. Note, however, that you dont always have to get drunk for it to become a sin. And occasionally, these same otherwise stand-up Catholics find themselves in compromising situations, often sexuallyeither individually after a night of drinking, or with someone else. But, if other people see you drinking or purchasing alcohol, and by that are led to go against . And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, Drunkenness is also mentioned in Galatians 5:19. To the extent that the answer is noto the extent that I insist on underage drinking just because I want toto that extent perhaps my own conversion has not yet fully taken hold. They drank alcohol during many social functions, including church events like ordinations. The Bible is clear that alcohol can be abused and that is a sin. ET on EWTN: Holy Mass and Rosary on Saturday, April 22, 2023 Tell us where you're. Heres a few of the most commonly used Bible verses about alcohol: Ephesians 5:18, Numbers 28:7-10, Proverbs 20:1, Galatians 5:19-21, 1 Corinthians 6:10, 1 Timothy 5:23, Proverbs 23:20-21, Romans 14:21, Isaiah 5:22, Leviticus 10:9, Ecclesiastes 9:7, 1 Timothy 3:8, Proverbs 31:6-7, Deuteronomy 7:13, 11:14, The above list is far from exhaustive, but it gives us a solid picture of alcohol in the Bible. Contact us toll-free at: (833) 843-2673. In many states, its legal for someone to drink underage in the presence of their parentsso thats not an issue. God even commands the Israelites to go buy beer and celebrate before the Lord (Deuteronomy 14:26). 3). In fact, St. Thomas Aquinas insists that the sin of scandal itself can be a mortal sin: because [the person] has such contempt for his neighbors spiritual welfare that he declines to forego doing what he wishes to do (ST II-IIae, q. If ever in doubt about whether you crossed the line, then just go to confession and put it behind you and resolve not to cross the line again. Theres always something left for us to turn over to the Lord; and as I said, for many college students, underage drinking is the last thing to go. Would saying Mass in a hotel room be a sin? Simply put, you arent your true self when drunk. It is simply warning against addiction and drunkenness. He lives with his wife Sarah and their four children in Atchison, Kansas. This means that when one starts to feel it, its time to slow down or back off. Jesus constantly reached out to sinners, but never in compromising situations. Some people think that its a necessary evil and that celebrations arent complete without alcohol. Go, eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a merry heart, for God has already approved what you do. in for Christ, in every single aspect of our lives? For starters, if you choose to be drunk in your own free will, then that is considered a sin. Harmful to body, mind and soul. Drinking alcoholic beverages is not a sin. Now that weve looked at what the Bible says about alcohol lets switch over to application. 13:1). Deuteronomy 7:13, 11:14 says that wine is a blessing from God and a few chapters later it says having no wine is a curse (Deuteronomy 28:38, 51). Go, eat your bread with enjoyment, and drink your wine with a merry heart; for God has long ago approved what you do.. Sam is a founder and editor of Catholics & Bible. Where in the World Can I Find Authentic Joy. There are certain cultures and countries where drinking would prohibit the spread of the Gospel. Lets hear from you! Theres simply nothing in the Bible that says all drinking is a sin. Or it was so diluted with water it doesnt really count as alcohol. God is never outdone in generosity; when we go all in, he often blows us away with blessings we could never imagine. Of course, in order to be a grave sin the excessive drinking has to be deliberate, not simplya surprise based on lack of foresight. He believes it is more important than ever before to help people find a genuine faith. If this is the case, then it's safe to say that alcohol is not inherently immoral. Its a case of excusing ones own drunkenness and yet somehow still pretending to maintain the letter of the law. Alcoholic drinks have been around since 5400BC, which means the availability of fermented beverages was around even before Jesus arrived. Some religious groups view alcohol as a gift from God, one that allows the spirit to enter the body. I think the scripture has this, near occasion for sin. In extreme cases, it can even lead to sexual harassment and murder. You may know a family whose relative has died in an accident caused by the consumption of alcohol. But if you abuse it, you are no better than the people who waste their life on worldly pleasures. How would you have answered these questions: Is drinking a sin? ). I personally have experienced both of these situations. Not only are different types of alcohol different, everyone processes alcohol differently. But they are put off by arbitrary rules created by Christians. Does giving a meaningless gift give you more or less joy than giving a meaningful gift? Many times the Bible says that drunkenness is a sin (Ephesians 5:6, Romans 13:13; Galatians 5:19-21; 1 Peter 4:3 to name a few). To be morally mature one must distinguish between State laws that exist because they protect the natural law, and State laws that exist only to protect the common good. Which view is correct? But the case is different with underage drinking: in the vast majority of places across the country, one certainly would not drink underage while standing next to a police officer.

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