Alcohol and the Bible

For he will be great in the sight of the Lord; and he will drink no wine or liquor, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit while yet in his mother’s womb.

- Luke 1:15

The angel Gabriel's announcement about John the Baptist included a striking detail: John would abstain from wine and strong drink. This specific prohibition has been the basis for much discussion about alcohol in the Bible. Some argue that this shows God's people should always refrain from alcohol. However, the very fact that the angel had to specify John's abstinence suggests that such a rule was not automatically applied to everyone. If all the faithful were expected to avoid alcohol, there would be no need to make this statement about John in particular.

This observation leads us to consider the broader debate about alcohol and Scripture. For centuries, Christians have disagreed about whether God requires total abstinence or simply warns against excess. Four major arguments have usually been presented on each side.

Those in favor of abstinence argue, first, that the Bible repeatedly warns against the dangers of alcohol. Proverbs calls wine a "mocker," and passages like Habakkuk 2:15 condemn those who lead others to drunkenness. The safest course, they say, is to avoid it altogether. Second, there is the concern for weaker believers. Romans 14:21 advises refraining from food or drink if it causes another to stumble. Third, it is pointed out that the wine of biblical times was often diluted with water, making it less potent than today's alcohol. And finally, in a world plagued by addiction and abuse, total abstinence offers the clearest Christian witness.

On the other side, many point out that the Bible condemns drunkenness, not all drinking. Scripture sometimes presents wine positively–as a blessing of God (Psalms 104:14-15), as part of celebration (John 2:1-11), and even as a medicinal aid (I Timothy 5:23). Second, examples abound of faithful people who drank wine without sin, including Jesus Himself. This is where John the Baptist's abstinence fits in: it was a special calling, not a universal command. Third, the New Testament emphasizes liberty in matters where God has not legislated. Romans 14 reminds believers not to judge one another in such areas but to act in faith and love. And finally, it is historically inaccurate to claim that biblical wine was simply grape juice; fermentation was a normal and accepted practice.
When all these arguments are weighed together, the Bible's teaching becomes clearer. Alcohol is never presented as a requirement, nor is it universally forbidden. Its dangers are real and its abuse is repeatedly condemned. At the same time, moderate use is sometimes pictured as permissible, even beneficial, within the bounds of self-control and thanksgiving to God.

The case of John the Baptist in Luke 1:15 reminds us that abstinence can be a holy and wise choice when consecrated for God's purpose. Yet it also shows that abstinence was not God's standard for everyone. In the end, each believer must act with wisdom, love, and reverence for God's Word, seeking neither to abuse liberty nor to bind where God has not bound.