Is Alcohol Permissible in Christianity?

The Allegations Some accuse Christianity of permitting alcohol and try to prove this with several claims, including: 1. Jesus turning water into wine at the wedding in Cana of Galilee (John 2). 2. They say it is written in the Bible: “A little wine is good for the stomach.” 3. They say that the church uses wine in the Eucharist. The First Allegation: Turning Water into Wine at the Wedding in Cana of Galilee Critics argue that Jesus turning water into wine at the wedding in Cana of Galilee is evidence that Christianity permits alcohol. When reading this miracle in the Bible, one realizes that the wine transformed from water had the following characteristics: 1. It sobered the drunk: (John 2:9-10) As we read: “When the master of the feast tasted the water that had been turned into wine… he called the bridegroom and said to him: Every man at the beginning sets out the good wine, and when the guests have drunk freely, then the inferior. But you have kept the good wine until now.” It is noteworthy that when a person drinks wine, the sensory areas in the mouth become numb, and after a certain amount, they can no longer taste the wine. However, when the master of the feast tasted the water turned into wine, he sobered up and distinguished the taste of the good wine as if he had regained his sense of taste. He rebuked the bridegroom, saying, “Every man sets out the good wine first, and when they have drunk freely, then the inferior. But you have kept the good wine until now.” Thus, this was an extraordinary wine that did not intoxicate but instead revived. Therefore, those who accuse Christianity of permitting alcohol based on this event are incorrect. 2. The transformed water symbolizes the fullness of the Holy Spirit: As the Apostle Paul says in his letter to the Ephesians (Ephesians 5:18), “Do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit.” Paul linked wine with being filled with the Holy Spirit, which gives far superior effects than ordinary wine, reviving those intoxicated by the deceitful beverages of the world and refreshing their lives to feel the grace of God. The Second Allegation: They say it is written in the Bible: “A little wine is good for the stomach.” 1. The actual phrase used is a misquote. The correct verse reads: “No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for your stomach’s sake and your frequent infirmities.” (1 Timothy 5:23). 2. It is clear from this verse that Timothy was suffering from many stomach ailments. 3. Wine was a treatment for such ailments. You may recall the parable of the Good Samaritan who found a man fallen among thieves. When the Samaritan passed by, he “bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine…” (Luke 10:34). Therefore, Paul’s instruction to Timothy to use a little wine was for the treatment of many ailments, not merely for the pleasure of drinking wine. Dear reader, you can see that this allegation too is false and has no basis in truth. The Third Allegation: Using Wine in the Eucharist They argue that the church uses wine in the Eucharist, suggesting that Christianity permits drinking wine. The Response: 1. Jesus Christ said about Himself in the Gospel of John: “I am the true vine” (John 15:1).** 2. He also said about His followers: “You are the branches” (John 15:5). 3. Just as the sap of the vine flows through the branches to nourish them, Jesus used the sap of the vine to symbolize His holy blood, which we partake in, flowing through our veins to sanctify our blood and our entire inner being. 4. Therefore, Jesus did not give us the juice of the vine to enjoy and become drunk, but He gave it to us for a sacred purpose, as a pure sacrament understood only by believers. The Bible’s Perspective on Wine First: Degrees of Wine Consumption By reading the Book of Proverbs, chapter 23, we find three degrees of wine consumption: 1. First Degree: Addiction: This degree is evident in the following verses: “Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has contentions? Who has complaints? Who has wounds without cause? Who has redness of eyes? Those who linger long at the wine…” (Proverbs 23:29-30). 2. Second Degree: Mere Drinking: The verse continues: “…Who has complaints? Who has wounds without cause? Who has redness of eyes? Those who go in search of mixed wine.” (Proverbs 23:30). 3. Third Degree: Mere Looking: (Proverbs 23:31) “Do not look on the wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it swirls around smoothly. In the end, it bites like a serpent and stings like a viper.” 4. Fourth Degree: Not Sitting with Drunkards: (Proverbs 23:20) “Do not mix with winebibbers or with gluttonous eaters of meat.” As you can see, God has prohibited all these stages. From this, we understand that wine is not permitted in the Bible. Second: The Lord Commends Abstinence from Wine The Lord commended abstinence from wine in the Book of Jeremiah, stating: “Then came the word of the Lord to Jeremiah, saying: Thus says the Lord of hosts… Go and say to the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem: Will you not receive instruction to obey My words? says the Lord. The words of Jonadab the son of Rechab, which he commanded his sons not to drink wine, are performed; for to this day, they drink none and obey their father’s commandment. But although I have spoken to you, rising early and speaking, you did not obey Me.” (Jeremiah 35:12-14). Here, the Lord rebukes His people for not obeying His commandments, unlike the sons of Jonadab, who adhered to their father’s command not to drink wine. Third: The Lord Forbids Drunkenness with Wine We recall the Lord’s command through the Apostle Paul in his letter to the Ephesians: “Do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit.” (Ephesians 5:18). The Lord’s prohibition of drunkenness with wine is followed by a positive command to be filled with the Holy Spirit. The truth is, a person who has tasted the sweetness of Christ, been intoxicated with His love, and filled with His Holy Spirit, does not consider consuming wine in any form or degree, regardless of its allure. This is illustrated in the Bible with the saying: “A satisfied soul loathes the honeycomb.” (Proverbs 27:7). Finally, “No thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.” (1 Corinthians 6:10).