Is Moderate Drinking Sin?
Joe R. Price

Christians are being seduced by worldliness. This is not a new phenomenon; it is a temptation that each saint in every generation must resist (1 Jno. 2:15-17; 1 Pet. 4:1-5; 5:8-9). When we succumb to worldly enticements we relinquish our holiness for hostility against God, our dedication to Christ for devotion to the flesh, and our influence of godliness for intoxication of the mind, body and soul.

Some Christians have already yielded to the temptation, practicing and endorsing the moderate drinking of alcoholic beverage in their homes and in various social settings. "Hard" beverages (marketing the mixture of alcohol with soda, juices, lemonade, etc.) have made the use of alcohol even more appealing, adding the appearance of innocence to this enslaving sin. (By the way, who defines "moderate" for the Christian who practices and defends moderate drinking: Scriptures? Self? Society?)

Does the Bible forbid moderate or social drinking? In a word, yes. Consider the following statements truth from God's word.

1) The fool imbibes of wine and strong drink. "Wine is a mocker, strong drink is a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise" (Prov. 20:1). The alcoholic content of modern wine more closely agrees with the "strong drink" (shekar) in the Old Testament, that is always condemned and to be refused. Does one who pursues righteousness, faith, love and peace out of a pure heart partake of things that mock and disrupt soberness (2 Tim. 2:22; Titus 2:2-3, 6)? No, not at all.

2) Drinking produces many sorrows. "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, those who go in search of mixed wine. Do not look on the wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it swirls around smoothly; At the last it bites like a serpent, and stings like a viper" (Prov. 23:29–32). Alcohol lowers inhibitions. That begins with the first drink. To avoid the outcome of unrestrained drinking God's word says do not take the first drink.

3) Social (moderate) drinking is forbidden as the "drinking parties" of unbelievers. "For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles—when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries” (1 Pet. 4:3). Translated "banquetings" in the KJV, potos is the act of drinking without consideration to the amount. A variation of the word is used in Mark 9:41 of a "cup" of water to drink. Thus, the apostle describes the "the will of the Gentiles" (sin) as the initial drinking of alcohol as well as its prolonged indulgence. Both sins are attributable to one's life before conversion and not to the mind of Christ that ceases from sin (1 Pet. 4:1-2).

4) Christians are to remain sober. "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Pet. 5:8). Sober (nepho) means "to abstain from wine" and is the opposite of intoxication. Intoxication is a process that begins with the first drink. Therefore, the entire process that prevents soberness is sin, from beginning to end.

Yet, some Christians defend moderate drinking (as they define it) in the face of God's warnings against the sin of drinking alcohol. They say it is their liberty. But, liberty in Christ is not freedom to sin (Gal. 5:1, 13; Rom. 6:1-2). True, they are free to be foolish. But, the foolishness of sin is punished by God, not rewarded. "The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but he who heeds counsel is wise" (Prov. 12:15). Be wise. Accept God's counsel. Refuse the first drink. Refuse sin from its beginning. 

No Excuses

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