As Christians, is it OK to Drink?
Brother Mark Crelencia: Just as it is our duty to obey what God commands us to do, in order to bring honor and glory to Him, we’re also duty bound to refrain from what He prohibits us since we are His chosen people. Now, one of these commandments of God that is in the form of prohibitions, is the prohibitions on drunkenness.
Brother Andrew Taaca: So, today we’re asking, “Why are members of the Church Of Christ prohibited to drink alcoholic beverages?”
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Minister of the Gospel
Brother Mark Crelencia
What does the Bible say about drinking and getting drunk?
Brother Mark: So let’s get started with our topic, shall we? Now, let’s go back to your initial question, Brother Andrew. Why is getting drunk or drinking alcoholic beverages prohibited among God’s chosen people?
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Minister of the Gospel
Brother Andrew Taaca
Brother Andrew: Oh, Brother Mark, dear viewers, we can read the answer here in the Book of Luke 21:34:
“Be careful! Don’t spend your time drinking and getting drunk. Or don’t be too busy with worldly things. If you do that, you will not be able to think right. And then the end might come when you are not ready.
[Luke 21:34 Easy to Read Version]
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Topic: What does the Bible say about drinking?
Brother Andrew: So here, our Lord Jesus Christ clearly states be careful not to “spend your time drinking and getting drunk”. Therefore, Brother Mark, getting drunk or intoxicated is strictly prohibited. Our Lord Jesus Christ even warns us of the consequence to one’s soul on the day of Judgment. Christ mentions “the end might come when you are not ready” or prepared. That’s why one who is not ready or prepared when they meet the end means that they will not be saved on the day of Judgment.
So, we need to know Brother Mark, aside from this consequence that has been revealed to us by our Lord Jesus Christ, is there another great consequence that is being mentioned by the Apostles?
Brother Mark: There is, Brother Andrew. And, that’s a good question because someone may be thinking they could just get drunk throughout their entire life and just be punished for it [in] the end. So, we need to understand because others may even say that they would drink to cope with things in life, to relax and all these and that. But, what is another grave consequence according to the Apostles? Now, let’s read the answer in the Book of Ephesians 5:18:
Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, let the Holy Spirit fill and control you.
[Ephesians 5:18 New Living Translation]
Brother Mark: And so, dear friends, getting drunk according to the Apostles will only ruin one’s life. So, it’s not like what others think. They think that drinking will help them to relieve stress, [and] will help to cope up with things in life. But, we also know that there’s also other things other than drinking intoxicated beverages that can intoxicate someone—and those things are drugs. We also know that many lives, Brother Andrew, are ruined and destroyed because of drug abuse or abusing alcohol.
Brother Andrew: And it’s funny you mention that, Brother Mark, because it’s ironic. People who are going through problems or even troubles in life, they turn to alcoholism—they turn to these illegal drugs not knowing it [will] actually ruin their life. It will make it worse from before they even started drinking or taking these illegal substances.
Brother Mark: And so, there’s another thing that we have to tackle to your viewers is this: How strict is this prohibition? Because, someone may be thinking, “Well, I’m not the one getting drunk but I’m going with people who are getting drunk. But, I know myself”. They would argue, they would say “I know I’m strong enough, that I will not drink. I’ll let them do it”. What does the bible have to say about that, Brother Andrew?
Brother Andrew: Well, let’s find out the answer, Brother Mark, here in the Book of Proverbs 23:20. Please listen closely to what is stated here:
Don’t associate with people who drink too much wine or stuff themselves with food.
[Proverbs 23:20 Today’s English Version]
Brother Andrew: So, it is clear from what we have read. The Holy Scripture says “Don’t associate with people who drink too much wine”. So notice, it’s not just drinking alcohol—it’s even associating people who drink alcoholic beverages. That’s why you can’t argue and reason out and say “You know, i’m just going along with them. I’m not going to drink”, because the bible is clear on that stand to not even associate with them. For we know when we associate with them, it will tempt us to also fall into drinking alcohol.
Brother Mark: So, Brother Andrew, you brought up about associating with those who drink. So, people would ask and wonder, “Does the Bible teach anything about social drinking?” So, drinking that in the sense where you’re not drinking to get drunk—that’s not your end desire and point, but drinking simply to socialize with other people. Isn’t that in workplaces, Brother Andrew, that people do that?
Brother Andrew: That’s right, they find it as a way or it’s a sense of camaraderie, that by doing this, they think they’ll become closer with them. Especially, maybe they’re not so comfortable in social settings—some are more comfortable because it kind of relaxes them. So people also use drinking as a way to build friendships even in companies, build more relationships or for networking purposes that they do engage in these things. So, it’s very common in a social setting nowadays.
Brother Mark: Yes, that’s true, Brother Andrew. So, we will find out the biblical basis for prohibiting social drinking. But for now, let’s find out some statistics behind alcohol and drug abuse which we think you’ll find pretty alarming.
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Source: Centre for Disease Control
Narrator: There are more than 2,200 alcohol poisoning in the US each year, an average of 6 deaths everyday. In 2014, 9,967 people were killed in alcohol impaired driving incidents. Accounting for one-third of all traffic-related deaths in the United States.
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Brother Mark: Welcome back, beloved friends! You may have noticed in our inbox segment, some staggering statistics about alcohol abuse.
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Topic: What does the Bible say about drinking?
Brother Mark: Imagine that 2,200 alcohol poisoning deaths each year. Now, in a person’s right frame of mind, Brother Andrew, knowing that alcohol is [poisonous] in an ordinary or regular bottle of poison, obviously, somebody wouldn’t be drinking that to their deaths. But if someone is drinking alcohol, what they’re actually doing is poisoning themselves. And, they may be included in the statistics about those deaths.
Brother Andrew: You know, that’s right, Brother Mark. And what was very alarming to me was how it mentions 9,967 people are killed [in] alcohol-related crashes.
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Topic: What does the Bible say about drinking?
Brother Andrew: I mean, that’s one-third of the accidents in the United States—that’s 31% of accidents that are related to drinking alcohol.
Give no place to the devil
Brother Mark: That’s correct. So, let’s go back to the topic we left off about social drinking. Now, someone may say “Okay, the apostles may have said ‘Don’t get drunk’, so what about social drinking? Is there a biblical basis about the prohibition of social drinking?”
Brother Andrew: Well, let’s find out the answer here, Brother Mark. In Ephesians 4:27, please listen:
Don’t give the Devil a chance
[Ephesians 4:27 Today’s English Version]
Brother Andrew: Dear viewers, it’s clear from what we have read. One cannot reason out and say “I’m just a social drinker, I’m not going to get drunk”, because it clearly states in the bible “Don’t give the Devil a chance”.
Brother Mark: Now, Brother Andrew, someone may argue “Well, what does giving the devil a chance have anything to do with social drinking?” Is there another biblical basis regarding that?
Brother Andrew: That’s a good question, Brother Mark. And we can find the answer in the Book of Proverbs 23:31-32:
Do not gaze at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly! In the end it bites like a snake and poisons like a viper.
[Proverbs 23:31-32 New International Version]
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Topic: What does the Bible say about drinking?
Brother Andrew: As we all know, dear viewers, every drunk starts out with a sip and then it becomes another sip until they’re drinking more and more. And so in the end, as the Bible says “it bites like a snake and poisons like a viper.” And it’s true, what begins a sip that alone is giving the devil a chance or an opportunity to tempt us. It usually starts with a sip, commonly ends up [being] binged or excessive drinking.
Brother Mark: To simply put it, Brother Andrew and dear viewers, if one wants to avoid getting drunk in the first place, he must avoid drinking. So, as members of the Church Of Christ, we’re very fortunate. Isn’t it, Brother Andrew?
Brother Andrew: Yes, Brother Mark.
Brother Mark: Because just like in the first century the Apostles reminded the members of the Church not to get drunk. The Church Administration today reminds and teaches the members of the Church to refrain, not just from getting drunk, but also to refrain from social drinking so that we will not end up violating God’s prohibition about drunkenness.
What about selling alcohol or drugs?
Brother Mark: So, we’ve already tackled, Brother Andrew, about Christ’s teaching that we shouldn’t get drunk, the apostles warning as well not to get drunk. We also went over not associating with those who get drunk. We also tackled social drinking. Now, some may think, “Well, we’ve tackled all avenues about the subject.” Now, what is yet another prohibition regarding drinking?
Brother Andrew: Well, we can read the answer in the Book of Habakkuk 2:15:
“Woe to him who gives drink to his neighbor, Pressing him to your bottle, Even to make him drunk, That you may look on his nakedness!
[Habakkuk 2:15 New King James Version]
Brother Andrew: Thus, serving and selling alcohol, as well as pushing drugs are also prohibited. As the Bible clearly states, “Woe to him who gives drink to his neighbor.” That’s why may it be that we follow these commandments of our Almighty God so that the end won’t catch us unprepared—so that we will not be miserable when that day comes.
You know, maybe one might argue and say “So, what if I get drunk? It will wear off anyway.” You know, what is the evil of drinking and getting drunk, which is why those who do so are giving the devil a chance?
Brother Mark: We’ll read the answer, Brother Andrew and dear viewers, in the Book of Proverbs 31:5:
Lest they drink, and forget the law, And pervert the justice of all the afflicted.
[Proverbs 31:5 New King James Version]
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Topic: What does the Bible say about drinking?
Brother Mark: And so, dear viewers, others forget the law even after just a few drinks or when they are already drunk.
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Topic: What does the Bible say about drinking?
Drinking leads one to forget the law
Brother Mark: And as what we brought up earlier, Brother Andrew, not just alcoholic beverages intoxicate, even drugs—when someone gets high. What do they end up doing?
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Topic: What does the Bible say about drinking?
Illegal drugs can drive people to crime
Brother Mark: They end up committing unspeakable crimes or acts because they were under the influence of drugs. We hear on the news of things that are happening: murders, arsons, and heinous crimes. When we look at the background, why a person did such a thing, it’s because they were drunk or they were high.
Brother Andrew: That’s right. I mean, typically, when one’s in the right frame of mind, they would not do these things. Because alcoholism or taking illicit drugs really impairs one’s judgment. That’s why our news today is filled with so [many] heinous crimes and you’re right, Brother Mark, it alludes and it goes back to them taking a prohibited drug or abusing alcohol.
Brother Mark: That’s right, Brother Andrew. And so, dear viewers, there is truly a biblical basis as to why members of the Church Of Christ are prohibited to engage in drinking.
Now, what is one of the evil consequences if one lives according to the works of the flesh—one of which is drunkenness.
Brother Andrew: Let’s find out the answer here in Galatians 5:19-21:
Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
[Galatians 5:19-21 New King James Version]
Brother Andrew: Therefore, those who engage in drunkenness which is one the works of the flesh, will not inherit the kingdom of God, or in short, they will not be saved on the day of Judgment.
Brother Mark: And so, dear viewers, the message of the day is this: members of the Church Of Christ should never engage in drunkenness or abuse any intoxicating or mind-altering substances. Those who do so, will not be saved.
Brother Andrew: Thank you for joining us on this episode of The Message. But, before we part ways, please join us in a short prayer.
Brother Mark: Our merciful Almighty Father in heaven, thank You so much, Father, for granting us additional knowledge and wisdom. We believe, dear God, You’re the giver of life and strength. And You also give us commandments that You want us to abide by, one of which are prohibitions regarding drunkenness.
Father, help us please to live in accordance to Your divine will. So that, when You look down upon us, You will be pleased and happy with Your people, doing things that will always give pleasure to your sight.
Please [also bless] our televiewers today. May You continue to add knowledge and wisdom unto them. And may they join us inside Your dear Holy Church, giving honor and glory unto Thee.
Our Lord Jesus Christ, we call upon You dear Lord. Please help us to abound in faith, love, and hope. Help us to uphold our spiritual fervor at all times, dear Lord, living in accordance to Your will and our Father.
Father, we believe that You have heard our prayer. You’ve forgiven us from all of our shortcomings. We ask everything to the name of Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.
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