01/01/2026
A lot of Christians ask, what’s wrong with drinking. And I think that is the wrong question. The better question is, what’s right with it. Because as believers, we are called to be set apart. We are called to be holy. We are called to live differently than the world, not blending in with the culture.
You have to decide how serious you want to be with God. Some people are always trying to figure out how close they can get to the line without crossing it. How close can I get without getting burned. But if you play with fire, you eventually get burned. If you play with the snake, you eventually get bit.
Ephesians 5:18 says do not get drunk on wine, which leads to reckless living. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit. That verse exposes something deeper. Why do people drink in the first place. A lot of times it is because there is a void. There is a place that is not filled, so they try to fill it with something else. But God never intended alcohol to fill what only the Holy Spirit can fill.
And even if someone argues, well I’m not getting drunk, I just have one drink, Scripture still gives wisdom that destroys that excuse. First Corinthians 10:23 says you can say you’re allowed to do anything, but not everything is good for you, and not everything is beneficial. Just because something might be “permitted” does not mean it is profitable. I cannot think of one positive thing alcohol adds to a believer’s life.
Romans 14:21 takes it even further. It says it is better not to drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble. This is one of the biggest reasons I believe Christians should avoid alcohol completely. You might claim you can handle one drink, but what about the believer who just got saved out of alcoholism. Your one drink could be the trigger that pulls them back into bo***ge.
Proverbs also does not speak about alcohol like it is harmless. Proverbs 23:31 says do not gaze at wine when it is red and sparkles in the cup, and then it says in the end it bites like a snake and poisons like a viper. That is not describing something innocent. That is describing something dangerous. And the Bible does not use that kind of language casually.
Proverbs 20:1 says wine is a mocker and beer is a brawler, and whoever is led astray by them is not wise. Even when people defend it, alcohol has a way of pulling people into compromise. It leads you astray. It makes you less alert. It lowers discernment. It opens doors.
And let’s be real. Alcohol and prayer do not mix. Alcohol and Bible study do not mix. Nobody drinks and then says, man I feel like praying for an hour and getting in the Word. Scripture repeatedly calls believers to be sober-minded and alert. When a police officer pulls someone over and they are drunk, they say you are under the influence. As believers, I don’t want to be under the influence of anything but the Holy Spirit.
Even if you put Scripture aside for a moment, alcohol destroys families. It contributes to deaths, violence, depression, broken homes, and poor decisions. It kills brain cells. It numbs you. It lowers your guard. And the world knows this. So why would the church defend what the world itself admits is destructive.
Here’s the bottom line. You have to decide what kind of Christian you want to be. Not the one who tries to stay barely safe, barely clean, barely faithful. But the one who says, God I want all of you. I want to get as far away from compromise as possible. I don’t want to ride the line. I want to run from it.
I’m not here to shame anyone. I’m here to call you higher. If alcohol has a hold on you, you can be free. Jesus is enough. You don’t need a substitute. You don’t need a numbing agent. You need the Holy Spirit to fill what you have been trying to fill with something else.
If you want prayer, pray this with me. Father, in the name of Jesus, I break the power of alcohol over my life. I renounce addiction and every demonic assignment tied to it. I choose sobriety, freedom, and holiness. Holy Spirit fill every empty place and make me strong. In Jesus name, amen.
Do you think Christians should completely abstain from alcohol, or do you think moderation is biblical. Tell me why in the comments.
