Drink, Drank, Drunk: Is Imbibing a "No No"?

^"Woe to those who rise early in the morning 

       to run after their drinks, 

       who stay up late at night 

    till they are inflamed with wine."

Isaiah 5:11

^"For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, 'He has a demon.' The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say, 'Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and "sinners.'"

Luke 7:33-34

"Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in...drunkenness"

Romans 13:13

^"Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit."

Ephesians 5:18

"[God] makes...wine that gladdens the heart of man" 

Psalm 104:14-15

One of the many "hot topics" among Christians is the question of whether or not drinking alcoholic beverages is "right" or "wrong." Like many "hot topics" among Christians, drinking is a "grey" area in the Bible. It is neither encouraged nor discouraged. It is left up to the individual to decide for themselves if it is "right" or "wrong" for them.

The Bible does make one thing quite clear-- drunkenness is wrong. We are outright told not to become drunkards or get drunk. However, things get complicated when we are told that Jesus drank wine and the Psalmist, David, praised God for making wine that "gladdens the heart." Things are further complicated by the subjectivity in defining what "drunk" is. The Bible often mentions "stumbling" in conjunction with "drunkenness"... but even still the point at which "happy" ends and "drunk" begins is a fuzzy (no pun intended) line. 

It can be difficult for people to walk that fine line between drinking to get "glad" and drinking to get drunk. For those who can't restrain themselves, drinking often leads to drunkenness. For those individuals, drinking is indeed a sin and something to be completely avoided. 

For those who can drink in moderation and who have a good grasp of their limits and the self-control to remain within those limits, drinking is not a sin. They have no obligation to avoid it. 

However, those who drink need to be aware that, as Christians, we are more closely scrutinized than others. Even Jesus himself was accused of being a "drunkard" because he drank wine and hung out with sinners. Jesus was obviously not a drunkard; however, he was harshly judged by the "holier-than-thou" religious-types of his day. He was a rabbi, a teacher, that humbled himself and wasn't afraid of being seen with unpopular/sinful people. The Pharisees were prideful of their supposed "purity" and "religious superiority" and therefore accused Jesus of wrong-doing. 

In the same way, Christians need to be prepared to face the quick judgments of others if they choose to partake in alcoholic beverages. We should be sensitive to the beliefs of fellow Christians and, obviously, respect our brothers and sisters enough to not drink in their presence if they see it as sinful. However, we also shouldn't be surprised if our decision to partake in moderation elicits raised eyebrows from those around us. It's a grey area for a reason. Not everyone will automatically assume that you know your limits and that your actions are within the boundaries of what is Biblically "permissible." 

Bottom line: Don't drink if you don't know your limits. Don't drink around those who see it as a sin. Don't drink if you're not prepared to face scrutiny.

In general, I feel that moderate drinking to the point of "gladness" is not wrong or sinful. However, sometimes it is easier for people to just avoid it completely than to walk the fine line between "permissible" and "sinful". It's an issue that every individual has to explore for themselves and reach a decision that is best for their well-being.