What does the Bible say about drinking? If you will remember, Jesus first miracle was turning water into wine (. Heres a quick guide to clear things up. It never condemns it, but it often warns against the abuse of it. Complete this form to receive the weekly email and create a FREE account, which provides access to member only content. 5:1521). If I eat too much and I stuff myself like a pig, then I could say Oh my goodness, I just sinned through the sin of gluttony, and then the near occasion of that. The reason is that in the act of drunkenness we are forfeiting two of Gods greatest giftsour intellect and will. Often, their lives begin to revolve around a party culture: Which party should we go to? Or, even on an ordinary day in the middle of the week: What are we drinking tonight?. Yet, even if you dont drink and drive, excessive alcohol consumption greatly impairs your ability to reason. Is it a Sin to Get Drunk? - About Catholics Or it was so diluted with water it doesnt really count as alcohol. He was no stranger to alcohol: While they were eating, Jesus took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, saying, Drink from it, all of you; for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. Some people claim drinking is a sin because it hurts your testimony. Gluttony can also be a sin. In drunkenness, we willingly defile our rational nature. Is drinking alcohol a sin? - The Irish Catholic When you are in a state of drunkenness, your ability to make more conscious and informed decisions tend to get blurred and resort to more slow or poor judgment. But for the most part drinking in moderation will not hurt your witness in western societies. (1 Tim. In these articles that are intended to accompany The Catechism in a Year podcast, we will present a travel guide through the major themes of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Sola Media Group is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, Federal ID # 27-0565982. Where a culture of underage drinking prevails as the norm (and especially among otherwise serious Catholics), at a point having one or two social drinks turns into three or four (or five and six and beyond); and all of a sudden, those who were steadfast against drunkennessbut who insisted that underage drinking is OKfind themselves occasionally on the brink of drunkenness (and sometimes well past that point). She is exceedingly grateful for both the loving kindness of many people and the sound Christian doctrine that helped her to keep on living after her son died in a skiing accident in 2006. In fact, Paul tells Timothy, Drink a little wine for your stomachs sake. I think Timothy was nervous and shy, and hed get, like, his stomach would get sick, and so Paul said Have a few glasses of wine and relax.. What would you tell religious people about alcohol consumption Do not look at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup and goes down smoothly. Then they go on to define drunkenness as setting in only when one blacks out. Similarly, dont drink in a situation where it could lead someone else to sin. And lets not forget that Jesus first miracle was turning water into wine And no it wasnt grape juice. Widespread and more or less universal custom takes on the authority of law. And many Christian celebrations often involve drinking wine and merrymaking. There are clearly more verses in the Bible warning about the dangers of excessive alcohol consumption than there are verses extolling its virtues. Help us continue providing authentic Catholic spirituality! Weve already touched on this a little above. He not only approved of drinking wine but he, himself, drank wine on several occasions. The Litany of Humility: What Is It and Where Did It. If you will remember, Jesus' first miracle was turning water into wine (John 2:1-11). ( Psalm 104:14, 15; Ecclesiastes 3: 13; 9:7) The Bible also acknowledges the medicinal value of wine. Drunkenness is indeed a grave sin. Is it a sin to drink alcohol? - GotQuestions.blog It might actually help your witness to have a beer with your neighbor and break down some of the misconceptions about Christianity. You can order it in a restaurant, or a bar, and even buy it from your local grocery shop. A person who is at home and plans to stay at home might be able to have a second or third beer without any problem (read: without sin). As we mentioned above, drinking alcohol isnt a sin, but overindulging in it can be. We regard drunkenness as a sin. It may be imprudent on my part to suggest this example; but underage students use this excuse in spades and I dont think theyre on the same level (that is, underage drinking and going 3 mph over the speed limit). For example, waiting a few more years to drink in America (21 years old) compared to Spain (16 years old) is not unjust. He lives with his wife Sarah and their four children in Atchison, Kansas. Lets look at a traffic example. Instead of condemning them, Jesus understood, which earned Him the ire of the self-righteous Pharisees. One aspect of the sinfulness of drunkenness is also how it impacts your health and body. The other aspect that is typically almost entirely missing in this discussion is the charity we owe to our brothers and sisters and the recognition that our actions affect others. Ive drank too much in my life, but Ive only been drunk once in my life, and that was when I had heard that you had to try Sangria, its really good. There are certain lines that aregoing out and committing adultery, theres no question about that. As far as I know, the only day of the year that you're not supposed to drink alcohol is Good Friday, but even . However, in trying to convince Catholic minors not to drink in a party atmosphere arguments like this need to be used. As I said, underage drinking cultivates a culture of lukewarmness, a sapping of spiritual zealits a sort of gateway to the party culture described above. Deliberately and knowingly harming your health is a sin. Lets take a look: For more about reading the Bible in context: How To Read The Bible (the 5 best tips). So I think if someone has a propensity to alcoholism and to not being able to control it, I think it would be considered a sin to go and tempt yourself there; but I think each one of those is kind of between you and God. But all these points to the same thing: drinking is not sinful as long its in moderation. Simply put, you arent your true self when drunk. as the disposition of the mind which binds the passions. For instance, take this verse from the Old Testament: He makes grass grow for the cattle, and plants for people to cultivatebringing forth food from the earth: wine that gladdens human hearts, oil to make their faces shine, and bread that sustains their hearts. Psalm 104:14-15. The Bible says that we should consider how our actions effect those around us (Romans 14, 1 Corinthians 8). The abuse of alcohol can cause damage, so many advocate to just avoid it altogether. In the New Testament, the first miracle of Jesus was turning water into wine. But observing such a dynamic over several years, I can only conclude that rather than seriously evangelizing others, the purported evangelizers simply begin to lose their spiritual edge. Is drinking a sin? Problems arise when alcohol is abused through drunkenness. Whos around you that you can impact? While others see drinking as a reprehensible activity that can corrupt the soul. He is author ofNature and Grace,John Paul II to Aristotle and Back Again, andSpiritual Survival in the Modern World. This can have disastrous consequences. Is it a Sin to Get Drunk? If Jesus is really Lord of my entire life, then the question is simply this: am I willing to be inconvenienced for the sake of the Gospel? Why Is June the Month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus? It can . This means that when one starts to feel it, its time to slow down or back off. Lets hear from you! Its almost as if the house party culturewhich might not be as bad as the average fraternity party at a state universitybegins to dominate the lives of otherwise serious Catholic college students. sin - According to Catholicism, is it sinful to drink alcohol in order To the extent that the answer is noto the extent that I insist on underage drinking just because I want toto that extent perhaps my own conversion has not yet fully taken hold. An inconvenient law (i.e., the drinking age) is not an unjust law. And many of us drink without knowing our limits. You may have the conviction that it is allowable to drink alcohol in moderation. What does the Bible say about drinking? Deuteronomy 7:13, 11:14 says that wine is a blessing from God and a few chapters later it says having no wine is a curse (Deuteronomy 28:38, 51). There are some topics that the Bible never gives a straight answer. That is, Jesus was not with sinners when they were sinning (or even came close to it). And many Christian celebrations often involve drinking wine and merrymaking. or altar wine thats specifically intended for Eucharistic celebrations. Then they go on to define drunkenness as setting in only when one blacks out. Its more or less recognized that going five miles per hour over the speed limit is still within the bounds of the law. But the line separating celebration and intoxication is often blurred. So, why do so many Christians push for the abstinence of drinking when its not in the Bible? But is it a sin? A person who is at home and plans to stay at home might be able to have a second or third beer without any problem (read: without sin). And certainly not a low alcohol count. Ive heard serious Catholics nod their heads in agreement that drunkenness is a mortal sin. Is Drinking A Sin? (what the Bible REALLY says) - Rethink Drinking, in itself, is not necessarily a sin. Heres what the Catechism of the Catholic Church says on the issue (CCC 2290). Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. For centuries, monks have brewed beer to support their monasteries. Of course. Drinking alcoholic beverages needs to be approached with maturity, wisdom, restraint, and most of all, love for God and our neighbor (Mark 12:3031). To sum it up, God created wine and drinking for our enjoyment. Thus, sinning against your brethren and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ (1 Corinthians 8:10, 12). I would recommend using the legal limit as a benchmark for drunkenness. What about underage drinking? So is it a sin to drink alcohol? Sins of priest and bishops that were crimes were at times treated with great seriousness. The Catholic Church does not prohibit the consumption of alcohol. The login page will open in a new tab. On its face, perhaps there is an air of plausibility here. But the case is different with underage drinking: in the vast majority of places across the country, one certainly would not drink underage while standing next to a police officer. So drunkenness would be a sin. Some Christians think it is perfectly fine to drink alcohol, while others believe it is sinful to partake. Whats interesting about the debate surrounding this topic is that its relatively new. What Freedom From Sin Looks Like in This Life. Just because it works for you that typically you dont get pulled over, does not make it not against the law. We should always seek to bring honor to the Lord in all our activities: So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. We should keep a close eye to make sure nothing takes the place of God in our life. What does the Bible say about drinking? Drinking, in itself, is not necessarily a sin. After logging in you can close it and return to this page. In other words the Bible is warning of the damage that being addicted to alcohol can bring. St. Thomas defines temperance as the disposition of the mind which binds the passions. Rather, it is on the list of sins because it is contrary to our dignity and damaging to the constructive use of our freedom that is essential to our friendship with God. The Pilgrims brought 7,500 gallons of alcohol on their journey across the Atlantic. The law is very clear in stating the speed that is legal in that area. Few topics have been debated in Christian circles as much as drinking alcohol. Here, he instructs us to, . []. Jesus is our King who rules over us not in an oppressive way, but rather to care for us, protect us from harm, and grow us in holiness through the indwelling work of the Holy Spirit. It's forbidden. Alcohol use impairs a person's judgment, reaction time, and coordination. As Ive said to some of my studentstongue and cheek, of course: Look, if I drive by your house at 7 a.m. and I see your girlfriends car outside, Im not going to assume that she slept on the couch. And the same is true of the young freshman who looks up to these studentswho inevitably says: If thats what good Catholics do, then it must be OK.. No. As in many things, occasional, limited drinking of alcohol is a matter between each believer and God. You might also like: What The Bible REALLY Says About Tattoos. You need to go to confession. that are put in place for our protection in Gods providence (Rom. Is Anger a Sin? At a family meal, a 17 year old can have some champagne to toast her grandmothers birthday because her father is there, but if her 20-year-old cousin who happens to be visiting without her parents is there she shouldnt because it would be a sin? Paul in 1 Corinthians 9 is trying to drive that home. Alcohol is not evil in itself. In State laws that are meant to protect the common good it would be a sin only if the action does in fact hurt the common good. Le Ann is a writer, editor, speaker, wife, and mom who enjoys the Southern California lifestyle, including flip-flops, the beach, riding electric bicycles along the 101,and an occasional salted caramel Americano from Lofty Coffee in Solana Beach. In fact, about once a month we get an email from somebody saying that they either disapprove of us drinking on the show or how alcohol is of the devil or something like that. If this is the case, then it's safe to say that alcohol is not inherently immoral. It is not a sin just because it is on the list of sins. But abusing alcoholic beverages can lead one to sin. Its absolutely acceptable and normal. For me to go to a bar and have a drink wouldnt be a sin. When Is Drinking a Mortal Sin? | Catholic Answers There are lots of bible verses about drinking and drunkenness. Your decision-making and critical thinking abilities are significantly impaired. For the sake of the common good we drive on the right side of the road, it is illegal to drive on the left. What kinds of liquids can Catholics have while fasting? Jesus had the following to say regarding people who criticized him for drinking alcohol: For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He has a demon. The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, Look at him! But when taken in moderation, it can lead to a great time and awesome memories with friends. There are many good reasons not to drink, and many more good reasons for the state to forbid minors to drink. Also, check out our posts on The Sacrament of Reconciliation. He is general editor and contributor toThe Great Adventure Catholic Bible, published by Ascension Press. Psalms 104 says that wine gladdens the heart of main. As to your specific questions: First, if you are under the legal drinking age, you would do well to respect the law. In some states like Texas its perfectly legal to drink with parental supervision. It is one of Gods good gifts that can beand often isabused (Psa. This is why combining drinking alcohol with the operation of any kind of machinery, including a motor vehicle, is so dangerous. Is Getting Drunk A Mortal Sin? Catholics & Bible Instead, let it bring you together with your fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. The Catechism of the Catholic Church condemns drunken excess and illegal drugs in #2290-2291: The virtue of temperance disposes us to avoid every kind of excess:. Similar to drinking alcohol, the Catholic Church does not prohibit smoking. So why in the world can they not enjoy a beer? It is important to remember that even if gravely wrong actions (fornication, violence, etc.) Sinful. Sometimes being in this state, may lead you to do actions that are sinful, such as violence, fornication, or saying nonsense hurtful words to others. Get notified of future Ask a Priest answers via email. Those incur grave guilt who, by drunkenness or a love of speed, endanger their own and others safety on the road, at sea, or in the air., Catechism of the Catholic Church, Paragraph 2290. Lighting up is not a sin. Le Ann is managing editor of Beautiful Christian Life. In fact, St. Thomas Aquinas insists that the sin of scandal itself can be a mortal sin: because [the person] has such contempt for his neighbors spiritual welfare that he declines to forego doing what he wishes to do (ST II-IIae, q. The same is true if one travels overseas, where the drinking age in Europe is generally eighteen. Ask a Priest: Is It OK to Go to Nightclubs?, Ask a Priest: Is It OK to Read the Bible on My Own?, Ask a Priest: What If My Friends Family Doesnt Accept My Annulment?, Spiritual Smoothie: The Christian Difference, Ask a Priest: How Do I Respond to Attacks on the Church?. Absolutely not. After that point there could be diminishing returns in a moral sense meaning that you are putting yourself in danger of serious sin beyond that moment. It may be imprudent or a scandal to others, but in itself, just because the State says it is illegal, does not make it a sin. Again, Scripture does not forbid Christians from drinking beer, wine, or any other drink containing alcohol. The virtue of temperance disposes us to avoid every kind of excess: the abuse of food, alcohol, tobacco, or medicine. Father. We dont need to avoid those things just because they might do us harm. Whoever loves pleasure will be a poor man; he who loves wine and oil will not be rich. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. I think we can see by now that the answer is no, drinking is not a sin. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that 88,000 people die from alcohol-related causes in the United States each year. Its become a societal norm to celebrate things over food and drinks. However, it is well worth it. On one hand it talks about how it can a blessing. If you become dependent on alcohol, seek help. One Bible verse that clearly supports the intake of alcohol is the apostle Paul's admonition to Timothy to drink wine for health reasons: No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments. He gave them to us as a gift that gladdens human hearts. Fasting means taking a break from it for a time to grow closer to God. Drunkenness, however, was always considered sinful based upon the clear biblical teaching about it. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. Copyright 2023 RC Spirituality | All Rights Reserved. People go to weddings and special events and see those in attendance lifting glasses of champagne in celebration. Is It Okay For Christians to Drink Alcohol? And this, according to St. Peter, isnt the true mark of a Christian: For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to doliving in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing, and detestable idolatry. 1 Peter 4:3. What does the Bible say about drinking? RC Spirituality is a service of Regnum Christi that creates life changing Catholic formation materials in many media formats. Jesus drank wine during his time on earth. We are commanded to heed civil laws (e.g. Try finding a Super Bowl party where alcohol isnt part of the festivities. This means that the drinker no longer has the freedom necessary to deliberate responsibly about what he should do or not do. But for Catholics, drinking alcohol may also have moral and religious implications. There is very good reason to detach young people from giving such over reaching authority to the State. St. Paul writes: For if anyone sees you, a man of knowledge [i.e., a mature Christian], at table in an idols temple, might he not be encouraged, if his conscience is weak, to eat food offered to idols? Is Being Drunk a Mortal Sin? Teaching from Paul, Augustine, and Thomas 10,076 people who died in 2013 because of drunk driving (or one death every 52 minutes)2. What if the State forbid celebrating Mass (Saudi Arabia)? Thus, it is possible to freely give away the gift of our freedom by abusing alcohol. Finally, a little tea, coffee, chocolate or such like beverage together with a morsel of bread or a cracker is now allowed in the morning. In this latter case the intoxication would be a venial sin. Judy Ponio is a professional writer for the Lay Cistercians blog and a devoted Catholic. First things first: Catholics have long considered drunkenness a mortal sin; St. Paul refers to it as a sin that excludes one from the kingdom of God (see Galatians 5:21 ). The Church teaches that drunkenness, i.e., the abuse of alcohol, is a sin but not moderate consumption (CCC 2290). Who is St. Agnes of Rome, the Virgin and Martyr? (Prov. The Bible lives in this tension with the issue of drinking. Share your review! From a moral perspective, alcohol is often treated with polarity. But this issue isnt just a personal decision, its one that needs to be made in community. That said, there is no direct command from God that prohibits the consumption of wine. Jesus constantly reached out to sinners, but never in compromising situations. Nor will we be deserving to inherit Gods kingdom. It can be a good and enjoyable thing. To legalistically use the State to reinforce sin does not help matters. Is drinking a sin? Outright disobedience to the civil law must be treated with the utmost seriousness. He also drunk and was even accused by the Pharisees as a drunkard: 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 7:34. Licit things, doing licit things like drinking wine is fine in moderation, but not too much, not to become drunk. Whats the wisest and most loving thing for me to do. The Bible describes wine as a gift from God that can make life more enjoyable. Throughout the Old Testament alcohol is seen as a blessing from God. It deprives you of judgment and reason, gifts that God has given us to lead a righteous life. Catholic Prayers For Protection From Evil, 9 Catholic Saints To Pray To For Fertility, Signal Graces: What They Are and How To Spot Them, 7 Saints Considered to be the Patron of Sailors, Catholic Prayers to Restore a Childs Health. He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth . Is it only a near occasion of sin? We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. We might have the freedom to do something, but that doesnt always make it the best thing for us to do. Is drinking a sin? No. Excessive use of alcohol can lead to many short and long-term health problems as well. Excessive eating is also gluttony, but we can still eat and enjoy good food. Any grave sins arising from that state are also mortal sins. It can cause us to lose control of our free will and reason when we drink to excess. If we consume so much that we cannot properly make decisions, we go too far. It had no part to play in it, I drank wine before I was Catholic. God created it for joyful celebration, as seen repeatedly in the Bible1.

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