“At the last it bites like a serpent, and stings like a viper.”—Proverbs 23:32

When warning people against the sin of drunkenness, a commonly heard objection is that because Jesus’ first public miracle was to turn water into wine (at a wedding in Cana—John 2:1-11), this supposedly proves that Jesus permits drunkenness, and that it is not a sin. But even if the wine Jesus created had alcohol in it, this does not authorize drunkenness any more than God’s creation of human sexual organs authorizes sexual immorality (fornication & adultery, etc.)![1] Because, as John Chrysostom said, “it is not wine which makes drunkenness, but the evil purpose, & the using it beyond due measure” (NPNF, 1st Series, Vol. 14, p. 402).

Other things to consider in evaluating Jesus’ creation of wine, is that, in ancient times, people commonly mixed alcoholic wine with water to dilute the fermented wine, and possibly also to make the water tastier & safer to drink. Therefore, because the people at the wedding had the option to dilute the wine Jesus made, any drunkenness that may have resulted from them drinking it was due to their own choice; it was their own sin. The Scriptures call us to exercise self-control in all areas of life (Acts 24:25; 1 Cor 7:5, 9; Gal 5:23; 1 Tim 2:15; 2 Tim 3:3; 2 Pet 1:6; Also, see Gen 4:7). As we exert moral effort to control our impulses, God will cooperate with us and help us, but He will not do it all for us. He leaves us with a real part to play in life.

According to the Bible, drunkenness is not only unwise and unhealthy, it is deadly spiritual poison to the human soul. Unless such a sin is forsaken, it will cause a person to be condemned to hell. Consider the Scriptural evidence below to see what Jesus, and His apostles Peter & Paul had to say on this subject. Continue reading Drunkenness is Spiritual Poison! →