The primary mission of Christians is to tell those around us about what Jesus has done (Matthew 28). Now that weve looked at what the Bible says about alcohol lets switch over to application. Only you can really judge what your limit should be. No, dont quote me, Im just kidding. In the New Testament, Jesus not only turned water into wine. (1 Tim. 10,076 people who died in 2013 because of drunk driving (or one death every 52 minutes)2. If you will remember, Jesus first miracle was turning water into wine (. The alcohol in the Bible did not have a lower alcohol content. Catholics & Bible is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. 2023 Ascension Press. And I guess the second part: if not, is it a sin to become intoxicated? We got one recently saying how someone was shocked we were promoting the consumption of poison on our show. But they are put off by arbitrary rules created by Christians. And certainly not a low alcohol count. If you find your reasoning and thinking beginning to get corrupted, youve gone too far. I know this makes some uncomfortable; we like to know exactly where that line is. However we know from the Bible that the wine still had plenty of kick in it to get wasted on. Is Getting Drunk A Mortal Sin? Catholics & Bible 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. Trying to be more like Jesus each day. (Only if a law is clearly unjustsuch as with Martin Luther King, Jr.s disobedience of segregation lawsshould a law be disobeyed). Getting drunk can be caused by different situations and some of them may or may not be a sin. Lighting up is not a sin. People go to weddings and special events and see those in attendance lifting glasses of champagne in celebration. From a moral perspective, alcohol is often treated with polarity. Harmful to body, mind and soul. Leave a comment below! As the State divorces itself more and more from the natural law we will want to increase our young peoples ability to detach from the State as a moral gate keeper while still giving the State its rightful place to regulate the common good. 13:1). There is also the issue of "not causing anyone to stumble" ( 1 Corinthians 8:13; 10:32 ). 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:. But, alcohol also has a second effect on us. Your decision-making and critical thinking abilities are significantly impaired. Note, however, that you dont always have to get drunk for it to become a sin. 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). God is never outdone in generosity; when we go all in, he often blows us away with blessings we could never imagine. If you will remember, Jesus' first miracle was turning water into wine (John 2:1-11). God created it for joyful celebration, as seen repeatedly in the Bible1. There are many good reasons not to drink, and many more good reasons for the state to forbid minors to drink. In talking with Catholic college students, Ive come to find that underage drinking is a hot topic. In order to pass through this threshold, one has to move beyond simply asking: At what point have I done something wrong? in a minimalistic way, to asking: Are these actionsthese movies, these parties, etc.taking me toward or away from my ultimate end? And further, one asks this same question with respect to those who may be influenced by my actionseither by knowing me directly or by reputation: am I helping or hindering their pursuit of their ultimate end? Have you ever found yourself giving gifts to others while neglecting to give gifts to yourself? Lets take a look: For more about reading the Bible in context: How To Read The Bible (the 5 best tips). Alcohol is not, in and of itself, tainted by sin. The ideal is that you dont want to get to the point where you feel overly giddy or lose coordination of your limbs, etc. 20:1), Envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. If we indulge in these worldly pleasures, we wont be able to share in his suffering. Fasting means taking a break from it for a time to grow closer to God. Thats not a matter of moderation. Driving in an impaired state could be a mortal sin since it puts others as well as oneself at risk of death or serious harm. Any grave sins arising from that state are also mortal sins. When one looks at the priest scandal, a curious thing arises. Sinful. Adam: Yeah. These Catholic leaders set the spiritual tone for campus. Everything You Need to Know About Holy Week. Those claiming that all drinking is a sin dont have support from the Bible. 43, a. By using this website you are agreeing to our privacy policy. I want to deal with two common misconceptions I see spread all the time about alcohol in the Bible. No. Excessive drinking, defined as "binge drinking" or. This means that the drinker no longer has the freedom necessary to deliberate responsibly about what he should do or not do. performed while intoxicated were not freely willed in themselves, they were willed in their causenamely, deliberate drunkenessand so the drinker is responsible for them as though he had chosen them deliberately. Would I be upset with a fine? Excessive use of alcohol can lead to many short and long-term health problems as well. The Powerful Meaning Of Psalm 121 (my help comes from the Lord), How To Know When To Leave A Church (and 5 things to do before changing churches), The REAL Philippians 4:13 Meaning (I can do all things through Christ). Hence, water, lemonade, soda, water, ginger ale . People drink for various reasons. Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. Steve Ray: I was in bed in that hotel for 24 hours, and I said to my wife, Im never gonna get drunk again ever, that was horrible. So thats the only time Ive ever been drunk, and I didnt do it on purpose. Is drinking a sin? If this is the case, then it's safe to say that alcohol is not inherently immoral. I think it comes from a good place. Jesus said, If your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away (Matthew 5:30). Why would a State that allows 19 year old people go to war, have abortions, smoke marijuana, have a sex change operation, marry and divorce, not allow 19 year old people to have a drink at a bar? There are all kinds of neutral grounds where one can evangelize (e.g., sports, intramurals, meals, etc.). Or it was so diluted with water it doesnt really count as alcohol. Current scientific evidence points to the fact that there is no safe amount of tobacco. Read on to learn more. Jesus said, If your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away (Matthew 5:30). What would you tell religious people about alcohol consumption Judy Ponio is a professional writer for the Lay Cistercians blog and a devoted Catholic. Is Drinking a Sin for Catholics? - Lay Cistercians That includes sharing in His sufferings. People often recreationally drink without sinning, i.e., enjoying the taste and the social exchange that takes place between friends. Caller: Recognizing that Jesus turned water into wine, the question is: is it a sin to drink? document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Your email address will not be published. One common argument is that wine in the Bible is really nothing more than grape juice. Even though these actions were done out of your own free will because of your drunkenness, you are still held responsible for them, as you chose to be in the state of intoxication deliberately. Please read our PRIVACY POLICY. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website.