Why Don't Christians Drink Alcohol “Why Don’t Christians Drink Alcohol?” is an honest question and the answer is really pretty simple and clear.  In fact I think the Bible is so transparent about the topic that I am encouraged about the down-to-earth way I get to explain it to even my youngest children as we take time to Read Our Bible and Pray Every Day. But first, have you heard this joke?

A man who smelled like a brewery flopped onto the bus seat next to a Catholic priest. The man’s tie was stained and askew; His face and collar were smeared with lipstick; and a half-empty bottle of booze was sticking out of his pocket. The man opened his newspaper and began reading, while the priest sat there in silence and pondered what to say. After a few minutes, the drunk turned to the priest and said, “Say, Padre, what causes arthritis?” Sensing an opportunity to make a point, he replied, “Mister, it’s caused by loose living, drinking, running with loose women, and a total disregard for others.”

“Well, I’ll be!” Muttered the drunk, and went back to his paper.

After the priest had thought a few minutes about what he’d said, he nudged the man and said, “Mister, I apologize. I shouldn’t have come on so strong. How long have you had arthritis?”

“Oh I don’t”, replied the man. “I was just reading here in the paper that the pope does.”

Even this joke illustrates how even non-Christians associate drinking with loose women, loose living, selfishness and violence. 

In regards to its relationship with violence, are you surprised by the following facts?


The relationship between alcohol and crimes including domestic abuse and violence, underage drinking, robbery, assault and sexual assault is clearly documented. FACT:  5.3 million adults − 36% of those under correctional supervision at the time − were drinking at the time of their conviction offense. FACT:Alcohol is a factor in 40% of all violent crimes today. SOURCE

But did you know that if someone asked me “Why Don’t Christians Drink Alcohol?” that those wouldn’t be my top reasons? So here we go:



Because the Bible tells me not to even look at it. The absolute #1 reason why I don’t drink alcohol and why I don’t believe Jesus did either is Proverbs 23:31.


Seriously.  I am that simplistic in my faith.  If the Bible tells me not to do something, I just don’t do it.  Common sense would lead me to believe that if I am not even to look at something that is fermented and alcoholic than I have no business closing my eyes and drinking it. I believe that if that verse is in the Bible and that the “wine” that Jesus drank was fermented then He could not be sinless and is therefore not our Saviour.  That’s the end of it for me.   The Bible shows that there were periods BEFORE this time where it did not seem a sin to drink alcohol, but from the Garden of Eden and throughout history; as the sinful nature of man progressed that God required different levels of holiness throughout the dispensations.  But from this point on: there is no excuse for the Christian to condone drinking alcohol. Even though that is enough reason for me, there are still so many more reasons found just within the Bible to answer the question “Why Don’t Christians Drink Alcohol?”  Let me continue in the order of importance to me.


Out of good old Christian love.


I love my Christian brothers and sisters.  I also love my lost neighbors.  I love Europeans, Native American’s, Africans, and all of Asia.  Name a type of people and in Christ I love them. How many of those individuals throughout the world have a preconceived idea that Christians don’t or shouldn’t drink?  How many have been affected by an abusive drunken parent?  How many are struggling with alcoholism?  How many cringe at their regrets done under the influence of alcohol? Do you know? I don’t. Any one of those people might be the checkout clerk at the grocery store where I hand out a tract.  They may be the employee at the restaurant where I leave a tract with the tip.  They may be part of the family that we invite over for fellowship with a little “social drinking.” They may be sitting next to me on the cruise ship where they see me do my devotions in the morning and sitting by the bar in the evening.  They may be the coworker to whom I have been witnessing who sees me hanging out at the club on the weekends. These people don’t know anything but what they see, and like it or not, in many cultures and especially American culture, drinking alcohol is a stumblingblock to the gospel and an offense to many brothers and sisters in Christ, and a lifestyle that causes many weak, undernourished souls. It causes people to stumble.  It causes people to be offended.  It causes people to be weak.  And that is my reason number two of “Why Don’t Christians Drink Alcohol?”


 I want to be wise.


When I first started reading a Proverbs-A-Day I saw how God valued wisdom above any other form of riches found throughout the world.  The topic of the importance of wisdom is so vast that I cannot even begin to cover it, but I knew that I wanted to be wise.  I prayed as a young person, “Lord, if wisdom is so important; please help me to become wise.” Yet, no wise man is fooled by the smooth deceit of alcohol. If you would take some time on your own to just do a quick Bible search of two phrases: “Strong Drink / Wine” and “Wisdom / Wise Man.”  I want to point out some things that you will find.

  • It is the godly leaders and the wise who refrain from alcohol.
  • God has a disdain for strong drink and what it does to people and their sense of judgment.
  • A drunkard is not someone that anyone should want to be.
  • Lastly, with very few exceptions, mentions of alcohol in the Bible relate it to actions of immorality, incest, violence, injury and perversion.

It is that last point that is also my last major reason to answer “Why Don’t Christians Drink Alcohol?”


It destroys.


When I was young I remember my father saying, “I never met an alcoholic that didn’t take their first drink.”  That stuck with me and I determined never to take a first drink. Now, I know there are people who can drink without getting drunk, and if the first three reasons I gave were not in the Bible, than this one wouldn’t stand alone very well in regards to not taking a drink here or there; but they are.  Still the fact is; I honestly don’t know any one person who has taken a drink of alcohol who hasn’t gotten drunk. I am sure there is an exception, but I have never met one.  I have met people who AT TIMES don’t get drunk when they are drinking, but they also do have times where they do get drunk. I remember hearing a grown man tell about punching his own dad in the face during a drunken argument.  I remember hearing about a saved couple getting drunk on their wedding night and a big fight ensued.  I remember hearing a story about a young Christian girl losing her virginity at a high school party while drunk.  I remember a woman sharing how she got in a car accident with her little kids riding in the back because she didn’t realize that she had gotten drunk at a Sunday afternoon luncheon.  I remember hearing about a very young girl being taken advantage of while her mom was passed out in the other room.  Bad things happen when people are drinking. I am just one person and I have lived a non-partiers life and still I have seen first-hand the damage alcohol has caused in the lives of people I love.  My heart breaks.  Why would anyone want anything to do with something that destroys so many people? If alcohol was a person, I wouldn’t stand to be their friend.  Yet, so many people hold to alcohol as if it was their friend.  Why would anyone defend or justify taking part in drinking?  I just don’t get it. If those weren’t enough reasons, I also want to point out some things found in a passage about alcohol that my children and I read every month during our Proverbs-A-Day. PROVERBS 23:26-35 – THINGS THE BIBLE ASSOCIATES WITH DRINKING

  • Strange women and whores (Prov. 23:26, 33)
  • Sorrow and sadness (Prov. 23:29)
  • Fights and contention (Prov. 23:29)
  • Physical Impairments (Prov. 23:29, 34)
  • Death and poisoning (Prov. 23:32)
  • Perversion of your heart (Prov. 23:33)
  • Loss of memory (Prov. 23:34)
  • Injuries (Prov. 23:34)
  • Addiction (Prov. 23:34)


Common sense


Two things are pretty obvious in regards to common sense and drinking when you read this passage.  If God curses the man that gives his neighbour (remember the NT definition of neighbour) drink … then why would I think it is okay to drink myself?  Why would I think it okay to host a party or a social gathering with alcohol?

The second thing that is obvious is that alcohol impairs judgment and is related to sexual predators.  

Look at this statistic – http://www.campussafetymagazine.com/article/Sexual-Assault-Statistics-and-Myths


So there you have it.  Five very solid Biblical reasons that real followers of Christ don’t drink.

When we read that passage (and it is the same one that says to not even look upon the alcoholic wine) the answer is so very clear about “Why Don’t Christians Drink Alcohol?” We are told not to.  We are warned not to.  We are guarded against it.  We are shown what it does to people.  We are shown the sins it causes.  We are shown the emotional turmoil it brings.  We are shown every good reason to never come near the drink again. I am baffled that anyone could look evidence in the face and reject truth. But like my husband quotes, “As for me and my house … we will serve the Lord.”  I hope this has been helpful in your Christian growth.  If you have any sincere questions, please feel free to comment below.


  Why Don't Christians Drink Alcohol?