In the context of encouraging Christians to live above the level of sin, the apostle Peter writes, "For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles—when we walked in licentiousness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries" (1 Pet. 4:3).

While no child of God will openly defend outright drunkenness, it is often surprising to find Christians defending the moderate consumption of alcoholic beverages. Some brethren will condemn drunkenness in one breath, and then defend the merits of having the occasional "social drink" in the next. What we commonly refer to as "social drinking" consists of the idea of having the "harmless" drink or two in the privacy of your own home, or among some friends. The advocates of social drinking are quick to point out that such drinking never leads to drunkenness, and is only done in careful moderation.

However, if the consumption of alcoholic beverages is sinful, then the Christian can have no part of it, whether in moderation or in excess. No sin can be acceptably committed in moderation. (For example, there is no acceptable way to moderately commit murder or to moderately commit adultery). Therefore, we must determine what the Bible has to say about the drinking of alcoholic beverages.

The previously cited Scripture, 1 Peter 4:3, mentions three distinct practices involving the consumption of alcoholic beverages. All three are considered sinful and shameful, in the same company with all other "abominable" sins. We will examine these three practices now.

1. God condemns drunkenness. The apostle Peter warns against the sin of "drunkenness," or as the King James Version renders it, "excess of wine," as translated from the Greek word "oinophlugia" (1 Pet. 4:3). Drunkenness in the sense of habitual intoxication is always condemned in Scripture (see Rom 13:13; Gal. 5:21). The term that is translated "drunkenness" in 1 Pet. 4:3 refers to the sin of drinking alcoholic beverages to the point of becoming intoxicated or inebriated. This is the sin that is engaged in by so many who have the practice of "going out and getting drunk" on the weekends as a form of entertainment. As Peter points out, we are not to "run with them in the same flood of dissipation" (1 Pet. 4:4). In addition to this, Christians are command to "be sober" (1 Pet. 5:8). Paul contrasts the sin of drunkenness with sober-mindedness in the following manner: "they that be drunken are drunken in the night. But let us, who are of the day, be sober" (1 Thess. 5:7-8). Surely no Christian would defend the sin of drunkenness.

2. God condemns half-drunken partying. The next term that Peter uses in discussing these sins is the Greek word "komos," which is translated "revelries" (1 Pet. 4:3). As for the consumption of alcoholic beverages, revelries are one step down from outright drunkenness. In other words, the Bible makes it obvious that there are distinguishable levels of drinking that are condemned by God. In his Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament, Joseph H. Thayer explains that the term "revelries" that is used in 1 Peter 4:3 is one that is used to describe "feasts and drinking parties that are protracted till late at night" (p. 367). Revelries present a picture of a situation in which the participants are not completely drunk, but are intoxicated to the point where they feel uninhibited and act according to their lustful impulses. The apostle makes it clear to us that this sort of activity is just as sinful as absolute drunkenness.

3. God condemns social drinking. There is yet another level of drinking presented in 1 Peter 4:3 that falls into the same category of sin as the first two. The terms "banquetings," (KJV) or "drinking parties," (NKJV) are derived from the Greek word "potos." This is a word that refers to the drinking without necessarily implying excess. It refers merely to drinking, and not to drunkenness. The idea here is the same as having a few drinks, or having alcoholic beverages with dinner. Jesus used the verb form of this word when he said, "And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water…" (Matt. 10:42). Notice that the word is used of drinking "a cup" of water. But what about having a drink at home? God condemns it. We need to stop defending this sin, and start trying to warn others against it!

Conclusion

"And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds"(Rom. 12:2). Are you living like the world, or like a Christian? Alcoholic beverages have no part in the lives of Christians. "For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles" (1 Pet. 4:3).

David Dann

Return to Moral Matters