Has the Pendulum Swung Too Far? A Christian Perspective on Alcohol

In recent years, it has become more and more common to see Christians drinking alcohol openly and without hesitation. I’m old enough to remember when that would have been unheard of. If a Christian was drinking, it usually meant they had "backslidden"—a term rarely used anymore. When this shift first began, it was almost subtle. Tiny cans of beer, just one, and only in the privacy of homes. A quiet, controlled indulgence. But it didn’t stay there. 

I’ve said before that I didn’t have a problem with having a glass of wine once or twice a year. But I’ve since changed my view, and I don’t drink at all.  Why? I don’t want to be the reason a brother or sister in Christ stumbles back into addiction. Another reason is that I’ve seen firsthand the destruction alcohol can bring. I have alcoholics in my family. For them, one glass of wine wouldn’t stop there. It would be the gateway to a full-blown nightmare. And the truth is, for many people, it’s not just a casual drink—it’s a crutch, a slow unraveling, a path to something they never intended. 

I know this because I’ve been there. 

There was a time in my life when I drank heavily. For years, alcohol was my way of numbing the pain of some truly terrible things that had happened to me. It was a coping mechanism, a false comfort, a way to avoid dealing with the deep wounds inside me. But thank you, Jesus, for setting me free. He rescued me from that crutch and healed my heart. 

So now, I can’t help but feel burdened when I see so many Christians drinking, not just casually, but to the point where alcohol has become central to their lives. They arrange get-togethers and invite those who will drink with them. They plan trips around drinking. Some churches even host wine-tasting events. And more concerning, I’ve heard about well-known Christian leaders who have bars in their homes, have drunken parties, and have been seen so intoxicated at restaurants that they needed someone else to drive them home. 

Has the pendulum swung too far? 

Are Christians so determined to exercise their "freedom" that they refuse to acknowledge the consequences? Have they forgotten the warning about being a stumbling block to others? 

And what about our witness to the world? 

Does the world look at Christians and see people set apart? Or do they see people who are no different from everyone else? Do they see us indulging in the same things, numbing the same pains, running to the same crutches? 

Yes, we have freedom in Christ but we’ve also been bought with a price. His blood. His life. We are called to reflect Him, to represent Him well. And that includes how we handle the stress and hardships of life. Are we turning to a drink when we should be turning to the One who is living water?  Do our hearts need to be healed?

I've seen the damage firsthand. Ministries in the past that secretly indulged in alcohol and drugs. It was hidden—until it wasn’t. When the truth came out, it wasn’t just the ministries that were destroyed. It was the people. People who had been delivered from addiction. Not just the leaders but the people who had looked up to those leaders. Many lost their faith entirely because of it. 

And that breaks my heart. 

So, I have to ask—has celebrating our freedom led us into dangerous territory? Are we pushing the boundaries so far that we’ve become a laughingstock to the world? Have we exchanged holiness for indulgence? 

I can’t tell anyone what to do, but I can say this: I’ve walked the road of using alcohol to cope. I’ve watched people I love be destroyed by it and I don’t want to see Christians go down that path. If we truly believe Jesus is enough, shouldn’t He be enough in every area of our lives? 

Some will argue, “But Jesus turned water into wine!”  Yes, He did but the Bible never says He sat around getting drunk on it. In fact, scripture is clear that we are not to get drunk. Jesus’ first miracle at the wedding in Cana (John 2:1-11) was not about encouraging excessive drinking; it was a sign of His divinity, His power, and the joy of the new covenant. His presence brought transformation—He took something ordinary and made it extraordinary.

So, if we use Jesus’ miracle to justify casual or excessive drinking, we’re missing the point. He came to set captives free, not to bind them to another form of dependency.

Maybe it’s time to step back and ask ourselves:  Do our hearts need to be healed? Are we living in freedom, or are we flirting with bondage? 

Scriptures to Consider

As you reflect on this, here are some scriptures that speak to how our choices impact others and ourselves. God's Word gives clear wisdom on being mindful of our witness, avoiding stumbling blocks, and living in a way that honors Him.

·      Romans 13:13.   Let us live and conduct ourselves honorably and becomingly as in the [open light of] day, not in reveling (carousing) and drunkenness, not in immorality and debauchery (sensuality and licentiousness), not in quarreling and jealousy.

·      Ephesians 5:18-19. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart,

·      I Corinthians 10:23-33.  All things are legitimate [permissible—and we are free to do anything we please], but not all things are helpful (expedient, profitable, and wholesome). All things are legitimate, but not all things are constructive [to character] and edifying [to spiritual life]. Let no one then seek his own good and advantage and profit, but [rather] each one of the other [let him seek the welfare of his neighbor].

·      Phil 2:3-4.  Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

·      Galatians 5:19-21, I Tomothy 1:1-7, I Peter 4:3, Phillipeans 2:3-4, James 2:8,

Written with love, Vicky