I’ve never consumed alcohol—not even a beer at a party or a glass of wine at a restaurant or a sip of champagne at a wedding. There’s a specific reason I’ve avoided alcohol. It’s required intentionality. And while you may not agree with my reason, I promise it’s simple.
The Real Reason
During my third date with James*, I asked him if he drank. He said he didn’t, but his reasons for not drinking differed from mine. When he asked me if I drank, I told him I didn’t and explained why.
This is why: Though Scripture doesn’t condemn drinking, it does condemn drunkenness. I don’t want to experiment with the “how far is too far?” of drinking. I don’t want to drink and end up drunk because I couldn’t stop myself before I reached that point. Also, some of my extended family members were alcoholics, and I believe alcoholism sometimes runs in families. But in short, I feel convicted not to drink. Simple, right?
After I answered James’ question, he essentially said, “So you don’t trust yourself to drink?” It felt like he was mocking me, not expressing genuine curiosity. I wanted to tell him, “Actually, I don’t trust myself to drink. I’ve struggled with an addiction in the past—an eating disorder called anorexia nervosa—that literally could’ve destroyed my life, so I don’t really need to introduce anything into my life that could turn into an addiction. Plus, alcohol is even more dangerous than an eating disorder because it’s possible—and easy—to become intoxicated from alcohol. And at least for this season of my life, drinking would be sinful because I feel convicted about avoiding alcohol.”
I didn’t say all that to James. I doubt he would’ve listened anyway. But his question helped me see that he didn’t respect my conviction; he thought it was unnecessary—perhaps even silly—which is one of the many reasons he wasn’t the right guy for me.
A Closer, Longer Look
I know drinking alcohol isn’t a sin. After all, Scripture never says it’s a sin. Plus, Jesus drank alcohol during His life on Earth, and He’s sinless. However, drinking alcohol is definitely a sin if you get drunk or if it violates your conscience. That’s very clear in the Bible.
Personally, I also believe it’s wrong to drink alcohol if you do it for the wrong reasons—for example, to imitate your peers, gain acceptance and approval, escape from stress, numb pain, etc. When was the last time you evaluated your reasons for drinking? When was the last time you considered what might happen if you didn’t have a glass of wine with your dinner or a margarita with your friends or a cocktail at your office party? Would you be able to decline? Or would you feel the urge to partake?
I understand that these questions might be hard to answer. Honestly, I hate self-examination because I always see things I don’t want to see. But taking a close, long look at why we do what we do is important. Pausing to reflect on our habits (and our motivations behind those habits) helps us recognize what we need to surrender to the Holy Spirit.
Considering Others’ Convictions
But you, why do you judge your brother? Or you again, why do you regard your brother with contempt? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. For it is written, “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall give praise to God.” So then each one of us will give an account of himself to God. Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather determine this—not to put an obstacle or a stumbling block in a brother’s way. I know and am convinced in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself; but to him who thinks anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean. (Romans 14:10-14 NASB1995)
This passage comes from Paul’s letter to the Romans, and here, he is talking about eating or not eating meat that had been sacrificed to pagan idols. Essentially, Paul shared he didn’t feel convicted about avoiding the meat. However, he said other believers who did hold that conviction shouldn’t be judged for it.
Ultimately, it doesn’t matter what other people think about your convictions; your convictions need to be based on your beliefs, guided by the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:5). If you’re fully convinced that you can consume alcohol in a God-honoring way, then consume it. But if you’re not fully convinced that you can consume alcohol in a God-honoring way, then don’t consume it. Instead of letting people make you feel bad about your convictions, let the Holy Spirit direct you and stand firm in what you believe is right.
I’m not saying I’ll never drink alcohol, but I currently avoid it—and now you know why. All I ask it that you respect my conviction, even if you don’t share it. We’re all called to honor God, and He calls us to love and edify one another (Romans 14:15, 19).
*Name has been changed.
Tizzie's Tidbits of Truth 