You know, everything in Christianity seems to be regarded as a matter of moderation, doing things in moderation. 5:21). When one looks at the priest scandal, a curious thing arises. 5:11; Luke 1:15). If you knowingly drink alcohol to the point of intoxication, then thats a mortal sin. How would you answer the question, what does the Bible say about alcohol? Remember that being a Christian and a Catholic means following in Christs footsteps. For an upperclassmen to lead an underage underclassmen into sineither by encouragement or examplefits Jesus words exactly. Question: When is drinking alcohol a mortal sin? He is author ofNature and Grace,John Paul II to Aristotle and Back Again, andSpiritual Survival in the Modern World. We should also consider how it effects those around us. The apostle Peter reminds believers, Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour (1 Pet. What Does The Catholic Church Say About Drinking Alcohol? Also, wine isnt the only alcoholic drink mentioned in the Bible. 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. I hope this post gave you some comfort if you are planning to have a drink sometime soon. No. The only thing thats clear is the abuse of alcohol through drunkenness or addiction is a sin. Feeling the effects of alcohol is normal. How would you have answered these questions: Is drinking a sin? But anyone who wants to claim drinking is a sin has to face the sometimes positive light the Bible talks about alcohol in. Their presence has been around for years and years and has been really ingrained in society. Who is St. Agnes of Rome, the Virgin and Martyr? So there are some things that maybe are a sin for me but not for you, say, for example. Part of the reason people drink alcohol is for the relaxing effects. 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. Licit things, doing licit things like drinking wine is fine in moderation, but not too much, not to become drunk. Its almost as if the house party culturewhich might not be as bad as the average fraternity party at a state universitybegins to dominate the lives of otherwise serious Catholic college students. A positive criterion might be this: When you feel relaxed, that is a good time to stop drinking. But I wanted to address it from the other side. But if you get drunk unknowingly (e.g. If this is the case, then it's safe to say that alcohol is not inherently immoral. If youre an alcoholic, and having a drink brings you near to the place where you are gonna lose control, that could be viewed as a sin. Only you can really judge what your limit should be. I tell you, I will never again drink of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Fathers kingdom.. I personally have experienced both of these situations. Or if you're an alcoholic, going to the bar and getting a drink and saying "I'll just have one" is a very dangerous thing and could be a near occasion for sin, or be a sin, especially if you play it out. Frankly, a serious Catholic should never need a designated driver. Drunkenness, however, was always considered sinful based upon the clear biblical teaching about it. I want to deal with two common misconceptions I see spread all the time about alcohol in the Bible. (Only if a law is clearly unjustsuch as with Martin Luther King, Jr.s disobedience of segregation lawsshould a law be disobeyed). A radical conversiona person set on fire for Jesus Christdoes this with respect to his own life and with respect to his impact upon others. That includes sharing in His sufferings. We should keep a close eye to make sure nothing takes the place of God in our life. ET on EWTN: Holy Mass and Rosary on Saturday, April 22, 2023 Tell us where you're. 10:31). There are certain lines that aregoing out and committing adultery, theres no question about that. All Rights Reserved. If this is the case, then its safe to say that alcohol is not inherently immoral. It wasnt until recently that Christians started to ask, is drinking a sin? Everything is indeed clean, but it is wrong for you to make others fall by what you eat; it is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that makes your brother or sister stumble.. But there are a few things we can know about alcohol in the Bible. 14:21). Help us continue providing authentic Catholic spirituality! But when taken in moderation, it can lead to a great time and awesome memories with friends. However we know from the Bible that the wine still had plenty of kick in it to get wasted on. Not only is it not, but among Greek-speakers, the Lenten discipline of abstinence from wine is relaxed on Sundays. Theres also no verse that classifies exactly how many drinks you can have and exactly what drunk is. Jesus drank wine and was falsely accused of being a drunkard (Matthew 11:19). Regarding intoxication, Wikipedia gives this rather technical passage: Symptoms of alcohol intoxication include euphoria, flushed skin and decreased social inhibition at lower doses, with larger doses producing progressively severe impairments of balance, muscle coordination (ataxia), and decision-making ability (potentially leading to violent or erratic behavior) as well as nausea or vomiting from alcohols disruptive effect on the semicircular canals of the inner ear and chemical irritation of the gastric mucosa. Where in the World Can I Find Authentic Joy. Ideally a Catholic should always be striving to do the best at every moment. There are other aspects of drinking that may be sinful;for example, its impact on the health of the body. and Is Manifesting a Sin? Thats not a matter of moderation. As we mentioned above, drinking alcohol isnt a sin, but overindulging in it can be. So you see, drinking alcohol is not a mortal sin. Instead of condemning them, Jesus understood, which earned Him the ire of the self-righteous Pharisees. There is very good reason to detach young people from giving such over reaching authority to the State. Pastor. Thosewho choose to drink alcoholic beverages must always do so responsiblydoing no harm to others or themselves. Dont forget to share your thoughts! Exactly where our actions become sin. So when Christians say that its a sin to drink they are adding rules to the Bible. Caller: Yes, and I guess the one last thing is: if you are an addict and have a history of problems with that, to even just have one or two, does that matter? But on the other hand it warns of the damaging effects it can have if its abused. In short, I have found that this is often the last step in a radical conversionmuch like modesty for many women. However, sins of priests and bishops that were not crimes were easily overlooked. The Bible lives in this tension with the issue of drinking. Your decision-making and critical thinking abilities are significantly impaired. What does the Bible say about drinking? This has lead many to the conclusion that all drinking is a sin. So, what I want to do is take a look at what the Bible says about alcohol and then look if Christians should drink. Writer. It never condemns it, but it often warns against the abuse of it. It also lends itself to a host of other sins, notably sexual ones by weakening our inhibitions. 11:1819). The Church teaches that drunkenness, i.e., the abuse of alcohol, is a sin but not moderate consumption (CCC 2290). That is, Jesus was not with sinners. Yet, even if you dont drink and drive, excessive alcohol consumption greatly impairs your ability to reason. 5:23) Jesus had the following to say regarding people who criticized him for drinking alcohol: There is also the issue of "not causing anyone to stumble" ( 1 Corinthians 8:13; 10:32 ). Church Planter. Why? He also drunk and was even accused by the Pharisees as a drunkard: The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say, Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners. Luke 7:34. There are all kinds of neutral grounds where one can evangelize (e.g., sports, intramurals, meals, etc.). 43, a. Of course, in order to be a grave sin the excessive drinking has to be deliberate, not simplya surprise based on lack of foresight. Gluttony can also be a sin. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Jesus drank wine during his time on earth. Its more or less recognized that going five miles per hour over the speed limit is still within the bounds of the law. Many of todays varieties use modern fermentation methods that produce higher levels of alcohol than could ever have been achieved in biblical times. But I think that its a matter of being moderate about things. ). For starters, Jesus drank. Drinking of wine and alcohol is fine, its one of the reasons I became Catholic. I have no argument with the purpose of the law, and perhaps it is even a good law, but that does not necessarily make it a sin to break it. Also, check out our posts on The Sacrament of Reconciliation. But other things that are licit or good things, like alcohol or foodI can be a glutton, too. But the case is different with underage drinking: in the vast majority of places across the country, one certainly would not drink underage while standing next to a police officer. Is drinking a sin? What Happens If A Catholic Eats Meat On Friday? What Miracles Did Pope John Paul II Perform? Some drink to escape their situation, while others drink to celebrate. Judy Ponio is a professional writer for the Lay Cistercians blog and a devoted Catholic. The principle is clear: charity demands that we take into account how our actions affect others. In this latter case the intoxication would be a venial sin. What does the Bible say about alcohol? 17K views, 519 likes, 455 loves, 3.7K comments, 232 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from EWTN: Starting at 8 a.m. Abusing intoxicating drink is a grave sin if it deprives the drinker of the use of reason. Alcohol is bad when abused. Alcoholic drinks are a part of todays society and can be seen as something both positive and negative. Some people can take several bottles of beer and they are fine. Would I be upset with a fine? Others get drunk on just one bottle. The Church, then does not consider consuming alcohol to be sinful, however, it does caution against drinking in excess. Even in during Mass, the priests use wine to symbolize the blood of Christ. Are we even allowed to drink? Here is another traffic example. Alcohol is a funny guy. What about underage drinking? Your example of moderate (or no) drinking can be a very powerful example to those around you. You can order it in a restaurant, or a bar, and even buy it from your local grocery shop. Alcohol is not, in and of itself, tainted by sin. A radical conversiona person set on fire for Jesus Christdoes this with respect to his own life. Our true dependence should be on God. This leads you to do things that you wont otherwise do when youre sober such as brawling and excessive cursing. That is, Jesus was not with sinners when they were sinning (or even came close to it). Jesus own mother, Mary, actually brought the situation to his attention (John 2:35). Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. or altar wine thats specifically intended for Eucharistic celebrations. 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). Obviously, the Son of Man isnt a drunkard. No. There are people in our life that we have the opportunity to positively influence. Jesus said, If your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away (Matthew 5:30). For more on this topic, see The Bible Does Not Forbid Alcohol.. ( 1 Tim. Similar to drinking alcohol, the Catholic Church does not prohibit smoking. In the case of State laws that reinforce the natural law to break one would always be to sin. A person who is at home and plans to stay at home might be able to have a second or third beer without any problem (read: without sin). Some drink to escape their situation, while others drink to celebrate. No. Getting drunk can be caused by different situations and some of them may or may not be a sin. 5:1521). And ten minutes later, ka-BOOM, it hit me and I was on the floor. The Catholic Church does not prohibit the consumption of alcohol. It continually warns against addiction and drunkenness.
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