Question: Is drinking beer a sin? Or is getting drunk the sin or does the whole thing grieve the Holy Spirit?
Answer:
While the Bible does not mention beer, it does mention another alcoholic beverage: wine. The Apostle Paul tells Timothy, “Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses.” (1 Timothy 5:23) This statement leads us to believe that wine, when used in moderation or for medicinal purposes, was acceptable. On another occasion, Jesus made wine at the wedding at Cana (John 2:1-11). Jesus's mother came to him when the wine was gone, so Jesus turned water into wine. If Jesus provided wine for drinking, then it could not be a sin to consume it.
While the Scriptures do not forbid Christians from drinking alcohol, the Scriptures do urge us to be cautious: "Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery (debauchery means extreme indulgence in sensuality). Instead, be filled with the Spirit." (Ephesians 5:18). From the Scriptures, we can learn that having a drink is not a sin, but the act of getting drunk (the excess) is the sin. "Do not join those who drink too much wine or gorge themselves on meat, for drunkards and gluttons become poor, and drowsiness clothes them in rags." (Proverbs 23:20-21)
In Ephesians 4:30, it says "And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption." What is the Holy Spirit? It’s the very spirit of truth; the mind of God in you. The Holy Spirit in us is like a flame. We need feed it continually for it to keep burning and to stay alive. 1 Thessalonians 5:9, “Quench not the Spirit.” We can ignore the Holy Spirit when we disobey God’s word and violate our consciences.
The Bible does not identify drinking alcohol as a sin, but if it troubles your conscience, then don’t do it. We all have different weaknesses in our flesh. If someone falls into bad behavior by drinking, then it’s best to not drink at all. As with any behavior, thought, or feeling, the best rule is to remember: "So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God."(1 Corinthians 10:31).
If you can’t glorify God when you do something, don’t do it!
