Jefferson Bethke, New York Times bestselling author, YouTuber and podcast host, addressed whether consuming alcohol is a sin, which is a hot topic for many Christians.
In life, there are plenty of situations in which the right and moral choice is clear and cut and dry. Likewise, circumstances will arise where the wrong and sinful option is also obvious. However, not everything is so black and white. There are some topics and issues that are more nuanced and require more thinking through the situation in order to decide what is the right or the wrong choice.
For Christians, alcohol is and has always been a hot topic for discussion. Some may believe consuming any amount of alcohol is a sin and that drinking even a single drop will condemn someone to hell. But others may have a different opinion on the subject. That’s why Jefferson addressed the topic of alcohol and whether consuming any of it is a sin or not.
Jefferson begins the video by answering that question with a simple, straightforward answer. No, drinking alcohol is not a sin, he states.
He says that nowhere in the Bible does it say that drinking alcohol is wrong or a sin. Instead, he points to different verses in Scripture that mention alcohol in a positive light. Additionally, Jefferson states how Jesus drank wine, and His first miracle was turning water into wine.
The author and YouTuber says that the issue of alcohol should be used as a “microcosm” of how Christians should view all of life. He states that consuming alcohol in and of itself is not evil. But it becomes a problem when it’s abused and misused. The Bible, he points out, does mention several times that being drunk and drinking to the point of intoxication is a sin.
Christians also need to be aware of how their drinking can impact others. Someone consuming a drink in front of an individual struggling with alcohol can be a problem, leading them to stumble.
Romans 14:21 “It is better not to take meat or wine or to do anything which might be a cause of trouble to your brother.”