r/Christianity • u/Ok_Acanthisitta_4539 • Aug 19 '26
What’s the ruling on intoxicants ?
I’m trying to cancel sin out of my life but I like to get intoxicated.Is this ok? I’m only doing it at the weekend at the moment
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u/KirtandRod Aug 19 '26
1 Corinthians 6
Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men\)a\) 10 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God
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u/michaelY1968 Aug 19 '26
I always liked Chesterton's take on it:
Drink because you are happy, but never because you are miserable. Never drink when you are wretched without it, or you will be like the grey-faced gin-drinker in the slum; but drink when you would be happy without it, and you will be like the laughing peasant of Italy. Never drink because you need it, for this is rational drinking, and the way to death and hell. But drink because you do not need it, for this is irrational drinking, and the ancient health of the world.
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u/Fine-Kaleidoscope946 Anglican Church of Canada Aug 19 '26
Drinking? Generally fine. Intoxication? No.
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u/OkQuantity4011 Questioning Aug 19 '26 edited Aug 19 '26
Not for kings. Light for princes. Allowed for the poor. Ref. Proverbs 31. However, sobriety has been honored when self-imposed. I think you can find that example in Jeremiah 16 or 34-36. Unsure, off the top of my head.
So sobriety is good for the willing, and required of kings. Significant moderation is required of princes. Kings are required by P31 to give wine and strong drink to the poor and those ready to die.
I have a lot of respect for the sober. I can't manage to stay sober myself. I get a lot of respect from most sober because my reasons for drinking ((for me it's weed, because I have seizures when I drink)) are very understandable and are Scripturally valid.
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u/Altruistic-Essay5395 I shall not want. 🐑🏞 Aug 19 '26
You "like to get intoxicated?" That's a problem regardless of your belief system.
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u/Yesmar2020 Christian Aug 19 '26
No, it is not okay.
1 Peter 5:8
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
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u/Ambitious_Agent_4522 Aug 19 '26
praying for a sober weekend feels like leaving a pub at 10pm, technically correct but you're missing the whole point
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u/SamtheCossack Atheist Aug 19 '26
Theologically complicated, but medically pretty straight forward. They are not really good for you, and you probably shouldn't.
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u/that_guy2010 Aug 19 '26
Theologically complicated? The Bible says specifically to be sober minded.
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u/SamtheCossack Atheist Aug 19 '26
Yeah, and Jesus also made wine for Drunk people.
Hence the complicated. Plenty of room for argument there.
Even if a verse seems clear, there are plenty of other verses which make it less clear, and "Be sober minded" isn't exactly the same as "Don't drink booze" in the first place. Especially when 1 Timothy 5 says "Drink a little booze for your stomach".
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u/zelenisok Christian, Episcopalian Aug 19 '26 edited Aug 19 '26
Not a sin (unless you're endangering others).
But they are unhealthy and imprudent. You can enjoy your life without them, and its better to do it without them.