A Pastor Walked into a Bar: Alcohol and the Life of a Disciple
April 30th, 2025
by Anthony Caiola
A Dog Walking on Its Hind Legs
Years ago, before moving to central Pennsylvania, I visited the area to perform a wedding. I hadn’t planned to attend the reception, so after the ceremony, all I could think about was food. On my way home, I stopped at a small local bar, ordered some wings, and had a beer while I ate.
The bar was quiet for a Saturday afternoon, but my suit and tie didn’t go unnoticed. It wasn't long before someone worked up the courage to ask why I was dressed up. I smiled, knowing things were about to get interesting. "I'm a pastor," I said. "I just finished performing a wedding."
That’s usually enough to make people visibly uncomfortable as they begin replaying everything they’ve said since I arrived. But this particular day came with an extra layer of surprise. In that rural town, pastors weren’t known for drinking beer. To them, I must have looked like a dog walking on its hind legs, something strange they couldn’t quite look away from.
One man finally called across the bar, “I didn’t know pastors could drink beer!”
“I didn’t either,” I replied with a grin, “but they served me anyway!”
In truth, it was a fair question, and it points to a larger one:
Can Christians drink alcohol? If so, how much? How often? What kind of relationship should a follower of Jesus have with alcohol?
These are important questions, and they deserve an honest, biblical answer.
When it comes to alcohol, Christians often find themselves caught between two extremes. Some treat it as inherently sinful. Others embrace it without much thought. But we need to look honestly at the Scriptures, and consider the full picture of what’s taught.
The Bible does not ignore the reality of alcohol. In fact, it presents wine (and strong drink) as both a blessing and a potential snare.
On one hand, Scripture describes wine as a gift from God, meant to bring gladness to the heart (Psalm 104:14–15) and enjoyed in celebration (Ecclesiastes 9:7). Jesus Himself turned water into wine at a wedding feast (John 2:1–11), signaling the joy of His coming kingdom.
On the other hand, the Bible speaks plainly about its dangers. Proverbs warns, “Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler” (Proverbs 20:1), and Proverbs 23:29–35 paints a haunting picture of addiction and self-destruction. (Take a moment to read it, it’s startlingly vivid.) What begins as a blessing can quickly become a curse when misused.
The Seriousness of Drunkenness
While Scripture allows for moderate drinking, it consistently and strongly condemns drunkenness. “Do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery,” Paul writes, “but be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18). Drunkenness is not simply unwise; it is listed among the sins that can bar someone from inheriting the kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 6:10). Many have had the experience of overindulging, only to wake the next morning with a sense of shame over words or actions they would never have chosen had their inhibitions not been compromised.
Beyond the clear prohibition, Scripture also warns against using alcohol to escape pain or numb sorrow. In our suffering, we are called to cast our cares on the Lord (1 Peter 5:7), not drown them in drink. “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted,” the Psalmist reminds us (Psalm 34:18). Alcohol may offer the illusion of comfort, but we must not be deceived, it cannot bring the deep healing our hearts often long for.
While alcohol is often celebrated in our culture, Romans 12:2 urges us not to be conformed to the patterns of this world. As followers of Jesus, we are called to approach alcohol a bit differently.
In a culture saturated with excess, wisdom may often call us to caution in order to protect our hearts.
As followers of Jesus, we are called to walk in freedom, but not to be mastered by anything. Paul writes, “All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be dominated by anything (1 Corinthians 6:12). This is a helpful reminder in any conversation about alcohol. What begins as freedom can become bondage if we are not careful. Christians are to be led by the Spirit, not by impulse, habit, or dependency. If alcohol becomes something you rely on for comfort, peace, or social ease, it’s worth asking whether it's quietly becoming your master or your savior. Liberty in Christ never leads us into slavery.
There will be seasons where abstinence is the wisest choice, for the sake of your soul, your witness, or the people around you. Maturity means learning to discern not only what is allowed, but what is best.
Legalism and the Danger of Condemning What God Does Not
Despite the dangers alcohol presents, we must also guard our hearts against a different danger: legalism. Legalism is what we call it when we add to the commands of God and imposes restrictions that Scripture itself does not. Throughout church history, and especially in more conservative circles, alcohol has often been treated as inherently sinful. But the Bible never condemns alcohol outright. It condemns drunkenness, addiction, and unwise or unloving use.
To prohibit what God permits is to elevate our own preferences above God's revealed Word. Paul warns against this kind of distortion in Colossians 2:20–23, where he critiques man-made rules that appear wise but ultimately have “no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.”
When we insist that Christians must abstain from alcohol as a matter of righteousness, we risk binding our conscience to something where God has granted us freedom. Worse, we may cultivate a culture of judgment, where a person's maturity in Christ is measured by simply their outward appearances rather than by their heart.
Scripture calls us to walk in wisdom, not in legalism. We must not condemn what the Bible does not condemn. Our goal is not seeking to gain greater control through more restrictions or rules, but transformation through grace.
Christian Liberty: Freedom with Responsibility
So can Christian’s drink alchol despite these potential dangers? Yes, Scripture permits Christians to enjoy many good or even morally neutral things, television, music, celebrations, even alcohol. But with every gift comes the responsibility to use it wisely. Our liberty is always governed by our commitment to love one another.
When Cain asks, “Am I my brother’s keeper?” (Genesis 4:9), the implied answer is “yes”. We are responsible for the influence our lives have on others. Paul writes, “It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble” (Romans 14:21). Elsewhere he warns, “Take care that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak” (1 Corinthians 8:9). This is not to take away from the responsibility others have for their own decisions, but it should be our earnest hope not to be a stumbling block to others.
So the question for the Christian isn’t merely, “Am I allowed?” but “Is this helpful?” (1 Corinthians 10:23). Christian maturity moves us from claiming rights to considering impact. There will be moments when the wisest thing we can do is refrain, out of love for others or to guard our own hearts from drifting toward indulgence.
The goal of Christian liberty is not indulgence. It’s love. It’s about living in such a way that our enjoyment of God’s gifts glorifies Him and builds others up.
Principles for Navigating Alcohol as a Christian
At the end of the day, a Christian’s relationship with alcohol should be shaped by five simple principles:
- Thank God for His good gifts (Psalm 104:14–15).
- Guard your heart against temptation and self-deception (Proverbs 4:23).
- Love others more than your own liberty (Romans 14:21).
- Stay alert to your motivations (1 Corinthians 10:23).
- Glorify God in everything you do (1 Corinthians 10:31).
Some Christians will drink in moderation. Others will choose abstinence. Both choices can honor God, if done in faith, wisdom, and love. Our aim isn’t just to defend our behavior, but to reflect the beauty of a life surrendered to Christ in every area.
Even in something as ordinary as eating and drinking, the call remains: “Whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31).
So, can a Christian drink alcohol?
That’s an important question, if what we need is a yes or no. But once we realize Scripture does not forbid it outright, a better question emerges:
How can I glorify God in this?
1 Comment
Thank you for this blog. You gave me a lot to think about. But also let me see it's ok if I feel that alcohol is not for me. And that I should not judge others who choose to drink. For me personally my reasons for not doing it is because alcoholism runs on both sides of my family. On one side it became a generational thing from my grandfather to my uncle's. And on down to my one uncle's son so my cousin who unfortunately has gotten into legal trouble due to his drinking. On the other side of my family I had an uncle who would drink heavily until he was drunk and he would then become very mean and abusive to his wife and kids. He would beat up my aunt including throwing her across the room while pregnant. And he has been in and out of jail for years for drinking and driving without a license. So for me personally I've seen a lot of generational trauma due to alcohol so I avoid places and being around those individuals who are drinking to avoid the temptation of it. But very good blog to show both sides of this.