is it a sin to drink alcohol catholic

Some people can take several bottles of beer and they are fine. What would happen if we went all in for Christ, in every single aspect of our lives? If you want to read all the verses you can find them here: List Of Bible Verses About Alcohol. As Ive said to some of my studentstongue and cheek, of course: Look, if I drive by your house at 7 a.m. and I see your girlfriends car outside, Im not going to assume that she slept on the couch. And the same is true of the young freshman who looks up to these studentswho inevitably says: If thats what good Catholics do, then it must be OK.. Just log in or create your free account. In these articles that are intended to accompany The Catechism in a Year podcast, we will present a travel guide through the major themes of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. It is true that many of the wines probably had a slightly lower ABV (Alcohol by Volume) than todays wine. The ideal is that you dont want to get to the point where you feel overly giddy or lose coordination of your limbs, etc. One Bible verse that clearly supports the intake of alcohol is the apostle Paul's admonition to Timothy to drink wine for health reasons: No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments. 2023 Ascension Press. In the majority of cases drinking will not hurt your witness in America. In the New Testament, the first miracle of Jesus was turning water into wine. He not only approved of drinking wine but he, himself, drank wine on several occasions. In many states, its legal for someone to drink underage in the presence of their parentsso thats not an issue. Abusing intoxicating drink is a grave sin if it deprives the drinker of the use of reason. In fact, Paul tells Timothy, Drink a little wine for your stomachs sake. I think Timothy was nervous and shy, and hed get, like, his stomach would get sick, and so Paul said Have a few glasses of wine and relax.. Harmful to body, mind and soul. However, the Bible never condemns the consumption of alcohol just the abuse of it. If you are in a country where you have to be above a certain age in order to legally consume alcohol, then it is sinful to break the law. But it is not Catholic. Especially as we continue to face a State that is becoming more draconian in its laws. I once had a Methodist pastor tell me of a friend who was caught drinking at a party by one of his parishioners. (Eph. In laymans terms, it means voluntary self-restraint. The Bible holds drinking in tension. The early Christians in America ranged in their views on drinking alcohol. Thats not to say theres no warnings. Feeling the effects of alcohol is normal. 43, a. It deprives you of judgment and reason, gifts that God has given us to lead a righteous life. Jeffery Curtis Poor | March 1, 2022March 22, 2021 | Featured, What Does the Bible Say About What does the Bible say about drinking? Theres no standard marker that signifies when youve crossed over into the sin of drunkenness. What the bible is vehemently opposed to is drunkenness or intoxication. If Jesus is really Lord of my entire life, then the question is simply this: am I willing to be inconvenienced for the sake of the Gospel? This does have its good points, a people who slavishly follow the laws of the State make for a well ordered society, and it does help keep people from being lax and disregarding State law as unimportant. We should keep a close eye to make sure nothing takes the place of God in our life. It might seem that up to this point that as long as you dont get drunk or become addicted its okay for Christians to drink. 5:11; Luke 1:15). Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Site by Mere. Feeling the effects of alcohol is normal. Those incur grave guilt who, by drunkenness or a love of speed, endanger their own and others safety on the road, at sea, or in the air. Ive heard serious Catholics nod their heads in agreement that drunkenness is a mortal sin. Also, check out our posts on The Sacrament of Reconciliation. Alcohol is complicated, and today many dont know what the Catholic Church teaches about it. We believe everyone should have access to this, which is why we offer so many of our resources for free. You know, everything in Christianity seems to be regarded as a matter of moderation, doing things in moderation. Sola Media Group is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, Federal ID # 27-0565982. The primary mission of Christians is to tell those around us about what Jesus has done (Matthew 28). Dont forget to share your thoughts! In order to pass through this threshold, one has to move beyond simply asking: At what point have I done something wrong? in a minimalistic way, to asking: Are these actionsthese movies, these parties, etc.taking me toward or away from my ultimate end? And further, one asks this same question with respect to those who may be influenced by my actionseither by knowing me directly or by reputation: am I helping or hindering their pursuit of their ultimate end? Accordingly, custom has the force of a law, abolishes law, and is the interpreter of law (ST I-IIae, q. 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. Widespread and more or less universal custom takes on the authority of law. In talking with Catholic college students, Ive come to find that underage drinking is a hot topic. Some drink to escape their situation, while others drink to celebrate. 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. This just enforces that church teaching that consuming alcohol is perfectly fine. In other words, some might assume Catholics can't have funor can't enjoy alcohol. Very early in the morning, stopped at a desolate intersection, after stopping, I have run through a red light, thus breaking the law. Jesus had the following to say regarding people who criticized him for drinking alcohol: For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He has a demon. The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, Look at him! When you are in a state of drunkenness, your ability to make more conscious and informed decisions tend to get blurred and resort to more slow or poor judgment. Share your review! In fact, the Bible says. It may sound simple but practicing temperance requires a will of steel. Lets hear from you! We should also consider how it effects those around us. (Prov. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. It is not a sin to drink alcohol in moderation. Is it only a near occasion of sin? However, similar to the Bible, it cautions against excessiveness. And such a habit will spare you a lot of grief throughout your life. Is drinking a sin, or is just drunkenness a sin? Please log in again. What Happens If A Catholic Eats Meat On Friday? In fact, about once a month we get an email from somebody saying that they either disapprove of us drinking on the show or how alcohol is of the devil or something like that. In fact, we even have a sacramental wine or altar wine thats specifically intended for Eucharistic celebrations. There are certain cultures and countries where drinking would prohibit the spread of the Gospel. Theres also no verse that classifies exactly how many drinks you can have and exactly what drunk is. Sometimes evangelization is the reputed reason why some students want to engage in and permit (and even encourage) underage drinking. So there are some things that maybe are a sin for me but not for you, say, for example. Whats Missing from Most Responses to the Sex Abuse Crisis, How to Determine the Morality of an Action, Whats Wrong With Underage Drinking? If you find your reasoning and thinking beginning to get corrupted, youve gone too far. The sinfulness of those effects might depend on circumstances. Deuteronomy 7:13, 11:14 says that wine is a blessing from God and a few chapters later it says having no wine is a curse (Deuteronomy 28:38, 51). God created it for joyful celebration, as seen repeatedly in the Bible1. In fact, I would wager that I have almost never (if ever) seen a student involved in underage drinking who is totally on fire for Jesus. When one looks at the priest scandal, a curious thing arises. If we consume so much that we cannot properly make decisions, we go too far. To be morally mature one must distinguish between State laws that exist because they protect the natural law, and State laws that exist only to protect the common good. It is important to remember that even if gravely wrong actions (fornication, violence, etc.) Have you ever found yourself giving gifts to others while neglecting to give gifts to yourself? Then they go on to define drunkenness as setting in only when one blacks out. Excessive drinking, defined as "binge drinking" or. That is, Jesus was not with sinners. However, the vast majority of non-christians are not put off by drinking in western culture. Copyright 2019-2023. It would be better for him if a millstone were hung round his neck and he were cast into the sea, than that he should cause one of these little ones to sin (Luke 17:1-2). It is illegal to run a red light. This is why combining drinking alcohol with the operation of any kind of machinery, including a motor vehicle, is so dangerous. I personally have experienced both of these situations. When youre drunk, you wont have full control of your faculties. But anyone who wants to claim drinking is a sin has to face the sometimes positive light the Bible talks about alcohol in. Contact us toll-free at: (833) 843-2673. But there are a few things we can know about alcohol in the Bible. Others point to the fact that Jesus not only drank wine, but he also made wine at a wedding in Cana where the host had run out of his own supply in the middle of the celebration. God is never outdone in generosity; when we go all in, he often blows us away with blessings we could never imagine. One Bible verse that clearly supports the intake of alcohol is the apostle Pauls admonition to Timothy to drink wine for health reasons: No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments. Who would readily believe such a thing? Rather, it is on the list of sins because it is contrary to our dignity and damaging to the constructive use of our freedom that is essential to our friendship with God. Drinking in moderation is not a sin. Like the one we are asking, is drinking a sin? As I said, underage drinking cultivates a culture of lukewarmness, a sapping of spiritual zealits a sort of gateway to the party culture described above. The reason is that in the act of drunkenness we are forfeiting two of Gods greatest giftsour intellect and will. And I guess the second part: if not, is it a sin to become intoxicated? One common argument is that wine in the Bible is really nothing more than grape juice. Under that logic, we should all get rid of our money to fend off materialism. or altar wine thats specifically intended for Eucharistic celebrations. He lives with his wife Sarah and their four children in Atchison, Kansas. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart,giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ. DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affliliate links, meaning I get a small commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links. However, that doesn't mean that Catholics can't drink at all. Drunkenness is indeed a grave sin. But drinking was such a part of peoples everyday life back then. In this latter case the intoxication would be a venial sin. Paul also exhorts Christians to abstain from drinking alcohol in situations where doing so could cause their brothers or sisters in Christ to stumble (Rom. Try finding a Super Bowl party where alcohol isnt part of the festivities. The Bible talks WAY more about the dangers of money, but I dont see anyone using that logic with money. is it a sin to get drunk? Its a grey area of the Bible. So by all means, alcoholic drinks are not evil. 1 Timothy 5: 23. Alcoholic drinks have been around since 5400BC, which means the availability of fermented beverages was around even before Jesus arrived. What does the Bible say about drinking? The law is very clear in stating the speed that is legal in that area. It was commonly served during sacrifices and feasts. Frankly, a serious Catholic should never need a designated driver. Of course, the Bible strongly warns against the overconsumption of beer. As the popes have pointed out many times, the modern age has lost its sense of sin. You may live with an alcoholic or know someone who does. To legalistically use the State to reinforce sin does not help matters. There are many good reasons not to drink, and many more good reasons for the state to forbid minors to drink. He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth . This means that when one starts to feel it, its time to slow down or back off. Use your judgment and maybe talk to your priest to hear their opinion. Even Scripture praises God for having made wine to gladden their hearts (Psalm 104:15) that is, the hearts of men. that are put in place for our protection in Gods providence (Rom. Its sort like of this: if you want to be a Jediif you want to go all in with Christthis is what it takes: for at that point, there is no aspect of ones life over which Christ is not king and Lord. Go, eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a merry heart, for God has already approved what you do. Would I be upset with a fine? But if you abuse it, you are no better than the people who waste their life on worldly pleasures. There is also the case to be made for the sin of entering into close proximity to the sin of drunkenness as well as the case for the sin of scandal as St. Paul points out in 1 Corinthians 8. Or are we kind of beating a dead horse here? What does the New Testament have to say about all of this? To use the argument that the State says it is illegal and thus a sin may be easier and more effective, but it does in fact stunt a students moral growth. So drunkenness would be a sin. When he pointed out to the scandalized person that Jesus also drank wine, the response was, I know, I never liked that about him. Such has been Americas somewhat abnormal relationship with liqueur. Drinking, in itself, is not necessarily a sin. Where a culture of underage drinking prevails as the norm (and especially among otherwise serious Catholics), at a point having one or two social drinks turns into three or four (or five and six and beyond); and all of a sudden, those who were steadfast against drunkennessbut who insisted that underage drinking is OKfind themselves occasionally on the brink of drunkenness (and sometimes well past that point). In other places, it is regarded as something bad and unworthy. Its absolutely acceptable and normal. What does the Bible say about drinking? With all good things, we must practice moderation. It helps strengthen our control over our bodily desires and avoid unhealthy attachment to the material world. Something else to consider is the health effect of smoking. We try to help our readers better understand their lives; however, the content on this blog is not a substitute for any professional medical guidance. But abusing alcoholic beverages can lead one to sin. There is very good reason to detach young people from giving such over reaching authority to the State. ET on EWTN: Holy Mass and Rosary on Saturday, April 22, 2023 Tell us where you're. Each person is in a unique situation and will have to determine this themselves. The Bible talks about alcohol in both positive and negative terms. RC Spirituality is a service of Regnum Christi that creates life changing Catholic formation materials in many media formats. It can cause us to lose control of our free will and reason when we drink to excess. Alcohol use impairs a person's judgment, reaction time, and coordination. The only thing thats clear is the abuse of alcohol through drunkenness or addiction is a sin. 17K views, 519 likes, 455 loves, 3.7K comments, 232 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from EWTN: Starting at 8 a.m. Caller: Recognizing that Jesus turned water into wine, the question is: is it a sin to drink? If we ever choose to do this, it can be gravely immoral and a mortal sin. Ignoring these laws can easily be grave matter also, even if the driver is not strictly speaking drunk. Copyright 2023 RC Spirituality | All Rights Reserved. There are people in our life that we have the opportunity to positively influence. Often, their lives begin to revolve around a party culture: Which party should we go to? Or, even on an ordinary day in the middle of the week: What are we drinking tonight?. Be not among drunkards or among gluttonous eaters of meat. For example, in the Proverbs verse above, its talking about drinking too much wine because the next few verses describe things that typically happen during drunkenness like, Your eyes will see strange things and your heart utter perverse things. There are clearly more verses in the Bible warning about the dangers of excessive alcohol consumption than there are verses extolling its virtues. For if anyone sees you, a man of knowledge [i.e., a mature Christian], at table in an idols temple, might he not be encouraged, if his conscience is weak, to eat food offered to idols? 10:31). It is the abuse of alcohol that is the sin. In the seminary, I came across a book of no small thickness explaining how Jesus did not use fermented wine at table. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Your email address will not be published. However, thats not what the Bible is saying. Le Ann is managing editor of Beautiful Christian Life. A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners! Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds. (Matt. In some cases there are benefits to drinking. 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. And many Christian celebrations often involve drinking wine and merrymaking. by Dr. Andrew Swafford | Sep 12, 2018 | Formation | 4 comments. Just like in other things, if you drink alcohol too much, and you are well aware that you are drinking too much, then it becomes a sin. Who is St. Agnes of Rome, the Virgin and Martyr? Not because the police officer would suddenly make me feel guilty of committing sin, but because I would not want to pay the fine. Is Drinking Alcohol Inherently a Sin? But if you get drunk unknowingly (e.g. Sins of priest and bishops that were crimes were at times treated with great seriousness. As interpreted by most Catholic theologists, its not against the Bible to take alcoholic drinks like wine, but getting drunk goes against the Word of God. Ive seen numerous articles written on this topic. You might also like: What The Bible REALLY Says About Tattoos. Where To Donate Catholic Religious Items. Would that be sinful? Underage drinking is not the issue I start with in talking to your average college student; for many, the problems are much more severe (habitual unchastity, drunkenness, etc.). To make things very concrete, drunkenness has set in when you cannot (or should not) drive a car. As to your specific questions: First, if you are under the legal drinking age, you would do well to respect the law. In drunkenness, we willingly defile our rational nature. Alcohol is a funny guy. Some religious groups view alcohol as a gift from God, one that allows the spirit to enter the body. Catholics & Bible do not intend to provide any health related advice. But in the first century there were certain benefits to light drinking. But in moderation, it is encouraged. What if the State (Sweden) forbid spanking your child, would it be sin to pooch your five year old in the behind? If your drinking hinders someone coming to know Jesus than we should abstain. Nothing should hinder that. At any rate, speeding also does not have the aspect of scandal attached to it, as does underage drinking (see below). Judy Ponio is a professional writer for the Lay Cistercians blog and a devoted Catholic. But I wanted to address it from the other side. If I eat too much and I stuff myself like a pig, then I could say Oh my goodness, I just sinned through the sin of gluttony, and then the near occasion of that. But the reality is the Bible teaches that alcohol can be a good and enjoyable thing. All rights reserved. Its sort like of this: if you want to be a Jediif you want to go, in with Christthis is what it takes: for at that point, there is. It had no part to play in it, I drank wine before I was Catholic. But observing such a dynamic over several years, I can only conclude that rather than seriously evangelizing others, the purported evangelizers simply begin to lose their spiritual edge. No. It is simply warning against addiction and drunkenness. So I think if someone has a propensity to alcoholism and to not being able to control it, I think it would be considered a sin to go and tempt yourself there; but I think each one of those is kind of between you and God. And thats why the Bible warns against getting drunk on wine. If you go 1 mile per hour over, you are breaking the law. And this, according to St. Peter, isnt the true mark of a Christian: For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to doliving in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing, and detestable idolatry. 1 Peter 4:3. Lets take a look: For more about reading the Bible in context: How To Read The Bible (the 5 best tips). Would I go to confession for it? In other words the Bible is warning of the damage that being addicted to alcohol can bring. The Catholic Church does not prohibit the consumption of alcohol. Your decision-making and critical thinking abilities are significantly impaired. But what St. Paul says, in Ephesians 5:18, is: Do not get drunk with wine, for that is a waste, but be filled with the Holy Spirit. So Jesus turned water into wine, and the Aramaic word for wedding feast that Jesus was at, the Aramaic word means a drinking party, so Jesus went to a drinking party and he drank wine with, you knowso drinking of wine or alcohol is never considered a sin. In some cultures drinking will hurt your ability to reach those around you. Leave a comment below! Problems arise when alcohol is abused through drunkenness. After that point there could be diminishing returns in a moral sense meaning that you are putting yourself in danger of serious sin beyond that moment.
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