This question has been asked from me a couple of time. I remember it again after my conversation with four young men today. They had just finished a party around 5am when I was going to jog. I told them Jesus loved them and on my way back I continued my witnessing.
One of them later asked, when is Jesus coming? I responded that I don’t know but that nobody knows when he/she will die. Another guy offered me wine and when I said I don’t drink; he said but Jesus turned water into wine. As I left them, I asked myself, if indeed Jesus turned water into wine, why don’t I drink? Is it because it is a sin to drink?
Although this is not the reason I don’t drink today, it was the reason I didn’t drink in the past. I grew up in a Christian environment where it was believed that drinking alcohol is a sin. I believed the same thing and so when I went out with colleagues, I would always request for non-alcoholic drinks.
This belief was so strong that when I was given a bottle of wine after speaking at a symposium in Montpellier, France in 2016, I opened it in the hotel room and poured it into a flush toilet. But today as I understand my Bible better, I realize no where in the Bible was drinking wine said to be a sin.
What is wrong is drinking too much and being drunk. Looking back, I should have returned the bottle of wine to the organizer of that event or give it to someone that is not addicted to wine. So why don’t I drink today, the main reason is because I don’t need it. Instead I drink the Spirit of God, huge draughts of Him.
Another reason is that drinking alcohol can be addictive. Researchers have found drinking alcohol causes the release of naturally occurring feel-good opioids known as endorphins in two key brain regions associated with reward processing leading to drinking too much. If you don’t drink, I have an activity for you. Share with me why you don’t drink.
“And don’t get drunk with wine, which is rebellion; instead be filled with the fullness of the Holy Spirit.” Scripture
