Posted by Michael Dobbs

I’ve seen this question come up a lot: “If Jesus turned water into wine, why do some Christians say we can’t drink?” Honestly, it’s something I wrestled with myself for years. On one hand, you read John 2:1-11 where Jesus performed His very first miracle at the wedding in Cana, and it’s clear—He turned water into wine, and the master of the banquet even said it was the best wine saved for last. So if Jesus provided wine, how could it be wrong?

The answer isn’t a simple “yes” or “no.” The Bible doesn’t say drinking wine itself is a sin, but it does draw a line when it comes to drunkenness. Paul makes this very clear in Ephesians 5:18: “Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.” The issue isn’t necessarily the cup in your hand—it’s what happens when that cup controls you.

Back in biblical times, wine was a common drink, partly because clean water wasn’t always available. It was normal in meals and celebrations. But at the same time, Scripture constantly warns us about the dangers of excess. Proverbs 20:1 says, “Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.” The writer isn’t saying nobody should ever touch it; he’s warning that once you let it master you, you’ve lost your wisdom.

I grew up in a church where drinking in any form was frowned upon. At first, I thought it was just legalism. But over the years, I began to see the reasoning. Some people can take one glass and stop. Others, though, can’t. For them, that “just one drink” can become a habit, then an addiction, and before long it destroys families, jobs, and even their relationship with God. Paul actually addressed this idea of freedom versus stumbling blocks in 1 Corinthians 8:9: “Be careful, however, that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumbling block to the weak.”

That scripture hit me hard. Even if I personally felt I could handle a glass of wine responsibly, what if someone watching me couldn’t? What if my “freedom” encouraged them into something that would ruin their life? Suddenly, the question wasn’t just about what I could do, but about what I should do as a follower of Christ.

It’s also worth noting that Paul encouraged Timothy to take a little wine for his stomach’s sake in 1 Timothy 5:23. That shows us again—wine itself wasn’t condemned. It even had medicinal use. The line is when it becomes indulgence, recklessness, or when it clouds our judgment.

At the end of the day, I don’t believe the Bible bans Christians from ever touching alcohol. What it does forbid is drunkenness, addiction, and anything that pulls us away from being sober-minded and Spirit-led. For some believers, the wisest choice is to abstain completely, not because wine is evil, but because they’d rather not even open the door to temptation. For others, they may enjoy it in moderation without conviction.

Romans 14 really sums this up well. Verse 21 says, “It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother or sister to fall.” To me, that means the real heart of the matter isn’t about the wine itself, but about love—loving God enough not to be mastered by anything, and loving others enough to lay down my rights if it helps them walk stronger in faith.

So to answer the question: Christians can drink, but should they? That depends on their walk, their self-control, and the impact their choice has on others. Jesus gave us wine at a wedding, but He also gave us wisdom, self-control, and a call to live differently. For me, I’d rather be known as someone filled with the Spirit than filled with a bottle.