Dear Pastor Rich, I have a question that I had been discussing with some friends at work. The question is: “Can a Christian get drunk?”
Dear ________:
Thanks for your question. The answer is quite simple: YES! A Christian can get drunk. Okay, I trust this has answered your question. Let me know if you have any other questions.
Bye. . .
Oh, LOL, let me see if I can come at this from another direction. I think I answered your question, but not your intention. Let me rephrase the question: “Should a Christian get drunk?”
Now we are on to something. The first question is an obvious “yes.” Christians can get drunk. Many do so all the time. I have been with other Christians who serve the Lord with gladness during the week, some of which are in leadership (not pastoral, I might add!, but I would not be surprised if some do), who drink a little too much and become intoxicated.
Back in the early nineties, when I use to ride in a motorcycle club instead of going to church, I got drunk a few times. Not often, but I do remember getting drunk and riding back home on the Harley. I am not proud of that, but I confess, I did what I did. Christians can and do get drunk. There no question about this.
The prodigal son in Luke 15 was a son out in the far country. I am confident that he got drunk in addition to a few other things, but he REMAINED always a son. But you want to know the difference between a Christian getting drunk and an unbeliever getting drunk? When a Christian gets drunk and wakes up the next morning with a splitting headache, he says to himself, “I am done with this. I hate myself for what I had just done! I am not going to do that again. I am going back to my father’s house and make things right between Him and I.” This is what a Christian does when he or she gets drunk.
What about an unbeliever? When he or she gets drunk and wakes up with a splitting headache, they say, “Whoa! That party was awesome. The booze was great. The chicks were cool. I can’t wait for someone to invite me to their next party.”
Do you see the difference? The Christian confesses his sins to God. And the interesting thing is there is no record that the prodigal son went back to the pig pen. He didn't like it there. That is the difference between a believer and an unbeliever.
So, in recapping your question, “Can a Christian get drunk?” Yes, Christians can. “Should a Christian get drunk?” No, they should not.
Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit – Eph. 5:18 NIV
