“Drink and get drunk!”

(Jeremiah 25:27)

“Wine that makes God and men rejoice” is “a gift from God.” (Judges 9:13; The Watchtower, February 2011, page 29) Hence it is beyond dispute that Christians are allowed to drink alcohol – it is even a direct Biblical command. (1 Timothy 5:23) Certain persons, however, say that Christians must be moderate in drinking; they even claim that it would be “against God’s law to get drunk.” (You Can Live Forever in Paradise on Earth, page 130) There are even magazines saying that “Christians … must avoid getting drunk.” (The Watchtower, April 15, 1985, page 19) Does the Bible support such an attitude?

Obviously not. “Noah was a righteous man. He proved himself faultless among his contemporaries. Noah walked with the true God.” (Genesis 1:9) Later “Noah … planted a vineyard. When he drank of the wine, he became intoxicated.” (Genesis 9:20, 21) God did not reproach him for getting drunk; rather he cursed those who had mocked Noah. – Genesis 9:24.

After this, the prophet Jeremiah became “like a man who is drunk … because of Jehovah and because of his holy words,” and he prompted all nations: “Drink and get drunk!” (Jeremiah 23:9; 25:27) Later the prophet Haggai told the Israelites in the name of Jehovah: “There is a drinking, but not to the point of getting intoxicated” – this was not a compliment but should illustrate their miserable condition. (Haggai 1:6, NWT 1984) “Getting intoxicated” would have been a proof of Jehovah’s blessing.

Getting intoxicated was common in the early Christian congregation. The apostle Paul said regarding the evening meal: “Some go hungry while others get drunk.” (1 Corinthians 11:21, NLT) True Christians of our day must follow this example and also get drunk. But “one may [drink and still] not be getting drunk … and here is the big danger for Christians.” – The Watchtower, February 1, 1973, page 71.