Introduction
It’s one of the most tension-filled questions in many Christian circles: Can I be a good Christian and still enjoy a drink? If you’ve ever felt a pang of guilt while having a glass of wine at a wedding or wondered if your struggle with alcohol means you’re a failure in God’s eyes, you are not alone.

We’ve been taught a world of absolutes: “Don’t do this. Don’t even think about that.” It feels so Old Testament. But we live under the New Covenant of grace. We are forgiven, set free, and called to a life of abundance and joy. So where does that leave us with alcohol?

The Personal & Cultural Disconnect
I’ve been to countless Christian weddings. All but one had alcohol as part of the celebration—a God-given gift to “gladden the heart of man,” as Psalm 104 says. The one wedding without it was dry, awkward, and felt more like a rule than a celebration. Even the bride and groom were restricted.

This reflects a deep-seated belief in some churches that “alcohol is of the devil.” But I have to be honest: after years of searching, I cannot find that command anywhere in my Bible.

It’s not in the Ten Commandments.
It’s not in the red letters of Jesus.
It’s not in the writings of Paul.

Nowhere does it say, “Thou shalt never drink alcohol.” In fact, the evidence points the other way.

The Biblical Case for a Truce
Let’s remember one of Jesus’s first miracles: turning water into excellent wine to save a wedding celebration from social disaster (John 2:1-11). He didn’t do it reluctantly; he did it to bring joy.

The Bible warns repeatedly against the abuse of alcohol—drunkenness. But it never condemns the substance itself. To do so would be to call God’s creation inherently evil.

So, if the Bible doesn’t demand total abstinence, what are our options? We often see only two absolutes:

• Column A: I will never drink for the rest of my life.
• Column C: I will drink whenever, however, and as much as I want.

This black-and-white thinking is what creates so much shame, failure, and misery. But what about the middle ground? What about…

• Column B: I will learn to drink moderately, with intention and a plan, as a celebratory part of life, without letting it control me.

This Column B is what I call the “Grateful Truce.”

The Failure of Absolutes and the Case for a New Way
I can already hear the objections. “How dare you promote this thinking!”

But I have to ask: How has the absolute of “no drinking” worked for us as a nation? We tried it. It was called Prohibition, and it was a catastrophic failure. We’ve tried the same “War on Drugs” absolutism, with similarly devastating results.

And on a personal level? We are staring down the greatest alcohol and drug abuse epidemic in our history. The cycle of shame, relapse, and despair is breaking people. The old way isn’t working.

Conclusion

So, am I spouting blasphemy? Or am I a man who has lived for years in the world of addiction, rehab, AA, absolutes, and abstinence, and has come out the other side to tell you: There is another way.

If what we’ve been doing is only making things worse, then clinging to it is not faithfulness—it’s folly.

Can you be a Christian and drink? Yes. The real, more grace-filled question is: Can you be a Christian and find a peaceful, sustainable, and God-honoring relationship with alcohol?

The Apostle Paul gave Timothy a profound principle that guides this exact issue: “No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments” (1 Timothy 5:23). Here, wine isn’t presented as a sin, but as a practical, God-given remedy. It’s a biblical example of intentional, moderate use for well-being.

That path isn’t found in the extremes. It’s found in the middle ground of grace and wisdom. It’s found in the Truce.

What do you think? Does this resonate with your struggle? Leave a comment below—let’s have a real conversation about this without judgment.

—
Chris Mosser
Author of Grateful Truce and The AGI Dilemma