What does the Bible say about addiction?

What does the bible say about addiction?  Nothing.

Well, to be clear, the word addiction is not even in the scriptures. The words most commonly used in the scriptures in regards to when substances are used problematically is drunkenness, debauchery, and riotous living. For many who are reading this, you have begun to understand how your use has hurt those around you and has caused grave destruction in your life. For some of you, you have people you love who have destroyed their lives by their use of substances or behavioral addictions or you’re feeling it may be spinning out of control. For others, you have been hurt or endangered by another’s use. Reading these entries, and reading about what the bible says about substances, might bring up a great amount of pain or stir a high level of anger. Remember to get yourself plenty of support as you read through the pages here. This is tender, painful territory.

My father was an alcoholic. My uncle died of cirrhosis. My grandfather died of complications with his drinking. I have several immediate and extended family members who have had alcohol and drug addictions. Alcohol and drugs effect almost every family. We all have our personal stories. The need for those who use the bible as their standard for how they want to live their life is to take the time to explore what the scriptures say about addiction. This process alone can bring a lot of healing and understanding.

You may have some very strong feelings about the drinking of alcohol. You’ve done your own study of the scriptures and come to some strong convictions. The scriptures included here are not exhaustive, but may provide a beginning for an open discussion. I feel my own worry about the gall I have to even address the question of what the bible says. As you explore things here, or as you do your own exploring of the scriptures and what others have had to say, remember Paul’s command that we should be acting in love (Romans 14:15) and that “whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord” (Romans 14:8). Any information you receive here or elsewhere, use it with love, remembering that you belong to God and that you are called to be an imitator of God, an ambassador for him, living as a child of the light (Eph 5, 2 Cor 5). Walk gently and respectfully with others.

Reminder: if you have a loved one who is dealing with addiction, remember not to use the scriptures below as a hammer with which to bludgeon them. The purpose of this entry is to encourage a deeper understanding of the scriptures. In no way do I mean don’t show them to someone. The Spirit convicts the world of guilt in regards to sin (John 8:26) so just make sure that you speak the truth in love (Eph 4:15) and let the scriptures do most of the convicting.

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Definitions and Consequences 

In my early exploration of providing therapy for those dealing with addiction, I had to do a bit of study in the scriptures because I really did not feel like I had a good understanding of what the bible said about alcohol or addiction other than don’t get drunk. There are, however, a number of scriptures about the use of alcohol in the bible. You’ll find many in the book of Proverbs.

As we do this, remember that we are not just talking about one particular substance like alcohol. We are talking about using any substance or behavior in a way that is intoxicating and also using it to the point where the use becomes habitual, compulsive, or addictive. First of all, let’s look at what the definition is of intoxication. Webster says to be intoxicated is “to excite or stupefy by alcohol or a drug to the point where physical and mental control is markedly diminished.” The reality is, people do this. They lose control of a behavior to the point that their mental health is affected. And they have often done this not only with drugs and alcohol but also with other things such as working out, pornography, gambling, shopping, sex, and food.

So that is what the dictionary says, but what do the scriptures say. Let’s examine some of them.

“Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaints? Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes? Those who linger over wine, who go to sample bowls of mixed wine. Do not gaze at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly! In the end it bites like a snake and poisons like a viper. Your eyes will see strange sights, and your mind will imagine confusing things. You will be like one sleeping on the high seas, lying on top of the rigging. “They hit me,” you will say, “but I’m not hurt! They beat me, but I don’t feel it! When will I wake up so I can find another drink?” (Prov 23:29-35)

This is such a revealing scripture. If you yourself have experienced addiction, or if you are the one who has seen someone go through addiction, this scripture is eerily accurate. Addiction causes woe, sorrow, and strife. It also causes bloodshot eyes (well a number of drugs do). People mix their drugs and when they take them, their eyes do see strange and confusing sights. Though some people use substances and behavioral compulsions to soothe anxiety and other emotional challenges, one of the other primary pulls to use is the euphoric sensation and the amazing mental trips. And oh, these substances go down smoothly. However, in the end, they cause pain and suffering. People don’t use drugs and alcohol or lose money through gambling and shopping, or view pornography because they hate those things. One of the most important things for someone in recovery to admit is that most of the time there was some measure of pleasure in using. Sometimes the purpose of addiction for certain individuals is more connected to relieving stress and anxiety, but for many, the use of that behavior or substance brings some kind of positive feeling or sensation. Admitting that is often part of the process of recovery. What does your addiction do for you and what do you like about it? Ultimately, though, any use leads to both literal or figurative hits, hurts, and bruises in life. Let’s look at other scriptures.

Here are a few that make it clear that drunkenness and debauchery are the issue God is concerned with when it comes to the use of substances and involvement in addictive behaviors:

“Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler; whoever is led astray by them is not wise.” (Prov 20:1)

“Woe to those who rise early in the morning to run after their drinks, who stay up late at night till they are inflamed with wine.” (Is 5:11)

“Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Eph 5:18-20)

“Old wine and new wine take away their understanding.” (Hosea 4:11)

The scriptures make it clear that we need to be intoxicated by the Spirit, to be filled with overflowing with God and His Word. Drunkenness and intoxication of any kind keeps that from happening. It leads us astray, makes us unwise, and takes away our understanding.

There are other scriptures that address drunkenness and associated behaviors:

“Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” (Gal 5:19-21)

“Do not join those who drink too much wine or gorge themselves on meat, for drunkards and gluttons become poor, and drowsiness clothes them in rags.” (Prov 23:20-21)

“Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.” (Romans 13:13-14)

In these lists of sin (and others), the words used that would apply to addiction would be debauchery, drunkenness, and carousing. In the Greek, the word for debauchery is aselgei, meaning wantonness, licentiousness, lewd, without restraint. This word can apply to sexually wanton behavior and to substance involved wantonness. The root of the word is selges, which means continent. So when someone overindulges in these kinds of sensual practices (over drinking, over eating, over anything), they are being incontinent. The word for drunkenness is methe, which means an intoxicant or being intoxicated. This is an important distinction in the definition. The Hebrew word in Proverbs for drunkard is caba, meaning to drink largely, full the self, to satiate by imbibing wine. This is combined with zuwi, which means to quake or to shake, as in to drink or eat riotously. The word for carousing is komos which is a riotous party or drunken feast which is usually accompanied by unbridled sexual immorality, or debauched partying.

These different definitions reflect the common overlap with the lack of restraint and uncontrolled use of a substance that often leads to risky and uncontrolled sexual behaviors. Drugs and sex often overlap in some fashion, where the use of a substance either excites sexual behaviors or lowers sexual inhibitions.

Alcohol and Relationships 

So how does the bible address someone who likes to enjoy a drink if they are with a friend or someone they love who has a challenge with alcohol? Paul gave some helpful direction. “The kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the holy Spirit… it is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother to fall.” (Romans 14:20-21). This scripture is dealt with in specific detail in the entry “To Drink or Not to Drink.” However, for the purpose of this entry, God calls us to consider the impact of the choices we make on those we are close to and to make our decision about what to eat or drink with that heart.

Is Alcohol Prohibited or Allowed in Scripture? 

Yes.

Well, there is some discussion, especially in religious circles, about whether drinking should occur at all within a family of believers. For those who would support that drinking itself is not forbidden but does have its place if righteously used, the scriptures generally used are:

“Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses.” (1 Tim 5:23)

“He makes grass grow for the cattle, and plants for people to cultivate-- bringing forth food from the earth: wine that gladdens human hearts, oil to make their faces shine, and bread that sustains their hearts.” (Ps 104:15-16)

"Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now." (John 2:10)

Here we see how Paul actually advises Timothy to take some wine to benefit his health. The Psalmist declares that wine can gladden the heart, and Jesus himself, when he made water into wine, didn’t just make an acceptable wine to fulfill his mother’s request. He made such a good wine that the master of the banquet said it was the best.

One of the primary concerns about participating in any kind of drinking is the idea of sobriety. “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Pet 5:8). God calls us to be sober. To be alert. So can an intoxicant be ingested without causing intoxication at some level? Though some might disagree, this is a valid argument to consider when one looks at blood alcohol content charts from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration where one drink causes impairment for some individuals and two drinks causes impairment for all but the highest weight levels. At what point does ingestion of a substance cause woe, sorrow, strife, and complaints (Prov 23:29)? These are important concerns to consider as each individual examines their decision to intake any type of intoxicant.

The passages above are but a beginning. Whole books have been written about biblical view of intoxication, drinking, and addiction. Hopefully what you have gained is the encouragement to do your own exploration into the biblical view of addiction.