Today we have a very peculiar and particular topic to discuss alcohol and a certain Religious Organization. Sit back and buckle up as we debunk some of the myths and try to spill the beans on whether Jehovah’s Witnesses drink alcoholic beverages.
Who are Jehovah’s Witnesses?
Have you seen men wearing formal attires like a proper suit and tie or a dress shirt, slacks, and dress shoes or maybe women in long modest dresses with hair neatly arranged in style while walking the streets at visiting one house after the other with their Bibles in one hand and their publications on the other, these are Jehovah’s Witnesses?
With each knock on the doors of each house, they make attempts to preach truths from the Bible. Some may get favorable responses, and some may even be chased away for disturbing the householder, but these people still fill the streets and preach.
You might be curious as to why they preach from house to house when other religious organizations don’t seem to be doing it. Let’s just say that it is a part of who they are as a people. They also adhere to Bible-based principles that were set by God or Jehovah himself.
You might be confused, but according to the Bible, God has a name, and that is “Jehovah,” or the Jewish Septuagint found in the old Hebrew-Aramaic Written Bible. It can be found written in Psalm 83:18 and is mentioned more than 7,000 times in the Bible itself. You can put this information to the test yourself.
Anyway, why are they the Religious organizations in question today, if you may ask? Well, as mentioned earlier, they hold themselves to a higher standard than many as they represent or are carrying the name of Jehovah himself as his witnesses; therefore, they must act accordingly.
Many people who have encountered them will also affirm this fact that Jehovah’s Witnesses behave differently than others, and I mean in a good way; hence the question of whether they (Jehovah’s Witnesses) drink alcohol or not is interesting as alcohol causes many to stumble and act in a way that is just improper or can be called morally corrupt.
How does the Bible view drinking?
The Bible is the oldest best-selling book, statistically speaking. But many may not know that the Bible is not just a single book but a collection of books. It is composed of two sections: the Old Testament, which contains 39 books, and the New Testament, which contains 27 books in it, and Jehovah’s Witnesses try to follow what the Bible teaches and asks of them as it is the words of Jehovah himself.
So it would make sense to ask how the Bible views drinking alcohol as it will be the views of Jehovah’s Witnesses as well. It is written that during the times of the Old Testament, wine was consumed and used for several purposes.
The Israelites of the Bible times, believe it or not, were not restricted in partaking of wine as written in the book of Psalm 104:14-15 “He is making grass grow for the cattle And vegetation for mankind’s use, To grow food from the land And wine that makes man’s heart rejoice, Oil that makes the face shine, And the bread that sustains the heart of mortal man.”
This Bible passage clearly states that wine, a kind of alcoholic drink available during that time, can be consumed by the Israelites as it is one of the gifts that Jehovah had given. If the Israelites followed the Bible, Jehovah’s Witnesses would live their lives following and respecting Bible principles and truths taught by Jesus.
So if asked whether a Jehovah’s Witness will drink alcohol, the answer is a relative “yes” and “no.” “Yes,” because it is not forbidden, nor does it say that God or Jesus is against it. “No,” because it is also part of the beliefs of Jehovah’s Witnesses that every individual is responsible for his or her own decisions as imparted by their own free will, but these decisions must be guided by the principles, laws, and truths found in the Bible which is the word of God.
In one of the publications or books used by Jehovah’s Witnesses to preach, entitled Enjoy Life Forever, there is a particular section that talks about how Christians should view alcohol and how God does not say that alcohol is bad, but the abuse of it is the cause of evil.
It mentions that an individual or a Christian should be able to discern whether or not he or she is to partake in drinking alcohol and when he or he should drink alcohol. They (Jehovah’s Witnesses) believe that a Christian should think once or twice before drinking alcohol, especially if it will be the cause for a brother’s stumbling.
An example mentioned would be if a brother has a past struggle with drinking alcohol, then his fellow brothers and sisters in the Organization are urged to be mindful of this particular brother’s plight, and they will take note not to give or offer this particular brother some alcohol or serve alcohol when he is invited to gatherings.
Each member is simply encouraged to discern based on Bible Principles and their conscience on whether to engage in drinking or not. You might be wondering if this is logical or even reasonable. Well, to each is his own beliefs.
They (Jehovah’s Witnesses) will never force their own beliefs on anyone, and you may have noticed this for those of you who have friends and family that are part of their religious organization. That’s why you don’t see them forcing someone to drink or forcing people to listen to them when they preach.
Is alcohol bad?
Still on the topic of drinking alcohol, if Jehovah’s Witnesses view drinking alcohol relative to their conscience and not force anyone to drink. But is alcohol bad for the body? From previous writings, there are different kinds of alcohol, and Ethanol is the only alcohol that can be consumed at high levels and can lead to harmful effects on the body.
Some of these are high blood pressure, a weakened immune system, the big ‘C’ or Cancer, heart disease and a possible stroke in the future, and problems with the digestive system along with the liver and kidneys.
Problems will also arise both in mental and social capacities and also in terms of alcohol addiction and dependence. It is true that everything must be consumed in moderation and that everything in excess is harmful and dangerous. Maybe that is also the reason why God frowns upon the excessive consumption of alcohol, and so Jehovah’s Witnesses fall heed to this simple instruction found in the holy scriptures.
I am a passionate beer connoisseur with a deep appreciation for the art and science of brewing. With years of experience tasting and evaluating various beers, I love to share my opinions and insights with others and I am always eager to engage in lively discussions about my favorite beverage.
