Is It OK To Celebrate Christmas With Alcohol? -By Isaac Asabor

There is no denying the fact that not a few Nigerians are at the moment looking forward to the celebration of 2022 Christmas, yet it is also a time when some people are more likely to literarily get drowned in a diverse pool of alcohol than at other times of the year. In fact, Christmas has always been one of the most celebrated times of the year for Christians and non-Christians alike, so much so that 2022 Christmas will not be any different.

Standardly put, Christmas Day in Nigeria, as obtained all over the world, is a public holiday that is always marked with pomp and pageantry, leaving towns and cities to be less busy as not a few Christians; both committed and nominal, return to their ancestral villages to be with their families, particularly to bless those less fortunate. Thus, as people prepare in top gear to leave the towns and cities for their ancestral villages, various kinds of markets, particularly that of foodstuffs and drinks are mushrooming even as they are been patronized with zest.

As the Christmas season is already here with us, even as D-Day is on Sunday, it portends Christmas parties, celebrations with friends, family gatherings, and seeming recklessness in indulgence in food, gifts, and alcohol. Of all the social attractions that are usually associated with Christmas, consumption of alcohol has no doubt been singled out for questioning as not a few people usually ask whether it is okay to celebrate Christmas with alcohol or not.

In fact, many festivities that are equally celebrated with the drinking of excessive amounts of alcohol are not as vilified as much as those in Christendom who  are undeservedly been pilloried over the drinking of alcohol at Christmas.

Ostensibly to answer the foregoing question that has critically been asked by not a few non-Christians who merely want to gaslight their Christian friends, colleagues, or neighbors, they see nothing wrong with Christians drinking during the Christmas season as they unanimously say there is nothing wrong with social drinking.

To the foregoing category of people, social drinking is unavoidable as it is a huge part of our culture. To justify the lifestyle, they will say alcohol is available everywhere, from bars and restaurants to people’s homes. They will add that it is a popular way to socialize, relax and even celebrate special occasions. As if the defenses often put up by them are not enough, they will explain that occasional drinking of alcohol or even drinking a few times a week is considered by medics to be normal and harmless. To my view, this deep-seated cultural attitude remains mostly unchallenged in our society. Because of this, there is no clarity about when social drinking becomes a problem.

At this juncture, it is expedient to ask, “What does the Bible say about moderate alcohol consumption or social drinking? There is no denying the fact that there is an increasing openness to social drinking in our circle of Christian friends. In fact, this seems to be the new norm, but I am not sure I feel comfortable with it. For instance, some Christians will unashamedly say things like, “I don’t drink beer, but I drink Stout”, “I don’t drink more than one bottle”, “I don’t go to beer parlors, I drink within the confines of my living room”. Personally, the foregoing excuses that have usually been offered to justify the consumption of alcohol in Christendom are untenable, particularly when analyzed from a scriptural perspective.

However, opinions about social drinking vary widely in the Christian community, even as equally committed believers find themselves on opposite sides of the question. In fact, not a few Christians accept the casual use of alcohol in evangelical circles, especially among young adults.

As a writer and Journalist, even as I am not in this context portraying myself to be a sanctimonious person or laying down the law, but I must confess that I am expressing this view from the prism of those gray areas of Christian life and in a situation where “One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind” as enshrined in Romans chapter 14 verse 5.

In as much as the Bible never gives detailed instructions about drinking, it does, however, give principles every Christian should consider which implies that scripture prohibits drunkenness.  In fact, there is a scriptural injunction that says if Christians choose to consume alcohol, they should do so with moderation and self-control.

There is no denying the fact that several passages in God’s Word openly condemns drunkenness, and the injunction can be found in Romans 13:13, Galatians 5:19-21, 1 Timothy 3:1-7, and 1 Peter 4:3. Most notably, Ephesians 5:18 prohibits intoxication, contrasting it with being controlled by the Holy Spirit: “Do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit”. In other words, Scripture warns those in Christendom that excessive drinking can make people lose control of their minds and bodies. That is clearly sinful.

But the Bible does not say that all alcohol consumption is wrong. Jesus did not hesitate to turn water into wine at the wedding in Cana (John 2:1-12). And Paul advised Timothy, “No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments” (I Timothy 5:23).

Be that as it may, it is expedient to ask, “How does your drinking affect you, and others?”

The answer to the foregoing cannot be farfetched as Christians have a responsibility to regulate all of their behavior in every area of life according to the law of love (James 2:8). So drinking should be handled with prayer and careful consideration.

If someone does decide to drink, they should guard against the progressive nature of alcoholism (the tendency to move from a free choice to a chemical addiction). It is particularly important to be aware of any family history related to alcoholism, as this can increase the chances of a person losing control.

Be that as it may, minors should obey the law and abstain from any use of alcohol during this forthcoming Christmas and New Year celebrations. Remember the advice Paul gives about stumbling blocks in 1 Corinthians 10:23-33: The question we should ask ourselves is not what may or may not be permissible, that is a self-centered approach. Instead, we should ask how our choices (and how we communicate our perspectives) might impact other people (Philippians 2:3-4).

While it is not apposite to be holier-than-thou, judgmental, and conclusive in this context as regards this topical issue, it is expedient for us to always have the word of Winston Churchill that says,  “I have taken more out of alcohol than alcohol has taken out of me” at the back of our minds while the season lasts. In a similar vein, while we keep pondering on whether it is OK to drown ourselves in alcohol as the Christmas season is here, it is apt to say “Happy Christmas in advance to all my readers on this news platform”.