What is the limit on alcohol consumption for Christians?
In a passionate livestream message, Isaiah Saldivar addressed the controversial topic of alcohol consumption among Christians, emphasizing both biblical and practical reasons for abstinence.
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Drawing from his own personal testimony, he described his own struggles with addiction to alcohol before salvation, saying, “Before I was saved, I drank almost every day…”
Saldivar recounted that the power of God delivered him from this addiction, a freedom he sees as a clear indication that alcohol is spiritually harmful. “I wonder why the Lord would deliver me from alcohol but then say you can drink it,” he said. “One of the first things God delivered us from was this evil, destructive, poisonous liquid.”
Citing Scripture, he stressed that Christians are called to be holy and set apart from the world. “We are to abstain from the appearance of evil,” he said, referencing Ephesians 5:18: “Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to reckless living. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.” He argued that alcohol often fills a void that only God is meant to satisfy. “Why do we drink? Because there is a void that God is not filling,” he stated.
He also highlighted the social and spiritual consequences of alcohol use. Romans 14:21 warns, “It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything else that will cause your brother to fall.” Saldivar noted, “One drink for you could be the first drink that sends someone else back into addiction. As believers, we are called to abstain from anything that could cause a brother or sister to stumble.”
Practical dangers were also cited. Proverbs 23:31–32 warns, “Do not gaze at wine when it is red…in the end it bites like a snake and poisons like a viper.” Saldivar then stated, “Wine is a mocker. Alcohol opens you up to demonic spirits. It dulls the mind, clouds judgment and contradicts the work of the Holy Spirit.”
Beyond spiritual concerns, Saldivar pointed to real-world consequences. Alcohol contributes to family breakdown, violent crime and long-term health problems. “It destroys families. It kills brain cells. It is a numbing agent,” he said, adding that Christians should not allow anything to control their minds or bodies. “You cannot be sober-minded if you are not sober.”
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Saldivar also called believers to action, urging them to reject alcohol entirely and pursue fullness in the Holy Spirit. “Jesus is enough,” he said. “Pour out the alcohol, break the chains and step into the freedom God intended. No spirits, no alcohol. We are living in the last days. We cannot be playing games with this stuff.”
Abby Trivett is a writer and editor for Charisma Media and has a passion for sharing the gospel through the written word. She holds two degrees from Regent University, a B.A. in Communication with a concentration in Journalism and a Master of Arts in Journalism. She is the author of the upcoming book, The Power of Suddenly: Discover How God Can Change Everything in a Moment.
Mr. Saldivar fails to mention that Jesus established the Christian covenant with wine. His teaching is one sided. Wine was given by God to gladden the heart of man. Not understanding all of the scriptures on this subject results in unsound doctrine.