Can Methodists Drink Alcohol?

Methodists do not hold that drinking alcohol is morally wrong. Instead, they view it as a blessing from God that brings us joy and helps strengthen our faith.

However, that doesn’t mean Methodists can’t enjoy a drink from time to time. According to LifeWay Research in Nashville, 62% of Methodists admit taking occasional alcoholic beverages compared to just 33% of Baptists.

Many Methodist churches do not permit alcohol on their property or at church-sponsored events. But this tradition of temperance dates back to the early 1800s when Methodistism first gained popularity among working class miners and factory workers.

The church’s early embrace of temperance was part of a wider revival in holiness that occurred alongside the Methodist missionary movement. Temperance advocates saw drunkenness and alcoholism as contributing to social problems like poverty, violence and crime; additionally they sought to promote social justice and women’s rights by encouraging people to abstain from alcoholic beverages.

According to University of Louisville professor of history James Lawrence, the Methodist Episcopal Church was a major force behind the American temperance movement, which supported a national campaign in 1916 that outlawed alcohol sales. Their Board of Temperance, Prohibition and Public Morals–led by evangelists and revivalists–played an integral role during Prohibition’s era.

Methodists also played a pivotal role in popularizing the “Lips that touch liquor shall never touch mine” slogan used by the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union during the early 1900s. Frances Willard, an influential Methodist leader and champion of temperance issues in America, dedicated herself to advancing women’s equality and helping them gain voting rights.

Methodists have long been known to drink, though no one has ever been charged with a crime for doing so. Many Methodists consider their alcohol consumption a personal choice and do not seek treatment or assistance for it.

Most Methodists do not consider moderate drinking to be a problem, though the church’s policies on this matter remain uncertain.

The Bible encourages Christians to enjoy a glass of wine in moderation (Ecclesiastes 7 v7; Psalm 104 v15), and also reminds us to thank God for providing us with food and drink as gifts from above.

Most Methodists don’t consider alcohol abuse a big issue, but some of them are addicts. Some have been in recovery for years while others still battle addiction and find it hard to quit.

The church’s policies regarding alcohol use and relapse are founded in biblical teachings about leading a healthy life. It emphasizes that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, so it’s important to respect them. Individuals are encouraged to exercise spiritual discernment when making decisions regarding their own alcohol consumption. It urges Christians to “make every decision with an eye toward the gospel” and avoid self-righteous attitudes which judge others for not following their example.