Alcohol and Christianity – Alcoholic Intoxication, Sin, and Demons
Question: Does alcoholic intoxication permit demonic spirits to enter you more easily?
I wouldn’t say intoxication alone permits them to enter you. This can happen with alcohol, as well as all other drugs whether legal or illegal, but there’s more to it than just being intoxicated.
God tells us to be sober-minded for a reason.
God’s Law forbids drunkenness and intoxication for a reason.
Galatians 5:19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery; Galatians 5:20 idolatry and sorcery; hatred, discord, jealousy, and rage; rivalries, divisions, factions, Galatians 5:21 and envy; drunkenness, carousing, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
We have a REAL enemy. And when we sin against God and break His Law (laws that are actually there to protect us) we decrease that protection and make ourselves more vulnerable to the enemy of our souls.
Take a look at this screenshot from my Spiritual Warfare Bootcamp workshop. You’ll notice that even non-physical sins such as astrology, divination, psychics, praying to the dead, etc were also forbidden in God’s Law. Why? It is because these things are ways for us to connect to something outside of ourselves spiritually—but not to God. If we are connecting to a spirituality that is apart from God we are tapping into the demons in the spiritual realm on Earth.
Intoxication using alcohol or drugs inhibits our physical senses. With our physical senses impaired we are more vulnerable to spiritual attack. This is true even if we’re doing something innocent, like using drugs under the care of a doctor for a surgery. Fortunately, God is sovereign and in control of all things. Since we are not in violation of God’s Law, He protects us from attacks from the enemy. It is only when we are violating His Law that we need to concern ourselves with.
Being intoxicated doesn’t mean that you’re going to instantly get demons. What it means is that you’re more vulnerable to acquiesce to them while in that state. You’re more likely to believe a demonic lie, more likely to feel “promptings” that you think are your own, more likely to commit additional sins and go deeper. Many people use intoxication as an excuse because they do all of their worse sins (fornication, adultery, anger, physical abuse, rape, murder, divination, etc.) while in that state. It truly is a gateway sin.
Don’t think that you’ll be able to just get drunk and that’s the only sin you’ll do then commit to be otherwise holy. Sin is sin. All sin corrupts. All sin reduces your protection. All sin goes against the will and purpose of God for your life and negatively impacts your relationship with Him. The verse I gave you above shows that even drunkenness is a sin, and it is listed with all the others that “those who do such things will not inherit the Kingdom of God.”
It should be noted for my legalist brethren that alcohol is not a sin in and of itself. If you have the ability to have a drink or two, and remain sober-minded and holy, and provided you’re not drinking during religious institutions (church preaching, teaching, during the sacraments, etc) then you’re okay. But always use caution, discernment and discretion, and if you’re ever in doubt—play it safe and abstain.
