Coffee ranks near the top of the list when it comes to the most consumed drinks in the world. Many people can’t even make it to work in the morning without taking that Starbucks detour. The addiction to this drink that some have, along with the caffeine content, has led some Christians to ask, “Is drinking coffee a sin?”
Aside from the old Hebrews (he brews) coffee joke, you won’t find any mention of coffee in the Bible. However, just because your daily “Cup of Joe” is not found directly in the Scriptures, it doesn’t mean we can’t receive direction from God’s Word on the coffee question.
Scriptures To Consider
(1 Corinthians 10:31) So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
(1 Corinthians 6:12) “I have the right to do anything,” you say–but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”–but I will not be mastered by anything.
(I Corinthians 6:19-20) Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.
(Genesis 1:29) Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food.
Coffee, when consumed in moderation, should not be viewed as a sin. When you consider that even water can be harmful if you drink it in very large amounts too quickly, you realize the key is moderation. If consumed in reasonable amounts, studies have shown coffee to have numerous health benefits. It should be looked at as one of the things God has given us to enjoy as a beverage.
Too Much Of A Good Thing Is Not A Good Thing
Due to the amount of caffeine in coffee, the argument can be made that coffee is sinful for those who consume large amounts on a regular basis. Opposite of the studies that show coffee can be good for you in moderation, other studies have shown that the large amounts of caffeine you would consume when drinking too much coffee can have harmful effects on your body.
Drinking something such as coffee in quantities that you know could harm your body would be no different than the sin of gluttony. For a Christian to knowingly put something in their body in any amount that is harmful to them would go against the principle of honoring God with their body (I Corinthians 6:19-20).
For some who may have a caffeine addiction or health condition, perhaps this means they should not be drinking coffee in any amounts, or at least stick to decaf. However, for most people who can stay with that reasonable few cups a day, their should be no guilt.
Enjoy Your Coffee
Some like it hot, some cold. Some black as tar, others with plenty of creamer and sweetener. Whatever your preference, coffee is one of those gifts from God that smells as good as it taste, so sip and enjoy!
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