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Okay to Drink Coffee?

By May 1, 1995November 9th, 2022No Comments

Q.

Now that coffee is at last listed with the other drugs, I would like to have your thoughts on how Christians handle this categorization. Nearly all the Christians I know greatly enjoy drinking coffee. Should they stop, as they would with other drugs?

A.
We must begin with the question, Is coffee a drug in the sense that other drugs or narcotics are? I doubt it. On the other hand, I have been disturbed by Christians who are obviously hurting their bodies by drinking coffee. When people talk about drinking 15 to 20 cups a day, I have a hard time believing they’re not harming the temple of the Holy Spirit.

Perhaps you’ve heard the old saying, If it’s doubtful, it’s dirty. The underlying principle states that we should beware of “gray” areas and should live by higher standards. Also, a believer should never offend his conscience or convictions. If drinking coffee seems wrong to you, you should leave it alone.

Drinking coffee is unlike drinking alcohol. The Bible warns against drinking alcoholic beverages. On the other hand, it is silent about coffee drinking. We must use general principles regarding conduct about which the Bible is silent.

This article appeared in the “Q & A” column of the Baptist Bulletin (May 1995) by Norman A. Olson. 

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