What's "Addiction" in the Bible?

New blog on the kid: The Day Before Yesterday, I Bought a Flask of Whisky · Assorted retorts from yahoo boards and elsewhere: What's "Addiction" in the Bible?

Is Alcohol A Sin According To The Bible?
Taco Talks | 9 Jan. 2026
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmoNQJHY1f8

Hans-Georg Lundahl

@hglundahl

You misunderstand what happens to grape juice if not pasteurised, refrigerated etc.

It doesn't go very bad. But within two weeks or so, it starts turning to wine.

Hans-Georg Lundahl

@hglundahl

Being drunk is a sin, or rather getting drunk is a sin, once one is drunk it's too late.

Drinking in moderation is not a sin, also true.

Where in the Bible do you find "being addicted to alcohol is a sin"?

Bibi Bobo

@Bibi_Bobo1234

It says that in a couple of places. The word for “addiction” didn’t exist back then. Drunkenness in this context in this sense isn’t just getting drunk once. In this context and sense it means addicted, they just didn’t have that word. They used two words, 1 “drunkenness” 2 “slavery”. Being a slave to anything is sin, and is addiction. Being a slave to alcohol is addiction to alcohol, a slave to lust is addiction to lust. Galatians 5:19-21 uses the word “drunkenness” which in that sense means addiction to alcohol. John 8:34 “everyone who sins is a slave to sin” meaning anyone who sins is addicted to sin, in this sense, any sin including drunk. The Bible also speaks about heart idolatry. Which means that addiction is a form of idolatry. Prioritizing a substance over Christ. It reveals a divided will, where the desire for the created thing is overshadowing the desire for the Creator. In essence the Bible treats “slavery” and “drunkenness” as addiction, the word addiction was just not a word back then.

Hans-Georg Lundahl

@hglundahl

@Bibi_Bobo1234 "Drunkenness in this context in this sense isn’t just getting drunk once. In this context and sense it means addicted, they just didn’t have that word."

As far as I know, getting drunk means getting drunk, even if it's just once.

Note, drunk, not slightly tipsy.

Ergo, the word does not refer to "addiction" as such. If you are in fact addicted to getting drunk, drunkenness is a sin, each time.

"Being a slave to anything is sin, and is addiction."

I don't see "slave" used in contexts that immediately cry out "addiction" ... especially in the medical sense. Habitual sin certainly is slavery to sin. Whether a substance is used or not.

But Evangelicals who pretend to diagnose who's "slave to" things are annoyingly apt to diagnose it with any great interest, if it isn't theirs. Or any daily habit, if it isn't theirs.

@Bibi_Bobo1234 "Prioritizing a substance over Christ."

How many are priorising their habits over your view on how to serve Christ, and you treat that as idolatry or addiction?