I was recently confronted with the unexpected death of my nephew. A decade or more of struggle with addiction ended in his tragic overdose and death. Needless to say, our family was rocked. In fact, the grief my sister endured was more than I have ever experienced in 30 years of ministry—at least in this proximity. After what seemed a successful effort of rehabilitation, we were met with the reality of only a brief moment of reprieve before a tragic end. I personally wrestled with it in a way unlike many others because as a pastor and minister of the Gospel, I was tasked with officiating his funeral. Now the question was, what will I say? Is my nephew in a better place? Is he with Jesus? Is his suffering over?
This may be the knee-jerk response when we are confronted with death, but I am also confronted with the biblical realities I am called to guard. Do addicts go to heaven? What does repentance look like? How can I be true to the Gospel and leave people with hope in Christ? What should I say when I stand aside his casket and look my family in the eye? Will I rob them of hope? Will I give false assurance of comfort? How will I reconcile it all?
For the nominal or the cultural Christian, there is no question because Hell is actually a vacant place. Nobody seems to go to Hell except Hitler. Anytime someone dies, we hear “they are in a better place” or in Heaven. But it’s important to put our emotions on hold for a moment as we consider a few things if our belief is going to be consistent with biblical teaching. We want to be truthful even as we are hopeful.
Drunkenness is Condemned as Sin
Whatever your view on alcohol (and other drugs), there is no denying that drunkness (or being high) is a sin. We are warned of its dangers throughout scripture: Proverbs 20:1: "Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler; whoever is led astray by them is not wise." It comes in the form of a command. Ephesians 5:18: "Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. It’s identified as a sinful act of the flesh: Galatians 5:19-21: "The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.” Also, it is identified as an identity that if accepted, ends in rejection by God: 1 Corinthians 6:9-10: "Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.”
In the scripture, alcohol was the drug of choice. To be characterized as habitually drunk is referred to as being a drunkard. In modern vernacular, we would refer to this as an addict, and you would rightly conclude that what started as carelessness ends in slavery. As Spurgeon rightly said,” The man who cannot govern himself is a slave, though he may be on a throne.”
Language of the Scriptures
Greek Words
Methyō (μεθύω): This verb means "to be drunk" or "to become intoxicated." It appears in passages like Ephesians 5:18 and 1 Thessalonians 5:7. According to BDAG (A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature), "methyō" is defined as "to become intoxicated" and is used in the context of drunkenness leading to all kinds of sinful behavior.
Methē (μέθη): This noun means "drunkenness" and appears in Galatians 5:21 and Luke 21:34. BDAG defines "methē" as "a state of intoxication," often associated with moral laxity and careless behavior.
Hebrew Words
Shikkar (שִׁכּוֹר): This adjective means "drunk" or "intoxicated." It appears in passages like Proverbs 20:1 and Isaiah 28:1. According to HALOT (Hebrew and Aramaic Lexicon of the Old Testament), "shikkar" means "drunk" and refers to a state of intoxication that leads to other disorderly conduct.
Yayin (יַיִן): This noun generally means "wine," but in certain contexts, it is associated with strong drink and excess (e.g., Proverbs 20:1). BDB (Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon) defines "yayin" as "wine," noting its frequent use in contexts that caution associated with it and the resulting negative behavior that invariably follows.
In the original language, you can see the connection with modern intoxicating substances like Meth. Drunkenness is clearly condemned as a sin in the Bible. It is associated with debauchery, moral laxity, and a range of other sinful behaviors. Key terms in the original languages (Greek: methyō, methē; Hebrew: shikkar, yayin) support this understanding, emphasizing the negative moral and ethical implications of intoxication. The biblical teaching encourages believers to avoid drunkenness and instead live lives marked by self-control and being filled with the Spirit. Alcoholism is a slavery to intoxicating substance and there is no question about it.
Do Alcoholics/Addicts Go to Heaven?
So when faced with a situation where someone claims to be a believer in Christ and is addicted to intoxicating substances, what do we say? The biblical position on alcoholics or drug addicts going to heaven has to focus on the concepts of sin, repentance, and salvation. This is fundamental to Christianity, and we must maintain this truth.
1. All Have Sinned: The Bible teaches that everyone has sinned and falls short of God's glory. This includes alcoholics and drug addicts.
Romans 3:23: "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."
Isaiah 53:6: "We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all."
2. Salvation through Faith in Jesus Christ: Salvation is available to all who believe in Jesus Christ, regardless of their past sins.
John 3:16: "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."
Ephesians 2:8-9: "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works so that no one can boast."
3. Repentance and Forgiveness: True repentance and turning away from sin are essential for receiving forgiveness and salvation.
Acts 3:19: "Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord."
1 John 1:9: "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."
4. Transformation and New Life in Christ: A genuine relationship with Christ leads to a transformed life. This includes leaving behind sinful behaviors and addictions. Of course, this is where the problem really starts to emerge.
1 Corinthians 6:10-12 speaks specifically of “drunkards” and Paul then identifies the distinction of followers of Christ when he says, “and such were some of you…” “Were” in the past, but by implication, not now.
2 Corinthians 5:17: "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!"
Romans 6:6: "For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin."
5. Assurance of Salvation: Believers have the assurance of salvation and eternal life, but assurance of this is found, in living a life that reflects genuine faith.
1 John 5:13: "I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life."
Romans 8:1: "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."
The conservative biblical position emphasizes that alcoholics and drug addicts, like all sinners, can go to heaven if they repent, believe in Jesus Christ, and following that, experience a transformation of life. The focus is on grace, repentance, and the new life offered through faith in Christ, and the same is true of any sinful condition.
What about those who persist in their Addictions?
So yes, this would leave a situation murky at best. The biblical perspective on those who persist in their alcoholism or any habitual sin, despite claiming to be believers, involves examining the sincerity of their faith and repentance, as well as the fruits of their lives. This leads to the amount of certainty we are left with based on visible evidence, and then the faith we have to maintain based on what is unseen. Basically, there are a few things that would lead to more or less assurance.
1. Was there True Repentance and Transformation? True repentance involves a genuine turning away from sin. Continual, unrepentant sin may indicate a lack of true repentance.
Acts 3:19: "Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord."
2 Corinthians 5:17: "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”
2. Was there evidence of Living According to the Spirit? Believers are called to live by the Spirit, not by the flesh. Persistent sin may suggest that someone is not living according to the Spirit.
Romans 8:5-6: "Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace."
Galatians 5:19-21: "The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions, and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.”
3. Is there Assurance from the Evidence of Faith? Salvation is by grace through faith, but genuine faith will produce good fruit. Persisting in sin may be evidence of a lack of genuine faith.
James 2:17: "In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead."
Matthew 7:16-17: "By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.”
4. If not, was there a process of Church Discipline and Restoration that affirmed repentance and transformation? The church is instructed to address persistent sin among its members with the goal of restoration. Drunkenness is actually a sin that has to be addressed by the church to help in the process of assurance for the sinner and the church.
Galatians 6:1: "Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted."
Matthew 18:15-17: "If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that 'every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.' If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.”
Is God's Patience and Judgment in view? God is patient and desires repentance, but there is also a warning of judgment for those who persist in sin.
2 Peter 3:9: "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead, he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance."
Hebrews 10:26-27: "If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God.”
Conclusion
Clearly, with these things in mind, integrity, and faithfulness to God’s Word leads to serious caution in how we speak concerning the addict who dies professing Jesus as Lord. We can neither preach people out of Hell nor preach people into Heaven. The biblical position demands that persistent, unrepentant sin is incompatible with genuine faith in Christ. While believers may struggle with sin, the pattern of their lives should reflect ongoing repentance and transformation. Those who persist in alcoholism, or drug addiction without repentance may not truly have embraced the faith and salvation offered by Jesus Christ no matter how sincerely they despise their own condition.
Can we answer this with perfect clarity when someone professes faith while continuing in addiction? No, because of the visible evidence, our assurance is drained and we are left to hope in the unseen. This may be an unacceptable answer to those who have lost someone, but it is a fair and necessary assessment. I think all could agree that if an addict had completely walked away from his addiction, everyone would have more assurance that they are in heaven. Where we don’t see ample evidence to give assurance, we have to rest in the fact that we do not know everything, and have no idea what God was doing in the life of someone before they met their fate. I can only imagine a family member of the thief on the cross saying, “No way he’s going to be in paradise.” Yet, in the unseen moments with Jesus, we find out otherwise. We still can have hope that God worked where we could not see. With Christ, there must always be hope.
When I preached the funeral, I took the approach of Psalm 23, possibly the most comforting passage of scripture. My Message was, I hope he knew that the Lord is a provider, the Lord gives guidance, the Lord saves from our enemies, and the Lord makes a way for eternity… I hope he knew the Lord as his Shepherd. If he could speak to you, the only thing he was ask of you, is that you ask Jesus Christ to be the Shepherd of your life because nothing else matters. I reserved judgment and offered hope.
Just over 100 years ago, William Booth, founder of The Salvation Army, gave his last speech to a crowded Royal Albert Hall in London, England. In this final speech, he summed up his 60-year ministry reaching out to those with addictions with these words:
“While Women weep, as they do now, I’ll fight; while children go hungry, as they do now I’ll fight; while men go to prison, in and out, in and out, as they do now, I’ll fight; while there is a poor lost girl upon the streets, while there remains one dark soul without the light of God, I’ll fight, I’ll fight to the very end!”
His insight into the pain of these situations was crystal clear. Whatever the lot of those who struggle, we must continue to live with hope and resolve that we may never give up the fight to warn against the dangers of intoxicating substances, walk with families through the associated struggles, and pick up the pieces when sin has run its course proclaiming the truth of the Gospel without compromise.