“An elder, then, must be . . . not a drunkard” (1 Tim. 3:3, Titus 1:7).
An elder is not to be a heavy drinker of alcohol. In both passages this qualification is followed by “not violent,” alluding to the oft-resulting behavior of over-drinking. Alcoholic abuse is a concrete attendant (the means or result) of failure in other qualifications (temperate, self-controlled, etc.).
Scripture does not preclude an elder from drinking wine, but forbids drinking in excess. Jesus at the Canaan wedding endorsed wine as a legitimate beverage by turning water into wine. There is no good proof that wine at the Lord’s Supper was anything but alcoholic in nature (although one might argue its relative content). However, elders must “be on guard” for themselves (Acts 20:28). Scripture warns of its dangers: “Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery” (Eph. 5:18). Drunkenness is an “act of the sinful nature” (Gal. 5:20). “Wine is a mocker and strong drink a brawler; whoever is lead astray by them is not wise” (Prov. 20:1).
Excessive alcohol affects an elder’s sensual perceptions (Prov. 23:31-34), clouds his judgment (Prov. 31:4) and lowers his moral inhibitions (Hab. 2:15, Gen. 9:21). In short, alcohol abuse controls the person rather than the person controlling the alcohol.
The principle would also apply to being controlled by other addictive substances like marijuana, sedatives, stimulants, pain killers, etc.. An elder should be an example of those who are Spirit-controlled (5:18) and as a result are “self-controlled” (Titus 1:8).
In our day of excessive alcohol use, instead of looking to the dulling effects of wine (or other chemicals), elders should be the example for the flock of God, of Christians who are stimulated by being filled with the Holy Spirit. And at times that may even mean abstinence for the sake of weaker Christians.