I have a question about being a Christian and Drinking Alcohol

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88

Senior Member
Nov 14, 2016
3,517
77
48
#41
I have been very stressed lately and broke down and bought a couple (2) 500ml cans of beer. After drinking I felt a lot better. It was sort of medicinal for me. I don't have the desire to drink more than that which equaled out to just under 3 beers.

Now I have 2 questions:

1: Is it ok for me, being a Christian, to have a drink to wind down, reduce stress and ease nerves?

2: is feeling the effects ok? nobody can say they don't feel the effects of drinking beer, even if it is just a slight buzz.

As the Bible says, it does gladden the heart and made me feel, I don't know, happier.

I am living in a different country now, have a high stress job, and it wouldn't be an every day thing. Just wondering your take on this.

Thanks!
***just don't get drunk and don't get "hooked" where it affects your life...
 

Jackson123

Senior Member
Feb 6, 2014
11,769
1,370
113
#42
I have been very stressed lately and broke down and bought a couple (2) 500ml cans of beer. After drinking I felt a lot better. It was sort of medicinal for me. I don't have the desire to drink more than that which equaled out to just under 3 beers.

Now I have 2 questions:

1: Is it ok for me, being a Christian, to have a drink to wind down, reduce stress and ease nerves?

2: is feeling the effects ok? nobody can say they don't feel the effects of drinking beer, even if it is just a slight buzz.

As the Bible says, it does gladden the heart and made me feel, I don't know, happier.

I am living in a different country now, have a high stress job, and it wouldn't be an every day thing. Just wondering your take on this.

Thanks!
when I am stress, I am fasting and pray, most of the time it reduce my stress.
 

graceNpeace

Senior Member
Aug 12, 2016
2,180
107
63
#43
There have been a number of good responses to the OP!
And a refreshing honesty from the OP too!

Given what you have shared my earnest advice to you is to never touch alcohol again...
The greater the urge and 'need' to drink the further you need to run from it.

You and alcohol do not do well together - in fact disaster is awaiting you if you continue to drink

As a disclaimer you should know that I am a physician and I am very well acquainted with substance abuse and the psychology behind it. You demonstrate many worrisome signs for real trouble if you drink and continue to drink in any way.

Some of the advice given is better than the authors realised!
You do need to completely look at your life and change a lot in your current lifestyle.
To do this you may need help - it is very difficult to look objectively at many of the issues in your life that will need to change.(The main problem is familiarity - after you are living your life every day and will overlook significant issues as a result, purely because it is all so familiar to you!)
 
U

Ugly

Guest
#44
Thanks for knowing me better than I know myself!
Dont need to know you. I know addiction. I know the mindset. I know the traps and excuses we make for ourselves. I recognize struggle because I've seen it 1000 times. And because I've struggled more than that. I know when someone is looking to have their choices justified, because I've seen it 1000 times and done it more.
It doesn't matter who the person is, the behavior is the same in all of us.
 
D

Depleted

Guest
#45
I guess what i am trying to say is if the Bible does not condemn moderate use of alcohol, why is it considered wrong? drinking 2-3 beers (at most) would be moderate. If people don't drink it as a way to unwind, why do they drink it? My intentions are not to abuse it or get drunk.
To be clear, "moderate use" means no buzz, no change in you. And buzzed is drunk. It's just not sloshed drunk.

As for why folks drink it? It depends on which folks. Some drink it because they like the taste. Some drink it to get drunk. Some drink it because they're thirsty.

The ones who have no problems with it are also the ones who never feel a need to question it.

Something tells me, you're not part of that group.

What has God told you about it?
 
D

Depleted

Guest
#46
I will be honest and tell you I did have a problem with alcohol before. I abstained for 2.5 years. I knew deep down back then that i couldn't control it. I hid it from my wife and was a day drinker. Bad problem.

Now, deep down, those feelings of not being able to control it are gone (i know, many alcoholics have said this, haha) and my wife knows I had a drink. She is ok with me drinking just a bit, but no hard stuff, which I agree with.

On the surface, straight away, I bet you are thinking "don't touch it." But I feel my mindset has changed. I really don't have a desire to be drunk whereas before I did. I don't even want to use it everyday. Just now and again to unwind. I am wondering if this intended way of using alcohol is wrong.

God knows my motives, and he knows I don't want to get sloshed on alcohol.
I'm an ex-drug addict, and I really do mean "ex." The compulsion is gone. And yet, I'm in chronic pain. I tried over 30 things (and I mean anything from diets to acupuncture to pills to hypnoses, etc.) before finding one thing that brings the pain levels down for more than 30 minutes -- oxycodone.

It gave me a buzz the first time I used it, which scared me. Except, again, the compulsion is gone. I didn't want the buzz, so I scaled back to avoid that.

Do you see where I'm going with this? I didn't want the buzz. The pill has it's purpose, but a buzz isn't it. Meanwhile, you are justifying your buzz. You're also using the exact same words ex-smokers use when they have quit, but then some horrible thing came along, so "what harm can one cigarette every so often do?"

Want to know what they're called after that? Smokers!

You absolutely know you're playing with fire, so you're trying to get others to tell you it's okay. And, bonus point -- since many drinkers really don't have a problem drinking, you're hoping those people will give you the go-ahead to do something you obviously want to do anyway.

God really does take away the compulsion for ex-addicts sometimes. My hubby has no more compulsion to smoke. Neither one of us have a compulsion to get high. But we also know to never readjust our compulsion levels to give ourselves the go-ahead to go for the addiction again.

In your first post you told the problem. You drank enough to make you mellow and catch a buzz. All you're doing now is renegotiating with your wife on the cost and choice of which booze. This week it's the choice between a fifth of whiskey or a six-pack of beer. A year from now it will be the choice of 24 beers or a quart of whiskey.
 
D

Depleted

Guest
#47
Yeah maybe its best to just stay away. i prayed for stress relief, it just never came and my chest was tightening from it. Alcohol was a physical instant quick fix. It worked. But I felt cheap doing it.
"Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." <-------------stress relief.
 
Apr 23, 2017
1,064
47
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#48
this is christianity's golden calf!!!!!!!!!!!!! no verses forbid drinking in moderation but because people are so afraid of offending a few recovering alcoholics they change the communion to grape juice............ some i hear even say that Jesus turned the water into grape juice at the wedding lool well how were they well drunk then????????????? i personally dont drink at all i hate alcohol and its effects on my family members thanks the most High they have quit, but its just my opinion im not gonna force the bible to say what it doesnt say there................
 
K

kaylagrl

Guest
#49
I have been very stressed lately and broke down and bought a couple (2) 500ml cans of beer. After drinking I felt a lot better. It was sort of medicinal for me. I don't have the desire to drink more than that which equaled out to just under 3 beers.

Now I have 2 questions:

1: Is it ok for me, being a Christian, to have a drink to wind down, reduce stress and ease nerves?

2: is feeling the effects ok? nobody can say they don't feel the effects of drinking beer, even if it is just a slight buzz.

As the Bible says, it does gladden the heart and made me feel, I don't know, happier.

I am living in a different country now, have a high stress job, and it wouldn't be an every day thing. Just wondering your take on this.

Thanks!
So a lot of people here will disagree with me,and Im really not trying to be holier than thou,but I dont think drinking alcohol is a good thing. Im coming at this from the viewpoint of a family with addiction issues. My uncle was an alcoholic and it was what killed him. Some say there is nothing wrong with drinking in moderation,but the issue is an alcoholic doesn't know they have the addiction till they take the first drink. You're saying that you are stressed and are drinking to calm yourself, to me that is dangerous. You are using alcohol as a coping mechanism and its not really something that you want to start. That is the same way people start with cigarettes,to help them cope. And the next thing you find yourself unable to cope without it. My advice is to find a healthy way to cope with stress. God wants us to rely on Him. Again,most everyone here will disagree but this is what I feel.
 
K

kaylagrl

Guest
#50
this is christianity's golden calf!!!!!!!!!!!!! no verses forbid drinking in moderation but because people are so afraid of offending a few recovering alcoholics they change the communion to grape juice............ some i hear even say that Jesus turned the water into grape juice at the wedding lool well how were they well drunk then????????????? i personally dont drink at all i hate alcohol and its effects on my family members thanks the most High they have quit, but its just my opinion im not gonna force the bible to say what it doesnt say there................

I dont believe Jesus would have been drunk. Some people try and defend that but I totally disagree that Jesus would have been drunk and not able to know what He was saying and doing. And the Bible warns against being drunk. And Im sorry but I take offense to the phrase "a few recovering alcoholics". My uncle was a lifelong alcoholic and also a very close Christian friend of mine struggled with the same issue. As Christians we need to be careful we are not a stumbling block to others.
 
Dec 19, 2009
27,513
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#51
I have been very stressed lately and broke down and bought a couple (2) 500ml cans of beer. After drinking I felt a lot better. It was sort of medicinal for me. I don't have the desire to drink more than that which equaled out to just under 3 beers.

Now I have 2 questions:

1: Is it ok for me, being a Christian, to have a drink to wind down, reduce stress and ease nerves?

2: is feeling the effects ok? nobody can say they don't feel the effects of drinking beer, even if it is just a slight buzz.

As the Bible says, it does gladden the heart and made me feel, I don't know, happier.

I am living in a different country now, have a high stress job, and it wouldn't be an every day thing. Just wondering your take on this.

Thanks!
The Bible doesn't disallow moderate drinking. Of course, one person's view of moderate might be a lot different than another's. My mother's advice to me was never have more than two drinks. I assume by "two drinks," she meant two beers or two glasses of wine. I don't drink myself.
 

Desertsrose

Senior Member
Oct 24, 2016
2,824
207
63
#52
I dont believe Jesus would have been drunk. Some people try and defend that but I totally disagree that Jesus would have been drunk and not able to know what He was saying and doing. And the Bible warns against being drunk. And Im sorry but I take offense to the phrase "a few recovering alcoholics". My uncle was a lifelong alcoholic and also a very close Christian friend of mine struggled with the same issue. As Christians we need to be careful we are not a stumbling block to others.

I agree Kayla,

He didn't even want to change the water to wine. He did it for the sake of His mother to honor her request.

I don't mind it if someone has a glass of wine or a beer. But do they stop there? And if we rely on something to deal with stress, does that really help us deal with it or does it simply cover it over?

And then the next time stress hits, we hit the bottle again. Before you know it, the mild stress one once had becomes a major health issue to their emotions and physical well being.

How can we deal with stress? Talk to your Heavenly Father. Take a nice soothing shower or bath. Kick your feet up and allow the peace of the Lord to overtake you. Sing a praise song to the Lord.

We tend to default and try to find many ways of dealing with stress instead of the most obvious, ~GOD~ :)



 

Magenta

Senior Member
Jul 3, 2015
55,247
25,713
113
#53
If you have ten problems and drink to relieve the stress of them, you have now increased your problem load to eleven. Soon the drinking itself will begin to cause other problems, and your ten problems suddenly translate into losing everything and burning your life down just to have another drink, or whatever it is that drinking ultimately leads you to do. That is the sad fact you hear time and time again in the rooms of people with experience drinking to put themselves at ease... There is a solution :)
 

tourist

Senior Member
Mar 13, 2014
41,243
16,252
113
69
Tennessee
#54
I will be honest and tell you I did have a problem with alcohol before. I abstained for 2.5 years. I knew deep down back then that i couldn't control it. I hid it from my wife and was a day drinker. Bad problem.

Now, deep down, those feelings of not being able to control it are gone (i know, many alcoholics have said this, haha) and my wife knows I had a drink. She is ok with me drinking just a bit, but no hard stuff, which I agree with.

On the surface, straight away, I bet you are thinking "don't touch it." But I feel my mindset has changed. I really don't have a desire to be drunk whereas before I did. I don't even want to use it everyday. Just now and again to unwind. I am wondering if this intended way of using alcohol is wrong.

God knows my motives, and he knows I don't want to get sloshed on alcohol.
Based on your history it would be wise to totally abstain from alcohol. I never really had a drinking problem but gave up alcohol totally in 1992 because I didn't want to end up like my brother who basically trashed his life by the effects of alcohol abuse. Biblically, I don't see how it is wrong to drink in moderation, unless it goes beyond that, then it becomes a problem. I believe that's the area your are treading in now. As for myself, I still enjoy drinking, see nothing wrong with it, but chose not to do that anymore. It's a choice to be made.
 
Aug 15, 2009
9,745
179
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#55
Why would any christian want to drink beer to calm their nerves instead of receiving their calmness from the Prince of Peace?!?
 

stonesoffire

Poetic Member
Nov 24, 2013
10,665
1,829
113
#56
I have been very stressed lately and broke down and bought a couple (2) 500ml cans of beer. After drinking I felt a lot better. It was sort of medicinal for me. I don't have the desire to drink more than that which equaled out to just under 3 beers.

Now I have 2 questions:

1: Is it ok for me, being a Christian, to have a drink to wind down, reduce stress and ease nerves?

2: is feeling the effects ok? nobody can say they don't feel the effects of drinking beer, even if it is just a slight buzz.

As the Bible says, it does gladden the heart and made me feel, I don't know, happier.

I am living in a different country now, have a high stress job, and it wouldn't be an every day thing. Just wondering your take on this.

Thanks!
You might want to get your blood pressure checked. If it's high it will make one anxious. And maybe have a physical too?
 
D

Depleted

Guest
#57
this is christianity's golden calf!!!!!!!!!!!!! no verses forbid drinking in moderation but because people are so afraid of offending a few recovering alcoholics they change the communion to grape juice............ some i hear even say that Jesus turned the water into grape juice at the wedding lool well how were they well drunk then????????????? i personally dont drink at all i hate alcohol and its effects on my family members thanks the most High they have quit, but its just my opinion im not gonna force the bible to say what it doesnt say there................
Buzzed isn't moderation.
 
Aug 15, 2009
9,745
179
0
#58
this is christianity's golden calf!!!!!!!!!!!!! no verses forbid drinking in moderation but because people are so afraid of offending a few recovering alcoholics they change the communion to grape juice............ some i hear even say that Jesus turned the water into grape juice at the wedding lool well how were they well drunk then????????????? i personally dont drink at all i hate alcohol and its effects on my family members thanks the most High they have quit, but its just my opinion im not gonna force the bible to say what it doesnt say there................
I think you statement is distasteful to say the least & grossly offensive to say the most!

IMO, There's folks in this forum you owe an apology to.:mad:
 
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BeyondET

Guest
#59
I think you statement is distasteful to say the least & grossly offensive to say the most!

IMO, There's folks in this forum you owe an apology to.:mad:
Is there any life under that breast plate of yours, I don't mean to harp dude, but I've seen some distasteful stuff you posted.

This is simply the pot calling the kittle black Statement.
 
B

BeyondET

Guest
#60
Stephen63 you should apologize to G777 for saying his thread was about hyper grace nothing in that thread spoke of such.