Alcohol

[Radius]

i couldn't stop at just one, I was mixing beer with the hard stuff to feel its effects, so I cut it out altogether. I was clearly addicted and it wasn't good. I thought i can stop by myself and i failed many times and always turned back to it. I relied on my own strength to stop and I always relapsed.

It wasnt until one night I threw up my arms and prayed out to God to give me HIS strength to stop because I was too weak! I was cured the following day.

Before I couldn't walk past my local store without picking up a drink, but after I prayed for HIS power and strength I felt no addiction at all. It was a miracle!

Anyone affected with alcoholism should pray for His strength. God's strength cannot be tempted with evil. To pray and want His strength then for you to go out and buy a drink makes a mockery of His strength. His power is real and can cure you!

 

[Willie-T]

Our preacher actually holds a weekly Bible Theology study at a local Irish Pub called God and Guinness.

 

[Angela53510]

The years before I got saved, I was a professional musician. I played in bars, pubs, and for lots of community dances, weddings and special occasions. I didn't drink when I started. I had been a jeweller before that, and once had a beer, and realized it was to dangerous to work with a 2000 torch after even one beer.

But my job was to make people drunk. The drunker, the better, as far as the commercial establishments were concerned. My band had the reputation of selling the most booze for many clubs. So that sort of turned me off liquor, although people who like us, rewarded us by buying us drinks. Of every sort - the sat on the top of the speakers. It seemed impolite at first to refuse to drink this gifts. So I would drink one or two. Then three or four. Etc.

Till it became a habit, and I could not quit, even though I tried so many times. I got to the point where I was drinking alone, a bad sign, I understand.

Then, God saved me. He told me I could not drink anymore and miraculously, I never did! So that is past 36 years of never touching any kind of alcohol, even when it is available. Which is a good thing these days, with liver issues, due to the RA meds. (At least every time my liver enzymes came back sky high, and some doctor asked me how much I drank, I could honestly say I hadn't had a drink in x years.) And certainly, if I couldn't drink, no one else could!

When I first got saved, my husband also had quit when he got saved. We never drank, and we were quite happy. Then he would go on the road for work, have a beer with his meal, and then not have another for months. He realized he could hold his liquor and not crave or need it. So sometimes, he would have a beer when we went out for supper. He wasn't drunk and he never brought liquor home, out of respect for me, but I realized it was not my duty to tell people how to live their lives, but God's!

When I had a birthday party in 2013 I had all my kids come for it. No one drank, and we had a wonderful time. We just had a birthday for my husband, and the liquor was flowing fast and crazy. Three of my sons got smashed. Then they started arguing and fighting. Well, two of them, the other was not so bad. It made me dreadfully unhappy. I decided people's need to drink IN MY HOME, did not supercede my need to have a home of peace, and not false "spirits." That will not happen again.

So yes, there is a line. But I think my own home is where I draw it!

 

[John146]

Numbers 6:3, He shall separate himself from wine and strong drink, and shall drink no vinegar of wine, or vinegar of strong drink, neither shall he drink any liquor of grapes, nor eat moist grapes, or dried.

Wine is simply juice from the grape. Strong wine is fermented grape juice, spoiled. Kings had a cup bearer and could have fresh grape juice, wine whenever they wanted.

Genesis 40:11, And Pharaoh's cup was in my hand: and I took the grapes, and pressed them into Pharaoh's cup, and I gave the cup into Pharaoh's hand.

Proverbs 23:31, Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright.

If I even have one glass of wine or one can of beer, I am now a drinker of alcohol. I never can tell a brother, "No, I do not drink." I cannot tell a youth, "No, I do not drink alcohol." I would have to say yes and then go into an explanation how I only have one drink every once in a while, but in their mind, I drink alcohol so it must be ok. Could I cause someone to stumble?

 

[tourist]

I prefer not to drink at all.

I feel the same way.

 

[Willie-T]

Sometimes I would love to have a beer or some wine. Unfortunately, I had to quit drinking altogether three and a half years ago for medical reasons.

 

[hornetguy]

Scripture is pretty plain about drunkenness... it's wrong. Drinking is not wrong...doing it to excess IS.

The 1 Timothy scriptures mentioned in that looooong passage with all the scriptures about drinking in the Bible were not correct. It did not say that elders and deacons could not drink... it specifically said they were not to be lovers of MUCH wine. In other words, don't drink too much. The word "sober" was not talking about drinking, it was talking about being "sober minded"... in other words, serious about their duties as leaders in the church. Not twitter-witted, or silly, or immature.

Paul even TOLD Timothy to drink a little wine, for the sake of whatever kind of stomach ailment he had. Apparently wine helped that in some way.

The PRINCIPLE that Jesus taught is pretty simple.... don't do it to excess... just as in everything else we do. Do things in moderation...

 

[laura_charlotte]

I feel the same way.

I don't drink or smoke or eat anything unhealthy. I have never smoked in my life nor ever will. Same goes for alcohol, the last thing I associate alcohol with is anything positive. Health is where happiness is at for me.

 

[lettucepray]

I think in this day and age a lot of us have become "champions" of drinking "wine" Like they refer to in the Bible. I mean, walk into any liquor store and look at all your different selections of ethanol which all do the same thing. Beer, sold in at least 6 packs, up to 30! Wine isn't the only option anymore, it seems like its become a race to see who can stay drunker, quicker.

 

[bikerchaz]

We learn from the Bible that it is okay to drink a little alcohol, but not okay to drink a lot. Where do you draw the line?

After a little and before a lot.

I am not sure I appreciate these posts, it does little for the body of believers except show divisions. When Paul talked about freedoms he did not say that someone with a freedom should never live in that freedom, he also did not say that people without these freedoms should impose restrictions on those who have a freedom.

He stressed living in unity in Jesus not holding divisions that rankle and distort. He also stressed the body growing to full maturity, all the body not just one or two but all, then the freedoms some have do not impose themselves on those who choose not to have a freedom and the restrictions of those who choose that way in Jesus do not impose guilt on those who do.

Paul stressed, "All things are lawful, but not all things are expedient" so what do we do with this statement? Paul also said 'if I am in my right mind it is for Jesus, if not it is still for Jesus', whatever I do and however I live my life it is for Jesus' (italics my interpretation)

Also to propose that the wine of old is just grape juice is dangerous. someone needs to do their own research and not listen to the ramblings of others.

People need to read the scriptures for themselves not just take at face value what is preached at them. Again I will end with this, we all, you and me will have to stand before the Living God and give account. All of us. Don't think it will not happen and we all float off to heaven or sink to hell, READ, Jesus will look you in the eye and ask you "did you listen to me?" Saying "I did all the preacher/vicar/pastor/priest told me" will not do the trick! There is no trick!

There is just Jesus guys, he is the word. Jesus is life. Jesus being the living word (read the first few verses of John's Gospel) dictated the written word, (our bible) through the Holy Spirit to those who were listening, so you could read it for yourself and know the TRUTH, not just surmise the truth but KNOW IT!

Seek Him while it is called today, and you still have today, seek Jesus with all your heart and mind and strength, if you don't make it through to tomorrow, then God will know where you are, God is not a cruel God who says, "Ah you didn't get there, you didn't find me so your out!" He does know whether you searched for Him with all your strength and mind and heart, and on this He does make His decision, baptised or not does not come into it, Baptised in the Spirit or not does not come into it, its your heart people, not how much you do or don't drink, or whether you smoke tobacco or pot, or whether you jack up or snort, Seek Jesus with your whole being guys, He is real He will provide a way out from what ever is killing you, He will provide himself. Do it guys, Jesus is life!

 

[p_rehbein]

Moderation. I drink to go with food or just to relax and unwind a bit. I don't do it because I'm depressed, or to fill a void or to the point of being drunk. It's the same as other things if you do too much of it it's bad. But for me it's like relaxing, same as a hot bath or a massage. It just eases you a bit.

And as those saying who don't know what moderation is and they drink more then they should then it's not really moderation and it's an illness, an addiction or even just arrogance. And those people should trust the ones around them saying what they're doing is unhealthy.

Something isn't fact just cause you say it is. You have to be actually doing the technical description of moderation for it to be moderation.

If you are drinking to "relax and unwind," you are "self medicating," and that is a HUGE problem. I know. I USED to drink to "relax and unwind."

Rule of Thumb: If your B/A level is .08 or higher, you are DRUNK.......something to think about

I mean this with Christian love........drinking to "relax and unwind" is NOT GOOD.

 

[p_rehbein]

All this talk about how Jesus drank wine............so that makes it OK for us to........Jesus DID IT!

Yes, He did.........and, since folks wanna be like Jesus, mayhaps they SHOULD BE LIKE JESUS!

Matthew 26:29) But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.

Folks wanna use Jesus as their excuse to get drunk? How about using Jesus as their excuse NOT to drink?

 

[Tintin]

I've never seen the need to get drunk. I enjoy drinking in moderation.

 

[breno785au]

I like a glass of wine every now and then.
I like beer too but I only really drink non-alcoholic beer when I do in summer. If I drink an alcoholic beer, it has to be a good one, not your stock standard drink for the sake of drinking beer lol
My wife doesn't like alcohol, bad family history of it, so I honour that but she also doesn't mind me drinking a glass of wine occasionally, I think time has helped her trust that I don't abuse it.

 

[John146]

All those who drink wine, beer or alcohol in general have become a stumbling block for our youth and those with addictions. Think of others and not yourself in this regards. Most people can't handle "one drink," because one drink turns into two, and three, and four, etc.

 

[MikeHenderson]

What about the wedding were Jesus turned water into Wine?

If God was truly against us drinking Wine, then why did He give them Wine?

We must understand there is nothing wrong with drinking a little wine. The problem is way too many people drink too much wine and become intoxicated.

 

[LaurenTM]

What about the wedding were Jesus turned water into Wine?

If God was truly against us drinking Wine, then why did He give them Wine?

We must understand there is nothing wrong with drinking a little wine. The problem is way too many people drink too much wine and become intoxicated.

john146
All those who drink wine, beer or alcohol in general have become a stumbling block for our youth and those with addictions. Think of others and not yourself in this regards. Most people can't handle "one drink," because one drink turns into two, and three, and four, etc.

see Mike, there is your answer

too much wine...not good

too much religion...not good

Mr John...

you are going way beyond what scripture states

one of the first things you learn about communicating to other human beings? you do NOT lump everyone together and use exaggerated pronouns like ALL..a predeterminer, as you have used it here.

ALL is reserved for what God says only...IN the Bible...such as ALL have sinned or ALL men are liars and so on

you are not the determinate factor in God's scheme of things

YOUR type of exaggeration does nothing but clarify your own brand of opinion to YOURSELF and all those who agree with you

God can pick up anyone out of their sin and clean them up...the kind of words you use, just push em back down again

 

[LaurenTM]

All this talk about how Jesus drank wine............so that makes it OK for us to........Jesus DID IT!

Yes, He did.........and, since folks wanna be like Jesus, mayhaps they SHOULD BE LIKE JESUS!

Matthew 26:29) But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.

Folks wanna use Jesus as their excuse to get drunk? How about using Jesus as their excuse NOT to drink?

I do not see where people are 'using' Jesus as an excuse for anything

I do see where they are making a factual statement that Jesus DID in fact drink fermented grape juice

the very fact that He says He will not drink it again until we are all together in God's kingdom, indicates AGAIN that he DID and WILL drink it

people are using Jesus as an excuse to get drunk? really? where? I did see where a few stated they WERE drunks till Jesus rescued them

honestly, no wonder it is so hard to have a discussion here sometimes and I often like your posts...but not this time

 

[mailmandan]

Moderation.

If you're out of control you've gone too far.

Same with eating. Same with just about everything.

You hit the nail on the head Grandpa! MODERATION. I've met people who drink too much and have a drinking problem, then I've also met people who don't drink at all and have a problem with anyone who drinks at all. No balance. When it comes to drinking alcohol, I fall into the "drink in moderation" group.

 

[MikeHenderson]

So you LaurenTM look to what men say instead of what the Scriptures say?

TOO much Religion? How can anyone have TOO much of Jesus? How can anyone Worship Jesus TOO much?

Take your eyes off the world and come back to Jesus as your Lord and Savior.

God gave us wine to enjoy. If you do not like this then you need to take it up with God. Its people like you who put themselves in charge, teaching others what not to do, while at the same time you refuse to do what God says.

Take your eyes off what others do and follow Jesus. God will discipline those who need to be disciplined. Your not God.