Alcohol Tobacco and Drugs

[posthuman]

The OP's topic is pretty broad.

I can't really condone heroine.

my wife had surgery yesterday. i wish she wasn't allergic to heroin.
she wouldn't be in so much pain now.
my friend overdosed on heroin and died. i wish he had never been introduced to it for recreation.

my father was alcoholic and it destroyed his marriage. i am sorry for this.
my wife's pain is decreased by drinking a moderate amount of alcohol. i thank God for this!

i'm not 'opposed' to anything God created.
i'm opposed to abuse, not to use.

 

[Scuba]

I never said it was sin. I was simply stating that participating in these elements are generally harmful to us, so why do it?

That's what I say too. That's not Law, that's godly wisdom. So Amen to you!

 

[biscuit]

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[TD="width: 593, align: left"][h=1]How should a Christian view addiction?[/h]

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Question: "How should a Christian view addiction?"

Answer: The word addiction has two basic meanings. The first definition, and the one most of us are familiar with is “to cause to become physiologically or psychologically dependent on a habit-forming substance.” Those who are addicted or “given to much wine” (Titus 1:7; 2:3), “drunkards” (1 Timothy 3:3) or “heavy drinkers” (1 Timothy 3:8) are disqualified from teaching or holding a position of authority in the church. It’s clear that church leadership needs to be sober and self-controlled so that, by their example, they can teach others to be the same, for we know that “drunkards . . . shall not inherit the kingdom of God” (1 Corinthians 6:10). Believers must not be dependent upon alcohol, and it stands to reason that this would also apply to addiction to any other substance, i.e. drugs, pornography, gambling, gluttony, tobacco, etc.

The second definition of addiction is “to occupy (oneself) with or involve (oneself) in something habitually or compulsively.” This speaks of an unnatural (for the Christian, at least) obsession with anything other than God: sports, work, shopping and/or acquiring “stuff,” even family or children. We are to “love the Lord, your God, with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might” (Deuteronomy 6:5), which is, according to Jesus, the first and greatest commandment (Matthew 22:37-38). We can conclude, then, that an addiction to anything other than God Himself is wrong. God is the only thing we can (and should) occupy ourselves with habitually. To do so with anything else draws us away from Him and displeases Him. He alone is worthy of our complete attention, love, and service. To offer these things to anything or anyone else is idolatry.​

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[Scuba]

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[TD="width: 593, align: left"]How should a Christian view addiction?

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Question: "How should a Christian view addiction?"

Answer: The word addiction has two basic meanings. The first definition, and the one most of us are familiar with is “to cause to become physiologically or psychologically dependent on a habit-forming substance.” Those who are addicted or “given to much wine” (Titus 1:7; 2:3), “drunkards” (1 Timothy 3:3) or “heavy drinkers” (1 Timothy 3:8) are disqualified from teaching or holding a position of authority in the church. It’s clear that church leadership needs to be sober and self-controlled so that, by their example, they can teach others to be the same, for we know that “drunkards . . . shall not inherit the kingdom of God” (1 Corinthians 6:10). Believers must not be dependent upon alcohol, and it stands to reason that this would also apply to addiction to any other substance, i.e. drugs, pornography, gambling, gluttony, tobacco, etc.

The second definition of addiction is “to occupy (oneself) with or involve (oneself) in something habitually or compulsively.” This speaks of an unnatural (for the Christian, at least) obsession with anything other than God: sports, work, shopping and/or acquiring “stuff,” even family or children. We are to “love the Lord, your God, with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might” (Deuteronomy 6:5), which is, according to Jesus, the first and greatest commandment (Matthew 22:37-38). We can conclude, then, that an addiction to anything other than God Himself is wrong. God is the only thing we can (and should) occupy ourselves with habitually. To do so with anything else draws us away from Him and displeases Him. He alone is worthy of our complete attention, love, and service. To offer these things to anything or anyone else is idolatry.​

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And remember this...Sometimes our behavior needs time to catch up to our salvation...

 

[FireHeart]

I guess my question would be: why use them at all? We all know that for the most part they have detrimental effects to our health, so why even go there. There is no purpose for it. I know red wine is good for the heart, but one could drink grape juice for the same benefits.

Sober living is godly living.

I find your question interesting but let me answer your question with another question- why do we sin? We know only bad comes from it and we always regret thinking we wont do it again but then do it anyways. We do it simply for our own pleasure to make us happy, knowing full well the consequences. The same goes for your question

 

[Nautilus]

How many Christians are opposed to these body and mind perverting substances.

I am more of an obey the laws of the land type of guy. Personally I dont do illegal drugs, but find no issues with drinking or smoking on occasion.

 

[Ella85]

In my honest opinion, drinking is ok.

It then comes down to how you are able to control yourself there after.
How many glasses is one too many before you start thinking and acting stupid.
I usually stop at one or 2 glasses these days.

Drugs is a BIG NO!!! No NO! The most evil thing... ruins lives.

 

[SeaBass]

1 Pet 5:8 "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:"

The Christian is to abstain from recreational drinking. The underlying word for sober is nepho, literally meaning "not drink". In 1 Pet 5:8 nepho is contrasted to devour - katapino which means to drink down, swallow down.

Adam Clarke says of 1 Pet 5:8:
"There is a beauty in this verse, and striking apposition between the first and last words, which I think have not been noticed; – Be sober, nepsate, from ne, not, and piein, to drink – do not swallow down – and the word katapien, from kata, down and piein, to drink. If you swallow strong drink down, the devil will swallow you down. Hear this, ye drunkards, topers, tipplers, or by whatsoever name ye are known in society, or among your fellow-sinners, strong drink is not only your way to the devil, but the devil’s way into you. Ye are such as the devil particularly may swallow down."

Meaning of nepho:

Vines Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words “to be free from the influence of intoxicants.”
Liddell and Scott’s Lexicon “to be sober, to live soberly, especially to drink no wine.”
Stephanus’s Thesaurus “he who abstains from wine.”
Bretschneider “I am sober, I abstain from wine.”
The Greek Dictionary of Byzantius “one who does not drink wine.”
The Greek-French Lexicon “abstinence from wine, sobriety.”
Robinson’s New Testament Lexicon “to be sober, temperate, abstinent, especially in respect to wine.”
Younge’s English and Greek Lexicon “without wine.”
Patristic Greek Lexicon, [Lampe], "be temperate, drink no wine."
Donnegan "to live abstemiously, to abstain from wine;"

 

[4enlightment]

Romans 13:13 Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy.

1 Corinthians 5:11 But now I am writing to you that you must not associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or slanderer, a drunkard or swindler. Do not even eat with such people.

Galatians 5:21 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.

 

[AgeofKnowledge]

Count me in as being OPPOSED to ingesting drugs and alcohol to get loaded. I definitely just say NO.

How many Christians are opposed to these body and mind perverting substances.

 

[Jason0047]

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[TD="class: alt2, bgcolor: #FFFFFF"]There are 4 major views on Alcohol:

#1. Prohibitionist

Believes that the bible absolutely prohibits the consumption of alcoholic beverages; And it is a sin to drink it. This position is defeated by the fact that Timothy was told by Paul to have a little wine within his water for the infirmities of his stomach. This was not a medical prescription for every day stomach problems but it was for the purification of water (because some people do not have the tolerance or immune system to handle it). Also, Romans 14 tells us that all things are indeed pure. So drinking can be permissible as long as one does not drink to get drunk or to make their brother to stumble. So the Prohibitionist view that it is a sin to drink wine is not necessarily spelled out to us in Scripture; And cannot be supported as a solid viable position.

#2. Abstentionist

Believes that the bible does not absolutely prohibit the consumption of alcohol but for numerous reasons, Christians should abstain from using it. In this view, any amount of drinking that causes one to not be sober in any way directly contradicts those passages that tell us to be sober minded. Also, this view holds that drinking should be done in private and not publicly where your brother could see you and stumble. This view recommends that while it is lawful for you to drink, it is not always profitable so it is highly encouraged to abstain from it. Not out of some sense of legalism but out of love for God, yourself and your brother. Thus, it preaches the reality of the dangers of alcohol and how it can bite you like a serpent (despite it being lawful).

#3. Undecided

Those that are not sure if drinking alcohol is right or wrong.

#4. Moderationist

Believes that alcoholic drinks are a gift from God that should be, like all of God’s gifts, consumed moderately. However, the problem with this view is that many of the Moderationists do not warn against the dangers of alcohol. They only paint half the picture that alcohol is good and they get overly defensive in their consumption of alcohol when encouraged to walk the higher road out of love and not as a commandment or legal law within God's Word. Many or most Moderationists believe they can even drink in front of others publicly because Jesus turned water into alcoholic wine publicly. Thus, many of them believe that public drinking could not lead a brother to potentially to stumble (When clearly such a reality could happen).

However, that said, I also believe there is a small number of responsible drinking moderationists who drink in a way to stay sober minded and who believe the proper thing to do is to preach against drunkenness strongly. These Moderationists do not want to do anything to make their brother to stumble. They drink knowing that the beverage they have in their hands is potentially dangerous but yet they drink soberly to the glory of God in private. However, in good conscience, it is my duty as a Christian to remind even these Christians that it can bite like a serpent if they start to forget the dangers of this deadly drug. In fact, it is my encouragement that they walk the higher road and show that they are different from the rest of the world. Again, not out of legalism, but out of love.

My viewpoint:

Oh, and so that there is no more confusion, I want to let people know that I am an "Abstentionist" and I believe that it is the Biblical view based on the whole of Scripture.



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[Tintin]

I'm against tobacco and drugs but I'm for drinking in moderation, if you're a responsible adult, don't have an addictive personality, a family background of alcoholism, or feel the need to drink. I drink in moderation. I've never had the desire to get drunk and if I'm around people who have issues with alcohol, I don't drink in their presence.

 

[Nautilus]

i mostly drink at home where i dont have to worry about others stumbling

 

[SeaBass]

i mostly drink at home where i dont have to worry about others stumbling

Would adultery be acceptable as long as one committed adultery at home to keep others from stumbling?

 

[gb9]

well of course not. adultery is clearly laid out as a sin. having a drink is not laid out as a sin, so therefore it is not one.

 

[SeaBass]

well of course not. adultery is clearly laid out as a sin. having a drink is not laid out as a sin, so therefore it is not one.

But where does the bible say moderate social drinking is acceptable but moderate adultery is not?

 

[gb9]

missing the point. the above definitions are really good. read the first one. you are calling something a sin that the Bible does not.

 

[SeaBass]

missing the point. the above definitions are really good. read the first one. you are calling something a sin that the Bible does not.

The point I am making is just as there is no verse that allows for moderate adultery, there is no verses that allows for moderate social drinking.

If one can ASSUME moderate social drinking is allowable then why can't one ASSUME moderate adultery is also allowable?

 

[gb9]

because they are many verses that say adultery is sin. there is not any to say having a drink is. it is not an assumption to say there is no verses to say drinking is a sin because THEY ARE NOT ANY.

 

[SeaBass]

because they are many verses that say adultery is sin. there is not any to say having a drink is. it is not an assumption to say there is no verses to say drinking is a sin because THEY ARE NOT ANY.

There are verses that say to be sober-nepho, not drink - to abstain from drinking.