Is drinking alcohol a sin?
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S
First of all, I did not find anything in depth about this subject that you put so much study into and wrote a blog about. You have not put any doctrine together on this subject, that I see, and there is plenty in the scriptures that you totally ignored (or left out) as part of the whole counsel of God on this subject. Do you drink wine in your home and on special occasions because of the beneficial properties or for the 'buzz' and 'fuzzy' feeling it gives you? Does wine relax you and take the edge off the stress that you experience in life? Do you drink just a glass now and then or do you drink regularly (perhaps not daily but 2-3 weekly) because of your conviction, or because of liberty from God or out of pleasure and the fact that you enjoy the taste?
If you want to drink fermented wine and want to promote that in your teaching, you will have to give an account for it before God, both good and bad. I am sure that there are some married believers that like to have a couple glasses of wine just to get in the mood for sex. I am sure that you would condone such a practice and justify their right because the marriage bed is private and undefiled, so why should wine be kept out of the equation if it works, right? Is this how you think about the subject of fermented wine and condone its doctrine and practice for believers, 'who can handle it'?
Please explain what Rom 8:1-4 has to do with any of this.
If you want to drink fermented wine and want to promote that in your teaching, you will have to give an account for it before God, both good and bad. I am sure that there are some married believers that like to have a couple glasses of wine just to get in the mood for sex. I am sure that you would condone such a practice and justify their right because the marriage bed is private and undefiled, so why should wine be kept out of the equation if it works, right? Is this how you think about the subject of fermented wine and condone its doctrine and practice for believers, 'who can handle it'?
Please explain what Rom 8:1-4 has to do with any of this.
M
You need to realize the amount of demonic activity that goes on in these places and being aware that the temptation in this environment is usually a lot stronger.Sure Jesus associated with wicked people but he did not associate with them when they were committing wicked acts.Would Jesus go somewhere where women everywhere are shaking their butts and guys are carrying on,picking fights,while having wicked messges blasting into your head and the majority of people are under demonic influence,You need to step back and examine yourself to see if this is truly God blessed to be going to these places while the Bible says we need to be in the world it does not mean that we are of it and around them when they are taking part in wickedness of those extremes.The idea that a majority of christians can go to these places and be a shining light is ridiculous as you are not only a minority but you are going into a pit of vipers.Its a cop out as far as Im concerned and just another excuse to be selfish and be a friend of the world,Well he who makes himself a friend of the world is an enemy of God
M
I am not saying you cant go to those places but you need to be with other christians and it needs to serve a purpose.I go to christian rock/hardcore shows all the time and Id be a hypocrite to say not to go to bars because most of the shows are at bars but you need to evalualute the purpose you are there.My purpose when I go is strictly recreational,I wont lie. It is to hear a christian artist and support them(buying merch,talkin to band members).Just remember the major reason that most people go to bars and that is recreation of the wrong type.I wont go to a show if there are no christian artists nor will I support the secular artists by getting in a mosh pit or agreeing with what they are saying.I am always willing to share my faith at shows but I will in no way make friends with unsaved people or contacts.It is for the glory of Christ and quite frankly I dont have a problem telling a christian band if something they said on stage was objectionable.Be empowered by the Holy Spirit and God will direct your path
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S
What is the real draw to want to drink an alcoholic beverage?
In the U.S. we have access to so many other beverages that there is no need for alcohol. Our water is essentially pure. We have numerous soft drinks. We have tea and coffee. We have milk and Kool-Aid. We have juices like crazy.
So what drives the desire for alcohol?
Could it be that people (even Christians) really do want the buzz or the risk or the edginess of it all?
Is there a spirit of rebellion within the question?
In the U.S. we have access to so many other beverages that there is no need for alcohol. Our water is essentially pure. We have numerous soft drinks. We have tea and coffee. We have milk and Kool-Aid. We have juices like crazy.
So what drives the desire for alcohol?
Could it be that people (even Christians) really do want the buzz or the risk or the edginess of it all?
Is there a spirit of rebellion within the question?
S
I think it would be balanced to consider what 'Slepsog4' has mentioned without it being judgmental or critical of others. Look at this portion of scripture;
Prov 23:29-32
29 Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes?
30 They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine.
31 Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright.
32 At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder.
33 Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things.
34 Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast.
35 They have stricken me, shalt thou say, and I was not sick; they have beaten me, and I felt it not: when shall I awake? I will seek it yet again.
I know that many will say that this pertains to only those that tarry long at the wine but why would anyone want to mess with a substance that has the potential to cause man to enter into all these things that are mentioned. What kind of wisdom would promote such a thing? Is it wisdom from above or from below / James 3?
If you are going to be true to the whole counsel of God and you have an assembly of believers that you shepherd, don't leave out the truth and your convictions that it is okay to drink wine as long as it is not in excess. Are you going to define excess for each person or leave that up to them? Are you going to tell them not to drive and operate machinery? If someone has an accident because that were effected by one glass of wine, are you going to accept responsibility when they come to you and say, 'You told us it was okay to drink wine and I only had one glass and look what happened?'
Are you going to have a couple of glasses before you counsel someone or preach the word of God? What about those hectic days and weeks where you have lots of stress, are you going to double up and have an extra glass or two and the phone rings and there is an emergency but you can't respond because you are under the influence? What if your daughter called you because she got stranded and you were not able to respond and you find out later she got molested at the roadside by a passer-by? What if your house catches on fire and you got out but it slipped your mind and you forgot that your youngest was sleeping because you were under the influence of alcohol by drinking wine because of all the stress in your life.
Do you have an answer for these things that could very well happen because you do not know what a day will bring forth in your life or the life of your family / Mt 6:25, Prov 27:1. Well, I have an answer. DON'T DRINK WINE OR ANY ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE FOR ANY REASON SO THAT YOU CAN BE PREPARED MENTALLY, EMOTIONALLY AND PHYSICALLY FOR WHAT LIFE MIGHT BRING FORTH.
That should be a good enough reason, don't you think? But if you decide to drink wine, I will not judge you but wisdom is justified of her chidren / Mt 11:19.
Prov 23:29-32
29 Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes?
30 They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine.
31 Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright.
32 At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder.
33 Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things.
34 Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast.
35 They have stricken me, shalt thou say, and I was not sick; they have beaten me, and I felt it not: when shall I awake? I will seek it yet again.
I know that many will say that this pertains to only those that tarry long at the wine but why would anyone want to mess with a substance that has the potential to cause man to enter into all these things that are mentioned. What kind of wisdom would promote such a thing? Is it wisdom from above or from below / James 3?
If you are going to be true to the whole counsel of God and you have an assembly of believers that you shepherd, don't leave out the truth and your convictions that it is okay to drink wine as long as it is not in excess. Are you going to define excess for each person or leave that up to them? Are you going to tell them not to drive and operate machinery? If someone has an accident because that were effected by one glass of wine, are you going to accept responsibility when they come to you and say, 'You told us it was okay to drink wine and I only had one glass and look what happened?'
Are you going to have a couple of glasses before you counsel someone or preach the word of God? What about those hectic days and weeks where you have lots of stress, are you going to double up and have an extra glass or two and the phone rings and there is an emergency but you can't respond because you are under the influence? What if your daughter called you because she got stranded and you were not able to respond and you find out later she got molested at the roadside by a passer-by? What if your house catches on fire and you got out but it slipped your mind and you forgot that your youngest was sleeping because you were under the influence of alcohol by drinking wine because of all the stress in your life.
Do you have an answer for these things that could very well happen because you do not know what a day will bring forth in your life or the life of your family / Mt 6:25, Prov 27:1. Well, I have an answer. DON'T DRINK WINE OR ANY ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE FOR ANY REASON SO THAT YOU CAN BE PREPARED MENTALLY, EMOTIONALLY AND PHYSICALLY FOR WHAT LIFE MIGHT BRING FORTH.
That should be a good enough reason, don't you think? But if you decide to drink wine, I will not judge you but wisdom is justified of her chidren / Mt 11:19.
We have already shown that moderate drinking is not a sin. To say that someone is in rebellion for doing something that is not a sin is judgemental.
You say that drinking alcohol is stupid. That is your opinion that cannot be confirmed scripturally. Obviously drinking in excess is a sin, as well as stupid, but so is eating in excess. No one ever rails against that and says people are in rebellion.
Even if you are correct and drinking is stupid, so is talking on your cell phone while driving, or staying up late on a work night, or not studying for a test, or a million other things that people do. If doing stupid things is the only prerequisite for being in rebellion, a lot of people are in trouble with God!
You say that drinking alcohol is stupid. That is your opinion that cannot be confirmed scripturally. Obviously drinking in excess is a sin, as well as stupid, but so is eating in excess. No one ever rails against that and says people are in rebellion.
Even if you are correct and drinking is stupid, so is talking on your cell phone while driving, or staying up late on a work night, or not studying for a test, or a million other things that people do. If doing stupid things is the only prerequisite for being in rebellion, a lot of people are in trouble with God!
M
Okay since when did I say that any of those things are good to do or lack consequence.If God tells you not to drink anything and you justify it by saying ,"Im not getting drunk"than you are being beyond foolish.I dont know any christians that drink casually or socially that dont go to excess from time to time.Dont give me this garbage about moderation because the truth is you need to study the scripture more .The bible clearly talks about not doing things that may cause your brother to stumble but you will disregrard this passage to fit your own way of thinking.Tell me something honestly and I have failed to see christians who drink moderately like you say without so much as recieving a small buzz and turning to that is as sinful as turning to a larger buzz if its done with the wrong heart.You can justify sin all you want,its like saying I just stole a little bit,it wont harm anyone or extending grace to the maximum capacity.Why do you insist on testing God by coming to these foolish conclusions.May God open your eyes
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You make a lot of good points but it really comes down to personal responsibility. I am not going to tell anyone to drink alcohol. I personally think it is better to not drink at all, and I have stated that repeatly. But the point is that it IS NOT a sin to drink in moderation and we can't use the scriptures to force our views on others when it is unwarranted.
NOWHERE can you find it in the BIBLE that a beer is sin or even a cigarette. I would say anything that can cause your body to change thru haulicinating or altering your normalities as a functioning sound mind would most definitely be a sin. Where is that point on each on of us? Who knows. What I do know from the BIBLE it say not to defile the HOLY TEMPLE and we know this is the place by which the HOLY GHOST lives in us.
DO I THINK IT IS WRONG TO HAVE A BEER? NO
BUT
As a pastor if I was caught drinking a beer and offended one of my members and caused them to backslide and become apostate.......
What did I accomplish by drinking that beer thinking it was not wrong???
DO I THINK IT IS WRONG TO HAVE A BEER? NO
BUT
As a pastor if I was caught drinking a beer and offended one of my members and caused them to backslide and become apostate.......
What did I accomplish by drinking that beer thinking it was not wrong???
Re: defiling the temple. Jesus taught it is what comes out of the heart of a person that makes them unclean (insert bible reference here), not what goes into the stomach and is then broken down and passed out of the body.
That debunks the common theory in christianity that smoking or drinking is defiling the temple. No, it's when a person had that bad thought about someone else , that is when a person defiled the temple. It's when a person brings in a heretical and false doctrine into the church, and taught it to others as undeniable fact and truth, that is also defiling the temple.
By the way, the context of 1 Cor 13:7, if that is the verse being referred to, is not about what you put into your body, it is about the carnal divisions taking place within the church. In this context, the church body is the temple, and it's the divisions and such that defile it. That it is about what you put into your body is a twisting of scripture, despite the constant misuse of it by many christians. Consult any good protestant study aids or bible commentaries, you'll see.
That debunks the common theory in christianity that smoking or drinking is defiling the temple. No, it's when a person had that bad thought about someone else , that is when a person defiled the temple. It's when a person brings in a heretical and false doctrine into the church, and taught it to others as undeniable fact and truth, that is also defiling the temple.
By the way, the context of 1 Cor 13:7, if that is the verse being referred to, is not about what you put into your body, it is about the carnal divisions taking place within the church. In this context, the church body is the temple, and it's the divisions and such that defile it. That it is about what you put into your body is a twisting of scripture, despite the constant misuse of it by many christians. Consult any good protestant study aids or bible commentaries, you'll see.
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