The official can Christians drink debate thread.

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Nocturnus

Guest
#21
#21
Perhaps the concept of asking should we rather than can we is a more appropriate way to look at the issue. Why do people feel the need to use it as a way of having fun? has socialising with the people one normally hangs out with gotten so boring that they need to bust out the alcohol to liven up the matter? Is the food you're eating not cutting it? Music getting old? Football/basketball/insert other sport here getting lame? Methinks it might be time you find a new hobby, or new friends, or new artists, or perhaps you're dependant and in that case you need help, but be honest about it.
Beliefs on alcohol aside, the same could be said about a bunch of other areas of Christian life; should we dance? What music should we listen to? what movies should we watch? Is kissing permissible? And I've even heard debates among Christians as to weather or not we should be using the net! the question should be, which ones are compromising our walk with God and drawing us closer to the sins outlined in the bible? We cannot compromise with God. Sin is sin, and doing what's right is something we should strive to do, but we do need to understand that what might be wrong for one person won't necessarily be wrong for everyone. Romans 14:23 plainly states that everything which does not come from faith is sin, which means that if you believe in your heart that it's wrong, then you shouldn't do it, because at the point you do that thing you believe to be wrong then you are sinning, because you've gone against what you believe to be right. Pray, read, discuss, repeat if necesary until you're sincerely settled on the matter.
 
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Tintin

Guest
#22
#22
Or you know what? Maybe alcohol tastes good. I wouldn't even bother if it tasted gross. It's for enjoyment. Not to prove anything or increase the fun-factor of an event. Goodness.
 
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Nocturnus

Guest
#23
#23
My appologies; my last post probably sounded like a judgmental tirade, which it was not meant to be. Honestly, if you enjoy the taste then who am I to say you shouldn't have some, provided that all of the above are not the reason you're doing it. It's similar to overeating because you have nothing else to do or because you're upset/stressed and so on. Had you read a little further in you would have realized that my concern is mostly with people who do it in dishonest fashion for all of the other matters I stated above.
 
Stephen63

Stephen63

Banned
#24
Aug 15, 2009
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#24
As a "westerner", I have noticed in our country that many can't go without a pop or a cigarette for a whole day. We have people that can't put down food when they've had enough. In a country where people aren't satisfied with what they have & have to have more........Just wondering how the same people can make the claim they can drink in moderation when many of them can't date (christians, that is) without having sex. Common sense says they can't.
 
p_rehbein

p_rehbein

Senior Member
#25
Sep 4, 2013
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#25
1still_waters said:
This thread is made for the purpose of debating if Christians can drink. Come here to debate the topic, especially if you've derailed any threads with this topic.
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.......goodness, I surely hope so...........elsewise we would all perish from dehydration!

(oh, no, wait, are you speaking of alcoholic drinks?............)
 
p_rehbein

p_rehbein

Senior Member
#26
Sep 4, 2013
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#26
Tintin said:
Or you know what? Maybe alcohol tastes good. I wouldn't even bother if it tasted gross. It's for enjoyment. Not to prove anything or increase the fun-factor of an event. Goodness.
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just wondering.......which alcoholic beverage tastes good? that has always been my biggest obstacle with drinking alcoholic beverages.........finding one that tastes "good."

Well, my biggest problem is TRULY that Jesus stated He wouldn't partake of the fruit of the vine until once again He was here with us.............and as we are to strive to walk Christ-like............. :) just saying........

Now, back to my commentary.......

'Nanner Puddin..............THAT TASTES GOOD
Hot Apple Pie................THAT TASTES GOOD
BBQ ANYTHING.............TASTES GOOD
and on, and on.................................................alcohol? Not that I have found.........and prior to dedicating my life to Christ, I did so some in-depth research into this :)
 
p_rehbein

p_rehbein

Senior Member
#27
Sep 4, 2013
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#27
Tintin said:
I have no problem drinking in moderation. I had my first Holy Communion with real port at 10 years old. I drank my first alcoholic drink (bar Holy Communion) at 18 years old - that's our legal drinking age. I've never seen the need to get drunk. I much prefer food anyway, so after one or two drinks, I stop. No worries.
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Works for you, and that's good...........but what about those WHO CAN'T stop at one or two?

(just asking.............)
 
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Tintin

Guest
#28
#28
p_rehbein said:
Works for you, and that's good...........but what about those WHO CAN'T stop at one or two?

(just asking.............)
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Those who have a history, family or personal, should abstain from alcohol. There's such a thing as discernment and being responsible. I don't drink if it causes brothers and sisters in Christ to stumble.
 
p_rehbein

p_rehbein

Senior Member
#29
Sep 4, 2013
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#29
tourist said:
I have not seen any evidence in the bible that expressly outlaws the imbibing of alcohol. As in most things, moderation is the best course of action. The first miracle that Jesus performed was to change water into wine for the wedding reception. This was a very high quality wine as the chief wine steward attested to. I hope that someone does not reply that what is Jesus actually did was change water into grape juice as this argument is not supported by the facts and is completely ludicrous.

I am not much of a drinker these past 25 years but tonight I believe that I will enjoy a pina colada with a friend. If that makes me a bad person so be it because I would rather be happy than right. That's the way that I roll 'em.
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this is tongue in cheek yes? I've read many of your comments...........and I don't accept the last part of this one as being real truth for you............I think you would rather be Christ-like than "happy." For if we are Christ-like we are walking in "Truth."
 
p_rehbein

p_rehbein

Senior Member
#30
Sep 4, 2013
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#30
Raine said:
A line I like was from a certain sermon about a pastor who has counseled many say...

"I've never heard anyone tell me that their life has completely changed for the better because of alcohol."

So if you don't need it and don't have to drink it, why not just avoid the possibility of drunkenness and unclear thinking altogether?

I do understand some people like it for the taste etc, but just wanted to throw it out there.
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Very true........never hear a testimony in Church where someone stands up and praises alcohol for turning their life around....

:)
 
Stephen63

Stephen63

Banned
#31
Aug 15, 2009
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#31
I'm curious about another matter....... When someone says they won't drink if they know it will offend, when do they "know" that....... before or after it happens? I don't know about anybody else, but I can't read minds...... & it seems to me if it's after it happens..... well, that's just a little too late now isn't it? :confused:
 
p_rehbein

p_rehbein

Senior Member
#32
Sep 4, 2013
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#32
Stephen63 said:
I'm curious about another matter....... When someone says they won't drink if they know it will offend, when do they "know" that....... before or after it happens? I don't know about anybody else, but I can't read minds...... & it seems to me if it's after it happens..... well, that's just a little too late now isn't it? :confused:
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Very well could be..........but in all honesty, I have been asked by some who I know do drink, if I would like to go out to dinner with them................and I decline...........

Not because their drinking is a stumbling block, BUT that usually the dinner is in a place where the ENVIORMENT is a stumbling block................not condemning them...........just being prudent
 
Grace-Like-Rain

Grace-Like-Rain

Senior Member
#33
Sep 6, 2013
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#33
Nocturnus said:
Perhaps the concept of asking should we rather than can we is a more appropriate way to look at the issue. Why do people feel the need to use it as a way of having fun? has socialising with the people one normally hangs out with gotten so boring that they need to bust out the alcohol to liven up the matter?
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And yet... Christ Himself apparently felt that He not only could, but SHOULD, because He chose to serve the finest wine at a social event for the purpose of celebration. He saw nothing wrong with using wine as a way of "having fun".

Scripture doesn't say that He thought about the possibility of alcoholics in the crowd, or the possibility of over-usage, or the possibility of offending someone. It just says that he turned the water into wine, and it was the best wine anyone had tasted. (I'm not condoning drinking in front of those it might offend. Just making a point.)

How do people explain that?

Yes, caution should be used. Yes, people can and do abuse alcohol. But as with anything, the sin is in the heart of the people, and not with the wine itself.
 
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AgeofKnowledge

Guest
#34
#34
My advice is to avoid the drugs and alcohol and just be sober.
 
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oldernotwiser

Guest
#35
#35
can christians drink? i guess some can but a few years ago i was with a group of foreign teachers here in china as guests at a celebration in the northwest and saw a baptist missionary who certainly couldnt. we went to dinner with some aussies and he didnt seem to realize that drinking beer with australians is playing in the big leagues. luckily he wasnt very heavy so it was easy getting him back to his room.
 
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Tintin

Guest
#36
#36
It's true. Aussies do love their beer but some of us drink it in moderation.
 
p_rehbein

p_rehbein

Senior Member
#37
Sep 4, 2013
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#37
Grace-Like-Rain said:
And yet... Christ Himself apparently felt that He not only could, but SHOULD, because He chose to serve the finest wine at a social event for the purpose of celebration. He saw nothing wrong with using wine as a way of "having fun".

Scripture doesn't say that He thought about the possibility of alcoholics in the crowd, or the possibility of over-usage, or the possibility of offending someone. It just says that he turned the water into wine, and it was the best wine anyone had tasted. (I'm not condoning drinking in front of those it might offend. Just making a point.)

How do people explain that?

Yes, caution should be used. Yes, people can and do abuse alcohol. But as with anything, the sin is in the heart of the people, and not with the wine itself.
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I see this example in Scripture given all the time to support the consumption of alcoholic beverages...........

Know what IS MISSING from this Passage? Any mention of someone at that Feast being DRUNK! Now, GIVEN that the miracle Jesus did came at THE END OF THE FEAST, how is it possible that NOT ONE SINGLE PERSON had consumed a wee bit too much? Possibly we should consider this.............?
 
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Taith

Guest
#38
#38
Hmm. My brother tried it, and now has been drunk several times. I don't keep contact with him, so I don't know how bad he is.

Everything you hear about people drinking, is stories of people who could not hold it. And they became drunks. I am not saying this will happen to any of y'all! But, to me it is like seeing how far you can push God.

So I plan to stay away from it, period.
 
p_rehbein

p_rehbein

Senior Member
#39
Sep 4, 2013
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#39
Tintin said:
It's true. Aussies do love their beer but some of us drink it in moderation.
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"In Moderation.........." (that MUST be in Northern Australia.........) Never heard of that particular place in the South!
 
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oldernotwiser

Guest
#40
#40
p_rehbein said:
"In Moderation.........." (that MUST be in Northern Australia.........) Never heard of that particular place in the South!
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moderation? it's just a small place, about 30 kilometers southwest of dispair. not many tourists there, either the salties or the drop bears usually get them. nice quiet place for drinking though
 
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