Is it a sin to drink alcohol

@kaylagrl I don't think tobacco & gambling are sins in and of themselves. We'd have to stop raffles and church bingo nights.

2020 has made me WISH I could drink wine, etc., but I can't. Yeshua drank it after all, as I am sure you have discussed. This week and last has made me want something to knock me out for a time.

Paul suggested drinking a little wine for various ailments that affected mind and body.

He sure did. Did he also suggest M&Ms? If he didn't, he should have.

The Bible is void of chocolate

The Bible is void of chocolate

God's word has much to say about the consumption of fermented and unfermented wine. In ancient times wine could be fermented grape juice mixed with water, thus making it somewhat diluted. Fermented wine could also be made without adding water and making it more intoxicating. The Bible often describes this type of wine as "strong drink". Without question the Bible condemns drinking to the point where a person is drunk. As Christians we are commanded to not let our bodies be enslaved by anything (1 Corinthians 6: 12) and getting drunk with alcohol would certainly fall under this category. Christians should not do anything that hinders the Holy Spirit's influence on us. A person who consumes alcohol to the point where they are drunk has let the alcohol influence their decision making instead of being "filled by the spirit". Alcohol by itself is not tainted by sin, it is the drunkenness and addiction to it that a Christian must absolutely stay away from. Scripture does not forbid Christians from drinking beer, wine, or anything else containing alcohol in it. As a matter of fact, there are times the Bible speaks of alcohol in a positive light.

Ephesians 5:18 "be not drunk with wine where in excess; but be filled with the Holy Spirit." This passage of scripture is warning us to not be "drunk" or drinking to the point where it is to much or "excess". Drinking to much leads to intoxication, which leads to bad decisions. God wants us to be filled by the Holy Spirit which leads and guides us into making better decisions in life.

Exodus 32:6-7 The people were so intoxicated with wine that the Lord said, "they have corrupted themselves."
Proverbs 20:1 "Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise." To be led astray is to be led by the intoxication of wine, where God wants us to be lead by the Holy Spirit.

Proverbs 31:4-7 verse 4 says that it is not for kings to drink wine. If the king is drunk and is under its influence, he may forget the law, his morals, or himself. A drunken king will use bad judgement when making important decisions concerning his kingdom. A king who stays drunk all the time cannot lead his people or country. Now notice in verse 6 this passage is actually giving permission to drink intoxicating wine. "strong drink" to those who are about to die and may need it for pain and "wine" who have a heavy heart and is afflicted with anxiety, nervousness, or something troubling them emotionally.

Final thoughts
It is incorrect to say that wine in the Bible was just simply grape juice, but equally incorrect to say that wine was fermented the same as modern day. It has been clinically proven that a glass of red wine soothes the stomach. The drunken state is what the Bible most warns about. The fact is, many people have a problem with having just "one glass" of red wine and want to keep going until it is too late. They become enslaved by the alcohol and do and say things they normally wouldn't. For these people it is a good idea to stay completely away from any kind of alcohol beverage. Keep in mind, back in ancient times the water was not very clean. Without modern sanitation, the water was filled with bacteria, viruses, and all kinds of contaminants. It is still true today in some third world countries where immediately after you step off an airplane they tell you not to drink the water! Regarding alcohol and its effects it has on people, the easy temptation to consume more than one can handle, and due to the possibility causing another brother or sister stumbling in their walk with Christ, it may be best for a Christian to abstain from drinking all together.
God bless everyone!

Oh, stinkin'! Is this a setup? Because I can't take any more disappointment today.
<angry frown>

Perhaps enjoying chocolate is a forbidden pleasure.

The Bible is void of chocolate

Question: Why do we need to drink alcohol?

A long time ago water in many places was unsafer to drink than beer or wine. That's no longer true in first world areas like most of the U.S. I can remember when cough syrup was basically brandy & codeine. We called it GI Gin in the military. I actually doubt if alcohol is necessary for human consumption for much any more.

Alcohol doesn't kill people, people who drink alcohol kill people.

NOT FUNNY! Pancreatitis, liver disease, hemorrhaging esophagus and peritonitis due to leaking stomachs and intestines can and more be caused by drinking. They all can be fatal. Some folks even drown in their own blood.

If you (whoever "you" are) think that it is a sin to drink alcohol, then don't drink alcohol, because it is a sin for you. Whatever is not of faith is sin. "Your" view doesn't make it a sin for "me" though.

I think drinking alcohol is not a sin in the literal sense. It is a sin to abuse alcohol, not to consume in moderation. After all, Jesus himself and his entourage consumed wine in reasonable quantities. By the way, I recommend looking at the Bible reviews on YouTube from famous historians in order to more accurately familiarize yourself with some things. I found about 20 videos there, and they were all posted on channels that had at least 72 thousand subscribers. I'm sure their authors used https://soclikes.com/buy-youtube-subscribers to buy subscribers.

If you (whoever "you" are) think that it is a sin to drink alcohol, then don't drink alcohol, because it is a sin for you. Whatever is not of faith is sin. "Your" view doesn't make it a sin for "me" though.