Alcohol - Is it sin?

ByTheSpirit said:

I'm not asking about getting drunk, but rather you go out with a friend(s) and want to have a drink to unwind or whatever. Is having a drink the same as us sinning?

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My dear brother, you pose a very interesting question

Scripture does not necessarily forbid a Christian from consuming alcohol.

However, Christian individuals whose bodies cannot process alcohol properly should abstain from alcohol

What God commands Christians regarding alcohol is to avoid drunkenness (Ephesians 5:18). The Bible condemns drunkenness and its effects (Proverbs 23:29-35). Christians are also commanded to not allow their bodies to be “mastered” by anything (1 Corinthians 6:12; 2 Peter 2:19).

No, scripture condemns drunkenness, not consuming alcohol.

Alcohol is something that the Bible neither condones or condemns- it's fundamentally a worldly thing that can be a vice just as anything else.

The idea that Jesus turned water into mere grape juice at a wedding just isn't realistic- ever been to a wedding that serves grape juice?
Then there's always David (or Solomon, can't remember) who says to 'drink your wine in cheeriness'- obviously, the Spirit didn't forbid an expressed taste for alcohol.

However,
it's interesting to point out as well that 'unleavened bread' is bread made without yeast- a lot of people assume it was a sort of discipline but really makes more sense to conclude it had everything to do with the yeast itself.

Jesus drank wine. Therefore no.

ByTheSpirit said:

I'm not asking about getting drunk, but rather you go out with a friend(s) and want to have a drink to unwind or whatever.

Is having a drink the same as us sinning?

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Nope. In the Torah God commands the Israelites to buy wine and strong drink (Deuteronomy 14:26), our Lord Himself turned water into wine at the wedding at Cana, He was accused of being a "glutton and a drunkard" because He came "eating and drinking" and spending time with prostitutes and tax collectors, and most importantly the night our Lord was betrayed He took bread and wine and said they were His very body and blood which we were to receive for the remembrance of Him.

Consumption of alcohol isn't sinful, it is a gift to be enjoyed. But like all good things we should not misuse and abuse it, moderation is key.

-CryptoLutheran

ByTheSpirit said:

I'm not asking about getting drunk, but rather you go out with a friend(s) and want to have a drink to unwind or whatever.

Is having a drink the same as us sinning?

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I am struggling with this thought. I have heard many different perspectives on this subject. And here is my conclusion.

Some people look at people drinking at all as a sin mainly because they around other people when they do it, and it shows that you are an active participator of the world we live in.

Some people look at it like drinking around others encourages others to do the same.

My take on it is this: As long as you don't get drunk around other people and you don't display yourself as a person who is immoral or who doesn't practice Christianity, then you are fine. I would say get a drink if it means connecting with that person, but don't practice getting drunk or drinking a lot. Profess to be a Christian to others, continue to show that you have complete faith in God, and God Himself will make that clear to you. God will be the deciding factor on whether or not He wants you to drink or not.

To conclude: It is so much better to show yourself a great example by not drinking, it shows that you are set apart. However, if you take a drink or two of it and don't get drunk from it, I don't think it makes you a sinner. But pay attention to God's calling and listen to Him, He will reveal to you whether He wants you specifically to drink or not.

ByTheSpirit said:

Is having a drink the same as us sinning?

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Not for the general population the way you describe it. But if you can't or don't control the amount you drink, drink to get drunk, or to deliberately lower your inhibitions and 'let the devil fly', to escape reality and responsibility, drive drunk, commit other sins like assault or pursue infidelity while drunk, if you'd rather be buzzed or drunk than sober in general... then for someone like me, I have to look back and acknowledge that it's a sin to have even one, because any compromise leads to more compromise until it has me again. For me it's like a spiritual blindfold. It wasn't me that took it off, and if I put it on again, it becomes my master again and I'll start fighting in the wrong direction.

Matthew 5:30 If it causes you to stumble, cut it off
Matthew 6:24 If it has become a Master, cut it off

Put another way - if you drink to sin, then it's a sin to drink.

LibriVox

A lot of people bought into what Mr. Welch was preaching.

No, not in and of itself it is not sinful. All things in moderation.

As others have mentioned the wedding at Cana, I am assured that you are aware of it.

Forgive me...

ByTheSpirit said:

I'm not asking about getting drunk, but rather you go out with a friend(s) and want to have a drink to unwind or whatever.

Is having a drink the same as us sinning?

Click to expand...

1 Peter 4:3 For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries:

Peter condemns drinking in varying amounts from excess to small amounts.

1 Peter 5:8 Christians are commanded to be sober Greek word nēphō which means abstinence with nepho literally meaning ' not drink '.

-The Greek word nepho literally means “drink no wine” (The Complete Biblical Library).
-Vines Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words says it means “to be free from the influence of intoxicants.”
-The Theological Dictionary of the New Testament says it is the opposite of intoxication.
-Liddell and Scott’s Lexicon says it means “to be sober, to live soberly, especially to drink no wine.” -Stephanus’s Thesaurus says “he who abstains from wine.”
-Bretschneider defines it as “I am sober, I abstain from wine.”
-The Greek Dictionary of Byzantius says nepho means “one who does not drink wine.”
-The Greek-French Lexicon says “abstinence from wine, sobriety.”
-Robinson’s New Testament Lexicon defines it as “to be sober, temperate, abstinent, especially in respect to wine.”
-Younge’s English and Greek Lexicon says it means “without wine.”
-Strong’s Hebrew and Greek Dictionaries admit nepho means “to abstain from wine, keep sober.”
Drink No Wine | Battle Creek Church of Christ

Some have argued that it is all right to drink as long as one does not get drunk. However, Ephesians 5:18 says: "And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit." According to Young's Analytical Concordance to the Bible, the verb which is translated: "Be not drunk" actually means, "Do not begin to be softened" with wine. Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words defines this verb as: "to make drunk, or to grow drunk (an inceptive verb, marking the process of the state expressed in methuo), to become intoxicated. . . ." In other words, Paul is saying, "Do not even begin the process of becoming drunk." (See also Luke 12:45 and 1 Thessalonians 5:7). Since the process of becoming drunk begins with the first drink, then one is forbidden to take even one drink of an alcoholic beverage.
Is It Wrong to Drink? - Mooresville church of Christ

ByTheSpirit said:

I'm not asking about getting drunk, but rather you go out with a friend(s) and want to have a drink to unwind or whatever.

Is having a drink the same as us sinning?

Click to expand...

It is not a sin, if the alcohol doesn’t rule you and if you don’t reject God because of it.

”All things are lawful for me," but not all things are expedient. "All things are lawful for me," but I will not be brought under the power of anything.
1 Corinthians 6:12

Nope. What else ya got?

TheSeabass said:

1 Peter 4:3 For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries:

Peter condemns drinking in varying amounts from excess to small amounts.

1 Peter 5:8 Christians are commanded to be sober Greek word nēphō which means abstinence with nepho literally meaning ' not drink '.

-The Greek word nepho literally means “drink no wine” (The Complete Biblical Library).
-Vines Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words says it means “to be free from the influence of intoxicants.”
-The Theological Dictionary of the New Testament says it is the opposite of intoxication.
-Liddell and Scott’s Lexicon says it means “to be sober, to live soberly, especially to drink no wine.” -Stephanus’s Thesaurus says “he who abstains from wine.”
-Bretschneider defines it as “I am sober, I abstain from wine.”
-The Greek Dictionary of Byzantius says nepho means “one who does not drink wine.”
-The Greek-French Lexicon says “abstinence from wine, sobriety.”
-Robinson’s New Testament Lexicon defines it as “to be sober, temperate, abstinent, especially in respect to wine.”
-Younge’s English and Greek Lexicon says it means “without wine.”
-Strong’s Hebrew and Greek Dictionaries admit nepho means “to abstain from wine, keep sober.”
Drink No Wine | Battle Creek Church of Christ

Some have argued that it is all right to drink as long as one does not get drunk. However, Ephesians 5:18 says: "And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit." According to Young's Analytical Concordance to the Bible, the verb which is translated: "Be not drunk" actually means, "Do not begin to be softened" with wine. Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words defines this verb as: "to make drunk, or to grow drunk (an inceptive verb, marking the process of the state expressed in methuo), to become intoxicated. . . ." In other words, Paul is saying, "Do not even begin the process of becoming drunk." (See also Luke 12:45 and 1 Thessalonians 5:7). Since the process of becoming drunk begins with the first drink, then one is forbidden to take even one drink of an alcoholic beverage.
Is It Wrong to Drink? - Mooresville church of Christ

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Most people know what it is to be drunk.
You fall into error when going to this much of an extreme position.
Paul also recommends wine.
1 Timothy 5:23

• New King James Version
  No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for your stomach’s sake and your frequent infirmities.

Alcohol is not sinful, neither is money.
It is what people do with alcohol that can make it a sinful act.

ByTheSpirit said:

I'm not asking about getting drunk, but rather you go out with a friend(s) and want to have a drink to unwind or whatever.

Is having a drink the same as us sinning?

Click to expand...

I feel like a broken record since my moral foundation is anchored by one single quality - love. Every question about moral behavior should be filtered through the Law of Christ: love God and love others.

In becoming intentionally drunk, you have negatively impaired your judgment. Being drunk is often contrasted with having self-control. When we lack self-control, we become less likely to restrain our selfish sin nature. Putting yourself in a situation to likely harm others is not a loving thing to do.

sdowney717 said:

Most people know what it is to be drunk.
You fall into error when going to this much of an extreme position.
Paul also recommends wine.
1 Timothy 5:23

• New King James Version
  No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for your stomach’s sake and your frequent infirmities.

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The Greek word oinos can mean anything from a cluster of grapes, to grape juice to fermented wine. It is therefore wrong to assume that the English word "wine" as used in the KJV always means fermented wine only.


--If Paul was referring to fermented wine, Timothy was to add a little wine where the alcohol content would kill bacteria in the water at the same time the water dilutes the alcoholic content. Hence the 'wine' is used as an antiseptic not for social, recreational drinking.

--Paul would not instruct Timothy to violate the NT teachings on physical abstinence (nepho) or Peter's condemnation of drinking 1 Pet 4:3 or Paul's own prohibition of drinking Eph 5:18

1 Pet 4:3 and Eph 5:18 talk about drunkenness. Not about complete abstinence.

GeorgeJ said:

1 Pet 4:3 and Eph 5:18 talk about drunkenness. Not about complete abstinence.

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1 Pet 4:3 condemns drinking in varying amounts from excess to small amounts while Eph 5:18 shows drunkenness is a process and condemns starting the process with the first drink. Christians have been commanded to be sober - nepho - abstain from drinking.

TheSeabass said:

1 Pet 4:3 condemns drinking in varying amounts from excess to small amounts while Eph 5:18 shows drunkenness is a process and condemns starting the process with the first drink. Christians have been commanded to be sober - nepho - abstain from drinking.

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Nope. Not sure how you arrive at that tee-totaling conclusion, but they don't and no they haven't.