I have asked this before but I wanted to ask in a different forum.
After research I have noticed alcohol is not a sin, drunkeness is.
However I still feel guilty If I were to have a beer or two?
Would like some insight.
In the bible it says if we feel guilty its a sin to us.
I have been brought up my whole life alcohol is bad so maybe thats why i feel this way?
Also, maybe because the culture looks at alcohol as worldly and since things are viewed differently now, I wouldnt want someone to stumble and think im living in sin "only because alcohol is such a problem these days"
advice
No the act is not a sin, but your intent would be where it would be a sin.
I've questioned the same thing, and especially knowing that my culture sees is as something worldly, its put extra pressure for me, which at this point, its fine. Paul faces these same issues with the church of Corinth, when he mentions about how even though things are lawful, he doesn't act on them (1 Corinthians 6).So the question isn't whether or not its a sin, because they didn't explicit address the very act, but when does it become sin. And its situational. Some cases, its fine to have it. Some cases, it wouldn't be wise to do it. And some cases, you're committed a sin in which the fruit of it would be you drinking. Some people rather just forgo drinking all together. Personally, I like a beer occasionally.That's not to say I'm more right or more wrong than those that refrain, but everyone have to work that out.
So this is just a little test I give myself, anything I'm doing something that in act isn't necessarily an abomination to do
1.Is this act dishonoring God?
2.Is this act against my conscious?
3.Would this act tamper my ability to witness?
4. Is this act being a stumbling-block to someone else?
If in that situation, it pass all those questions, I proceed. So for example, having one beer with a friend. Its not dishonoring God, its not against my conscious, it doesn't tamper my ability to witness, and its not a stumbling-block to them.
Take the same instance, and say that I'm having a beer with a friend in which I know have a drinking problem. Then it wouldn't pass. Same if I had a beer in front of my mom who doesn't like it. Same if I was to have this drink at a club. Same if you were underage. Same if my ability to drink makes me boastful in my heart to those that choose to refrain. All situational.
Drunkenness is seen as sin, because you putting yourself at a point of no control, of over-excessiveness. A person's heart when they are getting drunk, no matter what situation, isn't towards honoring God. They are not able to properly discern, they are not really caring about the people around them, etc, etc.