Alcohol

[Sketcher]

1 - How much weight, in any, should be given to your example set and your living testimony as a Christian?

In general? A lot when I'm doing good, and none when I'm doing bad.

2 - What does drinking alcoholic beverages do for you or to you?

A drink can be beneficial for socializing in some circumstances. Too many drinks will be harmful in any circumstance.

3 - Other than as prescribed by a doctor, is there anything good associated with alcoholic beverages? See number 4.

See my last answer.

4 - How much bad and misery is associated with alcoholic beverages?

A lot, when they're abused.

5 - Does anyone have the mistaken presumption that they are immune from the abuse or addiction of alcoholic beverages?

I certainly have no illusions about my vulnerability to addiction. I am very careful about how much I drink, and when I drink.

 

[nobdysfool]

Not drinking it does not hurt you.

On the other hand, all the problems related to drinking alcohol (drunk driving, alcoholism and all that entails, liver disease, obnoxious behaviors, etc.) can be tremendous and harm yourself and others.

That would be abuse of alcohol. Having "a" drink is not abuse of alcohol.

Why is it that so many want to blame what the person uses as being the root of the problem, rather than blame the person who abuses that which in and of itself is amoral? Alcohol is not of itself evil. It's abuse is. But it is not the alcohol which is evil in that case, it is the one abusing it. A hammer is a tool. It is neither good nor bad. How it is used determines whether the outcome is good or bad, but the tool has no morals. People do. A gun has no morals. It is neither good nor bad. If it is used in a crime, it is not the gun which is evil, it is the one who used it for an evil purpose. Inanimate objects do not possess morals. They are, in and of themselves, amoral.

Morality, or the lack thereof, is a quality of rational beings.

 

[BereanTodd]

Drinking alchohol is not a sin, and yes I do it. I never allow myself more than 2 or 3 and never approach any state of drunkeness. Drunkeness is a sin, drinking is not. The Bible tells us that wine is a gift from God, and authorized the OT Jews to take their money even to buy hard liquor. If God told them it was ok for them to buy hard liquor, but to ingest it were a sin then what are we to make of it? After all we are told that God does not tempt people to sin.

I'd like to ask a couple of questions on this issue, but not in a judgmental or legalistic way.

Ask away.

1 - How much weight, in any, should be given to your example set and your living testimony as a Christian?

A lot of weight should be given. Let me ask a counter question. Does drinking set fourth a negative example? (my answer of course is no ...)

2 - What does drinking alcoholic beverages do for you or to you?

What does drinking water/kool-aid/milk do for you? It is a tasty beverage that I enjoy partaking of.

3 - Other than as prescribed by a doctor, is there anything good associated with alcoholic beverages? See number 4.

It tastes good, and has been shown to lessen the chances of cancer and heart disease when drunk regularly in moderation.

4 - How much bad and misery is associated with alcoholic beverages?

How much misery is associated with overeating? Should we not eat? How much misery is associated with car accidents? Should we not drive? How much misery is associated with war? Is there never a cause for a just war?

5 - Does anyone have the mistaken presumption that they are immune from the abuse or addiction of alcoholic beverages?

Does anyone have the mistaken presumption that they are immine from the abuse or addiction to food? Should we not eat because some cannot control themselves with it?

The Lord Jesus not only turned water to wine for others, but Himself personally partook of wine himself most likely daily, and certainly regularly. The Last Supper was the third cup of wine from the Paschal celebration. Are we to be held to a higher standard than our Lord was?

 

[NorrinRadd]

Not drinking it does not hurt you. ...

That's a matter of opinion and semantics. There is increasing medical consensus that *moderate* intake of beers and wines is better than either ZERO intake or heavy intake.

 

[NorrinRadd]

I have a couple of swigs of beer most every day. Takes me about 4 days to finish a bottle.

Have never been "drunk." Closest experiences are a couple of times back in the late '80s, when I had colds and screwed up the timing and combining of my cold meds.

 

[SolaVeritas]

Our church's stance is against alcohol in general and I respect that. Personally, I have no such conviction based on what the Bible actually has to say. We cook with wine, and have the occasional glass with a good meal (never drunk). However, let's be careful and not offend a brother or sister, or make them think it's ok for them if it isn't. For that reason, we don't drink in front of our christian friends, though some know we stand, and we also stay away from the local bar. I don't beleive it would make for a good witness if I went there to have a drink with the folks. We don't have to become so worldly that we can't be told apart. Non-christians respect that by the way.
One more word, I respect everybody that wants nothing to do with alcohol, but to go so far as to say that the wine Jesus drank was grape juice is ridiculous and can't be backed up by the Bible. People don't need to go to such desperate arguments to defend their convictions. Just stand up for it, and that's it, no?

 

[Why9999]

Our church's stance is against alcohol in general and I respect that. Personally, I have no such conviction based on what the Bible actually has to say. We cook with wine, and have the occasional glass with a good meal (never drunk).

Cooking actually boils out the alcohol btw...

 

[Aibrean]

Not if it's not boiled.

 

[Why9999]

Not if it's not boiled.

Can you say "rum cake"?

 

[Aibrean]

Can you say "rum cake"?

Which is delicious if made properly. My mom goofed on the rum frosting and didn't boil out the rum the second time she made it. WHOO was that a surprise.

 

[Why9999]

Which is delicious if made properly. My mom goofed on the rum frosting and didn't boil out the rum the second time she made it. WHOO was that a surprise.

And that's the way rum cake should be imho! Rum cake is a reciprocating food...