Beer

[Shannonkish]

So, What are your thoughts on alcohol and Christians...

I will give my opinon in a little bit.

 

[12volt_man]

I believe that there's nothing wrong with it moderation but drunkenness is clearly condemned in scripture.

I also believe that God gives some the liberty to drink in moderationand He also gives some a conviction not to drink at all and I believe that both sides need to respect the other.

 

[Heinrich]

In my previous life I used to drink...
I was not alcoholic but I did get drunk sometimes.
The only reason I was drinking is because I wanted to feel socially acceptable and I had a poor self-image.

Well God truly changed me so I don't need alcohol anymore.
I don't think drinking a little bit is bad, but I get sick of the taste of beer. And I don't like wine either... So I really don't see any point in it. There things that tastes alot nicer

that's my 5 sents

 

[mle]

I like beer. I like to have a drink as part of my evening dinner/relatation time. The thing is I have one drink and that is enough. I'm sure if I had two I would not be drunk but one is enough.
I agree that the bible is very clear on drunkeness being wrong. The bible also states that what is right for me may or may not be right for you. We are not to judge others by what they eat or drink. When I am in company of non-drinkers I gladly lay aside alchohol while I'm in thier company. I would not want to be a stumbling block for an other.

I Corinthians 10:23
All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.

Colossians 2:21
Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath [days]:

Romans 13:13
Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.

Galatians 5:21
Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told [you] in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

Some scripture to ponder when making opinions regarding drinking.

 

[lilouisianagal]

while the Bible does not say 'do not drink' and even Jesus and the disciples drank(though not to excess) we have to remember that in that time and place that was what people drank(as opposed to water, coke,etc.). though i don't have a problem with people having an alcoholic beverage i don't drink and i do believe that it hurts your witness when you drink.

 

[Mrs K 2004]

I believe it's ok to drink; but it's not ok to do it with the intentions of getting drunk! When you are drunk you lose control of yourself, thus allowing yourself to do things you would not otherwise do! So having a glass of wine or a beer with dinner is one thing, but to sit down on your couch with a group of friends and say "Let's get trashed!" is the wrong thing to do!

 

[Mr.Cheese]

I like a good beer. One I was really starting to like was Anchor Steam. It's out of Frisco. It's hopped up pretty good so it kinda kicks you when you drink it. The most killer of all is Samuel Smith's India Pale Ale. No, not sam adams.
But I haven't had a drink in...a couple of years now. I think that allows me to be a better example for the teens here.

 

[Polycarp1]

Beer, or any alcoholic beverage (I prefer a mildly dry wine, myself), is there for a purpose and is capable of being abused. In this it differs little from much of God's creation. I knew a diabetic once who would purposefully abuse her sweets intake in order to get attention -- which having a sugar reaction would certainly do, those around who cared about her knowing what to be concerned about. One can think of dozens of other examples of something good in itself but capable of abuse.

I enjoy the occasional glass of wine. There is alcoholism on both sides of my ancestry, so I'm very chary of drinking -- other than sips of communion wine, I think I may have had six glasses of wine during all of 2003. But I believe it's there for the purposes of which Scripture speaks -- to relax the body and mind when stressed, to calm the nervous stomach -- and is properly used in the moderation that you as an individual know inside is appropriate.

Using it for the purpose of intentionally getting drunk (with vanishingly rare exceptions) or by people who know themselves to be alcoholics, is abuse. And certainly the person with scruples about its use, based in the Word, should avoid it. But like everything else in the world, it has its place in a Christian life, and should be used properly (and not abused) to the benefit of His people (which includes the proper care of yourself, both physically and emotionally) and to His honor and glory.

 

[OracleX]

How many drinks does it take to start the process of getting drunk?

1 Thessalonians 5:21-22 "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil."

I believe that it isn't some that we should participate in. But it is something that I still enjoy. I think it is playing with fire and something that you can get burnt with. I believe that it is one of those things that cause others to stumble because of our liberty. I enjoy beer, but rarely drink it. I don't believe that it is alcohol that is condoned by the Bible. I also enjoy wine and meed and don't believe that they are nessesary.

Romans 14:21 "It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak."

This is one of those things that there is no clear cut line in the Bible. Well some think there are and some think there isn't. I am not convinced that there is. In these situations where it is a 'grey' area (which don't exisit in the Bible - either it is good or evil, right or wrong), we should obstain or error on the side of saftey.

Proverbs 14:16 "A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil: but the fool rageth, and is confident."

 

[Mike Uncle]

What about the fact that the Bible is wine mad? When we get to Heaven there is going to be wine everywhere!! Jesus is in fact the new wine! cool. but odd.
I think it's cool all you guys are in a 'whatever is right for you' place instead of a 'I judge you for drinking' place, and in fact have little to no idea why I even posted this. Maybe a beer will help...

 

[WeakButHopeful]

Well, I'll give my opinion here knowing that it may not be popular, but perhaps giving a different perspective.

I believe the Jews of Jesus' time had gotten to the point (over thousands of years) where laws had been constructed to fence off behaviour so it could not even come near anything evil. The idea makes sense to the human mind. If "G" can be dangerous, then I'll prohibit anyone from going anywhere near "D", "E", "F", "H", "I" or "J". Then we'll be safe. But of course, it doesn't really work. Jesus' message was that love for Him and for each other is what is necessary.

Of course, to bring it full circle, I totally agree that when a Christian is in the presence of non-drinkers (or vegetarians, or those who cannot swim, or who cannot stand the sun, or you name it) we should see it as an important responsibility to be caring and considerate of their feelings or limitations. And if we ourselves have certain problems (for instance I cannot drink because it would conflict with prescriptions medications, but others are alcoholics or have other problems with alcohol) then ignoring that fact is irresponsible. I don't think any serious person would ask whether it is Christian to leap through a glass window, nor is it sensible to discuss whether doing something dangerous is Christian.

It's just that in my discussions with non-Christians it seems to me that they have gotten the impression from Christians that the most important aspects of Christianity is what we must not do, whereas I believe the most important aspect is what we must do (i.e., love until it hurts, and it often hurts).

OK, that's my 2 cents worth.

 

[Shannonkish]

A lot of what has been said, I agree with. HOWEVER.. here is my perspective.

I am 22 y/o, I am legally allowed to drink. You have to wonder, when Jesus turned water into wine... why did he do it? They were at a wedding, a celebration, a social event... and therefore they celebrated with wine.

I agree that drunkedness is wrong.

The "temple" excuse doesn't work because soda, fat, candy, etc CAN be bad for you, just as Alcohol CAN be bad for you. Anything in excess can be harmful.

As far as my witness is concerned, I am not one to drink socially or just to drink. I have had a few drinks with my parents (who aren't Christians) and there opinion hasn't changed of me... they realize that I am over the legal age (as considered by the government) and they don't see anything wrong with it.

As far as making other's stumble... I think we use this excuse WAY too often for a lot of things. Yes, I agree that I should try to not help someone stumble, HOWEVER, I think there is a level of responsibilty of on the person that is stumbling.. you have to ask, why are they stumbling.... If you are an alcoholic, you can't blame me for making you stumble if you happen to find me at a bar, you shouldn't have been at a bar in teh first place.

In moderation, I don't have a problem with drinking.

 

[mle]

As far as causing someone to stumble, I wasn't really thinking of having a drink at a bar. I was thinking more along the lines of having dinner guests and because I'm aware that one of my guests has a problem with alcohol I make a concious decision not to serve wine with dinner.

 

[Nate Bailey]

Here is another twist, can you cause someone to stumble or not be a good witness by not having a drink? you see I do know people (non Christians) that would be offended if I didnt have a after dinner wine with them, how are you going to share the good news to someone that thinks your a self ritchous "Christian", you see if following Jesus meant that we had to follow some law to get to heaven we then we would take all the glory from GOD and place it on ourselves, this is the exact reason Jesus DIED FOR US, so that we didnt place our faith in some religious law but rather in our Maker, Savior, and Father..........is it alright to drink...........who cares........let the Spirit guide you ......youll know when its right to do one thing or another thru the Spirit, and by treating others better then ourselves..........later.....Nate

 

[Shannonkish]

Good points Nate... I agree with that

 

[brettnolan]

I like beer.
It makes me a jolly good fellow.

 

[Shannonkish]

hehe

 

[ChristsChick]

I enjoy a drink, in moderation. I don't feel there's any problem with having a couple of drinks at a meal as long as I don't get drunk. I drink with my parents when watching tv and stuff, and I don't think my drinking could be a stumbling block for other Christians cause I almost always only drink with my parents (since I'm still actually underage to go and buy a drink myself).

 

[Rechtgläubig]

All together now...

"Im Himmel gibt's kein Bier,
Drum trinken wir es hier.
Denn sind wir nicht mehr hier,
Dann trinken die andern unser Bier."

 

[marc]

Here is another twist, can you cause someone to stumble or not be a good witness by not having a drink? you see I do know people (non Christians) that would be offended if I didnt have a after dinner wine with them, how are you going to share the good news to someone that thinks your a self ritchous "Christian", you see if following Jesus meant that we had to follow some law to get to heaven we then we would take all the glory from GOD and place it on ourselves, this is the exact reason Jesus DIED FOR US, so that we didnt place our faith in some religious law but rather in our Maker, Savior, and Father..........is it alright to drink...........who cares........let the Spirit guide you ......youll know when its right to do one thing or another thru the Spirit, and by treating others better then ourselves..........later.....Nate

I don't drink anymore because I had some problems with it before I was saved, but I just used it as a positive witness a couple of weeks ago. My mother in law is one of those "not a believer, but claims they are" kind of people, and whenever my wife and I share about scripture she likes to call us judgemental. That is a whole other story, but a few weeks ago we were over her house and she loves her wine and so as to meet her where she was and not be "so righteous" I joined her in a glass of wine. It spoke volumes to her about my freedom in Christ. It tasted great also, Robert Madovey(spelling??) my favorite kind!

Marc