Christian Drinking

[chiefofsinners]

Of course it was alcoholic. There was no refrigeration in those days and hence no way to preserve grape juice without fermenting it.

From what I've read, a Methodist man named Welch "invented" grape juice because they didn't think it was right for churches to use alcoholic wine in communion. The irony is that John Wesley was a big fan of a good beer.

 

[MoodyBlue]

From what I've read, a Methodist man named Welch "invented" grape juice because they didn't think it was right for churches to use alcoholic wine in communion. The irony is that John Wesley was a big fan of a good beer.

So right! Being a Methodist, I can assure you that most of us don't have any hangups in this regard.

 

[chiefofsinners]

So right! Being a Methodist, I can assure you that most of us don't have any hangups in this regard.

I know you can't speak for every Methodist church, but how do Methodists approach communion today? Do they typically use wine, grape juice, or both?

 

[MoodyBlue]

I know you can't speak for every Methodist church, but how do Methodists approach communion today? Do they typically use wine, grape juice, or both?

In the area I live in (kind of a conservative southern USA "bible belt" area), I would say grape juice. I used to attend Presbyterian churches in the northeastern US, and as liberal as they were, they never served anything other than grape juice either. In fact, the only churches I have ever been in that served wine during communion were Episcopal and Catholic. The Methodists tend to be a little more liberal than other churches in our area, and social drinking is not discouraged.

 

[Epaphras]

First I must go back and say that abstaining from drinking is just my opinion. I do not mean to be offensive or to impose my convictions on others. Sorry if I appeared that way, but I am firm in what I believe. It seems we are all in agreement that drunkenness is sin as described in the Bible.



Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.



Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes?

They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine.

Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright.

At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder.

Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things.

Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast.

They have stricken me, shalt thou say, and I was not sick; they have beaten me, and I felt it not: when shall I awake? I will seek it yet again.



It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink:

Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.

Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts.

Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.



And the LORD spake unto Aaron, saying,

Do not drink wine nor strong drink, thou, nor thy sons with thee, when ye go into the tabernacle of the congregation, lest ye die: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations:



Neither shall any priest drink wine, when they enter into the inner court.



But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:



And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,

And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.



Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:



Abstain from all appearance of evil.



A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.



Sorry for my conservative views, but drinking is not for me.

 

[dudeoffaith1]

I don't think it is right.

 

[ahman]

Jesus turned water into wine at a party...WHAT MORE CAN BE SAID

Party on Jesus....Party on Wayne...

 

[zoe_uu]

It has been said that an early Russian Czar, when faced with the decision as to whether choose Christianity, Islam or Buddhism for his people, rejected the latter two because both prohibited alcohol.

 

[Epaphras]

I just can't see Jesus (who is God) making an alcholic drink for this wedding. Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:
If this was in an alcholic drink, why did not a warning of not getting drunk immediately follow? Did not Jesus just make this suggesting fermentation did not take place yet? Like I said before, I personally cannot bring myself to drink alcohol at all (personal conviction).

 

[ahman]

you can't see it????

how about you flip to the NT and check it out yourself. also Jesus blood is symbolised as wine. go figure.

there is NOWHERE in the bible which says do not drink. the only warning it gives is that if you become drunk, the result of your lowered inhibitions will lead you to sin more than likely.

if you don't think drinking alcohol is fine, then don't drink coke, or coffee, or eat wizz fizz, or anything with sugar in it either.

 

[gainara]

getting drunk is sinful.

you are right, but not all the times you drink you sin. i think it is ok to drink small amounts when going to a party or a celebration. but that';s it. when we have a limit it is ok, when we don't we have a problem.

 

[ahman]

my limit is as much as i feel like at the time. I drink with people i trust and i know that in the event i am going to do something stupid, they will stop me.

thinking of alcohol as the bogey man really annoys me.

it follows the line of a sermon i heard recently. christians (some) are far too closeted and are difficult to relate to and come across as arrogant and aloof to non-christians, or even to people from a different congregation.
Having such prudish morals is almost undoing the work that Jesus did through his life and death.

it is a sad fact that at my church, when i told one of my friends i got drunk, they were totally shocked, and looked down on me and gave me the cold shoulder. the other person was shocked but continued to listen as i said we played spin the bottle, and then they became mortified and said i should get someone to pray for me. what? i don't need someone to pray for me...Jesus died for me! living such a pure life, totally removes all worldliness from a lot of christians. I think that being liberal and having a good time shows non-christian that we aren't all prudes, and that there is a time and place for enjoying life. I still hold all the same moral values tha Jesus taught, and firmly believe he died for me and will defend my faith to the death, but i do not become some sort of aloof moral elitist by becoming christian.

Think about what affect you would have on a potential christian by telling them it is a sin for them to go out and get drunk and have a good time. They are probably going to be made uncomfortable and pushed further away. Two people who i thought would never come to God, have been led by God (through me) to the church, both after seeing me living just as they do. their problem was they liked the idea, but still wanted to live a fun youth and didn't buy in because the christians they knew condemned their behaviour and were...boring. they are now regulars at the church.

that would be my biggest word of advice for any young christian. don't be a prude. love Jesus, but respect the fact that he died for the way you live, and get out amongst the people who need saving. don't seclude yourself to your own church and live within the comfort zone of all things christian. your church mates are already saved, get outside your comfort zone and do something real.

 

[Epaphras]

it is a sad fact that at my church, when i told one of my friends i got drunk, they were totally shocked, and looked down on me and gave me the cold shoulder. the other person was shocked but continued to listen as i said we played spin the bottle, and then they became mortified and said i should get someone to pray for me. what? i don't need someone to pray for me...Jesus died for me! living such a pure life, totally removes all worldliness from a lot of christians. I think that being liberal and having a good time shows non-christian that we aren't all prudes, and that there is a time and place for enjoying life. I still hold all the same moral values tha Jesus taught, and firmly believe he died for me and will defend my faith to the death, but i do not become some sort of aloof moral elitist by becoming christian.

Getting drunk is not good.

Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
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.

And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;

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

Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts.

 

[ahman]

it also says in areas not to eat pork or shellfish.

how many non christian teenagers do you think outside your church you can effectively relate to?

 

[Epaphras]

it also says in areas not to eat pork or shellfish.

how many non christian teenagers do you think outside your church you can effectively relate to?

Interesting your first statement is. Relate to or reach? For me, getting drunk kills how effectively I can witness to these people. That is just how I feel.

 

[ahman]

yoda you are not. its from a passage in Leviticus

for me, getting drunk makes me happy, makes for a fun time, and can be enjoyed responsibly. going to a party is not the time or place to witness to people, it's to get to know them. leave witnessing for when they are comfortable, which probably won't happen if you look down on them everytime they throw one back.

 

[meebs]

I think whether you are christian or not, its good to drink in moderation. Getting only slightly drunk is fun, but go too far you've got potential to be voilent or do actions you wouldnt normally do when sober, get depressed, very sick the next day (which impairs youre judment), or even cause death by accident (car crash etc).

sorry, its just i live in a town where binge drinking is normal and the affects quite nasty!

i have been very drunk and only slightly drunk, and its just all about acheiving good balance, always drink water as well as your drinks, eat something before you go out (and maybe inbetween) and just try to realise when you've had enough! Dont do what your freinds do if it seems stupid.

If you are christian and you think its wrong or right then its up to you to implement that feeling. Dont do it if you know it makes you voilent etc. thats all i can say.

 

[ahman]

good calls jellybean. i also have tested out my limits, but yeah, the key is remaining in control enough to say 'no more' and to keep up the fluids and never drink on an empty stomach.
drinking in moderation is more of a safety concern than anything scriptural.

 

[Epaphras]

I got the yoda part froom veggie's avater (it is the coolest I have seen thus far). Anyway, if getting drunk is fine, how do you interprete the passages that say be not drunk with wine ect? That is if the Bible is the final authority; if not, this is a waste of time (No offense meant).

 

[plum]

I think FOR ME I should not get drunk or that far under the influence of anything foreign to my body besides the Holy Spirit. I have alcoholism in my family and I don't care to lose control of the reasoning and body I have been given. I want to be a good steward of these things.

this doesn't mean i don't drink. i love a good mixed drink (ever had a mud slide? oh my... SO GOOD). but that's where it stops. when i start to feel it. i stop. no harm in that