Christian Drinking

[Evee]

To be honest for me drinking is not good cause I drink when things are not happy and then I would drink to excess then I would become drunk and it is a sin for me to be drunk.
Unfortunately or fortunately I cannot drink.
I think it is ok to have a couple drinks if that is all you have.
Just moderation.

 

[dlamberth]

Excesses of anything, even water, is harmful to ones body and spirit.


.

 

[stray bullet]

what are the reasons for drinking though?
i mean all alcohol (to me) smells and tastes the same == terrible (yes all of it, including those flavoured things, the smell of any wine, beer, or whatever alone drives me nuts. like sharp pains in my nose)
so the only reason i can think that people drink at all is to 'get drunk' to begin with

I think putting blueberries in stuff is kinda bizarre, but I see no reason to believe everyone else feels the same way.
This is the problem with basing morality, right and wrong, on our own feelings. So many people who are againsts drinking are so because they don't care for the taste, so they think the only reason people drink is to get drunk. This simply isn't true.

I love the taste of alcoholic drinks. I see nothing wrong with drinking, so long as you aren't doing it to get messed up.
Doing anything to just get messed up is wrong.

 

[Jet Black]

a couple of beers, good company and a game of pool. the perfect evening after a hard day in the pits.

 

[chanis]

I don' t think drinking is a sin...I think drinking in moderation and knowing your limit is very important. the bible states that we shouldn't be drunk and drink in excess but there is nothing stated that prohibits us from drinking. I think it's cool to have dinner with friends and enjoy a good drink...but we also need to be careful that we don't become stumbling blocks for others or make them feel uncomfortable - the bible warns about this and tells it is a sin to be a stumbling block...

 

[MoodyBlue]

Having a drink is just fine. There does not appear to be a biblical prohibition of alcohol. As with everything else in life, moderation is the key.

 

[glo]

i'd suggest C.S. Lewis' reasoning in his book Mere Christianity. So if you really do care, then you should check out that book and read up to where you talks abotut alcohol and such.
i agree w/what he says on that subject.

 

[Asar'el]

A good principle for most things, which I believe the Scripture well supports, is the common saying, 'Everything in moderation.'

I would point out, however, that at times even strong drink is appropriate; and, more of a misteryl, Solomon was able to try drunkedness, yet maintain his wisdom - the first part is easy, by all accounts; the second, seems almost impossible...

 

[Lifesaver]

As long as they don't lose the control of their reason, it is all right.

 

[Ave Maria]

Small amounts are fine. I don't think a Christian should get drunk though.

 

[Bails]

The idea in the church that drinking is a sin stems from the very beginning of the industrial revolution. Before the revolution drinking was considered part of life and celebration. It was very common for people in Europe to drink all day during work and continue through the night. This didn't affect anyone however because most of the people were able to finish their jobs and did not work for companies. With the coming of the industrial revolution, however, many companies saw the problems of the workers drinking during the day and on the job: Injuries, lack of production, and general laziness. At this time the Catholic Church was still the main authority in town that most of the citizens would listen to. There was a big press on the Church from the major businessmen in Europe to demonize drinking so that the workers would learn to have a strong work ethic. Well, this worked and what we have now is a belief that God sees drinking as a sin. There is not a whole lot of evidence that God ever really had a problem with drinking. It is a made up belief.

 

[ahman]

good point about the industrial revolution...we went over the church being used to govern the proletariat when we studied marxism this year, so a lot of what you hear is from the church and not the bible in times where they felt it neccesary to manipulate people to get them to act in a certain way and maintain the status quo...it was a brave worker who questioned the church and his/her only preceived chance at better times.

on drinking though, i would say that you can drink as much as you want and get blind drunk if you feel the urge, just be aware that you will inevitably do something stupid and be drawn into sin. but, if you think that you can handle it, then go for your life. I see no problem with being drunk, i only see a problem with sin, and being drunk lowers inhibitions increasing the chance of sin.
there is nothing in the bible against drinking and being drunk and happy is pretty fun, but as it states in the bible, somewhere, do not let earthly things and possessions take over.

so, as long as you're in control, it should be all good.

 

[Buzz Dixon]

If you can drink without getting drunk, and if you can put it down and walk away from it forever with no regrets, you're not sinning.

 

[Bails]

on drinking though, i would say that you can drink as much as you want and get blind drunk if you feel the urge, just be aware that you will inevitably do something stupid and be drawn into sin.

That is a very good point. There is the sin that comes from drinking. When your inhibitions are lowered you are much more willing to break laws, both the state's and God's.

 

[Archivist]

I agree with what has already been said--drinking in moderation is fine. We know that red wine has certain health benefits and its consumption was encouraged by Paul for that reason. We also know that Jesus turned water into wine at a wedding where the guests certainly would have been drinking more than usual.

I do think that the survey needs an additional choice of "in moderation." The choice of "small amounts are fine" implies, to me at least, a single glass of wine or a single beer. The choice of "as much as they want" could allow drinking to the point of death. The choice of "in moderation," which would vary from individual to individual depending on such factors as body size, food consumption, etc., should be between the other two choices.

 

[ahman]

i agree, but i think that there is no scriptural or christian teachings on this, other then that it is common sense to not drink yourself to death and that if you do drink to much you will do something you will regret most likely.
I think it is up to the individual to choose how much they drink, and be aware of the consequences involved in doing so.
I don't think there is any difference between the common sense of an atheist and a christian in terms of how much should be consumed.

 

[chiefofsinners]

what are the reasons for drinking though?

"Christians drink to remember, while the world drinks to forget."

i mean all alcohol (to me) smells and tastes the same == terrible (yes all of it, including those flavoured things, the smell of any wine, beer, or whatever alone drives me nuts. like sharp pains in my nose)
so the only reason i can think that people drink at all is to 'get drunk' to begin with

Before I started drinking beer, I hated the smell, and the few tastes I had were terrible. That's why Christians should drink good beer. Lite beer is a sin.

 

[chiefofsinners]

Be a good follower of Luther, lift a tankard of beer!

Amen.

 

[chiefofsinners]

On the basis that its not good for anyone to drink alcohol a christian should refrain also. I has nothing to do with being a christian. It has to do with protection your body. You only get one body so take care of it. Alochol is a toxic substance that will kill you if you take too much.

I used to think drinking was a sin, and that it was bad for you. Then, I read the Bible and I got convicted. So, now I have a beer or two every now and then.

The studies that say moderate use is good for you are weak at best.

We should definitely not do anything solely because it is "good for you", but it is nice to know that people who drink moderately are more healthy than those who don't drink at all.

 

[chiefofsinners]

This is the problem with basing morality, right and wrong, on our own feelings. So many people who are againsts drinking are so because they don't care for the taste, so they think the only reason people drink is to get drunk. This simply isn't true.

I find it extremely humorous when the fat fundamentalist preacher is hardcore against drinking (at all), when top on the list of "bad sins" in his "inerrant Word of God" is gluttony (along with drunkenness, not alcohol consumption).