drinkin'

[SPALATIN]

God created all things, and called them good. But humans have a tendency to misuse and abuse His creation.

Both alcoholic beverages and marijuana are no exceptions to that rule. There is a proper use and an improper use.

Wine in moderation, for those who do not suffer addiction, relieves stress and calms worry, and at times of celebration "makes the heart glad." Again in moderation, it has minor health benefits.

It has to be remembered that before Mr. Welch's experiments, there was no way to preserve unfermented grape juice -- it 'went bad' quite quickly, even when kept in an ice house or something of the sort. The custom, therefore, was to allow it to ferment to a fairly low proof, one that would kill off the bacteria and such that would make it spoil, and then drink it, diluted with some water, as the beverage with meals. Even children would drink this weak wine, properly diluted.

Scripture is careful to point out, however, that it is easy to get into a state of mind where getting drunk is enjoyable -- and that this is, to indulge in understatement, unwise.

Marijuana is not directly addressed in Scripture, though the substance may have been known, and some scholars think that there are tangential references to it. But likewise it has specific medicinal properties, related to reducing blood pressure, alleviating severe chronic pain, and in particular in treating glaucoma, the blindness-causing disease where fluid pressure in the eyes increases far beyond the normal level, and for which marijuana seems to be virtually a natural specific in alleviating that problem.

Likewise, it is probably useful in moderation for stress management and the like, though owing to modern opposition to it (for good reason considering some of the abuses), this is difficult to prove under normal circumstances.

Bottom line: almost everything that God created can be used to man's benefit or abused to his sorrow. And these two substances are part and parcel of His creation, and fall under that general rule.

Whatever medicinal properties it may have is irrelevant as Marijuana is illegal in most countries. The Bible does say that we are to obey our government leaders on this.

 

[Everglaze]

i wanted to post this as a reply in the beer thread (christians only>life stages>men's corner) but im not 18 :

guys im sorry to raise this question in a simple conversation thread, but i'm kindof troubled. i always thought that it was immoral to drink. i know jesus drank wine, but the alcohol was from the biological breakdown in the grapes. please forgive me for bringing this up, i just have to know. how do you guys justify it? what is the difference between drinking a little beer and smoking a little pot? i can only see how alcohol could distance a person from god, not bring one closer or remain in a stasis. please help me to understand your views.

SORRY SORRY,
billy

i mean what is your input on this issue? i feel that drinking in this day and age is immoral. how do we justify jesus drinking wine?

First of all, the chemicals that you consume from alcohol or smoking are not healthy. Second of all, God said that our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit that lives within you, you are not your own. By drinking alcohol and smoking, that would in fact be destroying your temple slowly and what did God say about destroying his temple? --

"If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him; for God's temple is sacred, and you are that temple." - 1 Corinthians 3:17

You should keep your body Holy and pure, not purposely intake substances for your own self-pleasure when it will lead to destroying the temple. Please God, not yourself in this situation.

 

[SPALATIN]

First of all, the chemicals that you consume from alcohol or smoking are not healthy. Second of all, God said that our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit that lives within you, you are not your own. By drinking alcohol and smoking, that would in fact be destroying your temple slowly and what did God say about destroying his temple? --

"If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him; for God's temple is sacred, and you are that temple." - 1 Corinthians 3:17

You should keep your body Holy and pure, not purposely intake substances for your own self-pleasure when it will lead to destroying the temple. Please God, not yourself in this situation.

What are you a spiritual attorney? Are you able without God's help to do this on your own? This is a very legalistic approach to the situation. Where is the Gospel message here?

 

[Polycarp1]

Whatever medicinal properties it may have is irrelevant as Marijuana is illegal in most countries. The Bible does say that we are to obey our government leaders on this.

Valid and important point. Certainly any personal moral decisions should incorporate this. I was thinking along the lines that the vast majority of us CF members live in representative democracies (U.S., U.K., Canada, Australia, Ennzedd), many of which are re-evaluating the medicinal use of marijuana, and discussing what would be the appropriate moral decisions regarding its use if and when it is legal to do so.

(A quite conservative American lawyer living in Canada is a member here, and a legal user of medicinally-prescribed marijuana for medical conditions he hasn't specified. He's discussed that a few times in the N&CE forum.)

 

[katherine2001]

Jesus drank wine. He turned water into wine and gave some to the disciples at the Last Supper. Are you saying that He was destroying God's temple by doing so?

Also, studies show that drinking wine in moderation is actually good for your body. It is bad for you if you abuse it, as are many other things. Should we not eat food since it can be abused and destroy God's temple? Moderation is the key.

 

[Zoomer]

First of all, the chemicals that you consume from alcohol or smoking are not healthy. Second of all, God said that our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit that lives within you, you are not your own. By drinking alcohol and smoking, that would in fact be destroying your temple slowly and what did God say about destroying his temple?

Moderation is the key. As the Bible does not speak of consuming alcohol as a sin, only drunkeness. Drinking alcohol does not equal drunkeness. As it has been said a glass or two of wine a day can reduce the risk of heart disease. Wine has does have chemicals, flavonoids and antioxidants both which are good for the body.

You might want to check the food you eat, because I can assure you that they contain chemicals that are not healthy. Eating fast food and junk food can "destroy your temple slowly" as well. Unless you are eating a diet of no junk or fast food, no perservatives, and eating all organically grown, no hormone or antibotic injected food then you are still willfully consuming chemicals that are not healthy for your body.

 

[livin4thebigman]

First of all, the chemicals that you consume from alcohol or smoking are not healthy. Second of all, God said that our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit that lives within you, you are not your own. By drinking alcohol and smoking, that would in fact be destroying your temple slowly and what did God say about destroying his temple?

You should keep your body Holy and pure, not purposely intake substances for your own self-pleasure when it will lead to destroying the temple. Please God, not yourself in this situation.

What if I eat McDonalds food? We all know that fast food is loaded with fat, carbs, calories...all those substances that aren't healthy for you. According to your train of thought, we should not eat McDonalds, BK, Wendy's etc because we are destroying our temple. Please shed some light on how you can Biblically draw this line.

 

[BarbB]

Greetings,

I agree with RVincent. I was a very heavy drinker until about '75 which the Lord took it completely out of my life. I tried wine and a little beer after that "deliverance" and it made me nauscious(sp?) I don't even like to be around people who have the aroma of alcohol on them. If the Lord set you free, you shall be free indeed. But as has been pointed out, "do all things in moderation, let nothing (of this creation) rule over you."

Blessings,

Dad Ernie

Same thing happened to me, Dad Ernie. And without the alcohol, I was able to answer Jesus when he called to me.

 

[DeAnima]

is it ok to get drunk?

 

[33ad]

is it ok to get drunk?

Yes.....as long as you're not going to drive. And by drunk, I mean just being 'happy' - 'well being' - not 'out of it' passed out on the floor!

I am now an Orthodox Christian, and I believe in all things in MODERATION.
After Divine Liturgy on Sundays, if it is not Lent, then wine is served at coffee hour, and some of my Russian friends have something stronger - good old vodka. BTW, also, beer is mostly allowed for Orthodox during Lent as it is not considered an Alcoholic Drink. The point again is, don't get out of it!
Two beers when I come home are OK for me. Or 2 glasses of wine at supper, or a tot or 2 of Vodka to smooth out the edges after the day. No more!

God bless

Kolya

 

[DeAnima]

but if you constaintly are getting drunk (like 0.5 %o) is that a problem? I think I read in the Bilble that you should not judge a person of what he/she drinks.