Drinking question

fields316_2000 · Mar 15, 2007

The bible is not very clear about if it is a sin or not to drink beer or wine. There are several verses to support both sides of the fence- some believe it's a sin to have fermented wine, other's believe it's ok so long as you arnt drunk.
I want to know for sure because i gave up drinking totally (not even nyquil) when i really started to live for god. i feel like this is a sign to myself that makes me different than before because i drank alot. but then after a few years i felt like i was doing it in vein since the lord loved me anyways and i was saved because he said so, not because i earned it.
I want to know specifically what the bible says about moderate drinking. not getting drunk, but one or two beers here or there.

Christian1stBaptist2nd · Mar 15, 2007

Personally, I feel it's wrong to drink........have you ever studied the statistics about what alcohol has done to our society?.......broken homes, automobile deaths, domestic violence, sexual immorality..........WHY would a Christian EVER want to partake of something that COULD lead them into sin?........alcohol affects your thinking and judgement, God should be in control, not alcohol.....stay away from it, it IS a drug.........I DON'T believe the "water into wine" miracle was an ALCOHOLIC wine......I'm sorry, I just don't think Jesus would do that.......of course MANY disagree, and I'm not here to argue that point..............I just think Christians should stay away from alcohol.

Full_Moon · Mar 15, 2007

Christian1stBaptist2nd said:
Personally, I feel it's wrong to drink........have you ever studied the statistics about what alcohol has done to our society?.......broken homes, automobile deaths, domestic violence, sexual immorality..........WHY would a Christian EVER want to partake of something that COULD lead them into sin?........alcohol affects your thinking and judgement, God should be in control, not alcohol.....stay away from it, it IS a drug.........I DON'T believe the "water into wine" miracle was an ALCOHOLIC wine.sorry, I just don't think Jesus would do that.......of course MANY disagree, and I'm not here to argue that point..............I just think Christians should stay away from alcohol.

Same argument works for most things.

Look at all the obesity and heart attacks that result from eating fast food. Shall we abstain from fast food?

Think of how many people have died with guns, how many wars have been fought etc. Shall we never own one?

Knives...

Money especially, think about all the greed people have for money and all of the sin which is done with money. Shall we abstain?

The world. Consider how much sin comes about through the world. Shall we commit suicide?

Our own bodies, consider just how much sin we have committed by our bodies. Perhaps we should drink the koolade and free ourselves?

I'm not promoting drinking. But the attitude of staying away from everything that might lead us to sin needs to be tempered with wisdom. In actuality, our entire selves must go to the cross! We cannot free ourselves. Christ is Lord.

Rhamiel · Mar 15, 2007

I like St. Paul, he talks about eating meat sacrificed to idols, nothing is wrong with it, it is just meat, but if it leads another Christian to sin (because they think you are honering the idol) don't do it.
I have a drink every now and agian, even Jesus drank wine. But I think it is great that you gave up alcohol all together, I do not see it as something a christian HAS to do but a great way to show devotion to God.

intricatic · Mar 15, 2007

I do not believe it to be a sin to drink, but I believe it to be a sin overly-drink.

15 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not! 16 Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness? 17 But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. 18 And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.
(Romans 6)

Tamara224 · Mar 15, 2007

What?! The Bible isn't the least bit unclear about this issue. Jesus turned water into wine, for crying out loud. Of course it's not a sin. Jesus commanded us to drink wine everytime we get together. He wouldn't tell us to do it if it was a sin.

Also, check out the Old Testament laws on tithing:

Deuteronomy 14:22-26
22"You shall surely tithe all the produce from what you sow, which comes out of the field every year. 23"You shall eat in the presence of the LORD your God, at the place where He chooses to establish His name, the tithe of your grain, your new wine, your oil, and the firstborn of your herd and your flock, so that you may learn to fear the LORD your God always.
24"If the distance is so great for you that you are not able to bring the tithe, since the place where the LORD your God chooses to set His name is too far away from you when the LORD your God blesses you,
25then you shall exchange it for money, and bind the money in your hand and go to the place which the LORD your God chooses. 26"You may spend the money for whatever your heart desires: for oxen, or sheep, or wine, or strong drink, or whatever your heart desires; and there you shall eat in the presence of the LORD your God and rejoice, you and your household.

If drinking alcohol was a sin, why would God command (not allow, command) the Israelites to drink wine in His presence? Why would He tell them they should spend their tithe on wine or strong drink and basically throw a party?
As C.S. Lewis said, Christianity is not the temperance religion, Islam is.

MarkEvan · Mar 15, 2007

I`m with tamara224 on this, if it is a sin then why did Jesus turn the water to wine? Also Paul advices Timothy to drink a little wine to help his stomach, again why if this is a sin?

There are undoubtably times when it is wrong, but in and of itself, and to most people it is not a sin.

Mark

fields316_2000 · Mar 15, 2007

ive studied that jesus did not drink strong drink because his blood is PURE and could not be mixed with alcohol because the alchol would take part in cleanign our sins..and the lord wouldnt have that, so he drank grape juice. however i have read that drinking wine and eating moderately is ok..gluttins and drunks are outlawed in the bible.
i read the reports about the damage that drinking can cause, but so can anything with excess. sex is saved between 1 man and 1 woman, yet if it goes unchecked it can spill into orgies sex games prostitution etc..drinking is the same thing. is this an area that is allowed but so dangerous that christians stay away from it?

JimfromOhio · Mar 15, 2007

1 Timothy 5:23 Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses

Much of the confusion as to whether wine was fermented or unfermented stems from the word "wine" being used in translation of the Greek word "oinos", which can denote either grape juice or intoxicating wine.

Bible translators of the Bible knew that the word "oinos" could refer to either fermented or unfermented wine. In Ephesians 5:18, Paul commands us to "be not drunk with wine (oinos)."

In the Bible, there are 247 references to wine and strong drink. Of 247 references, 36 are negative references. There are 17 warnings against abusing alcohol, 19 examples of people abusing alcohol.

The 3 references to selecting leaders caution that those who abuse alcohol should not be selected as leaders. They use the phrases "not given to much wine," "not given to drunkenness," and "not given to wine."

On the positive side, there are 59 references to the commonly accepted practice of drinking wine (and strong drink) with meals, 27 references to the abundance of wine as an example of God's blessing, 20 references to the loss of wine and strong drink as an example of God's curse, 25 references to the use of wine in offerings and sacrifices, 9 references to wine being used as a gift, and 5 metaphorical references to wine as a basis for a favorable comparison.

The Bible has several warnings against drunkenness, but only one caution against the responsible use of alcohol in celebration and with meals.

I am not going to be legalist about this. I am not a drinker of alcohol but I do drink wine every now and then. During a hot day in the summer, I probably drink a can of COLD beer.

JimfromOhio · Mar 15, 2007

fields316_2000 said:
ive studied that jesus did not drink strong drink because his blood is PURE and could not be mixed with alcohol because the alchol would take part in cleanign our sins..and the lord wouldnt have that, so he drank grape juice. however i have read that drinking wine and eating moderately is ok..gluttins and drunks are outlawed in the bible.
i read the reports about the damage that drinking can cause, but so can anything with excess. sex is saved between 1 man and 1 woman, yet if it goes unchecked it can spill into orgies sex games prostitution etc..drinking is the same thing. is this an area that is allowed but so dangerous that christians stay away from it?

This kind of thinking leads to legalism.

elsbeth · Mar 15, 2007

My opinion is that its one of those issues where there is not one clear answer for everyone. Drinking CAN be a sin IF one has an inclination to drink too much, or if one is drinking in front of someone with such an inclination. It can be a sin if it is distracting you from working, from your family, from God. I don't think its a sin IN AND OF ITSELF.

fields316_2000 · Mar 15, 2007

JimfromOhio,
I have never had anyone break down the bible like that before. NEVER have i had someone break down drinking like that before. I'm very impressed. Where did you study this at?

Leah · Mar 15, 2007

Well, the way I see it: notice that the OP said that he quit drinking alcohol for some time but started up again?

If he made the decision to quit once (regardless if he started drinking again or not), then who are we to encourage him to do otherwise?

Think about it.

JimfromOhio · Mar 15, 2007

fields316_2000 said:
JimfromOhio,
I have never had anyone break down the bible like that before. NEVER have i had someone break down drinking like that before. I'm very impressed. Where did you study this at?

I was under legalism for years and have studied this by researching the Bible along with commentaries and with the help from the Holy Spirit. I was tired of legalism and people twisting the word where God did not intent. That's bad theology.

All I did was search the scriptures to see if those who are teaching are true. I found they are not. Anyone can do this.

LadyGarnetRose · Mar 15, 2007

Imana said:
Well, the way I see it: notice that the OP said that he quit drinking alcohol for some time but started up again?

If he made the decision to quit once (regardless if he started drinking again or not), then who are we to encourage him to do otherwise?

Think about it.

It's not encouragement.

The OP is asking whether having drink in moderation is ok by the bible.

And it so happens it is.

staveoffzombies · Mar 15, 2007

Drinking is fine, Christians have indulged in it for centuries. It isn't until very recently that it's been seen as something taboo.

mcart909 · Mar 15, 2007

The bible is not very clear about if it is a sin or not to drink beer or wine.

Actually, it is quite clear that drinking is not a sin.

neilius73 · Mar 15, 2007

All things in moderation. I think that drinking to excess is a sin, but having the odd glass or two, no.

Plutonius · Mar 15, 2007

Drinking is certainly not a sin. Gluttony is a sin, not drinking.

Also to my understanding grape juice, back in Biblical times, was VERY hard to preserve. I believe that it could only be safely stored for only a few months because they lacked preservatives. Thus grape juice was a luxury and only really used by the very rich. So I am almost positive that those verses refer to Wine not grape juice.

Martin Luther LOVED beer Maybe a little to much , thus I do disagree with his views on such thing.

Christian1stBaptist2nd · Mar 15, 2007

You all seem to wanna be making excuses for drinking.........I guess toying with something that could control you is OK......you say......"all things in moderation"............problem is...how do YOU know when enough is enough, since it's a scientific fact that after only a couple drinks your judgement/thinking is impaired?............I've seen all too many Christians DRUNK because they thought they could "handle" a couple........wasn't very pretty, and surely wasn't a good testimony........WHY would you want to convey that message to an unsaved world.?........to me, that makes them think
"I don't need God ,cos you're no better, or different than I am".................not for me!.........JMHO

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