Drinking question

[Plutonius]

One a day keeps the doctor away! Honestly thats all people should do anyway. The same thing you said can be label with food to! When do people know they are done eating, when they are stuffed?!?!

People can screw up their testimony in TONS of other ways instead of just drinking excessively. I think you are painting with too broad of a brush.

 

[JimfromOhio]

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 says to them "I don't need God ,cos you're no better, or different than I am".................not for me!.........JMHO

Sounds like a true legalist preaching.

 

[Christian1stBaptist2nd]

Jim..............well.....................I AM pretty conservative ............lol........but, really.I guess it's just I've seen first hand what alcohol can do to a family...............my dad.....you'll never get me to believe it's OK.

 

[fields316_2000]

Im not making any excuses- i want to know if im living for god or if im walking like this in vien just to please the opinion of men.

see I stopped drinking due to being told that i was out of control..but i reallly wasnt. the church told me that any drinking was out of line - period. they prayed over me that if i drink another beer that it taste like saw dust in my mouth.

so i let it happen.

now i want to know if in situations like an anniversery, or if i have a promotion at work and want to celebrate..is it wrong to get a beer/ wine in my system while im celebrating. there is nothing wrong with asking clearity.

If jesus says he didnt mind, yet im abstaining totally jesus will say 'ok thats cool, but i really dont mind'- who am i trying to please?

 

[JimfromOhio]

Jim..............well.....................I AM pretty conservative ............lol........but, really.I guess it's just I've seen first hand what alcohol can do to a family...............my dad.....you'll never get me to believe it's OK.

Some of my family members are and were alcoholics. The point to rely on Grace rather than legalism. However, if this works for you. That's fine because Scriptures did say.... In Romans 14:5 "One man considers one day more sacred than another; another man considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind." 1 Corinthians 10:28-29 "both for the sake of the man who told you and for conscience' sake, the other man's conscience, I mean, not yours. For why should my freedom be judged by another's conscience?"

Everyone will have different view based on their "convictions".

Every Christian must decide whether they will us their liberty to decide on their doctrinal beliefs. We are free, but our freedom does not mean we can know for SURE what is right and what is wrong. Spiritual liberty means the freedom to be all that we were designed to be, but this is not a freedom that is without restrictions or responsibilities. Grace is about loving other people that we have the freedom to do so but at the same time, respect how they practice their beliefs.

 

[Christian1stBaptist2nd]

fields
In your very first post you said you "DRANK ALOT"....because of that, I would say....why tempt yourself to do that again?..........some people have different things that are a weakness for them...................food for some, sex for others, etc......................sounds like maybe drinking is one for you..........I'd advise you to "stay away".

 

[Plutonius]

Jesus does not care if you drink responsibly, eat responsibly. But when we do these things to excess we are falling into the sin of gluttony. Drinking is as much a sin as sex is. It is when we fall into temptation and do things activities in a such a way that does not please God. Such as drinking to get drunk or having sex outside of wedlock. If you know you have a problem in that if you have one you have to have another, I would abstain from it.

So as long as you are drinking responsibly what is so wrong with that? Nothing!

 

[Christian1stBaptist2nd]

.........so if I use a condom and am having "responsible" sex................that's OK??...............LOL...........just joking!!! ...I agree with your last post!

 

[PETE_]

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

We cannot draw a line for other, only ourselves

Love of money is one of the most enticing of sins, should we all get rid of it all?

Lust is also a tough one, should we all live segregated lives.

Food has already been mentioned, and is a big issue in America, but we must have it.

We have liberty as Christians, but each of us must examine our own lives and search for the guiding of the Spirit to know what is best for us and our relationship with God. As we grow and mature as Christians these lines may change, but the point remains that my weeknesses may not be yours, so I cannot draw your line in the sand.

 

[BereanTodd]

Jesus drank every day of His life. The Lord's Supper was taken with wine. He turned water to wine for an entire bridal party.

It was never a question until modern fundamentalism came along with many legalistic doctrines. Now in many (if not most) ways I myself am a fundamentalist, but I mourn over their legalistic tendancies.

For the record, as an extremely conservative theologian, seminary student, and pastor, I keep in my home at almost all times:

-several imported, quality beers
-a couple of bottles of wine
-rum
-Grand Mariner

I never have more than one or two, and I never, ever get drunk. I drink responsibly the same as my Lord and Savior did in His time on this earth.

 

[ContentInHim]

Fields - I had the same problem with drink - when I drank, I drank too much. So now I don't drink at all. I don't care if anyone around me drinks. I don't believe it's a sin to drink - but it's not a good thing for me to drink! How's that for freedom?

 

[FallingWaters]

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.

I think you're right.
The Bible doesn't say it's a sin to drink wine.
Jesus made wine for the wedding at Cana!

However something very important here is at stake: your conscience.

There are some people for whom having a glass of wine or beer once a year is not a problem.
There are others who have a tendency to alcoholism or substance dependency for whom drinking any alcohol at all would be extremely unwise.
Whether you are person number one or number two,
whatever you do, don't violate your conscience.

Whatever is not done in faith is sin. Romans 14:23
This is between you and God.
Don't let the lusts of the flesh get the better of you.
I pray that God would speak clearly to your heart one way or the other.

I once heard Dr. David Jeremiah say that when he was a young man,
he made a vow to never have any alcohol,
and in his whole life, he has never had any.
That's an awesome testimony.

My little 9 year old son heard Pastor Jeremiah say that,
and it inspired him to want to be a pastor!

Do not grow weary in well-doing for in due season you will reap if you faint not. Galatians 6:9

 

[mooduck1]

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.

Okay, bottom line-
References to 'wine' in the Bible in the context in which they are given imply fermentation. That being said, it is not a generally a sin for most people to have a glass of wine once and a while so long as you don't get drunk.
Some people, like yourself feel lead by the spirit to honor God with a specail sacrifice. that's very fine. Different people have different burdens and gifts, and in some ways God expects different things from different people for different reasons. Paul cautiuons however against trying to burden other people with special fasting or sabbaths or whatever we may be called specifically be called for.
You seem lead by God not to drink any alchohol so for you drinking might be a sin, where as it would not be for me. Is that helpful?

 

[Leah]

So.....is it ok to drink tequilla with the worm in it? Or Schnapps? Or Sex on The Beach?? So long as it's done moderately?

 

[BereanTodd]

So.....is it ok to drink tequilla with the worm in it? Or Schnapps? Or Sex on The Beach?? So long as it's done moderately?

If it's done in moderation, sort of. I personally don't see the edification of strait shots, to me the only point there is to get drunk. But I'm not going to say that someone who has one or two and nothing else is sinning. For me it would be a sin, it's against my conscience.

On the other hand, a Pina Colada, a good imported beer or a nice glass of wine? Pour me one.

 

[FrauleinElsa]

I don't feel it's wrong. What I think is wrong is people making others feel bad for drinking in moderation. As long as you don't get drunk every time you drink alcohol, I see nothing wrong with it. And red wine has been proven to be healthy. Look at the French. Their diet consists of meat, butter, and cheese but they are healthy because of the wine they drink. Just a little at dinner every night. When I have red wine, I only have one glass which is 5 ounces.

 

[PETE_]

So.....is it ok to drink tequilla with the worm in it? Or Schnapps? Or Sex on The Beach?? So long as it's done moderately?

that is what we have been saying..yes

just as its ok to have one cookie, brownie or piece of cake and not eat the whole box, tray, or cake. After all there is little nutritional value in them, mainy enjoyment.

 

[JimfromOhio]

I want to be careful how we drink and who we drink with, there are other temptations other than alcohol. This is where the Bible teaches "self-control". To gain self-control, give God control. Jesus said in Matthew 26:41 "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak."

 

[MikeMcK]

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.

You're right when you say that the Bible says very little about it. The only two instances when it would be condemned would be (a) when it leads to drunkenness
or (b) when it becomes a stumbling block to a weaker brother.

It's also important to note that different people are at different places in their walk with Christ and God has given us each different liberties and different convictions.

In my case, God has given me the liberty to drink but, on the other hand, has also called me to consider weaker brothers and sisters in Christ before myself. That means that, even though it's permissible for me to have a beer here and there, it's something that I've had to put aside in order not to tempt a weaker brother or sister to do something that might be sin for them.

If it's your conviction not to drink, then you need to not drink, or else it's sin.

If it's your conviction that it's OK to have one or two on occasion, that's fine. Just remember to ask God is your liberty to drink is going to step on someone else's conviction not to, or cause them to sin.

I can't really tell you what the right decision would be for you because, like I said, different people are at different places in their walk with Christ, but I applaud you for trying to do the right thing.

 

[Christian1stBaptist2nd]

"Spirits" contain alcohol............what is the purpose of drinking alcohol if not to alter your state of mind???.......most people would say to relax or celebrate...........I can do that without drinking anything.....................I just don't think that's a Godly thing to do.