Yesterday at Church my pastor's message was about drinking. The message was part of a series titled "Controversial Issues," but there seemed to be no controversy in his message. As far as he is concerned, there is no such thing as a responsible drinker. Alcohol is just plain poisonous and sinful. His backgound is that his father was an alcoholic and couldn't keep a job for drinking. In fact, he feels so strongly against drinking that when he goes to a football game, he won't pass a beer to the fan next to him in the stands or the money for the beer to the vendor. So my pastor grew up in an unstable environment due to alcohol. 
I respect his experiences, but my background is very different. I didn't start drinking until I was 25, I've never really been drunk, I've always been in control, and I've never had a hangover. The only time I do drink is with lunch or dinner. Neither of my parents were drinkers. I have had my own struggles with other things, but alcohol isn't one of them.
Anyway, I think I will stop drinking as a member of the Church I attend (keeping in mind the verse of refraining from things that would cause your brother to stumble). The fellowship is more important to me than the alcohol. But really, the idea that a Christian should not do something because of the ill effects on one's health and the example in front of others brings up a lot of other issues:
What about eating junk food and not exercising? My aunt was a Christian and in the Church since before I was born. But she ate at a lot of fatty foods, she never exercised, and she never took care of herself. eventually, she was so overweight and bowlegged that she had to walk with a cane. She died seven years ago after a brain tumor and God knows what other problems. She was 53. I've seen so many times where people will say drinking and smoking are a sin, but eat all the wrong things and end up morbidly obese and wracked with health problems.
What about alcohol in the Bible? Did Jesus turn the water to wine (i.e. wine as we understand it today)? Or was it "grape juice?" (BTW this does bring up the question, would Jesus give something to a person that could cause them to stumble) My understanding has been that the Bible speaks out against drunkenness, not drinking. And how far should you take it? Should you refrain from shopping at a supermarket that sells beer and wine? Should you not attend sporting events that sell beer? Should you support a political candidate that drinks? Etc., etc.
What do you think?
I respect his experiences, but my background is very different. I didn't start drinking until I was 25, I've never really been drunk, I've always been in control, and I've never had a hangover. The only time I do drink is with lunch or dinner. Neither of my parents were drinkers. I have had my own struggles with other things, but alcohol isn't one of them.
Anyway, I think I will stop drinking as a member of the Church I attend (keeping in mind the verse of refraining from things that would cause your brother to stumble). The fellowship is more important to me than the alcohol. But really, the idea that a Christian should not do something because of the ill effects on one's health and the example in front of others brings up a lot of other issues:
What about eating junk food and not exercising? My aunt was a Christian and in the Church since before I was born. But she ate at a lot of fatty foods, she never exercised, and she never took care of herself. eventually, she was so overweight and bowlegged that she had to walk with a cane. She died seven years ago after a brain tumor and God knows what other problems. She was 53. I've seen so many times where people will say drinking and smoking are a sin, but eat all the wrong things and end up morbidly obese and wracked with health problems.
What about alcohol in the Bible? Did Jesus turn the water to wine (i.e. wine as we understand it today)? Or was it "grape juice?" (BTW this does bring up the question, would Jesus give something to a person that could cause them to stumble) My understanding has been that the Bible speaks out against drunkenness, not drinking. And how far should you take it? Should you refrain from shopping at a supermarket that sells beer and wine? Should you not attend sporting events that sell beer? Should you support a political candidate that drinks? Etc., etc.
What do you think?
