John Macarthur on Alcohol

[student ad x]

I appreciate the thought, in both directions.

As do I (DD )

At the same time, there are occasions where alcohol is a practical alternative.

As Mikey knows, I'm a Particular Baptist and I do think there is a practical and responsible use for a drink of alcohol............. in moderation.

As with drugs, it's not a prohibition -- but it's trouble when it's not used with some consideration of its hazards.

100% agreed! We are to be responsible.........

Did I say I was a Baptist

 

[JustAsIam77]

Legalism in all its forms is personally reprehensible to me because of my upbringing as a child. All of us have legalistic tendencies. In the short term, it makes us feel better about ourselves if we decide that we’ve kept a few simple rules. It also makes us feel better about ourselves when we can decide that others have not lived up to our personal standards.

Galatians 2:21 – I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!

Galatians 3:10 – All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law."

Those Christians who decide to abstain from alcohol consumption are saved. Those Christians who do not decide to abstain from alcohol consumption are saved.

 

[AndOne]

But yeah, what little I've read from MacArthur I have not liked and very much disagreed, particularly his polemics against Driscoll and other Reformed teachers.

This has bothered me about him as well...

 

[reformed ttL]

This has bothered me about him as well...

he is bang on about salvation tho

 

[AndOne]

he is bang on about salvation tho

yep - agreed - that is very true. I do enjoy listening to him from time to time. Have not read any of his books though. I don't think I'm going to any time soon...

 

[JesusFreak78]

yep - agreed - that is very true. I do enjoy listening to him from time to time. Have not read any of his books though. I don't think I'm going to any time soon...

I have read one of his books. It's a thin book and I thin it was something about God's high calling for women in the bible. At least it had something to do with women. Don't remember much from it, so I have to reread to tell if it's any good or not. Remember I wasn't disappointed by it, but that's all I remember.

 

[theFijian]

Well, thanks for using the word SEEMS....as that is obviously not what I presented. Notice the past tense as well.. I've said all I'm going to say about this.

Our case is summed up in this post: http://www.christianforums.com/t7483009-3/#post55239392 #22 on this thread.

I'm tired of this topic. I've presented my view and now the tread is so long I'm having to re-present it. Ya'll can agree or disagree. There is plenty of reading material here, but I won't reply to this thread again no matter how vulgar the attack against me is from this point forward. Good day.

Yes that's the post I read and it still reads as logically inconsistent. Don't you know what sin using the internet can lead to? Why are you flirting with it? Your 'biblical' argument and appeal to authority simply doesn't stack up.

As a young christian I had to deal with legalistic christians trying to tell me that as a I couldn't go to this place, I couldn't partake in that activity, and I shouldn't mix with those other kind of people. Thankfully Galatians 5 and the chapters in Calvin's Institutes on christian liberty truly were liberating for me.

 

[Calvinist Dark Lord]

Sober, sober minded....what is it about sober that is so hard for you to understand? Is isn't that difficult. It means be sober minded. Don't be unsoberminded. So count the ways you could volutnarily wreck your sobriety and don't do them, instead be sober that's all. You are acting like an arminian when they read the word "predestinate" for crying our loud. Next you'll be telling me God only predestinated those he knew would choose him without him choosing for them to choose him...etc C'mon man. You're not making any sense.

Pick up a Greek Lexicon and look up all of the meanings of the word translated into English as 'sober'. Then learn late 17th century English. You'll find out that alcohol intoxication is not the subject being addressed in those passages.

The mistake is the idea that 'sober' as used in the KJV always means abstention from alcohol. That is just utter nonsense. It certainly does not carry that meaning in the passages you quoted. You've read a meaning into the text that neither the Greek Grammar nor a clear reading of the English will support.

Am I to assume that you are more authoritative than Dr. Brown on the issue?

Not the point, and you know it. Why are you evading? The point is that you merely found somebody who agrees with your views, while the majourity of Christian bible scholars and teachers do not.

To answer your question though, yes. i am more authoritative than Dr. Brown on this particular issue because Dr. Brown is in error on this particular issue. That you refuse to receive correction is neither here nor there.

If not I find it amazing that he said that drunkards will not inherit the kingdom of God, wine is a mocker and strong drink a deceiver, and gave many directives to be sober and watchfor the Lord. If we are to drink it up then there must be a very liberal hermeneutic I missed somewhere along the way that changes the meaning of those passages entirely.

God does not contradict Himself. If you accept that premise, you have to come to the conclusion that the position of mandated abstention is wrong and unbiblical.