From the Free Methodist Church website (and I believe from the Book of Discipline), I read:
"Our people abstain from the use of alcoholic beverages (Mark 12:30-31) because Christ admonishes us to love God with all our being and our neighbor as ourselves. Alcohol, a legalized drug, is damaging to individuals, families, and society. It is unpredictably addictive and its destructive effects cannot be fully measured. Where it is used, it leaves a trail of broken marriages, family violence, crime, industrial loss, ill health, injury, and death. As concerned Christians, our people practice abstinence for the sake of health, family, and neighbors. Moreover, we see the adverse social consequences as so pervasive that we seek by abstaining to make a united social witness to the freedom Christ gives. "
How much is this ban on alcohol emphasized? I am looking for a new church, and I feel like my family could fit into a free meth church very nicely, except for this one point.
I do not believe there is a biblical basis in completely prohibiting responsible alcohol use; in fact it seems pretty silly to me, considering Jesus' first miracle was making wine, and that I Tim 5:23 says "Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses."
Yes, alcohol has potential to create problems, but so do many things. If God believed the potential for harm was so great, wouldn't He have explicity prohibited alcohol use?
My husband and I do drink some alcohol (very moderately and responsibly!!). His cardiologist strongly recommends red wine every day (my husband is a heart attack survivor), and in fact, brewing his own wine and beer is now his hobby. Would we be totally looked down on and judged if we were to attend a free methodist church? Would people try to change us regarding our alcohol use? Would we need to hide the fact that we ever drink?
I really like the free meth church that we have visited, but I want to be able to be real.
"Our people abstain from the use of alcoholic beverages (Mark 12:30-31) because Christ admonishes us to love God with all our being and our neighbor as ourselves. Alcohol, a legalized drug, is damaging to individuals, families, and society. It is unpredictably addictive and its destructive effects cannot be fully measured. Where it is used, it leaves a trail of broken marriages, family violence, crime, industrial loss, ill health, injury, and death. As concerned Christians, our people practice abstinence for the sake of health, family, and neighbors. Moreover, we see the adverse social consequences as so pervasive that we seek by abstaining to make a united social witness to the freedom Christ gives. "
How much is this ban on alcohol emphasized? I am looking for a new church, and I feel like my family could fit into a free meth church very nicely, except for this one point.
I do not believe there is a biblical basis in completely prohibiting responsible alcohol use; in fact it seems pretty silly to me, considering Jesus' first miracle was making wine, and that I Tim 5:23 says "Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses."
Yes, alcohol has potential to create problems, but so do many things. If God believed the potential for harm was so great, wouldn't He have explicity prohibited alcohol use?
My husband and I do drink some alcohol (very moderately and responsibly!!). His cardiologist strongly recommends red wine every day (my husband is a heart attack survivor), and in fact, brewing his own wine and beer is now his hobby. Would we be totally looked down on and judged if we were to attend a free methodist church? Would people try to change us regarding our alcohol use? Would we need to hide the fact that we ever drink?
I really like the free meth church that we have visited, but I want to be able to be real.
