Sin - Help :S

[pyro214]

i live in a rather small community (20k people), and have about 20 Christian friends that i hang out with on a regular basis. All but 1 of them gets drunk often. When my non-christian friends talk to me they ask why i dont drink...and then point out how all the Christians they know get drunk all the time. It wont send me to hell etc...i havn't done it to this point out of respect for God, and i don't want to take any chanecs with heaven/hell.

what would you say?
how come we sin with some things all the time, but with other things were really up tight (guys for example lust daily but may have never got drunk before), a sins a sin...im not sure what to think of right now.

 

[BigMike835]

Well, first of all, we aren't saved by acts but by faith alone. I don't think you're going to hell if you take a swig!

The fact of the matter is that alcohol in and of itself isn't a bad thing. It's the gluttony and excess that is the problem. Too much of ANYTHING in this physical world is bad. There's also the harmful effects of heavy drinking. Our bodies are temples and are to be treated with respect!

Your buddies either don't see it that way, are somehow reacting to peer pressure or don't really care. Maybe you should find a way to talk with them about this behavior in a way to try to help them out of it?

As far as sin...we sin because we are humans and have fallen from grace. Your strength could be my weakness and vice versa. The key is to identify those weaknesses we have, learn from them and work to ultimately get rid of them! This should be our daily routine to become better people.

This also shows God that we appreciate what He has given us in our lives!

 

[Tinker Grey]

I agree with what BigMike835 has said (tho' I don't know that he'd agree with me.)

I'd add that in this post-modern age, the new generation isn't interested in the legalism of yesteryear.

IOW, I think their behavior (reaction to legalism) is understandable, but not necessarily justified.

The proper reaction to one extreme is not the other extreme.

 

[BigMike835]

I somewhat agree with you, Tinker, but having been a 19 year old myself I think they're just doing what seems to be cool at the moment and don't really have much of a direction in their lives.

I don't think it's so much a rejection of traditional values in favor of a post-modern attitude as much as they're just young.

 

[Tinker Grey]

You're probably right. Occam's razor and all that.

 

[Markec]

You are lucky. I live in a country where 99% of churches are catholic, I live in a part of the country where no other church than catholic exists, I have no christian friends, all my friends drink heavily and so on (college parties)... Now I have a choice.. To be alone, or to be with them. Which one is worse, I don't know. On top of that I live in a catholic-on-the-paper famly... We weren't in church for 10 years at least. I try to do my best.. But it is hard. So, you are in a good situation after all

 

[lollipop4priest]

You'd better repent. And all your lustful friends, too. No thinking about getting drunk.

 

[pyro214]

catholics are allowed to get drunk?

 

[Markec]

Ah... Catholics.. Almost all catholics are what they are just on the paper.. They go to church only at christmas for example... If any catholic would read bible or would get deeply into messages of god would leave that church.

Also, catholic church doesn't want their believers to read bible. They make "short" versions of bibles where all which contradicst them is removed or changed.

Many catholics are what they are because they get presents at ceremonies, and many don't belive in god after all.. And that suits the RCC. As long as they get money and their believers don't think it's ok for them.

Well.. that's the situation in our country

 

[Chie]

i live in a rather small community (20k people), and have about 20 Christian friends that i hang out with on a regular basis. All but 1 of them gets drunk often. When my non-christian friends talk to me they ask why i dont drink...and then point out how all the Christians they know get drunk all the time. It wont send me to hell etc...i havn't done it to this point out of respect for God, and i don't want to take any chanecs with heaven/hell.

what would you say?
how come we sin with some things all the time, but with other things were really up tight (guys for example lust daily but may have never got drunk before), a sins a sin...im not sure what to think of right now.

Anytime a professing christian denies sin as sin in their life they are quenching and grieving the spirit. We are not called into understanding and what we think or feel, we are called into obedience. We are to obey what God teaches us through his word and through the Holy Spirit working in our lives even when we are not convicted simply because the Lord commands us to do so. Many people will seek out friends and even churches where what is thought and taught is what they want to hear rather what God has to say on the matter.

 

[FleurDeLiz]

i live in a rather small community (20k people), and have about 20 Christian friends that i hang out with on a regular basis. All but 1 of them gets drunk often. When my non-christian friends talk to me they ask why i dont drink...and then point out how all the Christians they know get drunk all the time. It wont send me to hell etc...i havn't done it to this point out of respect for God, and i don't want to take any chanecs with heaven/hell.

what would you say?
how come we sin with some things all the time, but with other things were really up tight (guys for example lust daily but may have never got drunk before), a sins a sin...im not sure what to think of right now.

It would depend on what you mean by "lust"? Seeing someone as attractive is not lust. An addiction to porn and fantasy is definately lust. Just thinking a girl or a guy is a attractive is not lust.

Also, the Word says you can have a little beer or wine.. but not to get drunk. However, it's probably best to talk with your pastor at Trail Alliance about this and what you should do.

Well, first of all, we aren't saved by acts but by faith alone. I don't think you're going to hell if you take a swig!

The fact of the matter is that alcohol in and of itself isn't a bad thing. It's the gluttony and excess that is the problem. Too much of ANYTHING in this physical world is bad. There's also the harmful effects of heavy drinking. Our bodies are temples and are to be treated with respect!

Your buddies either don't see it that way, are somehow reacting to peer pressure or don't really care. Maybe you should find a way to talk with them about this behavior in a way to try to help them out of it?

As far as sin...we sin because we are humans and have fallen from grace. Your strength could be my weakness and vice versa. The key is to identify those weaknesses we have, learn from them and work to ultimately get rid of them! This should be our daily routine to become better people.

This also shows God that we appreciate what He has given us in our lives!

That was really nice of you to be Big Bro to this confused young man. I'd say it's mostly immaturity as to why most people do get drunk. And, for others it's escapism or the worst which is addiction.

I'd like to give some of the info in this thread to a friend of mine who might like to use the info for a book.

Thanks for being a "Big Bro" again to this young man.

 

[jsimms615]

i live in a rather small community (20k people), and have about 20 Christian friends that i hang out with on a regular basis. All but 1 of them gets drunk often. When my non-christian friends talk to me they ask why i dont drink...and then point out how all the Christians they know get drunk all the time. It wont send me to hell etc...i havn't done it to this point out of respect for God, and i don't want to take any chanecs with heaven/hell.

what would you say?
how come we sin with some things all the time, but with other things were really up tight (guys for example lust daily but may have never got drunk before), a sins a sin...im not sure what to think of right now.

I do not think that you will go to hell if you drink. But, the act of getting drunk shows a lack of self-control and I think compromises a believers testimony. We are to live in such a way that people will see a true difference in our lives.
Living in a smaller community your really probably under a microscope with unbelievers. That's great that you have held fast to your convictions.