I noticed a lot of talk about alcohol being some add-on rule to loving God and your neighbor.
Consider...
If God does not want his followers drinking alcohol it could then be reasoned that avoiding it is an act of loving God (As some religions do have statements prohibiting it).
Even if drinking has little or no impact on oneself (Quite frankly it tastes terrible in all instances I have ever had the unfortunate time trying it) then one must ask why is it being consumed?
Health benefits? I advise everyone to be cautious with this argument as it is not as 'Solid' as everyone makes it out to be. Please review the link below as an example of what I am talking about.
Red wine, antioxidants and resveratrol: Good for your heart? - MayoClinic.com
To relax? What this translates into is harm to oneself and those in one's life. By relaxing you are effectively temporarily setting your problems aside and not addressing them. This type of activity, if done for this reason, can become addictive and satisfying to the individual, who is in fact doing this activity for selfish reasons (Not out of Love for God or their neighbor), and can result in damaging affects (Influence on others to do likewise) and effects (Worsening problems resulting from delaying action).
The only times I tried alcohol it was out of pressure in a social setting with other people. They were not satisfied drinking alone, they took it upon themselves to convince me to do likewise and 'try it'. Well fortunately I have no addictive disposition to it. Had I had such a disposition then these people would have been at joint fault for that result. The one fault of them for encouraging the action. The other fault on me for trying it (Consider the parallel here to the story of Adam and Eve).
That is why I personally believe individuals should not drink alcohol out of love for God and their neighbors. Those who say it does not do any wrong on themselves and leave it at that are not thinking about the affects/effects it is having on their neighbors who might not be as fortunate as yourself in being able to control themselves.
Yes, alcohol in its self can become a problem for some, for many it does not, it is never good to try and entice others to follow ones own way when there is a possibility of ruining there life, and possibly lives of others,
One who has a serious problem with alcohol addiction and any other drug for that matter, once they themselves realize that they have a problem and decide to be free, then for them it is an uphill battle, I admire them for the realization and would help them in any way possible.
My friend, the "Pentecostal manager", told me once a story,
It was a Sunday, the service had ended, he and half the congregation stood outside their building, chatting, many of those standing there were shocked, and at that moment may have experienced a "bunker buster" being dropped into their thoughts and minds.
It so happened that an individual, down on his luck, shabby, and shaking like a leaf came up to him and asked him for some change so that he could buy a cup of coffee, my friend pulled up some money and gave it to him and said," Here, it is not coffee you need it is a beer."
in doing this, my friend saw the need of the moment for this individual,
The story goes on to say that this individual later contacted my friend, and received help,guidence,advice and was able to get on his feet again.
All because my friend saw and understood the mans need for the moment.
Is this not loving thy next as thyself?
Maybe it,s not so much about rules, but more about going the extra yard, and not bother about what others say or think of ones actions. Because you will always get those who critisize, always, they can be a pain at times But God just loves it.
