Featured Am I in sin?

No one is saying if a man drinks or don't drink his salvation depends on it. What we are saying is drinking destroyes people lives, webdog if you want to be a advocate of strong drink then have at it.

 

The bottom line is this. Christ and God through the entire Bible advocate self control, in ALL things.
Not me controlling you or you controlling me.
Remember we are severely cautioned for adding to as well as taking away from what God says.
Imposing an ultimatum where God says we have choice is adding too. Just as denying something is really a sin is taking away from.
Drinking in and of itself is no more a sin than eating dinner.
Abusing alcohol is just as much a sin as abusing food.
We are clearly told not to judge in this matter.

 

Hey Salzer, pardon the hijack, but is that a 1930's Chevy in the background of your picture? Looks nice.

 

I Have.....

 

Yes it is.

 

"Guzzling beer"? Herein is the problem with you and Salzer Mtn's take on a Christian having a beer now and again. (And I will say the majority of fundamental Baptists.) In your mind there is no room for moderation. In your view, anyone that has a beer or a glass of wine will eventually succumb to becoming an alcoholic. Anyone that has a margarita while dining out will ruin their testimony or cause a brother in Christ to stumble.

It just is not so.

On Friday night I am planning on sitting down and watching a major league baseball game. I like baseball and this is my night to relax. I will drink two beers while having something to snack on. I will not get drunk. I will not be un-sober. It will not ruin my testimony. No one will be tempted to break their pledge of sobriety if I do this. I am not sinning.

Furthermore, no one that I know (outside of fundamental Baptists) will think that I am being un-Christian. No one will think less of me if I witness to them and they know I drank a couple of beers on Friday night. It's not even in their mindset.

 

"Semantical gymnastics". Like it! Let's look at some.

From the list:

65) 1 Corinthians 5:11 - If a Christian brother is a drinker, do not associate with him.

Really, stay away from a drinker? Here's the actual verse:

But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolator, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. [KJV]


Semantical gymnastics. Like it!


70) 1 Timothy 3:2-3 - Bishops (elders) are to be temperate, sober, and not near any wine.

Don't go NEAR wine?

2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;
3 Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; [KJV]


71) 1 Timothy 3:8 - Deacons are to be worthy of respect and not drinkers.

Verse actually says they are not to be given to MUCH wine, which implies they ARE DRINKERS of wine, just not a lot of it.

I've seen enough...

 

One Thing is for sure

One thing is for sure...if you NEVER take the first drink or smoke the first cigarette, or the first shot of Heroin (the Bible doesn't say anything about THAT either)...then you will NEVER risk throwing your health OR your testimony for Christ away ....will you? I have done all of the above(not the heroin...but other drugs) both before AND after I was saved.....and I paid DEARLY for all of it (particularly AFTER I got saved). You play with fire...you will get BURNED...somehow or another...sooner or later. You go right ahead and fool yourself if you wish. The heathens, pagans and other lost people around you are probably laughing at you and mocking you and our Lord inwardly if not outwardly. Been there...done that...have the scars to prove it. We all need to spend LESS TIME trying to justify ourselves and MORE TIME trying to live in a way that EXALTS OUR SAVIOUR!

The last thing I'll say about the matter is this. I thank God that He is loving, forgiving, longsuffering and of great mercy or I would be without hope today. Praise His Holy Name.

By the way...I don't go to an IFB church. I attend an SBC church. Sometimes I don't really feel like I fit in anywhere. I just pray that I fit in with my Saviour.

Bro.Greg:saint:

 

No one will think you have ruined your testimony except, every Christian i know of whether they be First Baptist, Fundamental Baptist, The Baptist, Free Will Baptist, Church of God, Methodist, Church Of Christ, Nazerene.

 

Well, He's not KJVO but other than that I think you will do fine. :smilewinkgrin: :thumbsup:

 

Basically, the saints who refuse to apply jesus teaching to pull the telephone pole out of your own eye, before using tweezer to pull wood chip out of your brothers!

 

If I saw him stumbling out of a hooch joint yes I would doubt his testimony.
However since I like Timothy have been medically advised to use alcohol, I could not claim he has sinned for a beer or 2.
I BTW come from a VERY uptight religious background. The only thing i have kept form my former religion is, speak where the Bible speaks and be silent where the Bible is silent.

 

While I reject your false definition of "Legalism".....

 

Give him and his road dog a few more years and some hard trials they cannot handle and you will most likely see both stumbling out of the hooch joint.

 

There you go again. Not everyone's experience is going to duplicate yours. The vast majority of people can socially drink and not end up as an alcoholic.

I can assure you that no one is laughing at me because I occasionally have a beer or two watching sports or while I'm mowing the lawn. Put down those Chick tracts.

 

Your ignorance on the causes of alcoholism is staggering.

 

Not if his Faith is strong.
Not every one is weak in this area.
Hence the admonition to be careful of brothers who are and not to tempt them.
I grew up in bars and have no desire for alcohol. As i said due to nerve damage I was given a choice, daily pills that are addictive and dangerous or a drink now and then as needed.
I choose the latter after prayer and study.
My guardian, who taught me to read the Bible was upset over that choice. Her mistake was teaching me to read and understand God's word. Instead of becoming a mini me for her I grew into something totally unexpected.

I do not advocate frequenting bars. I will not drink in public. Why? Because others may see and ASSUME I will get drunk, which seems to be the general assumption when ever alcohol is present. Assuming to me is as sinful as getting drunk. Or a weaker brother or sister may think Well if mac can do it so can I. So to be safe i do what i do in the privacy and security of my own home with my Beloved and our Lord as witness.

 

A beer, or a glass of wine every "once in a while' will not violate the scriptures, but daily drinking a case of beer, or fifth of whiskey will!

Just like movies, going to see "family afre' movies, or chrsitian ones not violate scriptures, but seeing XXX show nightly does!

 

Don't worry about how ignorant i am, in a few more years after the Alcohol has eat up your brain cells and destroyed your liver you will probably have little to no time to think about anyone but yourself. As you are looking forward to your next budwieser, here's hoping you stay sobber until then.