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Does the Bible teach a Christian Must abstain from all alcohol?
- Thread starter JesusFan
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KenH
Well-Known Member
The New Testament prohibits getting drunk; it does not prohibit drinking alcoholic beverages. In the Old Testament, those under a Nazirite vow did have such a restriction to not drink any wine or strong drink (Numbers 6:3).
Ephesians 5:18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess.
Christ Jesus turned water into wine (John 2:1-10).
And there are Paul's instruction to Timothy:
1 Timothy 5:23 Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake and thine often infirmities.
Ephesians 5:18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess.
Christ Jesus turned water into wine (John 2:1-10).
And there are Paul's instruction to Timothy:
1 Timothy 5:23 Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake and thine often infirmities.
David Lamb
Well-Known Member
I don't believe that the bible teaches complete abstinence, but it does teach against drunkenness. I don't drink alcohol, simply because I don't like the taste of alcoholic drinks, and anyway, alcohol is not permitted with the medication I have to take.
Deut 14:26
atpollard
Well-Known Member
As already explained, there is no general prohibition on alcohol.
That said, there is another issue to be considered:
1 Corinthians 8:1-13 [NKJV]
1 Now concerning things offered to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies. 2 And if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know. 3 But if anyone loves God, this one is known by Him.
4 Therefore concerning the eating of things offered to idols, we know that an idol [is] nothing in the world, and that [there is] no other God but one. 5 For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many gods and many lords), 6 yet for us [there is] one God, the Father, of whom [are] all things, and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom [are] all things, and through whom we [live].
7 However, [there is] not in everyone that knowledge; for some, with consciousness of the idol, until now eat [it] as a thing offered to an idol; and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. 8 But food does not commend us to God; for neither if we eat are we the better, nor if we do not eat are we the worse.
9 But beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to those who are weak. 10 For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol's temple, will not the conscience of him who is weak be emboldened to eat those things offered to idols? 11 And because of your knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? 12 But when you thus sin against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. 13 Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.
Food offered to Idols isn't the problem that it once was.
However, alcoholism is probably a bigger problem than it has ever been. As stated, there is a prohibition on "drunkeness", but I would like to set that aside. That is just obvious. Let's talk about something less obvious and more serious.
Paul stated "if [it] makes my brother stumble, I will never again [it], lest I make my brother stumble". I inserted [it] in Paul's words because I think the teaching applies to more than "food" ... Paul's words ring true whatever [it] is. Let's be optimistic and assume that your church [local assembly of believers] has reached out and actually contains people that have not been "christian" for 30-years or more. Some of these people might be like my wife and many individuals that I know that grew up in the home of an abusive alcoholic. They already approach "God the Father" with some "baggage" and negative connotations attached to the word "father". To see somone have a drink means something very different to them than it means to the average person.
So, do you (a Christian) have a right (freedom) to drink? Absolutely. Will your freedom cause someone else to stumble?
I don't know! That is a question that is situational, personal and between you and God.
As for me and my house, we have a RIGHT to drink and we CHOOSE to abstain. An offering from us to God made for the sake of conscience (ours). We would never stop anyone else from drinking or think badly of them (it is 100% their right), I just love my wife far more than I even care about alcohol.
Very important point that you make here, as if I am around a Christian who has a problem with alcohol, or else sees it totally prohibited, would never order a glass of wine if out to dinner, but wou;d not also rail against someone who wished to order a beer or a glass of wine either, as I would tell them was not offensive to me if they choose to do that now ,As already explained, there is no general prohibition on alcohol.
That said, there is another issue to be considered:
1 Corinthians 8:1-13 [NKJV]
1 Now concerning things offered to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies. 2 And if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know. 3 But if anyone loves God, this one is known by Him.
4 Therefore concerning the eating of things offered to idols, we know that an idol [is] nothing in the world, and that [there is] no other God but one. 5 For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many gods and many lords), 6 yet for us [there is] one God, the Father, of whom [are] all things, and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom [are] all things, and through whom we [live].
7 However, [there is] not in everyone that knowledge; for some, with consciousness of the idol, until now eat [it] as a thing offered to an idol; and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. 8 But food does not commend us to God; for neither if we eat are we the better, nor if we do not eat are we the worse.
9 But beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to those who are weak. 10 For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol's temple, will not the conscience of him who is weak be emboldened to eat those things offered to idols? 11 And because of your knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? 12 But when you thus sin against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. 13 Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.
Food offered to Idols isn't the problem that it once was.
However, alcoholism is probably a bigger problem than it has ever been. As stated, there is a prohibition on "drunkeness", but I would like to set that aside. That is just obvious. Let's talk about something less obvious and more serious.
Paul stated "if [it] makes my brother stumble, I will never again [it], lest I make my brother stumble". I inserted [it] in Paul's words because I think the teaching applies to more than "food" ... Paul's words ring true whatever [it] is. Let's be optimistic and assume that your church [local assembly of believers] has reached out and actually contains people that have not been "christian" for 30-years or more. Some of these people might be like my wife and many individuals that I know that grew up in the home of an abusive alcoholic. They already approach "God the Father" with some "baggage" and negative connotations attached to the word "father". To see somone have a drink means something very different to them than it means to the average person.
So, do you (a Christian) have a right (freedom) to drink? Absolutely. Will your freedom cause someone else to stumble?
I don't know! That is a question that is situational, personal and between you and God.
As for me and my house, we have a RIGHT to drink and we CHOOSE to abstain. An offering from us to God made for the sake of conscience (ours). We would never stop anyone else from drinking or think badly of them (it is 100% their right), I just love my wife far more than I even care about alcohol.
I never liked beer myself, and just like once in a while a sweet wine if eating out for supper, as my family used to go to Frankenmuth Mi for Christmas day, and would order a glass of their sweet cherry wine to go with the food
I am reminded of the story heard from Chuck Swindoll, a she stated that at a Pastors conference, he knew some liked to have a cigar at lunch and others a glass of wine, but he made sure to send to the table the opposite , so Pastor for wine got cigar, and for cigar got wine
Think one can choose to not drink at all, or can choose to have one, but never can excuse getting enough to get drunk or having a problem drinking
KenH
Well-Known Member
I don't know about that. Consider what Noah did after The Flood, and the mess that made; and consider what happened with Lot and his daughters after Sodom and Gomorrah and all the plain were destroyed, and the mess that made.
KenH
Well-Known Member
During my lifetime so far, I've tasted beer and whiskey(whiskey tasted like Listerine to me) and drank some wine, but the entire amount could probably fit in a couple of tall glasses commonly used in homes at dinner.
The only wine I partake of nowadays is when we observe the Lord's Supper at church around four times a year. I have to remind myself before I taste it that while it looks like grape juice and initially tastes like grape juice, that when I swallow it it will have a bit of a kick to it.
37818
Well-Known Member
At issue is the being the priesthood of the believer, causing it to be less than the OT priesthood. Leviticus 10:9.
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No, Scripture does not prohibit alcohol consumption.
We see this in the account of Jesus turning water into wine (and his parables). The reason good wine was served first is the alcohol would dull the senses and the poorer wine would be accepted. The reason new wine is not put into old wine skins is fermentation (old wine skins become stiff and burst as the new wine fermented).
BUT abstence can be reasoned out as drinking alcohol can damage ones witness.
The problem is less drinking and more satisfying ones desires over the conscious of others.
We see this in the account of Jesus turning water into wine (and his parables). The reason good wine was served first is the alcohol would dull the senses and the poorer wine would be accepted. The reason new wine is not put into old wine skins is fermentation (old wine skins become stiff and burst as the new wine fermented).
BUT abstence can be reasoned out as drinking alcohol can damage ones witness.
The problem is less drinking and more satisfying ones desires over the conscious of others.
37818
Well-Known Member
It would seem, we do not agree.
I am not saying wine is good (I don't like wine....I dont drink).
I am saying that those who serve wine at events serve the better wine first and the poorer wine afterwards because of the effect on alcohol on taste. The lesser quality wine is not identified as such (except by the stewards).
37818
Well-Known Member
John 2:10, And saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now.
The better was fresher juice.
Fresher juice??
With non-alcoholic beverages the better is always served last (you can go from fair juice to better juice, but not the other way around as the better makes the less quality taste even worse)
That does not make sence.
Also, fresh juice does not cause wine skins to burst. It is the production of alcohol that produces gasses which expand the wine skins that cause old wine skins to burst.
When I get the flu or a severe cold, I rely on Nyquil, which has alcohol as a key ingredient. I also think a shot of whiskey might just do better for some circumstances than the chemicals, but I don't use that myself.
For social drinkers, though, I question whether one can be filled with the Holy Spirit while getting intoxicated. I think that's something that would have to be judged on an individual basis, but the reason most people drink alcohol is to alter their minds. I've discussed this issue with people who argue about that, but it's just a given. While I can say I like a malt beverage, and have no problem drinking a non-alcoholic beer, the fact remains that liquor tastes pretty bad, lol. So, we know it's not because most people think it's delicious.
How about a nice Hawaiian punch?
Jesus made excellent real wine