alcohol and the Christian

Proverbs 31:6-7 -- Give strong drink to him who is perishing, And wine to him whose life is bitter. Let him drink and forget his poverty And remember his trouble no more.

 

I am a believer, and I do not drink. But as much as
I appreciate and respect the specific persons who
have written here, I admit that I disagree with some.

I do not believe that the Scriptures say not to
drink wine; I do believe, however, that there is
strong evidence not to drink anything stronger
than the wine normally used among believers in
biblical times.

I was a little surprised at Dr. Bob's answer not
to look upon fermented wine (Prov 23:31), though.
While I have learned to trust Bob, I think he is
mistaken in this areea (sorry, Bob) and needs to
reread it for context.

Regardless of the above, I do believe that if a
person has an inkling that alcohol should be
avoided, that person should leave it alone. As in
my case, as I have related before, it was my God
protecting me who made me have the feeling I
should leave it alone. After some years of being
a tea-totaller, with no biblical reason for my
strong feeling, I learned that I have a disease that,
had I imbibed, would have killed me years ago.
That little prick in the conscience was my God
extending my life.

Further, I was madder than a hatter when the
boys at my old church encouraged my son to
drink when he came of age, and it would not
surprise me at all if they had him drinking before
then either. Sure, he was a wiling victim, but I
hold them partially responsible for encouraging
it. There is alcoholism in my family, and one
never knows who is carrying the genes until it is
too late.

 

I've always been strongly against drinking, but only as a personal preference. I have Baptist friends who drink in moderation and they're committing no sin as far as I can tell.

 

Kate B 007 noted:

My grandfather's doctor prescribed, or actually advised him to drink a beer or glass of wine a day. Supposedly it thins the blood, thus helping to avoid some adverse risks to the heart, specifically coronary thombosis and phlebititis (sp?). Whether or not it did any good or not, I cannot say, but he did live longer than any of his siblings, but he eventually died of a stroke.

 

Michael Edwards: You might just bring a new view to the board on Christians drinking alcohol.

1 Corinthians 10:31  Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

Tell us how you can drink alcohol to the glory of God.

Thanks - Jim

To those who think they are not "impaired" with just "one".... you are impaired,; you just don't realize it. Science has proven that point.

To those of you who know your limits - you have exceeded them (sinned) to know what they are, right?

This issue will never be settled. Someone will quote a verse that okays drinking and then someone else will quote one saying it is a mocker. You're gonna' do what you wanna' do - just hope God appreciates what you do. But, if you have doubts about something, don't you figure it's wrong for you?

Beer? As far as I'm concerned they can give it back to the horse.

Other alcoholic drinks? I love it when you see someone take a drink straight, then make a face like they're gonna' puke, and as quick as they can catch their breath, they gasp how good it tastes.

Been there; done that folks. Thank you Lord for removing any hint of my wanting alcohol from my mind.

 

It is a very poor witness to the alcoholic, for a Christian to stand in line at the liquor store for their next "drug fix". We should be standing out in front of the bar, or liquor store, sharing the Gospel, not standing behind the man spending his children's milk money on a bottle of booze.

It is a poor Christian witness to monetarily support an industry who's products are directly culpable in broken homes, shattered lives, death and destruction. It is sad to see Christians justifying the use of alcohol. Reminds me of a Christian buying a Playboy for the "articles". It is a very poor witness, and detrimental to one's testimony.

A servant of Christ,
Drew

 

I've posted this link before, but some may not have read it. I think you will find it biblically-based and interesting reading.

The Bible and alcoholic beverages

 

Would rather be sick. It'll never be good for me.</font>[/QUOTE]Then don't drink it. No one is telling you to do it.

Actually, I have discussed it with my doctor and he thinks I would do well to have a glass of wine every other day or so. I have held off because of some concerns about my liver (unusual readings lately), but I found out this morning that I have gallstones and will likely have surgery soon to remove my gallbladder. After I have recovered from my surgery, I will probably start drinking very moderately for my health. (Currently I have about half a glass of wine every four or five months, so it is obviously not something I seek out.)

As far as your question about "curing", it is not a cure, but a preventative agent in a healthy diet. It helps relieve stress and provides cardiovascular benefits. It also help cholesteral levels.

(Edited to fix some typos.)

[ January 23, 2003, 08:01 AM: Message edited by: Baptist Believer ]

 

POSTED BY MICHAEL
Well Jim, tell me how you can watch television for the glory of God? How can you go shopping for clothes for the glory of God? How can you go to a restaurant for the glory fo God? Better yet, how can you drink a SODA for the glory of God?

In my personal opinion, you're offering no more glory or shame to God when you drink a glass of water, than a glass of beer.
____________________________
MY REPLY

I can do all of the things you mentioned to the glory of God. If you can't, you should not do them.

As for alcholism being genetic. There is definitely a predispostion there. We, being children of God, do not have to yield to it though.

I have never heard of a driver running into and killing people in cars or abusing their wives and children or their families going on welfare or just, in general, wreaking destruction to those that love them just because they watched television, went shopping, ate out at a restarurant or drank a soda.

There are people who cannot stop with one drink. It is great that you can; but we are not to be stumbling blocks to those weaker than us. There is always someone watching us. The lost people of this world know how Christians are supposed to act better than we do.


Sue

 

Michael; My post pertained to alcohol (which is also what this thread pertains to); not homosexuality, adultery etc.

You mean you can't drink a glass of water to the glory of God? God would not have told us to do all things to His glory were it not possible to do so...

And, yes, many lost people know when they see a Christian doing something wrong. They may be lost, that does not mean they have never heard of God or read the Bible.

Why would the lost world want what we have if we act the same way they do?

Sue

[ January 23, 2003, 11:15 AM: Message edited by: I Am Blessed 16 ]

 

How did Jesus do it?

No you're not.

In my case, I wasn't always a Christian. I used to drink pretty frequently, so I know exactly what I can drink or not or how which food combinations will affect what I drink.

Even an ametuer should know when to stop.

Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy - Ben Franklin

As with many foods, oftentimes, the point isn't taste but "aftertaste".

 

POSTED BY MICHAEL

--Also, is drinking alcohol to be considered the broad way in which we would say we're "acting" like the world? If you go to a restaurant that serves alcohol, do you think that server assumes you're Christian simply because you don't order an alcoholic beverage.
____________________

MY REPLY

Drinking alcohol is not the broad way in which I would say we're "acting" like the world; but it is certainly ONE of the ways. I am focusing on alcohol because that is the original purpose of this thread.

One of the things I have noticed is that when a thread is started, some people chase so many rabbits that eventually we forget all about the original purpose of the thread. I have been guilty of that myself a time or two; but I'm getting better.

If I went into a restaurant and ordered an alcoholic beverage and then bowed my head to thank God for what I am about to partake...yes, I think the server would assume I was a Christian and would think (rightly so) that I was a hypocrite!

Sue

 

Michael - You answered my question with questions. I was hoping for an answer.

Like the poster before me, I also "assume" you partake of alcoholic beverages since you think it's okay - - either that or you think it is not the thing to do. I try to glorify God in all I do but am not perfect by any stretch of the imagination. You seem to be excusing drinking a beer since man is going to sin anyway.

I can watch "some" TV to the glory of God but not much of it - therefore, I watch very little. We can drink water to the glory of God. The "choice" of water over alcohol is to His glory, as well as taking care of His temple. We can dress to the glory of God in a way pleasing to Him and to do that, we have to buy the clothes, right? We can't drink cola to His glory (IMO) so I don't partake.

Michael, I have no idea why I am bothering to answer several of your questions since you have avoided my one. I do perceive you might be spiritually immature by the manner in which you respond to fellow Christians. That's how you come across. Sorry.

If you don't care to answer my original question, don't. I really don't care to banter back and forth. As I said originally, folks in this type forum rarely will ever agree when their opinions or convictions differ.

Jim

 

Mike - You evaded the question also. You drinkers tend to do that. IF Jesus drank fermented wine he didn't do it to the glory of God - He is God. After taste?

 

There are those who are desperate to justify worldly practices of iniquity. The practice of patronizing the local drug dealers, absolutely compromises the Christian witness and testimony.
The presence of spirits on your breath, in your hand, in your home, justifies drug use to those who destroy their families, and take the lives of the innocent on our nation's highways.

Your patronage of Drug Dens funds proprieters of iniquity, and an industry built upon shattered homes and broken bodies.

It is unbelievable that some Baptists would refuse to give up their idols of hedonism, and justification of the iniquity of drug consumption.

A servant of Christ,
Drew

 

This may go off topic and need to be started in another thread, but are you saying that sin is caused by your genes (i.e. addiction to drinking, homosexuality, etc..etc..)?

Thanks</font>[/QUOTE]I am not sure I understand your question. In an
attempt to answer anyway:

Alcoholism can be passed down through families.
My father was an alcoholic who became a believer
and quit drinking years before my birth.

As a young woman, I tried to experience a buzz by
drinking, but I never could drink enough to get even
a light buzz. I don't know why. If I had chosen to
continue drinking, seeking that buzz, I would have
likely been a very heavy drinker--and also dead
because of my disease.

Alcoholism, it seems, is a hit-and-miss gene,
striking some in a family and missing others in
the same family.

But what in the world has drinking to do with
homosexuality??