Alcohol, Drunkenness and Banquetings

[Jeremy Seth]

I feel uncertain interpreting how the bible instructs Christians to behave in regards to alcohol. All my advisers besides my mother seem to take a stance apart from mine, and I'd like to hear more arguments and read from trusted resources y'all may be able to advise.
I have only been 21 for half a year and have little experience with this being a present issue.

It is my understanding that all instructions against drunkenness apply to any consumption of alcohol,
because I cannot perceive a distinction between being influenced at any level by alcohol and drunkenness. If I drink alcohol with the knowledge of its influence aren't I allowing influence of a spirit other than the Holy Spirit? (as in Ephesians 5:18)
I have heard this understanding referred to as "prohibition" as opposed to "abstinence" or "moderation".

Apart from the drinking of the individual, is the christian to go to a bar at all? It is my understanding that "banquetings" of 1 peter 4 are any event organized for the purpose of drinking. If drinking in moderation is instead correct, is banqueting only events where people are getting "drunk"?

Again assuming drinking in moderation is permissible, should the Christian drink "strong drink" in moderation? What does "strong drink" mean, in relation to other alcoholic drinks?

Thank you

 

[Jordan Kurecki]

Nothing good usually takes place where people are gathering to drink alcohol. Bars and the like are dens of Devils.

 

[Rolfe]

Jeremy Seth- If you doubt, abstain.

Biblical arguments aside, you may be better off without it any way. Alcohol is a toxin.

 

[Smyth]

Drinking in moderation vs. drunkenness is like eating in moderation vs. gluttony. Or driving at moderate speeds vs. dangerous speeds. Or, anything done in moderation vs. excess.

"Strong drink" is alcohol other than wine.

 

[Salty]

Though I agree with Smyth - I have always said "I have never met a drunk who doesent drink"

 

[Jordan Kurecki]

Drinking in moderation vs. drunkenness is like eating in moderation vs. gluttony. Or driving at moderate speeds vs. dangerous speeds. Or, anything done in moderation vs. excess.

"Strong drink" is alcohol other than wine.

How many homes do you know that have been torn apart by gluttony?

I think people ignore the destructive nature of alcohol..

I mean...if drinking alcohol in moderation is ok....would smoking pot in moderation also be ok? (Putting aside the secular legality of it aside)

 

[TCassidy]

"Strong drink" is alcohol other than wine.

Uh, no. The distillation of spirits is an invention of the middle ages.

There are three types of drink mentioned in the bible. Beer. Wine. Strong drink.

Beer is self explanatory. Wine refers to mixed wine. Wine mixed with water at 4 or 5 parts water to one part wine. The reason was two-fold. 1) to avoid drunkenness and 2) the alcohol in the wine killed the amoeba in the water.

Strong drink refers to unmixed wine.

 

[Smyth]

How many homes do you know that have been torn apart by gluttony?

I suspect more homes are torn apart by gluttony, such as a fat wife causing her husband to be miserable or a fat husband dying of an early heart attack. Do you think abuse of guns by some people justify taking the guns away from everyone else?

I mean...if drinking alcohol in moderation is ok....would smoking pot in moderation also be ok? (Putting aside the secular legality of it aside)

Which law of God is violated?

 

[Smyth]

Strong drink refers to unmixed wine.

Obviously, you wish to believe that wine in the Bible was watered down to the point of being practically water. When the Pharisees accused Jesus of being a winebibber, why didn't Jesus reply that he practically drank only water? Isaiah delivered a divine curse to Judea in Isaiah 1:22, that their wine be watered down.

Strong drink is simply any alcoholic drink. When John the Baptist wasn't suppose to drink wine or strong drink, does that mean beer was okay for John the Baptist?

 

[evangelist6589]

Nothing good usually takes place where people are gathering to drink alcohol. Bars and the like are dens of Devils.

In many cases perhaps, but not all cases as some choose to social drink for the enjoyment of a beverage and they choose not to get drunk.

 

[evangelist6589]

How many homes do you know that have been torn apart by gluttony?

I think people ignore the destructive nature of alcohol..

I mean...if drinking alcohol in moderation is ok....would smoking pot in moderation also be ok? (Putting aside the secular legality of it aside)

Drinking alcohol in moderation is okay for some, but for those weaker they need to abstain. You appear to be in the category of one needing to abstain, so go ahead and do so. But do not try and force your convictions on others.

 

[Jordan Kurecki]

Drinking alcohol in moderation is okay for some, but for those weaker they need to abstain. You appear to be in the category of one needing to abstain, so go ahead and do so. But do not try and force your convictions on others.

Be not drunk with wine wherein is excess, but be filled with the Spirit.

 

[evangelist6589]

Be not drunk with wine wherein is excess, but be filled with the Spirit.

Exactly. Getting drunk and having a beverage are not the same.

 

[Salty]

Exactly. Getting drunk and having a beverage are not the same.

In addition, we are not to be a stumbling block

 

[Jeremy Seth]

Exactly. Getting drunk and having a beverage are not the same.

What makes someone drunk?

 

[Baptist Believer]

What makes someone drunk?

There is a biblical standard and then there is a contemporary legal standard. Both are based on impairment.

Biblically, the standard is impairment/loss of control. If you lose control of your body, your tongue, your mental faculties, etc., then you are "drunk."

Legally, the standard is usually based on the blood alcohol level and it closely associated with the ability to drive or operate modern heavy machinery.

From a biblical perspective, a person can be legally intoxicated, but not drunk according to the standards of the scripture.

 

[Jeremy Seth]

There is a biblical standard and then there is a contemporary legal standard. Both are based on impairment.

Biblically, the standard is impairment/loss of control. If you lose control of your body, your tongue, your mental faculties, etc., then you are "drunk."

How do you determine if someone has "lost control", if they behave differently at all as a result of alcohol consumption?

 

[evangelist6589]

In addition, we are not to be a stumbling block

True. For people like Jordan I would be a stumbling block if I had a drink in front of him. However for the millions of other Christians who drink but do not get drunk having a drink with them is okay.

 

[evangelist6589]

What makes someone drunk?

Lose control. Be out of it. Fool doozy, etc.. The last time I got drunk was in 2006. I have had many beverages since then and have not been drunk. Getting drunk is a sin. Having a drink is not and as Kenneth Gentry says "God gave wine."

 

[Jerome]

Since you don't get drunk from your hard lemonade, why not just have pure lemonade? Is the malt liquor they add really tasty or what?