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Baptist Views on Drinking

Drinking Only is Acceptable....

  • When Jesus turns the water to wine

    Votes: 3 5.5%

  • In social settings

    Votes: 2 3.6%

  • Never

    Votes: 6 10.9%

  • And, it's up to the individual

    Votes: 38 69.1%

  • In no situations, as it hurts our witness

    Votes: 12 21.8%
  • Total voters
    55
righteousdude2

righteousdude2

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
I failed miserably to get the type of data and comments that I needed for my book (in a different post on sin).

So, I'll start over... I'll go sin by sin, to get your comments and most importantly, the numbers from a poll. Your answers are needed, and your participation in the poll is essential if I'm going to get the kind of data I need to draw conclusions from for my book.

Again, if you comment, please let me know if it's OK to use your comment. Your name will not be used in any way.:thumbs:

THANKS!!!

Shalom,

Pastor Paul :type:
 
J

jaigner

Active Member
I have no problem with the responsible, legal use of alcohol.

I also have no problem with people who choose not to, but still allow others to make that decision for themselves.

I don't care for it when people say that it's wrong. Check out Calvin's doctrine of Christian freedom. It's an issue of conscience, pure and simple.

You are free to use my comment.
 
S

saturneptune

New Member
The Holy Spirit convicted me several years ago it is wrong to drink in my case. It is a bad witness, and can cause a brother to stumble. I had a problem with drinking in the Navy on top of that. It produces nothing good, and would not have done it around my children.

I condemn no one for moderation if that is in fact what they are doing, and they have a clear conscience. It is not for me. It is hard to make a case for abstenance from the Scripture like you can drunkedness.

On the lighter side, if someone conducting a service wanted to use "99 bottles of beer on the wall" for an invitation hymn, there would be plenty of time to respond.
 
P

Peggy

New Member
I am somewhat conflicted on this as I used to be married to an alcoholic, and have seen first hand the damage that alcohol can do to a person and to a family. Some people should simply never have that first drink. AA is a wonderful organization that helps people who have gone down the road of alcoholism and want to turn their lives around.

On the other hand, everyone else I know that drinks is able to drink in moderation and knows when to stop. It is not the alcohol per se that is the problem. Jesus did turn water into wine. It is the person who cannot take responsibility for his or her drinking and know when to stop. We can't take individual responsibility out of the equation when it comes to alcohol consumption.

Alcohol consumption only hurts your witness, IMHO, if you drink to excess. Self control is the key. I don't see anything wrong with having a drink with dinner or with friends.

Personally, one light beer a week with my Friday night pizza is all I consume.

Psa 104:14 You cause the grass to grow for the livestock and plants for man to cultivate, that he may bring forth food from the earth
Psa 104:15 and wine to gladden the heart of man, oil to make his face shine and bread to strengthen man's heart.
 
J

Jon-Marc

New Member
It was difficult to choose since no answer was exactly what I would choose. However, "In social settings" came the closest to "an occasional drink is OK" as I could get.

I don't drink any alcoholic drinks because of the sugar and not because of the alcohol. I am one who, if I find something I really like, tends to make a pig of myself with it. Bartles and James Peach Wine Cooler is one of those things. In my opinion it is OH SO good, but it's also very expensive. It's been several years since I bought it, and at that time it was $3.49 for four 10-oz bottles. Since it's a wine and not high in alcohol, it takes several to feel much of anything. Also, I can't have all that sugar.

However, for those who are not diabetic, I believe an occasional drink is not sin--as long as they don't get drunk and drive, or do or say things they normally wouldn't. That's what alcohol always did to me--made me say and do things I later regretted.

You're welcome to use anything I've written if any of it is useful.
 
T

Tom Butler

New Member
saturneptune said:
The Holy Spirit convicted me several years ago it is wrong to drink in my case. It is a bad witness, and can cause a brother to stumble. I had a problem with drinking in the Navy on top of that. It produces nothing good, and would not have done it around my children.

I condemn no one for moderation if that is in fact what they are doing, and they have a clear conscience. It is not for me. It is hard to make a case for abstenance from the Scripture like you can drunkedness.

On the lighter side, if someone conducting a service wanted to use "99 bottles of beer on the wall" for an invitation hymn, there would be plenty of time to respond.
Click to expand...

SN's view closely parallels my own. I don't drink, but claim no particular virtue about it. I simply do not li8ke the taste of beer, wine or the hard stuff. Further, for some reason alcohol holds no appeal to me; I simply am not tempted. So I get no points for self-denial or self-discipline.

I have friends who think a cold beer on a hot day is great. Give me Dr. Pepper every time.
 
T

Timsings

Member
Site Supporter
jaigner said:
I have no problem with the responsible, legal use of alcohol.

I also have no problem with people who choose not to, but still allow others to make that decision for themselves.

I don't care for it when people say that it's wrong. Check out Calvin's doctrine of Christian freedom. It's an issue of conscience, pure and simple.

You are free to use my comment.
Click to expand...

What he said.

I was not raised around people who drank, so I never gave it much thought, and I still don't. However, I probably drink the equivalent of a case or two of beer in the course of a year.

Tim Reynolds
 
W

Whowillgo

Member
Site Supporter
Drinking alchohol can be an issue if the situation gives it the appearance of evil or if it causes someone else to stumble. I don't drink but not because of a judgmental view, it is simply not worth the damage it could cause.
 
R

rbell

Active Member
I've posted this before, but it still applies:

A sin? I don't know...but for me, it is not wise to drink at all:
  • The small potential upside (enjoying a drink) with the large potential downside (risk of intoxication and its associated problems).
    • If I were to get drunk, I could lose my job, and put my family at risk. Too high a risk for a beer.
    • If I were to get intoxicated, I could say or do things that damage my ministry and witness. Why risk it?
  • There has been a history of alcoholism in my family background. If there is any sort of genetic basis, why risk it?
  • I tell my students not do drink...and then I do? I see that as hypocritical. I'd rather lead by example.
  • Drinking offends quite a few Christians I work with, and minister to. I'll take the "Paul and meat" example here, and give up my liberty for the sake of the Gospel.
  • Simply, I don't need to drink. There's other options that have no downside that meets my needs. We're at a place historically where alcoholic beverages simply aren't in any way a necessity.
Wisdom, IMO, is asking God to help me look "down the path" and determine if long-term outcomes honor Him or not. There are too many paths that are problematic for me. I'll pass.

So...is it sinful? Unsure. Is it wise? Not for me, it ain't.
 
G

gb93433

Active Member
Site Supporter
My family always had wine around because at one time my parents were grape farmers. We seldom drank wine though. I cannot think of any of my country friends who ever had a problem with drinking. Having wine around was like having water around. We did not crave it or seek to drink it. There was a time when a friend of mine from the city came for a visit and when he saw the wine he had a look like I had never seen. He asked if he could have some. I told him that he could not because it belonged to my parents.

We were taught a respect for wine by the example my parents established by their example. People can die by drinking too much water.
 
H

HAMel

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
To drink in moderation; it's up to the individual; drink only if you can handle it; etc.

Apply the same reasoning toward that cute young woman living next door. Or that young woman's husband.

If you have a doubt about drinking then give in to the doubt. If you feel a little alcohol is needed, or required for your system, then retreat to your closet and do it privately. Otherwise leave it alone.
 
J

jaigner

Active Member
HAMel said:
To drink in moderation; it's up to the individual; drink only if you can handle it; etc.

Apply the same reasoning toward that cute young woman living next door. Or that young woman's husband.

If you have a doubt about drinking then give in to the doubt. If you feel a little alcohol is needed, or required for your system, then retreat to your closet and do it privately. Otherwise leave it alone.
Click to expand...

Why would it need to be private? If there's nothing wrong with one making that decision for themselves and enjoying alcohol responsibly, then there's no need to hide it.
 
G

gb93433

Active Member
Site Supporter
jaigner said:
Why would it need to be private? If there's nothing wrong with one making that decision for themselves and enjoying alcohol responsibly, then there's no need to hide it.
Click to expand...
Are there not laws against drinking in some places?
 
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