Does a beer hurt

[SaggyWoman]

I have never drank a bear. Don't want to.

Wine has touched my lips on more than one occasion. When I went to Ukraine, we had it for the Lord's supper. Also, when we have been sick with stomach trouble in Ukraine, the first think we pulled out is liquor. YIPPEE.

Am I in sin? No.

 

[Dr. Bob]

I have chosen to live by the precepts that:

Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.

and

Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright.

My heart is so wicked that I am constantly deceived by it. Thinking what is good is evil and what is evil is good.

Not going to risk my POOR judgment by adding alcohol to it. My uncle, a highway patrolman, said that just one beer or shot or glass of wine had an impact on reaction time (although it takes about 3 to push blood alcohol over legal limits).

So. Always preached against ANY. Tolerating ANY is "not wise".

 

[dianetavegia]

AGREE, Dr. Bob!

Diane

 

[JamesJ]

I wonder what Jesus meant when He said this


Matthew 26:26And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. 27And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; 28For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. 29But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth (from this time forward) of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom. 30And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives.

And this

Luke 7:33For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine; and ye say, He hath a devil. 34The Son of man is come eating and drinking; and ye say, Behold a gluttonous man, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners! 35But wisdom is justified of all her children.

Does this mean that Jesus drank wine?

[ July 26, 2003, 09:39 PM: Message edited by: JamesJ ]

 

[Brother Adam]

Originally posted by Jim1999:
I find it incredible that so-called twice born Christians, claiming to dedicate the whole of their lives to the Lord Jesus Christ, have the time of day for a beverage which has killed so many innocent people around the world.

Good Gracious! I certianly hope you don't drive and discourage everyone from ever driving an automobile. By your analysis, driving is a horrible sin.

I think you have to flat out twist scripture to say that drinking in moderation is a sin, Christs first miracle is a testament to this. And to say that wine isn't wine in the Bible, yeah, we won't even go there.

Personally, I haven't had anything to drink more than a communion cup full of wine in as long as I can remember, but I certianly don't think less of people who drink moderately on occassion.

Yes, I do think you can witness and have a beer in hand. I don't see any problem with it. Just because you have a beer doesn't mean your getting drunk. Actually I have seen it happen before by people who don't give the idea that drinking is sinful the time of day and have witnessed to those at football games who would probably think that the "Christians are just trying to be 'holier than thou'" if they sat there and told them how horrible drinking is. Especially since health professionals have shown that a glass of wine a day is actually good for our health.

 

[Rev. Joshua]

Originally posted by Helen:
...but these continuing hot days are making an ice cold beer sound awfully good right now.

Try it with some tomato juice in it. I know it sounds odd, but it's very refreshing.

As for the comments from others about witnessing: There are plenty of settings where a glass of wine or a beer greatly improves your witness because it lets the people around you know that you're not a legalist.

Joshua

 

[Joseph_Botwinick]

Originally posted by SaggyWoman:
I have never drank a bear.

I am certainly glad to hear this. This is something I would never even attempt. It may not be sinful, but it sure would be painful and bad for your health when that bear bites your head off. Besides, I am not quite sure how you would go about drinking a bear. Where would you put the straw?

Joseph Botwinick

 

[Watchman]

First off, I'm hoping that SaggyWoman has a good sense of humor. We realize that was an unfortunate typo, but Joseph's post was quite humourous. We love you SW!
As for this topic. I realize that this is a difficult subject and it is not about to be resolved here. There are many verses about the dangers of access in drinking. There has been many a ruined life through the years because of drinking. However, I just cannot take the words of the Apostle Paul, given under inspiration, and dismiss them. One of his qualifications for certain church officials was that they not be give to MUCH wine, not given to wine. He didn't rebuke the Corinthians for drinking, the rebuke was for being drunk. Now this, IMHO, is undisputable.
The French have a diet that would clog a fire hose, much less heart arteries, yet they have one of the lowest rates of heart disease on the planet; there is only one explanation for this.
As for matters brought up here:
One certainly should not drink and go out testifying. I think if a Christian has a glass, it should be for a nightcap and not make another to stumble.
As for what Jesus actually made at the marraige in Cana: it was newly created. When juice is freshly squeezed from grapes you have some very good grapejuice. The trouble is the passage of time and the fermenting process. The Lord's was new, so I think that it was a very good juice.

 

[gb93433]

Where I live there sre wines grapes all over the place. When I lived in Indiana many Amish had a small patch of grapes and they weren't for eating.

Growing up my parents were grape farmers. Each Christmas we received two bottles of wine from the winery. The next Christmas most of the wine from the previous Christmas would stil be there. It mas never made taboo in our home. We tasted it from time to time and each time we would look at each other and wonder how anybody could drink that awful tasting stuff. The fact that it was there and out in the open, destroyed any incentive to hide something. I have seen more beer and wine in homes where it is made a taboo subject than where it is not. Nobody in my family growing up ever got drunk or got involved with drinking.

We can't always take our American theology to other cultures. They often don't see things the same way we do.

 

[Elnora]

Originally posted by just-want-peace:
I'm one that is totally against any type of alcohol; FOR ME!!!!!!

I'm one that used to feel(?) that ANY type/amount of drinking was a sin. Somewhere down the road, though, when I tried to back my "feel" with scripture, I found I had no support; only prohibitions I found were excesses of same.

So, while I'm still against it, I now accept that it is my opinion only, not scriptural, so if you choose to imbibe then you're safe as long as it doesn't meet the definition of "excess".

I'll always remember teaching a SS class some years back, & this same topic came up, & one member was adamant that scripture was there to condemn any drinking at all. After finally convincing(?) her that such was not the case, she replied, "Well, if it isn't in there, it sure ought to be!"

This fits in with Paul's comments that any thing not done in faith is sin for the one doing it; for me it not proper for one who names the name of Christ to partake such actions. Just me though!!

Excellent post! I abstain first because I was delivered from alcoholism. I also don't want to cause someone to stumble. That is for me personally. My husband could have just one. He never liked to drink. He just didn't want to offend someone who was just being hospitible. Now he just says no thanks. Today people aren't as uncomfortable when one declines.

 

[I Am Blessed 24]

This topic has been hashed and rehashed so many times. All I ever hear about is beer and wine .

What about the 'hard' sruff? If it is all right to have one beer or one glass of wine; is it also all right to have one shot of whiskey, rum, gin, scotch ?

I have seen people, with weak constitutions, drink one shot of hard liqour and be drunk. Should they just take a sip and throw the rest of the shot away? I can't see that happening!

If one form of alcohol is wrong...it is ALL wrong.

If our children see us drink 'a' beer or whatever; what are we teaching them? How would you feel if your son became an alcoholic because he grew up seeing you drink your 'one' beer and thought it was all right, but he couldn't stop with one? Whose fault would that be?

People say, "I don't want to be a stumbling block". How do you know when you have been a stumbling block until it is too late?

Someone is always watching you and possibly following in your footsteps...

When lives are at stake, physically and spiritually, it's too great a risk to take.

JMHO,
§ue

 

[Ben W]

Jesus Christ drank and supplied Alcoholic Beverages to others, says it all really.

Anyone who opposes drinking must find this fact hard to accept. But then some people are always keen to place extra yokes upon others.

 

[I Am Blessed 24]

You see Ben. You and I disagree on the word 'wine'. But as you said, that's another thread.

I really can't see Jesus saying to His diciples, "Belly up to the bar guys".

 

[KenH]

Originally posted by I Am Blessed 16:
whiskey

Once upon a time I did have a sip of whiskey. It tasted like Listerine. Yuk!

I have had a sip of beer and I found it bitter.

One time, I had a champagne-type glass of champagne and it tasted pretty good. I had a second and it didn't taste as good.

I have had a little bit of wine a couple of times and it actually tasted pretty good, sort of like grape juice with a kick to it.

So, I have come clean. That is my complete "drinking" history. And...it all took place over 30 years ago.

Now...let's not talk about my soft drinks, chocolate covered peanuts, peanut M&Ms, etc. Okay?

Not that I am overweight, but I don't want to see the thread denigrate into a discussion of the more common sin of gluttony and it's deleterious effect on Christian witnessing.

 

[David Mark]

For me it's about my tongue and anything that encourages me loose control of it.

It's unruly enough on its own.

Dave.

 

[NeilUnreal]

Ditto, Dave.

The main thing that encourages me to lose control of my tongue is opening my mouth

-Neil

 

[Brother Adam]

"If one form of alcohol is wrong...it is ALL wrong."

I disagree, but prove it.

"If our children see us drink 'a' beer or whatever; what are we teaching them?"

That we are responsible.

"How would you feel if your son became an alcoholic because he grew up seeing you drink your 'one' beer and thought it was all right, but he couldn't stop with one? Whose fault would that be?"

Certianly not mine. How would you feel if your daughter saw you driving a car and when she grew up went a little too fast and got killed in an accident? Who's fault would it be? Yours for driving a car?

 

[Merrill]

Homebound,

You say that as if all people who have one beer will become alcholic ? Give me a break ! The scriptures say Jesus turned water into wine, that was the first miracle, he did it at a wedding that he was attending, he partied with the people there at the party. After turning the water into wine the Brides father asked Jesus why did he make the better wine now and not save it until later after most had gone home. Read it in John; 2 ....Its use by jesus was also mentioned in Matt. 26; 29... and 1 Timothy 5;23 talks about its lawful use.it says to stop drinking water and drink a little wine to heal the stomach and to rid of frequent illnesses. It's a proved fact that a glass of wine is healthy for us, and what does God say about our temples ? He says we are to take care of them for they are his temples...Yeah having a drink once in awhile is ok both health wise and scripturally...

 

[Haruo]

I'm an alcoholic. It's been almost 19 years since I took my most recent drink, and I attribute that joyous datum in part to the fact that early in my sobriety the importance of not having "just one" — "One's too many and a thousand's not enough" as it says in Proverbs — was drilled, by the grace of God, into my cranium.

But if I were not an alcoholic, and I had no other medical or spiritual condition that would make beer unhealthful for me, I'm not at all sure there would be any reason for me not to have one.

I notice the subject line is phrased in terms of "hurting", but the question is phrased in terms of "sinning". Bait and switch, I think they call it?

So I had to vote "Not sure".

How about sugar? Will a spoonful of sugar make the medicine go down in a most delightful way, or is any amount of sugar sinful? Well, the answer may depend on how severe one's diabetes or hypoglycemia is.

Haruo
(who would be dead if God didn't work through non-Christian organizations too)

 

[Dr. Bob]

When I eat a big turkey dinner on Thanksgiving (or overeat to be more precise) the chemicals in turkey make my body drowsy so I won't mind watching Detroit lose another football game.

When I eat a Milky Way candy bar, the suger in it gives my body a rush for about 20 minutes, then I crash and burn in a "low" for an hour or more.

Can anyone tell me that having a glass of wine, whiskey, beer, et al does NOT have any affect on you, your judgment, your reactions, your brain function?

If one glass will affect you and 3 will push your blood alcohol over .08% and make it illegal for you to even drive a vehicle, why would I put my body "under the control" of alcohol?

Be not controled by alcohol, but by the Spirit!