Featured Have a Beer! It may be sinful NOT TO!

I wouldn't care if you did because I stopped caring about gaining man's approval when I began walking in freedom!

Romans 8:1 is a very freeing passage...along with many more. :godisgood:

:laugh: I wouldn't call what I've experienced 'numbing,' but that is for another discussion.

 

Even if drinking alcohol was a sin, you wouldn't be condemned for it anyway. But man isn't the one you need to be concerned about should you sin. God is the one who could issue chastisement, should He so choose.

 

The above is where, in my eyes, you keep messing up.
1. The scripture never, not once ever, states that if a person thinks it is sin to drink (or eat meat -and you know the passage this comes from) that it is a sin for them. In fact it states the very OPPOSITE. It is NOT sin but for the person who offends them in doing such, or causes them to stumble, THEY are the sinners, not the one who considers it wrong.

This doesn't mean we shouldn't come along side them and encourage them through study to understand the fullness of scripture however them having such a view is not sinful.. at least according to scripture.

2. Your 30% isn't factual nor is it held by any of the creditable health organizations. For one, most all agree that it is possibly beneficial for older men but men in their 20's and 30's it could can more harm than good. Look back at my last post or two. I give what Mayo Clinic states on the subject.

Another issue with your assumption is that the potential benefit (which is actually less than 30% by these institutions, and the amount consumed is 4 oz. less as well) is potential for SOME not all.

Less than a pint a day, and if the man simply exercises and eats nominally healthy, he never has to take a swallow and has a HIGHER chance of not contracting the disease.

And the ex-drunkard, who was encouraged to drink, even when he knew he should not but was told he was an immature christian because he couldn't handle himself in Christ when his brothers were thirsty for a good brew. Of which brought him back to drinking (encouraged by his blessed Godly brothers) and into bondage once again, who after hitting his wife in his drunken stupor, and then suddenly ashamed of what he did and had become again, left the house and died in a car accident, leaving his wife and two preteen kids, what of that man.

This isn't an exaggeration, but actually happened and I personally know the family and church where happened (back in SC). What is sad, is that those 'brothers' still take no responsibility in the man's action as it is their God given freedom to drink and no one should tell them when they should drink or not. By their own statement it was the man's fault for letting it get the best of him. That was 9 years ago, and 4 of those gentlemen today are in AA trying to get over their additions, one of which confesses he was an alcoholic during that time and prior but no one but him knew.

LISTEN - I'm not stating this is the norm but it is a legitimate story and true, and though a bit extreme, in truth it does happen. I'm not advocating NOT drinking due to this, I'm just saying there is another side of the coin you are ignoring whether intentionally or not but one that is just as valid and needs to be brought into the evaluation.

The sin is in the arrogance of the preacher or man who wishes to change their mind so they will begin drinking or at least let the others drink, and NOT so that the weak Christian might understand better the scriptures. It is most often about the person who wants to drink and not other persons spiritual growth and relationship with God. The sin there is that which is not of love for thy brother - True love is selfless - giving up our lives for one another as Christ gave His life for us. (1 John 3:16)

While it might not be 100% right, I commend them for upholding the faith and teaching it as they understand it. At the very least, you have a preacher that is being faithful to what he knows and doing what he is called to do - preach and teach the word of God. I wish more would have the guts to do it.

I'm not speaking down to you but I would encourage you to meditate upon Romans 14, it deals with this very thing.

There's the sin of all people involved calling that which God calls good- evil.

It is sad that you bow down to the 30% marker as if that gives drinking a some biblical standing, when in fact that average is lower, and not for many, potentially not beneficial for men in their 20 and 30's.

 

Context.. they know what is good and that it IS good but choose to call it evil.. and vise-versa

Again, reread and mediate on Romans 14, it deals with this very issue.

Hey, you were quoting facts.

So you condone laziness in favor of being able to drink to be healthy?

And no, it isn't a fact.

It has everything to do with the conversation.

You swung it too far in the other direction and showed you the converse of it.
Who says I REFUSE. I think you might need to back up and re-read what I have stated.

And many would say the same thing about Calvinism, or non-Calvinism, or whatever they thought didn't go in line with their thinking/camp.

I didn't say it wasn't wrong either, I just said I commend him for standing up for what he believes is right. Not that this doesn't imply he is wrong nor that he should stay in a wrong view.

HOwever I would much rather a minister who stands for what he believes than one who panders to all. Again, coming along side and walking through the scriptures together is what we are to do if we find such a one, and do so in love.

 

After the six way bypass operation three years ago, the doctor told me to drink a glass of wine everyday. My pastor was in the room when he said this. Our pastor is pretty much against drinking, and mentions it quite often in sermons. At the time, my mind was really not on the pastor's presence, but on my mortality. Anyway, the reason I never started the wine routine is because I knew what would happen from past drinking patterns, so I stay away from it. My other reasoning is that it is a terrible witness for those I know. It bothers my wife, and that right there is enough. She does not even like to sit near the bar in restaurants.

Having said all of that, I do not feel from Scripture that gives me any right to come to the conclusion that it is wrong to drink for those who do it in moderation. I do think the person who actually drinks in moderation are few in numbers, and for the most part, people do drink for the buzz.

 

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Blackbird