Is Drinking Alcohol a Sin?

[dan e.]

hey now.....don't pluck out proverbs 23:31 without talking about the other verses. he's clearly talking about someone who is pursuing drunkenness.

LET ME CLARIFY: i think it is appropriate for people to abstain if it is a weakness of theirs, or if they don't want to cause another to stumble. i'm not saying its ridiculous to abstain. i am saying, however, it is ridiculous to say it is sin if someone does not abstain, but does drink responsibly, without getting drunk, and keeping in mind of others who may stumble.

 

[standingfirminChrist]

1 Corinthians 9:25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate (exercises self-restraint) in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.

How can one say they are temperant when they do not restrain from alcohol? That which mocks and deceives?

1 Thessalonians 5:6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.

1 Thessalonians 5:8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.

1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

How can one say they are sober when they partake of an intoxicating beverage? From the very first sip, the intoxication begins to do it's work, not all at once after 4 or 5 drinks.

 

[standingfirminChrist]

LET ME CLARIFY: i think it is appropriate for people to abstain if it is a weakness of theirs, or if they don't want to cause another to stumble. i'm not saying its ridiculous to abstain. i am saying, however, it is ridiculous to say it is sin if someone does not abstain, but does drink responsibly, without getting drunk, and keeping in mind of others who may stumble.

Another one of your cultural change beliefs that does not line up with the Word of God.

 

[dan e.]

How can one say they are temperant when they do not restrain from alcohol? That which mocks and deceives?


How can one say they are sober when they partake of an intoxicating beverage? From the very first sip, the intoxication begins to do it's work, not all at once after 4 or 5 drinks.

BECAUSE HAVING ALCOHOL IN YOUR SYSTEM DOES NOT MEAN YOU ARE DRUNK. Your assumption is that alcohol is sin, and that assumption is just not true. Every point you make talks about drunkenness, but you stretch to mean any type of consumption. Yes, both of our generations are talking here. You say my thinking is liberalism....but what I AM TRYING TO EXPLAIN :BangHead: is that YOUR TRADITION/GENERATION sees everything not in agreement with itself as liberal and sinful. If you want to know my theology, it is not liberal by any means. But you have wrongly assumed that one disagreement with you is liberalism.

You seem like a great guy....I'm sure you are. No sense in going back and forth. I just hope you don't look down on believers who may enjoy a beer (I don't, by the way. I'm a weakling when it comes to alcohol. God gave me a gift :tongue3: ). I also hope those who enjoy a beer don't act foolish and drink around those who may stumble. WE'VE GOT TO GET OUR TRADITIONS BACK ON THE LEVEL THEY BELONG....TRADITIONS, NOT DOCTRINES.

God bless you, brother (hey, thats also a traditional saying from your generation! i've always liked that one!! :saint: )

 

[standingfirminChrist]

WE'VE GOT TO GET OUR TRADITIONS BACK ON THE LEVEL THEY BELONG....TRADITIONS, NOT DOCTRINES

The traditions of man are vain Jeremiah 10

All Scripture is given for doctrine. 2 Timothy 3

Your reasoning is completely opposite what the Word of God says.


You say you are a weakling when it comes to alcohol, are you saying you drink alcohol?

 

[dan e.]

oh my goodness......:BangHead:

what you just quoted from scripture is what i just got done explaining. that your belief that alcohol is sin is stemmed from your tradition that condemns all forms of drinking. that tradition probably has warrant since there is so much harm that has come from alcohol. however, that fails to prove that alcohol is sin, but can be abused and sinful as can anything else. (is using mouthwash a sin? how about tylenol pm, or nyquil?) i agree with what you said about traditions, that is, what the Bible says.

yes, i have had some drinks on a couple of occasions....i puked my guts out!!! it was only after less than half of a small glass!! haha, looks like i don't have to find out if drunkenness is a struggle for me because i couldn't get that far if i wanted too!!!:laugh:

by the way, no need to reply to that. your replies are becoming predictable. i know what you'll say. and i take your words as iron sharpening iron. be careful not to hold you traditions too highly, remember what you quoted from scripture.

 

[standingfirminChrist]

No, my conviction are not based on man's tradition. It is based on what the Holy Spirit has revealed to me through the reading and study of the Word of God concerning alcohol. Has nothing to do with my traditions at all.

 

[dan e.]

You're awesome.....I mean that bro'. Although I disagree....it's been great to read your passion for God's word. I love learning from guys who are much older, you've been through a lot more than me, much wiser than me, and I appreciate your passion. Thanks for sharpening me. I hope you can see me as a brother despite our disagreement. I hope so, we'll be seeing each other worshiping the Creator in eternity!

 

[av1611jim]

Therefore anyone who disagrees with you must not be interpreting by the Holy Spirit. This is pride and arrogance at its finest.

On the contrary; if anyone who disagrees with you is prideful and arrogant, then you demonstrate your own pride and arrogance by making such a statement.

Example; a fellow thinks it is perfectly ok to steal bread to feed his family and quotes;
1Ti 5:8
But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.

And he tells you that he is just obeying Scripture by providing for his own. You disagree and quote;
Ex 20:15
Thou shalt not steal.
And then you tell him that God doesn't contradict Himself. But the fellow tells you there is no contradiction since the passage you quoted has to do with stealing for personal gain.

You retort that he is prideful and won't listen to Scripture and round and round you go. But the point is that neither of you are listening to the other since you both have your minds made up.

I'm right. No...you are wrong. No...I am right. blah blah blah...

Over 200 threads concerning this subject, and neither side will give. I know this. ONE side is right. The other side will have to answer at the JSOC. And WOE to he who teaches wrong and puts a stumbling block before his brother and misrepresents his Lord before this wicked world.

 

[saturneptune]

Dan, (and others who are bringing forth a case for the consumption of alcohol)

You are all implying that SFIC is interpreting Scripture wrong. You claim you are right in the fact all these references are to alcohol and SFIC says they are not. Dont you think that is the wrong frame of reference since you cannot prove it any way.

Instead of being so legalistic, how about listening to the Holy Spirit in you. If you firmly believe that drinking is ok, then you should have a clear conscience in any situation. Lets see. Do any of these situations bother you?

1. Pop open a beer in front of your pastor.
2. Have a beer between Sunday School and Church while conversing with others.
3. Have some kind of alcoholic drink at church pot lucks.
4. For those of you who are deacons, drinking in front of anyone you know at church.
5. For those who teach kids in Sunday School, drink in front of your students.
6. Drinking in front of your children.
7. Drinking as you become more like Jesus each day.
8. Drinking to make your body the Temple of the Holy Spirit.
9. Hey, now listen, this is great. When you go on visitation, have a cool one in your hand and offer the person you are going to see one, as you are telling the Gospel.

I could go on and on. Hey, if this dont bother you, go for it. If it does, why is that? There are better things in life to do than this, and for you clowns who have never seen or faced tragedy in your life over this subject, just keep on keeping on, because someone will imitate you actions. It could be your children

 

[av1611jim]

Dan, (and others who are bringing forth a case for the consumption of alcohol)

You are all implying that SFIC is interpreting Scripture wrong. You claim you are right in the fact all these references are to alcohol and SFIC says they are not. Dont you think that is the wrong frame of reference since you cannot prove it any way.

Instead of being so legalistic, how about listening to the Holy Spirit in you. If you firmly believe that drinking is ok, then you should have a clear conscience in any situation. Lets see. Do any of these situations bother you?

1. Pop open a beer in front of your pastor.
2. Have a beer between Sunday School and Church while conversing with others.
3. Have some kind of alcoholic drink at church pot lucks.
4. For those of you who are deacons, drinking in front of anyone you know at church.
5. For those who teach kids in Sunday School, drink in front of your students.
6. Drinking in front of your children.
7. Drinking as you become more like Jesus each day.
8. Drinking to make your body the Temple of the Holy Spirit.
9. Hey, now listen, this is great. When you go on visitation, have a cool one in your hand and offer the person you are going to see one, as you are telling the Gospel.

I could go on and on. Hey, if this dont bother you, go for it. If it does, why is that? There are better things in life to do than this, and for you clowns who have never seen or faced tragedy in your life over this subject, just keep on keeping on, because someone will imitate you actions. It could be your children

AMEN BROTHER!!!! THAT WILL PREACH!!!!

 

[Brother Bob]

Now, I can go along with that Saturneptune...........

 

[annsni]

How can one say they are temperant when they do not restrain from alcohol? That which mocks and deceives?


How can one say they are sober when they partake of an intoxicating beverage? From the very first sip, the intoxication begins to do it's work, not all at once after 4 or 5 drinks.

Yet, when you look up the word "sober" in the original Greek, it is nepho, meaning "1) to be sober, to be calm and collected in spirit

2) to be temperate, dispassionate, circumspect

It is translated as 'sober' in 4 cases of use and as 'watch' in 2 - being used 6 times in Scripture. I do not see anything about alcohol or the abstinance of such in this use of the word.

 

[annsni]

Dan, (and others who are bringing forth a case for the consumption of alcohol)

You are all implying that SFIC is interpreting Scripture wrong. You claim you are right in the fact all these references are to alcohol and SFIC says they are not. Dont you think that is the wrong frame of reference since you cannot prove it any way.

Instead of being so legalistic, how about listening to the Holy Spirit in you. If you firmly believe that drinking is ok, then you should have a clear conscience in any situation. Lets see. Do any of these situations bother you?

1. Pop open a beer in front of your pastor.
2. Have a beer between Sunday School and Church while conversing with others.
3. Have some kind of alcoholic drink at church pot lucks.
4. For those of you who are deacons, drinking in front of anyone you know at church.
5. For those who teach kids in Sunday School, drink in front of your students.
6. Drinking in front of your children.
7. Drinking as you become more like Jesus each day.
8. Drinking to make your body the Temple of the Holy Spirit.
9. Hey, now listen, this is great. When you go on visitation, have a cool one in your hand and offer the person you are going to see one, as you are telling the Gospel.

I could go on and on. Hey, if this dont bother you, go for it. If it does, why is that? There are better things in life to do than this, and for you clowns who have never seen or faced tragedy in your life over this subject, just keep on keeping on, because someone will imitate you actions. It could be your children

There is a time and place for everything and there are times that drinking is probably not the best choice at that time. But that's not to say it's wrong. If I'm serving my pastor dinner and dessert, I'm not going to make a high fat dinner and make a sugar rich dessert since he's diabetic and needs to watch his weight. In the same way, I'm going to be careful with whom I would possibly drink around. My children watched me drink that glass of wine in August and they understand about alcohol, what Scripture says about it and, as teens, they have no desire to have a drink. Hey, you know what? I don't do a lot of the above with my devil dog addiction but that doens't make eating them a sin.

 

[Brother Bob]

I don't think the word "sober" was first used to describe not using acohol but was added to someone who was drunk for they could not be "calm and collected in spirit" on acohol.

 

[dan e.]

You guys are funny :tongue3:

 

[standingfirminChrist]

Yet, when you look up the word "sober" in the original Greek, it is nepho, meaning "1) to be sober, to be calm and collected in spirit

2) to be temperate, dispassionate, circumspect

It is translated as 'sober' in 4 cases of use and as 'watch' in 2 - being used 6 times in Scripture. I do not see anything about alcohol or the abstinance of such in this use of the word.

last time I checked, sober was an antonym of intoxicated. And just in case you missed it, from the very first sip of an alcoholic beverage, you are intoxicated. Intoxication starts from the very first sip. The more you drink, the more you are intoxicated.

 

[standingfirminChrist]

There is a time and place for everything and there are times that drinking is probably not the best choice at that time. But that's not to say it's wrong. If I'm serving my pastor dinner and dessert, I'm not going to make a high fat dinner and make a sugar rich dessert since he's diabetic and needs to watch his weight. In the same way, I'm going to be careful with whom I would possibly drink around. My children watched me drink that glass of wine in August and they understand about alcohol, what Scripture says about it and, as teens, they have no desire to have a drink. Hey, you know what? I don't do a lot of the above with my devil dog addiction but that doens't make eating them a sin.

Are you ashamed of your drinking? If you gonna drink in front of your children but not in front of your pastor. If you won't drink in front of your pastor, you must be trying to hide the alcohol.

How can one be sober and vigilant, when Proverbs 31 says fermented beverage perverts the judgment?

 

[dan e.]

standingfirm, your responses don't really acknowledge what people are saying. for instance:

Originally Posted by annsni
"Yet, when you look up the word "sober" in the original Greek, it is nepho, meaning "1) to be sober, to be calm and collected in spirit

2) to be temperate, dispassionate, circumspect

It is translated as 'sober' in 4 cases of use and as 'watch' in 2 - being used 6 times in Scripture. I do not see anything about alcohol or the abstinance of such in this use of the word. "


your response:

"last time I checked, sober was an antonym of intoxicated"


of course sober is an anonym of intoxicated IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE. but annsni clearly pointed something out, about the BIBLICAL LANGUAGE. again, you make these straight comments that disregard the whole point of what someone said. i just don't get it. now you are going to respond to me with "there you go again, ignoring God's word, which says drinking is sin". go ahead...just say it.:tonofbricks:

oh, and by the way.....often times traditions pervert judgement as well, this is a perfect example.

 

[Alcott]

from the very first sip of an alcoholic beverage, you are intoxicated.

You ought to wear a hat. The sun gets through your thin skin.