Should a Christian drink?

[RockRambler]

Romans 14:21 Christians are admonished not to drink lest a brother be caused to stumble.

That same verse also admonishes Christians not to eat meat lest a brother be caused to stumble...but I've not met many vegetarians at the church.

If it is such a sin for Christians to drink...why did Jesus turn the water into wine at the wedding?

 

[OCC]

Not only did Jesus turn water into wine...He was accused of being a drunkard! Because He DRANK it! If it's good enough for Him, it's good enough for me. Should Christians drink wine? If they want to. Should they get drunk? Nope.

 

[Mike McK]

Originally posted by TexasSky:
Does the 10 year old looking up to you, that sees you with a beer in your hand know that you only have one beer once a year?

Actually, yes.

Last year, we had some people come to stay with us for a few months.

Allegedly (I say allegedly because they turned out to be grifters and nearly everything they told us was a lie), they were fleeing a home in which the father was a violent drunk.

They accompanied us to a family event where there was drinking.

I was told later, "Sean (the boy) was really impressed that you only had two beers. He said that he didn't know that people ever drank and didn't get drunk".

 

[patrick]

For me personally I will never drink again. I had a drinking problem. I would be back in my old lifestyle in 2 seconds flat.

Is drinking a sin? It can be if you over indulge in it. Havung a glass of wine at bed time? Probally not. I am not the one who decides that kind of thing.

James makes some pretty good points.

 

[dianetavegia]

Originally posted by TexasSky:
Diane's question wasn't "is drinking a sin," it was, "should a Christian drink."

There is a subtle difference.

Before you drink, do you stop and ask yourself who is watching?
Who is immitating?

Especially if you are a leader in a church?

Does the 10 year old looking up to you, that sees you with a beer in your hand know that you only have one beer once a year?

Exactly my question!

 

[Gold Dragon]

Should a Christian drink? Sometimes yes. Sometimes no.

 

[patrick]

Timothy was a leader and Paul told him a little wine good for the stomach. Now, I don't drink. I am playing devil's advocate.

 

[LarryN]

From what I've ever been able to determine, the question "Should a Christian drink?" seems to be a question largely unique to American Christians; and even then not universally.

Do Christians in England, France, Germany, China, Australia, or anywhere else for that matter have that question even occur to them? From my travels, and from what I've both read & heard from others, the answer seems to be "No". There may be some exceptions to this generalization, but I'd venture that it's as a result of some American influence.

If, then, the question is almost uniquely American- what might its derivation be? From historical reference it doesn't even seem to have been a question amongst American Christians until the early/mid 19th century.

I would suggest that both the concern (and any accompanying negative perception of Christians drinking alcohol by non-Christians) is a quandary created amongst mostly American Christians themselves starting around the time of the early Temperance Movement (think of "Carry Nation", although she arrived on the scene relatively late). Temperance Societies did begin also in England & some other countries, but faded relatively quickly overseas by-and-large. Their significance in America was more pronounced. Even the name/purpose of that famous movement itself has been obscured over time: "temperance" implies moderation, although many today instead tend to think of the Temperance Movement as instead championing total abstinence. The early Temperance Movement sought to curb only the drinking of spirits (what we might call "hard liquor"). Even members of the early movement freely continued to drink wine and/or beer. It was only later that the movement turned into one which sought teetotalism (abstinence from all alcohol).

With the advent of famous anti-booze preachers such as Billy Sunday (among others), the movement became seemingly inextricably linked to American Evangelicalism and Fundamentalism. Now, after several decades of preachers who have loudly decried the consumption of any alcohol whatsoever as being a sin, can it be any wonder that even non-Christians who have observed such declarations might think negatively of Christians who drink? Non-Christians, who've heard of & possibly seen preachers state that it's a sin to drink; and then observe drinking among certain people who profess to be Christians; can hardly be faulted for concluding that it's a display of hypocrisy, at the very least.

Is it possible then that any negative perception that non-Christians might have in regards to drinking in moderation among Christians might be a situation that exists as a result of our (and our American Christian forebearer's) own making?

 

[Pastor_Bob]

Even those who feel they are at liberty to drink now and then have a biblical principle that they must reckon with:
1 Cor 8:9 But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak. (KJV)

 

[RockRambler]

Sorry Pastor Bob...there is no mention of idols in THAT verse.

The problem with inerrant scripture is who's inerrant interpetation do we use???

(Playing devil's advocate also)

On a serious note however, I agree with Texas Sky that around children I would be much more hesitant to drink if I was a drinker (never acquired the taste for it, so I don't).

 

[webdog]

"should a Christian drink?"

If Christ drank, why shouldn't a Christ-ian drink? Luke 7:33-35 leaves no doubt that Christ drank. Why do baptists think it is wrong and sinful? Is it because John the Baptist abstained? Shouldn't "baptists" follow Christ and not John the Baptist?

BTW, the wine in the Bible was NOT grape juice. No refrigeration. The reason you can't put new wine into old wineskins is because the old wineskin has lost its elasticity, and when the wine ferments, it expands. Numbers 6:3 "...from wine and similar drink; he shall drink neither vinegar made from wine nor vinegar made from similar drink; neither shall he drink any GRAPE JUICE, nor eat fresh grapes or raisins." This is clear in the differences between wine and grape juice. The next time your pastor says that the wine of the Bible was only grape juice, ask him if he has read Numbers 6 lately.

 

[Pastor_Bob]

Rocky, I edited my post before I saw yours. You are right, there is no mention of idols in that verse.

 

[TexasSky]

Larry,

Aren't most European Christians Catholic or Anglican?

 

[LarryN]

Originally posted by TexasSky:
Larry,

Aren't most European Christians Catholic or Anglican?

My reference is strictly to what we would term Evangelicals & Fundamentalists (and I've met some fine Anglican Evangelicals, who give a solid testimony, during my time in England, BTW. To most Baptists from the U.S., that combination would seem to be an oxymoron!).

It's true that Evangelicals & Fundamentalists are a small group in all of Europe, but they're there.

 

[Gold Dragon]

Originally posted by TexasSky:
Larry,

Aren't most European Christians Catholic or Anglican?

Catholic
Lutheran
Orthodox
Anglican
Muslim

Seem to be the predominant groups

Nation Master : Europe: Religion: Religions by country

1. Luxembourg 87% Roman Catholic, 13% Protestants, Jews, and Muslims (2000)
2. Bulgaria Bulgarian Orthodox 82.6%, Muslim 12.2%, Roman Catholic 1.7%, Jewish 0.1%, Protestant, Gregorian-Armenian, and other 3.4% (1998)
3. Greece Greek Orthodox 98%, Muslim 1.3%, other 0.7%
4. Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonian Orthodox 70%, Muslim 29%, other 1%
5. Man, Isle of Anglican, Roman Catholic, Methodist, Baptist, Presbyterian, Society of Friends
6. Guernsey Anglican, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, Baptist, Congregational, Methodist
7. Jersey Anglican, Roman Catholic, Baptist, Congregational New Church, Methodist, Presbyterian
8. Holy See (Vatican City) Roman Catholic
9. San Marino Roman Catholic
10. Andorra Roman Catholic (predominant)
11. Lithuania Roman Catholic (primarily), Lutheran, Russian Orthodox, Protestant, Evangelical Christian Baptist, Muslim, Jewish
12. Netherlands Roman Catholic 31%, Protestant 21%, Muslim 4.4%, other 3.6%, unaffiliated 40% (1998)
13. Czech Republic Roman Catholic 39.2%, Protestant 4.6%, Orthodox 3%, other 13.4%, atheist 39.8%
14. Hungary Roman Catholic 67.5%, Calvinist 20%, Lutheran 5%, atheist and other 7.5%
15. Austria Roman Catholic 73.6%, Protestant 4.7%, Muslim 4.2%, other 0.1%, none 17.4%
16. Belgium Roman Catholic 75%, Protestant or other 25%
17. Liechtenstein Roman Catholic 76.2%, Protestant 7%, unknown 10.6%, other 6.2% (June 2002)
18. Gibraltar Roman Catholic 76.9%, Church of England 6.9%, Muslim 6.9%, Jewish 2.3%, none or other 7% (1991)
19. France Roman Catholic 83%-88%, Protestant 2%, Jewish 1%, Muslim 5%-10%, unaffiliated 4%
20. Croatia Roman Catholic 87.8%, Orthodox 4.4%, Muslim 1.3%, Protestant 0.3%, others and unknown 6.2% (2001)
21. Monaco Roman Catholic 90%
22. Ireland Roman Catholic 91.6%, Church of Ireland 2.5%, other 5.9% (1998)
23. Portugal Roman Catholic 94%, Protestant (1995)
24. Poland Roman Catholic 95% (about 75% practicing), Eastern Orthodox, Protestant, and other 5%
25. Malta Roman Catholic 98%
26. Romania Eastern Orthodox (including all sub-denominations) 87%, Protestant 6.8%, Catholic 5.6%, other (mostly Muslim) 0.4%, unaffiliated 0.2% (2002)
27. Belarus Eastern Orthodox 80%, other (including Roman Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, and Muslim) 20% (1997 est.)
28. Moldova Eastern Orthodox 98%, Jewish 1.5%, Baptist and other 0.5% (2000)
29. Faroe Islands Evangelical Lutheran
30. Norway Evangelical Lutheran 86% (state church), other Protestant and Roman Catholic 3%, other 1%, none and unknown 10% (1997)
31. Finland Evangelical Lutheran 89%, Russian Orthodox 1%, none 9%, other 1%
32. Denmark Evangelical Lutheran 95%, other Protestant and Roman Catholic 3%, Muslim 2%
33. Estonia Evangelical Lutheran, Russian Orthodox, Estonian Orthodox, Baptist, Methodist, Seventh-Day Adventist, Roman Catholic, Pentecostal, Word of Life, Jewish
34. Bosnia and Herzegovina Muslim 40%, Orthodox 31%, Roman Catholic 15%, other 14%
35. Albania Muslim 70%, Albanian Orthodox 20%, Roman Catholic 10% (percentages are estimates; there are no available current statistics on religious affiliation; all mosques and churches were closed in 1967 and religious observances prohibited; in November 1990, Albania began allowing private religious practice)
36. Germany Protestant 34%, Roman Catholic 34%, Muslim 3.7%, unaffiliated or other 28.3%
37. Latvia Lutheran, Roman Catholic, Russian Orthodox
38. Italy predominately Roman Catholic with mature Protestant and Jewish communities and a growing Muslim immigrant community

 

[KenH]

Originally posted by Mike McK:
I don't see a problem with a Christian having a drink or two, so long as it's in moderation and doesn't lead to drunkenness.

Amen.

 

[Shiloh]

NO!

 

[dianetavegia]

CLICK HERE for how I REALLY feel about drinking!

 

[Gold Dragon]

I respect the preference of those Christians following the example of the Nazarite vows and John the Baptist to completely abstain from alcohol to avoid drunkeness in pursuit of holiness.

I hope all sides are able to follow Paul's writings in Romans 14 regarding attitudes towards those with different preferences.

 

[TexasSky]

Diane,

Don't hold back. Tell us what you ~really~ think.