-
Welcome to Baptist Board, a friendly forum to discuss the Baptist Faith in a friendly surrounding.
Your voice is missing! You will need to register to get access to all the features that our community has to offer.
We hope to see you as a part of our community soon and God Bless!
Smoking and Beer
- Thread starter charles_creech78
- Start date
Steven2006
New Member
Personally I can really enjoy a good glass of wine with a nice diner. Or there is something very refreshing about a frosty beer at a ball game on a hot summer day. However I have chosen to not drink at all for quite a number of years now. I felt that as a witness, is was a poor one. In order to maybe even be a good witness it was a good idea to separate myself from that. Also I would hate to chance ever being a stumbling block for a weaker brother. I also believe I am a better example to my young children, by not drinking at all. There are times when I know I would enjoy it, but I gladly give that up for how I feel led to behave. I do have friends, that will enjoy some wine with there meal, and I don't condemn them for it, I don't feel it is my place, they have the liberty to choose that for themselves.
Biblically I don't think we can forbid it entirely, but I do believe it is a good idea to preach against it as far as not a wise choice for ones life. The little pleasure that one might get from it doesn't outweigh the problems it could bring to ones life, why wouldn't we suggest people, young people especially not start.
The only scripture I have ever read that would suggest not to drink at all ( I know most are about drunkenness only) is Proverbs 31:4 & 5.
"4 It is not for Kings, O Lemuel, It is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers, to desire strong drink, 5 Lest they drink and forget what is decreed, and pervert the rights of all the afflicted."
Here scripture is telling us that men of responsiblilty should not drink. It is not talking about being drunk, but telling us it is not good to drink at all. There is a standard here to look towards. By drinking it could affect out judgment, how we handle or responsibilities, and how we deal with others. It also makes a point to say not to desire strong drink, so I would say any hard liquor should be out. I find it interesting that it does go on in the next few versus to tell those who are perishing to have a strong drink, probably to deal with pain. Those that have bitter lives to have some wine, to help him forget his poverty and troubles. Hopefully we as Christians shouldn't have bitter lives, and this wouldn't apply to us.
So while I don't think we can say any drink is a sin, I do think we can look to this scripture as a standard for men who are leaders of their families. Leaders of their church, or in business. Why not try and hold to the standard God has for a king! Christ is the King of kings, and we are to be like Him! :jesus:
OK, I am done preaching now, may God bless. :thumbs:
Biblically I don't think we can forbid it entirely, but I do believe it is a good idea to preach against it as far as not a wise choice for ones life. The little pleasure that one might get from it doesn't outweigh the problems it could bring to ones life, why wouldn't we suggest people, young people especially not start.
The only scripture I have ever read that would suggest not to drink at all ( I know most are about drunkenness only) is Proverbs 31:4 & 5.
"4 It is not for Kings, O Lemuel, It is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers, to desire strong drink, 5 Lest they drink and forget what is decreed, and pervert the rights of all the afflicted."
Here scripture is telling us that men of responsiblilty should not drink. It is not talking about being drunk, but telling us it is not good to drink at all. There is a standard here to look towards. By drinking it could affect out judgment, how we handle or responsibilities, and how we deal with others. It also makes a point to say not to desire strong drink, so I would say any hard liquor should be out. I find it interesting that it does go on in the next few versus to tell those who are perishing to have a strong drink, probably to deal with pain. Those that have bitter lives to have some wine, to help him forget his poverty and troubles. Hopefully we as Christians shouldn't have bitter lives, and this wouldn't apply to us.
So while I don't think we can say any drink is a sin, I do think we can look to this scripture as a standard for men who are leaders of their families. Leaders of their church, or in business. Why not try and hold to the standard God has for a king! Christ is the King of kings, and we are to be like Him! :jesus:
OK, I am done preaching now, may God bless. :thumbs:
I appreciate your stance you have taken, and the convictions you shared.
This verse, however, in context is dealing with kings not drinking while "working"....while making decisions that affect the live of others. As has been shown, Jesus not only made wine, but drank it. He was jewish, He partook of the passover that used alcoholic wine. Therefore, Jesus being the King of Kings, refutes the above notion that kings were not allowed to drink at all.
Steven2006
New Member
webdog said:
Thanks for your reply. With all due respect that passage doesn't say anything about while working. It simply states "It is not for kings to drink wine". If you look at the verses just before it is advice to him from his mother about life. In verse three it says "Do not give your strength to woman" that has nothing to do with work. Then just before it leads into verse four about not drinking, verse three finishes with "Nor your ways to that which destroys kings". So while I agree that the Bible does not condemn drinking wine, I believe here is a scripture that advises men of leadership that it is wise not to drink at all.
As far as Jesus drinking wine, here are my thoughts. While I might be wrong, does the verse actually state that Jesus drank wine Himself at the wedding? He was a guest at the wedding and it was their custom to drink wine, but He might of said no thanks, I'll just have some water, I don't know if we really know for sure, unless I am mistaken on that scripture. Like I said in my first post, I often have dinner with friends that will have wine with it. I have been invited to many weddings that have offered drinks, but declined. Also back to the wedding Jesus was at. It is my humble opinion that the wine of that day was not as strong as what we have available to us now. I think they used to mix it with water, and was more of a drink, than a "drink" if you know what I mean. But I do not agree with some people that claim it was just grape juice, and people couldn't get drunk from it. I think it was real wine, but just more of a watered down type. They didn't have a great purification of their water back then, and wouldn't drink straight water probably as regularly as we would. I have read that they often would mix wine with water in order for it to be safer to drink.
My last point, I just want to make it clear, I do not think the Bible condemns one from having a glass of wine. I do not think it is a sin to do so. However I do think there are scriptural bases for not drinking at all, that I mention in my first post. I guess to some it up, I think that the Bible teaches that it is wise, not to. It also could be s stumbling block to a brother, or a poor witness to a non believer. I think there is some biblical merit in abstaining. And keep in mind that I really enjoyed it. I think it enhanced many a meal. For many years I could drink a glass of wine, or have a beer, and have no problems from it. So I truly understand both sides. I am not a hard liner on this, but after long study and prayer, have come to this conclusion.
Brother Bob
New Member
When is a Pastor or Elder not "at work"?
Hope of Glory
New Member
Brother Bob said:
Those are the ones who are prohibited from drinking at all in Scriptures. 1 Timothy 3:3: "Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; " But, even here, the word means "behave ill at wine" or "treat with drunken violence".
charles_creech78
New Member
My God Bless everyone.
Were you working when you typed this?Brother Bob said:
While an elder and pastor are titles, and describe who you are, there are times in life when you are not performing the duties as such. I'm a father, but when I'm interacting with those at work, I'm not being a father, and vice versa.
Last edited by a moderator:
charles_creech78
New Member
Drunken is drunken . Mt 11:18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, he hath a devil. Mt 11:19 The son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. BUT WISDOM IS JUSTIFIED OF HER CHILDREN.
Archeryaddict
New Member
Not to get into any debates that may be going on
but only in response to the OP
there are many scriptures throughout the bible that plainly state that there is nothing wrong with drinking wine, only when you drink to the point of drunkenness is when it becomed sinful.
smoking is not natural and is detramental to a persons health, after long period of time it becomes deadly.
I quit drinking because it was a stumbling block for others
and every now and then I may have one or two in the privacy in my own home just to avoid all the finger pointing.
I don't understand where the SBC have built this doctrine that it is sinful to drink when the Bible plainly contradicts this dogma.
even our Lord and Saviour drank wine.
I quit smoking because the things almost killed me.
this is how God dealt with me concerning my smoking.
he kept convicting me with the question "what is the result of sin, and what did the cigarettes almost do to you"?
but only in response to the OP
there are many scriptures throughout the bible that plainly state that there is nothing wrong with drinking wine, only when you drink to the point of drunkenness is when it becomed sinful.
smoking is not natural and is detramental to a persons health, after long period of time it becomes deadly.
I quit drinking because it was a stumbling block for others
and every now and then I may have one or two in the privacy in my own home just to avoid all the finger pointing.
I don't understand where the SBC have built this doctrine that it is sinful to drink when the Bible plainly contradicts this dogma.
even our Lord and Saviour drank wine.
I quit smoking because the things almost killed me.
this is how God dealt with me concerning my smoking.
he kept convicting me with the question "what is the result of sin, and what did the cigarettes almost do to you"?
Brother Bob
New Member
absolutely!!Were you working when you typed this?
While an elder and pastor are titles, and describe who you are, there are times in life when you are not performing the duties as such. I'm a father, but when I'm interacting with those at work, I'm not being a father, and vice versa.
If you are a preacher, you are always a preacher.
It is plain enough for me, if you are not supposed to be given to wine, then stay away from it.
Last edited by a moderator:
Brother Bob said:
How plain is this verse then?
"Go, eat your food with gladness, and drink your wine with a joyful heart, for it is now that God favors what you do."
-- Ecclesiastes 9:7
Brother Bob
New Member
We am talking about the qualifications of a Bishop. Please find out what the posts are about before posting so we can stay on the same page, ok?