Why do you drink alcohol?

[Marcia]

I'm truly curious. Try to be as honest as possible in your answer.

Why do you drink (if you do)? Try to choose just one answer that is the most true for you, even if more than one answer fits. You must have a reason why you drink.

If you don't drink (any alcohol - includes beer and wine but I'm not counting cooking alcohol in food), you can vote and say that so that you can see the results. You can also explain why you don't drink if you'd like.

 

[Ed Edwards]

8 of the 11 meds I take daily say "do not use alcohol while using this med" on the instructions or side of the bottle.

I know many people whose life was (or still is) a shambles because they drank alcohol. I know of nobody's life that has been helped because they drank alcohol.

In fact, it seems that about 6 times as many lives are ruined as people who drink alcohol. I see absolutely no reason to ruin the lives of 5 of my loved ones. I don't drink alcohol.

 

[NaasPreacher (C4K)]

I don't drink out of preference, for concern for my testimony, and because I had a problem with it when I was young.

 

[Jon-Marc]

I couldn't drink alcohol if I wanted to since it has sugar in it.

 

[Palatka51]

You forgot for snake bite. :laugh:

Personally I never have and never will, ah unless I should get snake bit. :type:

 

[SpiritualMadMan]

It's in the Cough Medicine?

Just Curious...

I know that many Cough Meds no longer contain alcohol...

But, the ones that work for me, do...

There is no malady, thus far, that makes me feel lower then Cold and Sinus and all I want is to be put out of my misery!

So, why wasn't Meds included as an option?

As for others having a small glass of wine with a Sphagetti Dinner it's OK by my as long as they are not drunk with wine ... in excess...

Mike Sr.

 

[annsni]

We no longer drink since Bob became a pastor and has been running the college ministry (they have enough struggles with alcohol - no need to have their pastor drinking too). However, when we did, I drank because I liked the taste. I'd only drink one drink because of the effects of more than one but one was fine for me. I love the taste of a nice dry wine with a nice dinner and in the summer, a Sea Breeze was always thirst quenching (we still make them but with no alcohol now), and of course I LOVE the taste of margharitas. That's one I miss. LOL But if I could get the same taste with no alcohol I would drink it but the non-alcoholic versions mostly aren't as yummy.

 

[Marcia]

Just Curious...

I know that many Cough Meds no longer contain alcohol...

But, the ones that work for me, do...

There is no malady, thus far, that makes me feel lower then Cold and Sinus and all I want is to be put out of my misery!

So, why wasn't Meds included as an option?

Because takings meds with alcoholic content is not what I consider "drinking."

I wanted to find out why Christians who drink do drink. But so far, not a single one of them has replied.

Thanks to all who answered, but I am hoping some who drink do respond. I am not wanting to criticize them - I'm just truly curious as to the reasons. We know several here do drink because of the other thread in this forum asking if we have alcohol in the home. If they don't mind admitting they drink, they should not mind saying why.

 

[Amy.G]

Interesting. No replies from those who drink.

I personally see no reason for drinking alcohol in our day and time other than for medicinal purposes such as cough med.

 

[Marcia]

Interesting. No replies from those who drink.

I personally see no reason for drinking alcohol in our day and time other than for medicinal purposes such as cough med.

Yeah, and that's not drinking. I mean drinking wine, beer, hard liquor, liquers (sp?).

This is a fellowship forum, so I'm not trying to debate drinking. It's purely informational.

 

[Amy.G]

Yeah, and that's not drinking. I mean drinking wine, beer, hard liquor, liquers (sp?).

This is a fellowship forum, so I'm not trying to debate drinking. It's purely informational.

It's a good question. :thumbs:

No debating from me. I hope you get some responses.

 

[donnA]

I do not drink alcohol, also concern for my testimony, and my husband was an alcoholic and don't want to tempt him.

 

[FriendofSpurgeon]

Interesting. No replies from those who drink.

I personally see no reason for drinking alcohol in our day and time other than for medicinal purposes such as cough med.

So I guess I'm the only one so far who will speak up. Personally, I like the taste -- a nice wine (preferably a pinor noir) with dinner or a cold beer with a piping hot slice of pizza or a margarita on a sunny day or a great single malt on a cold evening or a mojito with latin food, etc., etc.

However, I don't actually drink very often (my wife even less) and never to excess (well, at least not since college days). As I mentioned in another thread, it is a non issue culturally where we live. It's a non issue where we worship as well, but it is not a Baptist church.

 

[Gold Dragon]

I was never into alcohol until after university. Being asian, my alcohol tolerance isn\'t the greatest because we are short on an enzyme that metabolizes alcohol. I get sleepy pretty fast so I tend to drink slowly and always with food.

In Toronto I lived near the Niagara wine region and gained an appreciation for wine-food combinations during wine-tasting sessions where they taught us how to match wines appropriately to foods. Now I live in Sydney near the Hunter Valley wine region and have enjoyed the different grape varieties here. Aussies take their wine pretty seriously. My brother is a wine collector so I get a little bit of insight from him.

I\'ve never been drunk and the most I\'ve ever had in one sitting is three glasses over a long evening with food. I\'ll have the occasional beer, usually Guinness if its available.

 

[donnA]

it is a non issue culturally where we live.]

It's an issue where we live. Here if unbelievers knew you drank alcohol you would no longer have a testimony before them, they would no longer listen to you or accept anything you say. Testimony completely lost.

 

[Jim1999]

Like Donna's church, it is an issue in most evangelical churches in Canada, and the world does frown at twice-born believers who consume alcoholic beverages.

Better hide it under the table!

Cheers,

Jim

 

[Baptist Believer]

I occasionally drink alcoholic beverages, usually wine, for a number of reasons:

- when offered hospitality (Luke 10:7)
- as a testimony of moderation for others
- as a complement to a meal
- as an expression of fellowship​

I belong to a non-traditional Baptist church composed of refugees from numerous denominations and local Baptist congregations. The consumption of alcohol is not a scandal in our church. Outside the church in my region, a certain type of Christian is known for being anti-alcohol. Unfortunately, those Christians are primarily known for what they are against than what they are for. I have found that being confused with that type of Christian is a hinderance to honest conversation about the Kingdom of God, a kingdom that is not focused on what we eat and drink or certain holidays and rituals.

I certainly do not criticize others for avoiding alcohol. It is very wise and prudent to do so if you know or suspect you have a weakness in that area. I also do not initiate the consumption of alcoholic beverages among others, or necessarily feel the need to drink even though everyone else is drinking.

 

[Matt Black]

I ticked 'other' as I would have preferred a multi-choice poll. The reasons I drink:

The ones given by Baptist Believer - I also like the taste (if good quality), and it does on occasions help me to relax as part of a general unwinding process of an evening. I don't often drink except with good food, it's an expression of fellowship, and it's a cultural non-issue generally for Christians here. It was also what I was generally raised with as a Christian so I learnt from an early age to - by and large - drink with moderation both socially and also as a complement to the main meal of the day.

 

[Baptist Believer]

It's an issue where we live. Here if unbelievers knew you drank alcohol you would no longer have a testimony before them, they would no longer listen to you or accept anything you say. Testimony completely lost.

I'm not picking on you Donna, but I'm citing your post because you express the sentiment so clearly.

From my earliest memories growing up in the church, I was given a list of things I shouldn't do in order to "preserve my testimony." I was never sure what that meant (I'm not even sure today as a person of 43), but the list of don'ts was clear and included things like:

- dancing
- the use of alcohol as a beverage
- smoking (although this was only emphasized by the non-smokers)
- the "appearance of evil" (a nice catch-all category)​

Now I'm assuming that my "testimony" is my Christian lifestyle (words and deeds). If that's true, I have never personally believed that dancing is inherently wrong, nor the use of alcohol. I believe smoking is terribly foolish and should be avoided, but the scripture does not deal with it directly. (I do discourage people from smoking and have helped others get treatment for nicotine addiction.) Regarding the "appearance of evil", I am convinced that the proof text for this doctrine (1 Thessolonians 5::22) has been twisted out of context. Furthermore, Jesus did not follow that modern precept since He was often criticized for the company He kept, and faced accusations of gluttony and drunkeness because He feasted and drank alcoholic beverages.

In short, the items I listed above have never been a part of my testimony, so why should I be afraid of violating those extra-biblical rules?

Some might say that unchurched people have a certain expectation that Christians like according to such rules. I would say that it is time to shatter that illusion and have a discussion of what it truly means to be a disciple of Jesus.

Some others would point out that other Christians would be scandalized by their brothers and sisters in Christ violating those extra-biblical rules. I say, let them be scandalized. If they have a concern, they are obligated to speak with me personally. We can talk and pray through the issues together.

Now Donna, you know your situation and I don't. I do not presume to understand the context in which you are living out your faith. If I thought it would be a hinderance to speaking to unbelievers about spiritual things in my context, I would also consistently abstain.

 

[SaggyWoman]

I don't generally drink.

On occasion, I go to a Lord's supper service where alcohol is the beverage of choice, and I participate.

On extremely rare occasions, I have been offered wine and I have taken a drink.

When traveling overseas and I have gotten sick (or to ward off stomach ailments) I have taken drink to help my stomach.