Yet, More Whine.........
Why is it so hard to accept the idea that alcohol consumption according to conscience is scriptural? The arguments against are mostly emotional and wishful with nothing more than social statistics backing them up. Face it, not everyone who drinks beer, wine or anything else is a drunk and is bent on jumping behind the wheel of a car with the idea that they might kill someone. I suspect from what I have been reading that if it weren't for a list of rules, some on this board wouldn't know what to do with their lives in Christ. I'm also willing to bet that some on this board most likely feel that if those of us who don't mirror their personal convictions, would have a hard time believing us to be true Believers. The fact is I KNOW when I'm crossing the proverbial line because the Holy Spirit tells me so. Therefore, I have no negative convictions about listening to good Jazz in my gas abusing SUV; I have no problems with a good, cold Red Stripe (or three) after a rough week at work; and I certainly don't have an issue drinking a thimble full of REAL wine kneeling at the communion rail every 1st and 3rd Sunday. Am I a sinner? Yup, you bet...but thanks be to Christ I am an atoned for sinner. Am I a "carnal" Christian? Aren't we all? Are you better than me or more sanctified than I because you don't do what I do? God will be the judge of that----after all, you can be as slick as a whistle on the outside but be full of dead men's bones on the inside---God knows. So, you can live your life as you see fit, one that you believe honors God and so will I. I used to be in your shoes 15 years ago ---- Ease up, enjoy your life ---- I believe that Solomon said that we should eat, drink and enjoy the fruit of our labor ("enjoy" doesn't mean be on a continual drunk)--- it means exactly that ENJOY. As far as this topic is concerned, God made the things necessary available to produce wine and beer --- so what if some schmucks muck it up by abusing it? Do you quit eating mashed potato's because some over eat? I know some will try to have my demons exercised, hit me profusely about the head and shoulders with their KJVs and declare me an infidel...thats OK though, I'll toast you! All kidding aside some of you have tried your hardest to use GUILT to verbally beat those who don't hold your convictions into submission because that's all you have ever known --- For your own sake ---- Relax, God's more gracious than you give Him credit for.
M
Why is it so hard to accept the idea that alcohol consumption according to conscience is scriptural? The arguments against are mostly emotional and wishful with nothing more than social statistics backing them up. Face it, not everyone who drinks beer, wine or anything else is a drunk and is bent on jumping behind the wheel of a car with the idea that they might kill someone. I suspect from what I have been reading that if it weren't for a list of rules, some on this board wouldn't know what to do with their lives in Christ. I'm also willing to bet that some on this board most likely feel that if those of us who don't mirror their personal convictions, would have a hard time believing us to be true Believers. The fact is I KNOW when I'm crossing the proverbial line because the Holy Spirit tells me so. Therefore, I have no negative convictions about listening to good Jazz in my gas abusing SUV; I have no problems with a good, cold Red Stripe (or three) after a rough week at work; and I certainly don't have an issue drinking a thimble full of REAL wine kneeling at the communion rail every 1st and 3rd Sunday. Am I a sinner? Yup, you bet...but thanks be to Christ I am an atoned for sinner. Am I a "carnal" Christian? Aren't we all? Are you better than me or more sanctified than I because you don't do what I do? God will be the judge of that----after all, you can be as slick as a whistle on the outside but be full of dead men's bones on the inside---God knows. So, you can live your life as you see fit, one that you believe honors God and so will I. I used to be in your shoes 15 years ago ---- Ease up, enjoy your life ---- I believe that Solomon said that we should eat, drink and enjoy the fruit of our labor ("enjoy" doesn't mean be on a continual drunk)--- it means exactly that ENJOY. As far as this topic is concerned, God made the things necessary available to produce wine and beer --- so what if some schmucks muck it up by abusing it? Do you quit eating mashed potato's because some over eat? I know some will try to have my demons exercised, hit me profusely about the head and shoulders with their KJVs and declare me an infidel...thats OK though, I'll toast you! All kidding aside some of you have tried your hardest to use GUILT to verbally beat those who don't hold your convictions into submission because that's all you have ever known --- For your own sake ---- Relax, God's more gracious than you give Him credit for.
M