Alcohol

I like alcohol, especially in beer!

 

I take a biblical stance, if you drink then don't get drunk.

 

God's word is clear: drunkenness is a sin. That does not, however, mean that simply consuming alcohol is a sin. I will boldly say that it is not. It becomes a sin when it is abused (aka, drunkenness, addiction, or subjecting oneself to alcoholism).

Christians are permitted to consume alcohol. Christians are not, however, permitted to abuse alcohol and/or get drunk.

I rarely drink. But there will be a bottle of Sutter Home white zinfandel on the Thanksgiving table this November, as there was on the easter table. There was likewise a botle of red wine on the Passover table this past year.

No one said that, and no one espouses that. What is being said is that drinking is permissible. Getting drunk is not.

 

When I read the opening post I thought you were objecting to those who set up the man-made standard that drinking alcohol is just plain wrong. However, I see you espouse this standard!

I prefer wine to beer myself.

 

As a formerly single guy, that's probably a bit of a stereotype. That's like saying the internet is bad because of the personal sites that people use to "pick each other up" on.

Tomorrow evening, my wife and I will be at a local sports bar to watch the World Series. I will probably order a drink with my meal. No abuse, no bad witness, no compromising of scriptural principles.

I believe that is why Paul penned the phrase "let each be convinced [according to] his own mind.

You already said the boundaries: only during football and Nascar or social gatherings. Scripture sets the following boundary: Don't get drunk, and don't abuse the drink. I see no problem here.

The "drinking" crowd I know are all Christians who would never allow themselves to be drunk, or abuse alcohol. So it sounds like just another worldly stereotype to me.

 

No you weren't you were being self-righteous. You said "So, going to bars and getting drunk is okay? Hmm, didn't know that", implying that someone said that. No one did. So show a little maturity please.

 

Then I hope the responses that follow are of help.

Scripture is clear: Consumption of alcohol is permitted. Abuse of alcohol is not.

 

I didn't, either. Who (besides you) said that?

 

For most people becoming an alcoholic takes effort. If a person knows he has an addictive personality, has suffered from alcoholism, or has relatives who were alcoholic, then complete abstinence is the best choice. Otherwise it is highly unlikely a person will become an alcoholic from having an occasional drink without becoming drunk.

Putting myself in your hypothetical situation, if I knew the people weren't drunks, I was friends with them, and they weren't going anywhere seedy I might go with them. If I knew they habitually went out just to get drunk, I'd pass on it.

Your husband isn't expected by me to do anything other than use common sense.

 

Then the issue seems not to be the scriptural position, but on a subjective observation of Christians and nonchristians you know. Fair enough.

Is it? I've found no such problem. But I'm also not litmus testing my friends based on whether they've consumed alcohol either. It's just likewise subjective observation on my part that there are Christians who consume alcohol, and do so without it being a sin.

Again, says who? I haven't been to clubs in a while, but in my "clubbin'" days, there were people who drank to get drunk, and people who were just out to enjoy the company of others.

Bars? Again, it seems a bit of a stereotype. A sports bar or restaurant-type bar is by no means consistent with that stereotype.

And partying? Again, says who? I've been to many parties where alcohol wasn't even served.

As in avery case, it all depends on the specific circumstance.

 

Let each be convinced in his own mind.

That may be, but scripturally, we're permitted to set our own standards in this area. Hence the need for individual spiritual guidance and discernment. Scripture doesn't always do the thinking for us. This is a prime example.

True. Howoever, don't presume that someone who consumes alcohol is starting an addiction/problem. Jesus drank. Jesus also made wine for a wedding feast. Jesus never got drunk or abused the drink.

I don't associate myseolf with someone who will abuse alcohol, Christian or not. But yes, I've had dinner with non-Christians and both of us have consumed, say, a glass of wine with dinner.

There's been pressure to sin since Eve ate the fruit. But as far as "more pressure to drink", maybe, just maybe, that might have been more true in the 80's and 90's, but there is increasing pressure today to be individually responsible. Heck, even the beer ads say "if you drink, drink responsibly" or "if you drink, don't drive" or "give up the keys".