Is Drinking Alcohol a Sin?

[Baptist_Pastor/Theologian]

Recently the SBC voted to approve a resolution that affirms abstinence from Alcoholic beverages. There was 30 minutes debate on the floor of the convention back in June. Since then there have been repeated discussions over the value in making such a statement both for and against.

Resolution No. 5
ON ALCOHOL USE IN AMERICA

WHEREAS, Years of research confirm biblical warnings that alcohol use leads to physical, mental, and emotional damage (e.g., Proverbs 23:29-35); and

WHEREAS, Alcohol use has led to countless injuries and deaths on our nation's highways; and

WHEREAS, The breakup of families and homes can be directly and indirectly attributed to alcohol use by one or more members of a family; and

WHEREAS, The use of alcohol as a recreational beverage has been shown to lead individuals down a path of addiction to alcohol and toward the use of other kinds of drugs, both legal and illegal; and

WHEREAS, There are some religious leaders who are now advocating the consumption of alcoholic beverages based on a misinterpretation of the doctrine of "our freedom in Christ"; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention meeting in Greensboro, North Carolina, June 13-14, 2006, express our total opposition to the manufacturing, advertising, distributing, and consuming of alcoholic beverages; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we urge that no one be elected to serve as a trustee or member of any entity or committee of the Southern Baptist Convention that is a user of alcoholic beverages.

RESOLVED, That we urge Southern Baptists to take an active role in supporting legislation that is intended to curb alcohol use in our communities and nation; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we urge Southern Baptists to be actively involved in educating students and adults concerning the destructive nature of alcoholic beverages; and be it finally

RESOLVED, That we commend organizations and ministries that treat alcohol-related problems from a biblical perspective and promote abstinence and encourage local churches to begin and/or support such biblically-based ministries.

My question is this: is drinking alcohol a sin?

Help me out here guys, what is wrong in principle with saying that drinking alcohol is wrong?

Alcohol is abused by most who consume it and not the reverse. By abuse I mean that most who drink alcohol do so in order to feel the effects of intoxication. Are all alcohol users drunkards? No. But to allow alcohol into your body is to give the Devil a foothold.

If you look at the number of crimes committed while under the influence of alcohol then the negative effects of alcohol are only further illustrated. Murder, rape, sexual abuse of children, DWI homicide, etc. The Bible tells us to not even have the appearance of evil.

So what on earth is wrong with officially stating that abstinence from alcoholic beverages is our policy?

Drinking leads to many evils. There are so many viable options for consumption why would any Spirit filled born again believer in Jesus Christ possibly take part in something that is so misused and abused. Alcohol is of the Devil I can personally attest to that from my own experiences with having misused and abused it. I am no better than anyone and in my own church I try to show much grace where I can. I do not think that what takes place in the privacy of someone's home is very much in play, but if I had a deacon who was out drinking in a restaurant or rumored to have gotten drunk on vacation, don't think for a minute that I would not say something to him about that.

Moreover, I do not see this as a test of fellowship. No one to my knowledge is saying that to join a Baptist church you have to sign a covenant saying you will not drink alcohol. As Baptist we are saying that abstinence is preferable and alcoholic beverages are to be avoided.

Heck, even when I was running from the Lord, I would have told you while I was half drunk that drinking is a sin.

In Mexico drinking is no big deal, but smoking is seen as evil within the church. I would go on record as saying that smoking is sin.

Alcohol, however, is an intoxicant. An intoxicant is a type of spirit that controls the user, not unlike a demon possession. That is why they call them spirits. I would object in the same way to someone taking an anti-depressant who is not clinically depressed. Why? Because anything that we attempt to gain fulfillment through that Christ otherwise could have given us is a form of idolatry.

 

[El_Guero]

Why would you posit that question?

 

[Baptist_Pastor/Theologian]

Why would you posit that question?

I think that I offered a fairly lengthy post underneath that question which elaborates on my reasoning. Was there something in particular that you would like to object to in my posting?

 

[El_Guero]

Why did you, why would you, even bring up the issue?

Why would you think that I would even want to read paragraphs of material to get to your reasoning?

Why not just be straightforward and tell us - why?

 

[Baptist_Pastor/Theologian]

Why did you, why would you, even bring up the issue?

Why would you think that I would even want to read paragraphs of material to get to your reasoning.

Why not just be straightforward and tell us - why?

Oh, okay. Here you go... For those whose brain is moosh...

Recently the SBC voted to approve a resolution that affirms abstinence from Alcoholic beverages. There was 30 minutes debate on the floor of the convention back in June. Since then there have been repeated discussions over the value in making such a statement both for and against.

[skip the resolution...]

My question is this: is drinking alcohol a sin?

bla bla bla bla bla...

Alcohol, however, is an intoxicant. An intoxicant is a type of spirit that controls the user, not unlike a demon possession. That is why they call them spirits. I would object in the same way to someone taking an anti-depressant who is not clinically depressed. Why? Because anything that we attempt to gain fulfillment through that Christ otherwise could have given us is a form of idolatry.

 

[DeeJay]

Again :BangHead:


This is the only thing I want to comment on since this thread has been done recently.

Alcohol is abused by most who consume it and not the reverse. By abuse I mean that most who drink alcohol do so in order to feel the effects of intoxication.

I highly disagree with this. I think the number of people who like the tast of wine, beer, whatever and stop at one glass with dinner or go to wine sipping functions far out number the drink a case to feel good group.

The thing is that the people who order a glass of wine and stop there because they like the taste, do not draw the attention the town drunk does.

But since you posted it as a fact, I would love to see some statistics or at least references to back up the statement.

 

[DeeJay]

Alcohol, however, is an intoxicant. An intoxicant is a type of spirit that controls the user, not unlike a demon possession. That is why they call them spirits. I would object in the same way to someone taking an anti-depressant who is not clinically depressed. Why? Because anything that we attempt to gain fulfillment through that Christ otherwise could have given us is a form of idolatry.

Like caffein

caf‧feine 
–noun Chemistry, Pharmacology a white, crystalline, bitter alkaloid, C8H10N4O2, usually derived from coffee or tea: used in medicine chiefly as a nervous system stimulant.

 

[Helen]

Paul tells us it is the law which defines sin. Which law says 'thou shalt not drink an intoxicating beverage'?

I am not saying that being drunk is fine. It is not. But it is not a sin, either. And so much less, then, would be having a glass of wine with dinner.

Nor are most who have alcoholic beverages doing so to become intoxicated! I personally am not aware of one person I know right now who drinks for that reason.

 

[Brother Bob]

Do you all when you go street preaching go in the bars too?

 

[Helen]

When we get so many people coming here to see my husband, we don't need to go street preaching! But his mom was a Salvation Army officer in the thirties and forties and up until 1954. She held down, when she was single some of the rougher mining towns in south and west Australia. She certainly did go into bars to talk to the men; she went down into the mines to talk to them there, too. She herself never had a drink. The men knew her, respected her, and she brought many to Christ.

 

[saturneptune]

This subject seems to be quite the focus over and over. I can only speak for me, and what the Holy Spirit has convicted me to do. For me, my pattern of drinking in the Navy makes it quite clear I am the person who drinks to feel the effects. Therefore, I have no business drinking on that basis alone totally ignoring the Bible. But on a deeper level, the Lord has shown me it has no place in my life. I serve as a deacon and Sunday School teacher, and if it was acceptable to me, there would be no embarrassment if I was drinking and one of my local church members or teen age students saw me. That is not the case. I cringe to think of that happening. The Lord has convicted me it has no place in my life, and it produces nothing positive. For me it is a sin.

Having said that, I would never speak for anyone else, or how the Holy Spirit deals with them. Is drinking a glass of wine with supper and stopping a sin for some people? Probably not, but that is for them to figure out, not the SBC.

 

[Brother Bob]

When we get so many people coming here to see my husband, we don't need to go street preaching! But his mom was a Salvation Army officer in the thirties and forties and up until 1954. She held down, when she was single some of the rougher mining towns in south and west Australia. She certainly did go into bars to talk to the men; she went down into the mines to talk to them there, too. She herself never had a drink. The men knew her, respected her, and she brought many to Christ.

I know quite a few that will come to your meetings and hollow "amen" as loud as you want. You may have to give them a little spending money and something to eat but that should be not problem. You know in Jesus and Paul's days they were those who followed him just to eat and drink the wine.

 

[Brother Bob]

I give a big "AMEN" to that saturneptune; God Bless you. I sure am glad to see there are others on here that feel Christians should abstain from acohol. Man, I was getting worried. Here I am in the Hills of Kentucky and we just don't believe in Christians drinking. We also have churches from Michigan to Fla. and no one among thousands believe in Christians drinking.

 

[Helen]

LOL...I'm not talking about meetings. I'm talking about individuals who travel, sometimes great distances, to talk to Barry about his work and then about his faith. We keep two guest rooms ready for these people. THAT is why we don't need to go street preaching!

As far as the alcohol goes, drinking a glass of wine or beer is simply not a sin. You may not like it, but that does not make it a sin.

 

[Baptist_Pastor/Theologian]

Resolution No. 5
ON ALCOHOL USE IN AMERICA

WHEREAS, Years of research confirm biblical warnings that alcohol use leads to physical, mental, and emotional damage (e.g., Proverbs 23:29-35); and

WHEREAS, Alcohol use has led to countless injuries and deaths on our nation's highways; and

WHEREAS, The breakup of families and homes can be directly and indirectly attributed to alcohol use by one or more members of a family; and

WHEREAS, The use of alcohol as a recreational beverage has been shown to lead individuals down a path of addiction to alcohol and toward the use of other kinds of drugs, both legal and illegal; and

WHEREAS, There are some religious leaders who are now advocating the consumption of alcoholic beverages based on a misinterpretation of the doctrine of "our freedom in Christ"; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention meeting in Greensboro, North Carolina, June 13-14, 2006, express our total opposition to the manufacturing, advertising, distributing, and consuming of alcoholic beverages; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we urge that no one be elected to serve as a trustee or member of any entity or committee of the Southern Baptist Convention that is a user of alcoholic beverages.

RESOLVED, That we urge Southern Baptists to take an active role in supporting legislation that is intended to curb alcohol use in our communities and nation; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we urge Southern Baptists to be actively involved in educating students and adults concerning the destructive nature of alcoholic beverages; and be it finally

RESOLVED, That we commend organizations and ministries that treat alcohol-related problems from a biblical perspective and promote abstinence and encourage local churches to begin and/or support such biblically-based ministries.

Let me just say that I am not trying to promote legalism or mean spirited attacks against those who drink.

But above is the resolution that was put forward at the annual meeting of the SBC back in June.

Let's just go down the list and say true or false beside each of the whereas statements.

true_____WHEREAS, Years of research confirm biblical warnings that alcohol use leads to physical, mental, and emotional damage (e.g., Proverbs 23:29-35); and

true_____WHEREAS, Alcohol use has led to countless injuries and deaths on our nation's highways; and

true_____WHEREAS, The breakup of families and homes can be directly and indirectly attributed to alcohol use by one or more members of a family; and

true_____WHEREAS, The use of alcohol as a recreational beverage has been shown to lead individuals down a path of addiction to alcohol and toward the use of other kinds of drugs, both legal and illegal; and

I repeat my question, given there are so many viable options for consumption other than alcoholic beverages, why would any Spirit filled born again believer in Jesus Christ possibly take part in something that is so misused and abused as drinking alcohol?

 

[Brother Bob]

Ever visit the wineo's under the bridge?

 

[Baptist_Pastor/Theologian]

Like caffein

caf‧feine 
–noun Chemistry, Pharmacology a white, crystalline, bitter alkaloid, C8H10N4O2, usually derived from coffee or tea: used in medicine chiefly as a nervous system stimulant.

Are women and children abused and sexually assaulted under the influence of caffeine? Are families lives destroyed over the abuse of caffeine?

Big difference. But to be honest I do not think that we should be addicted to any chemical substance as a believer in Christ Jesus.

 

[DeeJay]

Are women and children abused and sexually assaulted under the influence of caffeine? Are families lives destroyed over the abuse of caffeine?

Big difference. But to be honest I do not think that we should be addicted to any chemical substance as a believer in Christ Jesus.

If your going to classify alcohol as sin because people can and do abuse it fine. As long as you are consistent and believe that guns, knifes, baseball bats and cars are sinfull.

 

[Brother Bob]

If your going to classify alcohol as sin because people can and do abuse it fine. As long as you are consistent and believe that guns, knifes, baseball bats and cars are sinfull.

Now all those sure fall in the category alright..............

 

[dan e.]

I would be tempted to say that this is borderline legalism if it wasn't straight up legalism. Now, I'm not sure it's a big deal as a group of believers to decide that they would prefer to abstain from alcohol. This, however, is another instance of a decision to be made and expected for all to follow in order to be "right with God". There is no sense in arguing against it, because although people may SAY that they don't believe it to be true, people's ACTIONS will adhere to this and look down on those who don't. In that case, another legalistic rule (call it the SBC's version of the Mishnah) to add on the SBC's list. This is not to say I don't think it isn't wise to abstain, but it isn't sinful for some to consume. (don't think i'm talking about getting drunk either, because i'm not)