Is Drinking a sin?

[Grailhunter]

If someone wants to obtain from alcohol, that their choice, but you really cannot make it into a religious argument. As far as the logical aspect, you do not want to tell someone to stop eating to keep from being a glutton.

We have talked about man-made sins on several threads. Over the years people have tried to make Christianity into a therapy group. The Bible tells you not to let anyone judge you on what you eat or drink. People do not study the culture of the time period, and I am talking about the Christian culture. The Jews drank and the Christians drank. The people that wrote the scriptures could have had a cup of wine next to them.

It was obvious that Christ drank and He spoke of parables about the vineyards. The ritual of the Last Supper involved wine and the symbolisms of wine and blood would follow Christianity. Christ turned water into wine for the enjoyment of the wedding party. Paul told timothy to drink a little wine for his stomach...this is common knowledge of the time period....if you traveled from area to area and drank from different wells...the flora of the wells could make you sick. It was common practice to mix some of the water with wine to help with that.

Early church services in what was called "house churches" included wine with the meals.

We can choose not to drink, or smoke, and we can choose to eat according to food pyramid, exercise regularly, and wear safety belts, but it is not a religion.

It important to know the difference between biblical sins and man-made sins...not just for ourselves but to prevent condemning people of things that are not sins.

 

[Brakelite]

At Cana, the Lord Jesus turned the water into wine.

Alcohol? You sure about that? Not just 'fruit of the vine'?

 

[Brakelite]

If someone wants to obtain from alcohol, that their choice, but you really cannot make it into a religious argument. As far as the logical aspect, you do not want to tell someone to stop eating to keep from being a glutton.

We have talked about man-made sins on several threads. Over the years people have tried to make Christianity into a therapy group. The Bible tells you not to let anyone judge you on what you eat or drink. People do not study the culture of the time period, and I am talking about the Christian culture. The Jews drank and the Christians drank. The people that wrote the scriptures could have had a cup of wine next to them.

It was obvious that Christ drank and He spoke of parables about the vineyards. The ritual of the Last Supper involved wine and the symbolisms of wine and blood would follow Christianity. Christ turned water into wine for the enjoyment of the wedding party. Paul told timothy to drink a little wine for his stomach...this is common knowledge of the time period....if you traveled from area to area and drank from different wells...the flora of the wells could make you sick. It was common practice to mix some of the water with wine to help with that.

Early church services in what was called "house churches" included wine with the meals.

We can choose not to drink, or smoke, and we can choose to eat according to food pyramid, exercise regularly, and wear safety belts, but it is not a religion.

It important to know the difference between biblical sins and man-made sins...not just for ourselves but to prevent condemning people of things that are not sins.

Whether you eat or drink, do all to the glory of God. That may not make the issue religious, but it makes it Christian.

 

[Taken]

I don't think being drunk is a sin.
Moreso a warning.

1 Pet 5:
[8] Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

* I believe being drunk makes you a target for satan, and the warning is always about:
satan is clever to seek out the weakest;
Children, Women, The Unwise...
* Think Communist, Socalists are unaware of Scripture? They do study the Scriptures and what is taught TO Avoid, they embrace and present it as Them steering the helm is an only option with the enticing cherry on top, of freebies.

 

[Robert Gwin]

Actually, God does not want you do that which you believe to be wrong, and declares that this is in fact sin for you.

For all that is not of faith is sin.

And He gives the clear example of eating meat that was offered to an idol. If you believe it wrong to eat, and you eat, you have sinned. If you do not believe it wrong, and you eat, you have not sinned.

Much love!

I think you misunderstand the verse Marks, Paul would not eat anything that was offered to an idol, that is not allowed under Christian law, but he would eat something that comes from a meat market. You simply cannot worship God acceptably by the way you desire, unless of course your desire is in harmony with the guidelines of the faith as set out in the Bible.

 

[Robert Gwin]

Not quite agree. Yes, if it is God's rule, then it is rule for all, but if one's conscience is weak about something, then they should not partake, because it would not be of faith.

We of liberty ought not be forcing our liberty upon the weak of conscience.

There is the faith of Jesus we all are called to obey, and their is our personal faith, which we each work out between ourselves and the Lord.

The problem all to often is when we try to make our own faith a rule and law for all. That is when we become a lawgiver and judge of other men's liberty by our own conscience. (James 4:12) (1 Cor 10:29)

They of weak conscience ought not be judging our liberty thereby. Especially not them that make a whole life of weak-conscienced zero-tolerance policies to be shackled by, called 'holiness' living.

Inherently, man has a sense of right and wrong. That is a result of being made in the image of God. Our conscience however can become desensitized as we see clearly when some forbidden things are allowed into their faith. All of us know abortion and homosexuality is wrong, yet many who claim to serve God teach it is acceptable, just to name a couple. The truth is God will judge all based upon His laws, and will not alter them for individuals. I agree with you however, if a person thinks something is wrong, they should not do it, sin or not. The real problem is when someone considers a sin not a sin for them, do you understand what I mean Bob?

 

[Brakelite]

Not quite agree. Yes, if it is God's rule, then it is rule for all, but if one's conscience is weak about something, then they should not partake, because it would not be of faith.

I'm curious. What is it exactly that you have faith in that informs you that drinking alcohol is entirely appropriate for a Christian who is told by scripture to keep himself unspotted from the world?

 

[Heart2Soul]

Even moderate wine drinking destroys brain cells. And they do not grow back.

Not sure where this information came from but it is incorrect.
Alcohol does not kill brain cells...however, long term and heavy drinking can damage (not kill) the nerve endings called dendrites.

 

[robert derrick]

I'm curious. What is it exactly that you have faith in that informs you that drinking alcohol is entirely appropriate for a Christian who is told by scripture to keep himself unspotted from the world?

My faith doesn't inform me what sinful transgression and unrighteousness is. The Scriptures of God do.

My question to you is how is it exactly that you know that drinking alcohol is a sin and a spot of the world?

I.e. show the plain Scripture that says so, such as no fornicator nor thief nor drunkard shall inherit the kingdom of God... (1 Cor 6:10). By this simple Scripture we all know that these things are sin of unrighteousness and transgression of law of God, such as:

"Thou shalt not drink alcohol" or "He that drinketh alcohol sinneth" or "No drinker of alcohol shall inherit the kingdom of God" or "Thou that drinkest alcohol is spotted by the world and touched by the devil"...

If we just start throwing out what we say are spots of the world, informed only by our conscience without Scripture to verify it, then we are just making up sins for others, where no sins are, and thus judging transgression where no transgression is (Rom 4:15), and condemning the guiltless by our conscience (Matthew 12:7):

There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another? (James 4)

 

[Grailhunter]

I'm curious. What is it exactly that you have faith in that informs you that drinking alcohol is entirely appropriate for a Christian who is told by scripture to keep himself unspotted from the world?

What is that on your arm? asked Fred.
It's alcohol spots. Said George.

Colossians 2:16 "Therefore let no one act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day—"

Matthew 15:11 "It is not what enters into the mouth that defiles the man, but what proceeds out of the mouth, this defiles the man.”

Now see how strongly you feel about alcohol? This is exactly what I am talking about. All this focus on something that is not a sin. What would Christianity be if they avoided the things that were real sins and focused on what they should be doing?

In Christ's time the Pharisees added to the burden of the Mosaic Law and made it worse. Over the last 2000 years, Christian men have done the same thing...just backwards....not a list of laws, but man-made sins. Making a list of sins...in affect...is the same as making laws.

The truth will set you free....remember that?
Would you go to a local bar and buy a round, talk to them about the Good News and invite them to your church picnic?
Christ would....
Be good and do good.
To be good....first you have to know what the real sins are.
Be good and do good....use Christ as your example.
Take a walk with Christ.

 

[Ferris Bueller]

What is that on your arm? asked Fred.
It's alcohol spots. Said George.

Colossians 2:16 "Therefore let no one act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day—"

Matthew 15:11 "It is not what enters into the mouth that defiles the man, but what proceeds out of the mouth, this defiles the man.”

Now see how strongly you feel about alcohol? This is exactly what I am talking about. All this focus on something that is not a sin. What would Christianity be if they avoided the things that were real sins and focused on what they should be doing?

In Christ's time the Pharisees added to the burden of the Mosaic Law and made it worse. Over the last 2000 years, Christian men have done the same thing...just backwards....not a list of laws, but man-made sins. Making a list of sins...in affect...is the same as making laws.

The truth will set you free....remember that?
Would you go to a local bar and buy a round, talk to them about the Good News and invite them to your church picnic?
Christ would....
Be good and do good.
To be good....first you have to know what the real sins are.
Be good and do good....use Christ as your example.
Take a walk with Christ.

I've been on both sides of the issue and I've come to the conclusion that here in America because alcohol is so abused, and so pervasively, it is best for Christians to not take a stand for it. It's just too big of a weakness to so many people in our society that I think it best for the Christian who wants to drink alcohol to keep it a secret and not be a stumbling block to people who are being destroyed by it.

 

[Ferris Bueller]

Is Drinking a sin?

Ah, I see now.
I just pop in and out of the forums and I just realized that you started this thread and that you didn't start this thread to actually ask the question of whether or not drinking is a sin but to shout down anyone who dare even suggest it is a sin. Shame on you.
.

 

[Grailhunter]

I've been on both sides of the issue and I've come to the conclusion that here in America because alcohol is so abused, and so pervasively, it is best for Christians to not take a stand for it. It's just too big of a weakness to so many people in our society that I think it best for the Christian who wants to drink alcohol to keep it a secret and not be a stumbling block to people who are being destroyed by it.

Keep it a secret...that is funny. It would cause more problems than it helps.
Paul talked about being considerate of the weakness of others, and I agree within reason.
But people have so many problems with so many things that it would be impossible to know or even keep up with all of them.
Still if I am having a barbeque and one of my guests was struggling with alcoholism, we would not be drinking beer.

 

[marks]

I think you misunderstand the verse Marks, Paul would not eat anything that was offered to an idol, that is not allowed under Christian law, but he would eat something that comes from a meat market. You simply cannot worship God acceptably by the way you desire, unless of course your desire is in harmony with the guidelines of the faith as set out in the Bible.

All I can tell you is read the chapter a number of times.

Much love!

 

[robert derrick]

It may not be a sin in some circumstances, but it's a dead end road. Christians would do well to keep the matter between themselves and God in the privacy of their own homes and not cause someone else to be destroyed by it. "Keep your belief about such matters between yourself and God." Romans 14:22.


.

It may not be a sin in some circumstances

When you're sure, let us know.

but it's a dead end road

At least you're sure about that much.

"Keep your belief about such matters between yourself and God."

Since you begin with stating your own belief as fact and conclude with an admonition to keep our beliefs to ourselves, then we can conclude this Scripture only applies to them who actually share their beliefs as opinions only. Or that it only applies to them that have beliefs contrary to your own, especially after have plainly declared your own to be fact.

My experience as a Christian has never included the stronger Christians enforcing their liberty on the weaker. In fact, it's always been exactly the opposite: the weaker judging the guiltless. Especially when they begin to wax bold with how strong they are in their weakness of conscience.

Does anyone have a witness of a stronger believer trying to force drink the weaker with a funnel? Or maybe just trying to get the new babes to have a taste for themselves, to see it's not so bad? I never have seen it nor witnessed it.

 

[robert derrick]

Keep it a secret...that is funny. It would cause more problems than it helps.
Paul talked about being considerate of the weakness of others, and I agree within reason.
But people have so many problems with so many things that it would be impossible to know or even keep up with all of them.
Still if I am having a barbeque and one of my guests was struggling with alcoholism, we would not be drinking beer.

The only problem going on here is the same old problem ever since God gave law to His people:

His people keeping mixing up what they think they ought to do when it comes to personal faith, with what they then conclude all other people of God ought to do.

In a way, I would say 'legalism' is practised by those who haven't a clue what teaching the law is all about, and have absolutely no good legal mind required to do it.

So they start suggesting foolish things like Christians exercising their liberty in the law of God to begin skulking around corners and doing so in the shadows of darkness. I.e. keep it a secret.

Yours is Scripture and perfect. We agree according to Scripture we must not destroy the weak with openly flaunting our liberty...within reason.

We don't go our of our way to 'impose' our liberty on others, but neither do we hide in secret to 'practise' our liberty.

But people have so many problems with so many things that it would be impossible to know or even keep up with all of them.

Are we supposed to walk around in complete liberty of life, completely oblivious to 'voices' in the air, if someone insists they keeping hearing voice in the air?

Perhaps we should only 'practise' mixed swimming in secret, because some believe mixed swimming is sin.

 

[Ferris Bueller]

Still if I am having a barbeque and one of my guests was struggling with alcoholism, we would not be drinking beer.

My point is, you don't know who has a weakness for alcohol and who does not. Don't find out the hard way and have it held to your account by God.

 

[Ferris Bueller]

It may not be a sin in some circumstances

When you're sure, let us know.

Why? Do you not know when it is a sin and when it is not a sin?

 

[Ferris Bueller]

but it's a dead end road

At least you're sure about that much.

What good does alcohol lead to in the end? It's a dead end. No good comes of it. The best you can hope for is that nothing comes of it.

 

[Ferris Bueller]

So they start suggesting foolish things like Christians exercising their liberty in the law of God to begin skulking around corners and doing so in the shadows of darkness. I.e. keep it a secret.

Haven't you ever read Romans 14? And please don't tell us it means something other than what it says. I've had enough of Progressive Christianity ruining the church.