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Alcohol
Topic Started: Sep 14 2011, 04:38 AM (227 Views)
Aerovox
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Do you think drinking is ok for believers?
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F4R
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fmetalx
Sep 14 2011, 04:38 AM
Do you think drinking is ok for believers?
I think the first thing we have to answer with this question is, if things were ok for Jesus, are they ok for me?

I believe throughout the Gospels we see Jesus drinking wine, and in fact in John's Gospel He turns water into wine for a wedding feast in Cana. I do, however, agree with Scripture that being drunk is a sin. So what each must answer (in my opinion) in his own heart is, can I do this with a clear conscience, and what is the line where I feel that there is too much. 1 Drink, 2 Drinks?

We should not allow our liberty in Christ to be overcome by either licentiousness nor by legalism.
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S.T.Ranger
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fmetalx
Sep 14 2011, 04:38 AM
Do you think drinking is ok for believers?
It can be seen that a particular "drinking" is in view.

Of course we must drink water to live. We can drink carbonated water for pleasure. But the "drinking" in view here is obviously "drinking intoxicants." Right? Right.

Would we assume that Jesus drank for the purpose of intoxication? I do not. Drunkenness is prohibited, though one might debate whether this is a strict prohibition, as we see in Proverbs 31:6 (KJV) some extenuating circumstances where strong drink and wine is seemingly advocated, though I do not think we should fail to balance this with what scripture says as a whole.

My personal view is this: no-one drinks for pleasure, this is a hollow excuse. Who first tastes alcohol and immediately says, "My, this is good...can I have another?" There are some wines that this may be true of, but strong drink and beer is not usually something people see as a pleasurable taste, but the opposite, really.

Again, it is just my opinion, but the primary reason people drink intoxicants is...to get drunk. One usually has to "aquire a taste," or get used to the taste.

So, my personal opinion is this: no, it is not really okay for believers to drink alcohol. But what about social drinking, or complimenting a fine dinner with a "nice glass of wine?"

Would not a good fruit juice do the same? Before it has "spoiled?"

The biggest reason I am against alcohol use is this, though: as believers, we are to at all times have self-control, and beyond that, we are not to open our minds to influences other than the Holy Spirit. There are medicinal uses for alcohol, truly, but in our day we have medicines that can be used that do not open us up to circumstances that may arise from not being in control of our mental capacities.

Will I despise a brother that enjoys a "glass of wine with his dinner?" Of course not. I try to keep in mind that we are all of us carrying with us aspects of the old man when we enter into relationship with the Lord. I do not expect the physically dependant alcoholic to automatically be abstinent in this area (though I do believe that Lord will miraculously remove this from some...He did me) as there are serious medical ramifications to alcohol and drug dependance. But that is in regards to those starting out on their journey for maturity. For those that are mature saints, I would expect abstinence from drunkenness, that Christ's name not be blasphemed by a watching world.

If we would look twice at a "drunken brother," why would we not expect the world to do so, and to see nothing "special" about this Christian?

God bless.
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