Alcohol: Is it a sin or not?

Brother Struick if I am ever up your way you and I should kick back and have a beer togeather- a rootbeer that is!:D
 
I'm just joining in here. And without having read all the posts, I will simply answer the OP's question of whether or not drinking alcahol is a sin.

While I don't see drinking as a sin, I do see getting drunk as one. Getting drunk leaves no room for the Holy Spirit to reside in us. Alcahol becomes our boss when we drink in excess. However, having said that, I also don't like to even social drink. I see drinking alcahol as a stumbling block for others. If a non christian alcaholic sees me drink even the smallest amount of liquor, that may send a wrong message to him/her. The message that drinking is okay, but since the alcaholic has a drinking problem, drinking is NOT okay, because it leads to getting drunk. So, I stay away from liquor all together simply so that I won't become a stumbling block for someone else. (Plus I don't like the taste of liquor!)
 
Drinking is NOT a sin, water into wine, the Bible states, and I'll find the reference in an hour or two, that it's when you become a drunkard that it is a sin. Once again, water into wine. Also, this is my blood, given for you.
 
In my church in denmark (vineyard)
After each evening service we go to a cafe or bar, some drink 0,5 l of beer others just cofee, when we have parties we drink to but we drink reasonable. Dont think alcohol is a problem, just know your limiits and when to stop.
Our pastor says, Rather sit in the bar and think of church, than sit in the church and thin of the bar.
 
The Dane said:
Our pastor says, Rather sit in the bar and think of church, than sit in the church and thin of the bar.
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Very good point.

As I see it (and I haven't read all the posts either but) I don't see drinking as a problem, getting drunk is. Alcoholism is like what Jesus said when he was saying that "You can serve only one Master", except He was refering to money - but it works on the same principle. In the Bible it mentions countless times that drunkeness is a sin, just read any chapter of Proverbs and there's some sort of reference to drunkeness being for fools, or something like that.

However, i do appreciate what Daniel says, it may give of the wrong impression if you drink, even the smallest amount. The world is always watching what we do as Christians. So, I would say that drink is not a sin, but, personally, I wouldn't do it.

Hope it helps.
 
Just me personally but I can't see myself hanging out in a bar, I wouldn't want to put my seal of approval on something that I have seen destroy quite a few lies - you know it's that-
1Th 5:22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.
thing- If I go to the casino or bar and someone else says" it must be ok, Larry's a Christain and he does it"- it could lead that person to really stumble- I wouldn't want that kind of responsability - and honestly there is nothing that interests me there, I was in quite a few of them ad a lost soul and never noticed one with a Godly atmodphere- I certainly never thought of hanging out in a bar as a church activity- I must be really old fashioned (not liberal).
 
Oh, Paul was on a tear in Thessalonians. Good stuff.

So why go to the bar at all. Go to the bar and think of church? Try and go to the bar and think of Jesus Christ, that would be difficult.

This whole drinking thing is kind of ridiculous. Sounds like a bunch of christians trying to figure out what they can get away with. If you have to ask, the answer is usually no. Stop trying to rationalize something you know in your heart you should not be doing.

Hang out at the bar and think of church. That's a riot.
 
he he he. In another thread the question is asked 'what would God's name for you be' or something to that effect.

Sometimes I think his name for me is 'the Jerk'. He he...... :)

But seriously folks, knock off the drinking. Drinking - plural, to have drinks. As soon as you lay your hands on the first one is when the alarm bells start going off...."Danger Will Robinson! Danger!". Just let it be the one. And if there are any other bad ramifications to having one drink, like causing someone to drink that shouldn't or putting your faith in a bad light, well then just don't do it.

There really is no excuse for drinking to catch a buzz, with friends or not. I would think. An ice cold beer tastes very, very good after a hard days work. Don't get me wrong. Thank God for that ice cold beer. After that one, best quit. And surprisingly, yes you can drink just one.

That's my mediocre take on things anyway.
 
For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. 1 Cor 11:27

So be careful out there people.

For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. 1 Cor 11:31

Amen.
 
James said:
Oh, Paul was on a tear in Thessalonians. Good stuff.

So why go to the bar at all. Go to the bar and think of church? Try and go to the bar and think of Jesus Christ, that would be difficult.

This whole drinking thing is kind of ridiculous. Sounds like a bunch of christians trying to figure out what they can get away with. If you have to ask, the answer is usually no. Stop trying to rationalize something you know in your heart you should not be doing.

Hang out at the bar and think of church. That's a riot.
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I can se your point. But there are cultural differnces in denmark, compared to the states. And its not like we go get drunk after church, we go socialize, some prefer beer, some coffe, and some a coke.
And we get to talk to other people at the bar who are not from the church, and they ask where we are from, because we are a large group, and because the se something different in us. We are trying to be in the world, but not like the world.
 
And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Col 2:13
Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; Col 2:14
And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. Col 2:15

Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of the holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Col 2:16

Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ. Col 2:17

So, maybe I should just shut up about it. Seems as though the whole issue is not meant to be such a big deal. Maybe we are not meant to decide, or judge, how much another should or shouldn't drink, and certainly not to hold it against them. The bible certainly tells us, at some point it can become a problem, so there is a line drawn. I guess we should know where it is, for ourselves, and not cross it.

Within ourselves, we can figure out what is right or wrong for our ownselves by what Christ shows us alone. And what measure of faith Christ has put in another, what is good for another, only Christ can show that person. And we just don't know about another person, only ourselves. If that makes any sense.

Because, "the body is of Christ", Amen.

(Dane, if I came off as personally offensive, even arrogant, I apologize. It did seem that way.)
 
Do youfeel that as a christian your actions can have impact on another- I condemn nobody but I must personally stick to my conviction to "abstain even from the appearance of evil" and I care about what my life (as a representative of Christ) seaks to others thru word, habit and deed.
 
Absolutely, agreed emphatically and 100%. I think we all should do that, be very mindful of that. Our actions, the things we do implicitly affect others and reflects on our Lord Jesus Christ, and we are to be aware of that.

And that we are to be as good a representative of Christ as we can possibly be.

Maybe I missed something, mostly I was trying to find room to get off Danes case.

Condemn, I know you condemn no one Boanerges. It's all good.
 
An interesting scripture that I don't think has referenced yet:

Proverbs 23
31 Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright.
32 At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder.

Now you can go a couple of different direction with this and I welcome others opinions on this scripture. This is strictly my opinion, but I have always felt that this scripture went along with Jesus turning water into wine.

Now it says not to look upon the wine when it's red, so this tells me it's OK to look upon before it's red. Of course, when the wine moveth itself, this is obviously the process of fermentation.

I've always understood this verse to say that wine is OK before it's fermented but not after. This verse has always led me to believe the wine Jesus made was unfermented wine.

Again, only my opinion.
 
Something else to add to it all....

Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? 2 Cor 13:5
 
You can also argue that doing cocaine, heroin, meth, ect... is not a sin becasue it's not specifically in the bible. But please don't start using it because God never said to not use it
 
Preacher said:
An interesting scripture that I don't think has referenced yet:

Proverbs 23
31 Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright.
32 At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder.

Now you can go a couple of different direction with this and I welcome others opinions on this scripture. This is strictly my opinion, but I have always felt that this scripture went along with Jesus turning water into wine.

Now it says not to look upon the wine when it's red, so this tells me it's OK to look upon before it's red. Of course, when the wine moveth itself, this is obviously the process of fermentation.

I've always understood this verse to say that wine is OK before it's fermented but not after. This verse has always led me to believe the wine Jesus made was unfermented wine.

Again, only my opinion.
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I had to go through 36 posts to find where somebody referenced this scripture in Proverbs 23. The Hebrew meaning of the words "Look" is:
Strong's Hebrew Dictionary
7200. ra'ah

ra'ah raw-aw'

a primitive root; to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative):--advise self, appear, approve, behold, X certainly, consider, discern, (make to) enjoy, have experience, gaze, take heed, X indeed, X joyfully, lo, look (on, one another, one on another, one upon another, out, up, upon), mark, meet, X be near, perceive, present, provide, regard, (have) respect, (fore-, cause to, let) see(-r, -m, one another), shew (self), X sight of others, (e-)spy, stare, X surely, X think, view, visions.
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In other words, this verse is saying "have no experience with" "don't even consider it", etc. I seriously doubt that Jesus would create something He tells us not to have experience with and not to even look at. Also Proverbs 20:1--Wine is a mocker--don't tell me that Jesus would create something that mocks and deceives. The word "wine" in the Bible is a generic word--it doesn't always mean "fermented"---it can mean "unfermented" (fruit of the vine) depending on the context. "Wine is a mocker" (Proverbs 20:1) is not the same "wine" which Jesus gave to His disciples at the Last Supper.

I'm new to this forum, but not to forum boards. Every Christian forum board I've posted on has one or more threads about "Should A Christian Drink Alcohol" or "Is Alcohol A Sin", etc. Why do Christians want to hang onto the world in this one area (drinking) and desire not to "conform to this world" in all other areas? Just keep as close to the edge of the cliff without falling off.

I was married to a drunk for almost 20 years before he committed suicide by over drinking--his death certificate said he died of "acute ethanol toxicity"--and he professed Christ and even went to church. He said it was okay to "drink in moderation"---whatever that means. He used all the Bible verses I see around these forum boards to justify his use of alcohol, and I don't need to repeat them, you all know to which ones I refer.

Four times out of the twelve times that the word "sober" is mentioned in the New Testament, the definition is "to abstain from wine" (that would be "fermented" wine). The word "sober" in those four verses is the Greek word "nepho" (1 Thessalonians 5:6, 8; 1 Peter 1:13; 5:8). It is clear by the Word of God that the Christian believer is to "abstain from all appearance of evil" (1 Thess. 5:22) ; coupled with the four verses mentioned above and the pattern in which Christ commanded us to walk, it is clear that we are to abstain from alcoholic beverage.

IT ISN"T LEGALISM to desire to live a HOLY and SEPARATED life unto the Lord. I'm not telling anyone what to do--to drink or not to drink. I'm simply sharing what the Holy Spirit has taught me in the matter of drinking alcohol and through much Bible study and self-examination, I believe the Word of God teaches total abstinence from alcohol.
 
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