Christian and booze

[TheBlade]

I think maybe re word it since it can mean hard liquor which for me I never do.  For me I can't find in the word where I should never touch Wine or the like yet I hate the taste so I don't. What others do is between them and God. You believe you should never drink and pray more then thats what you should do. If you believe you should never walk into a bar because a believer might see you and stumble then you best not. I do drink coffee and never feel like ooh I HAVE TO HAVE MY COFFEE. If I don't have it.. nothing happens. 

There are stories.. one just now comes to mind. It was at some restaurant. The guy sharing was there drinking and they didn't know someone that worked there also went to their church and was trying to stop drinking yet saw them and since young in the faith thought.. ooh seems you can drink at times. He stumbled big time . So that one glass wine beer.. did cause just one to fall. I would never tell anyone don't drink glass wine or a beer. I was not given that authority over man and I am not your God nor can I tell you you should obey my personal belief as if its the gospel.  we still try to do this every day. 

[The_Patriot21]

Bible doesnt prohibit drinking though it lots of harsh things to say about drunkenness. 

I think a lot depends on your individual convictions to. If you feel that you shouldnt have any....then dont. Not drinking certainly wont kill you.

I enjoy an occasional drink but thats it. I never have more then one (unless its a mikes, if im at home i might have 2 of those but the alcohol content of those are nil) i usually drink a crown and mountain dew. But a botle of crown will last several months because thats how little i drink.

[Still Alive]

16 hours ago, SIC said:

What in your opinion should a Christian's attitude towards booze be!? 

Moderation, as in everything else.

[Still Alive]

8 hours ago, Dennis1209 said:

1 Thessalonians 5:22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.

If you were a member of my church, or knowing I am a Christian. See me walking out of a tavern, what would you automatically conclude? I was their witnessing to the inebriated? 

In town there's flashing red signs at the liquor stores, "WINE and SPIRITS." Are these "spirits" contained in those glass bottles benevolent or malevolent? 

There is no prohibition to consume small quantities of alcohol in the Bible. It is the excess and drunkenness that is prohibited. Like many other things, we now have the freedom to do under the New Covenant. The question becomes, just because we are allowed to, should we?

Just one person's 2 mites...

Yep. Ultimately this whole "offending" thing is covered in the essay,  "Tyranny of the weaker brother".

[Still Alive]

6 hours ago, Riverwalker said:

You can drink wine and beer in limitations and not get drunk....but hard liquor really has only one purpose, and that is to get hammered.  

That's not really true, though it may be for some. I really like a good scotch and some tequila. I sip both. My rule is no more than one oz per hour. I usually have one drink and that's it. I savor it, much like I savor a good hamburger or lobster or ribeye steak.

[Still Alive]

6 hours ago, missmuffet said:

Alcohol is a drug just like nicotine and caffine. They all have negative affects on the body. The Bible doesn't say that we should not drink alcohol but that we should not get drunk. Alcohol is one of the most abused drugs today. 

Actually, they all have positive effects - and negative. I am not a "smoker" though I will smoke a cigar every six to 10 months or so. I don't inhale them. What I learned about tobacco is interesting. First, burning and inhaling it causes cancer, but does not increase the risk of cancer as much as most people tend to think it does. Second, the nicotine in cigarettes is not really the dangerous part, and it definitely has positive health benefits. I've experienced it (with cigars) and describe it thusly: If you are feeling lethargic, it perks you up. And conversely, if you are feeling a bit wired, it calms you down. It's really weird. 

I actually consider coffee to be medicinal. 

Edited January 14, 2022 by Still Alive

[Still Alive]

6 hours ago, missmuffet said:

Alcohol is a drug just like nicotine and caffine. They all have negative affects on the body. The Bible doesn't say that we should not drink alcohol but that we should not get drunk. Alcohol is one of the most abused drugs today. 

I think it's because it's legal, and it is socially acceptable to drink, even though many may drink so little as to not "get drunk". On a related note, I've noticed in the Seattle area that most public places you go smell like marijuana. It's just like the 60's & 70's where pretty much everywhere smelled like cigarette smoke. Heck, I was in IT and in my cubicle farm people smoked at their desks. That is simply unimaginable to anyone under 45.

[Dennis1209]

9 hours ago, missmuffet said:

Alcohol is a drug just like nicotine and caffine. They all have negative affects on the body. The Bible doesn't say that we should not drink alcohol but that we should not get drunk. Alcohol is one of the most abused drugs today. 

So, we should abstain from coffee, soda, tea, and many other things with stimulants, that contain minimal caffeine? What about the poison chlorine in the water supply, black pepper causing cancer, and a laundry list of other things? Maybe I should just eat grass? But it would be my luck it would be loco weed. 

With anything, moderation, not excess is important.

[Dennis1209]

3 hours ago, Still Alive said:

That's not really true, though it may be for some. I really like a good scotch and some tequila. I sip both. My rule is no more than one oz per hour. I usually have one drink and that's it. I savor it, much like I savor a good hamburger or lobster or ribeye steak.

Don't get me wrong, I'm definitely not implying anything. Reading your post, I had a funny thought occur to me. Our church congregation and families usually get together and go to a restaurant, typically just before Christmas. I can see their faces now, when the waitress comes around, asking everyone what they want to drink. Getting to me I say, "a nice cold bottle of Busch beer." 

[missmuffet]

1 hour ago, Dennis1209 said:

So, we should abstain from coffee, soda, tea, and many other things with stimulants, that contain minimal caffeine? What about the poison chlorine in the water supply, black pepper causing cancer, and a laundry list of other things? Maybe I should just eat grass? But it would be my luck it would be loco weed. 

With anything, moderation, not excess is important.

That is your choice. Caffeine, nicotine and alcohol are all drugs. They are legal and socially acceptable. Yes, our drinking tap water is not healthy to drink. And there are many, many foods that are recalled every day for salmonella, listeria and E Coli. Our fish is contaminated because of our waters that has so much bacteria and chemicals in it. It is a matter of choice of what you want to expose your body to.