Drunkeness

[Keith]

hat town,

I appreciate your desire for the blunt truth. I haven't read any responses here but I will give it to you as I see it, point by point.

1. If in doubt, don't. Good rule of thumb.

2. The Bible speaks against drunkeness. Case closed. Further discussion and debate is an attempt to justify it.

3. Seek God for the answer and you will receive it. Not hearing from God? Then there's something between your relationship with Him. (i.e., sin, unforgiveness, lack of fear and reverence of Him, etc.,) God always speaks to those who spend time with Him. His desire is for us to know His will, not have to guess.

4. Drunkeness will severely damage, if not destroy, your witness. Learn to develop self-control: a fruit of the Spirit.

5. If you are around situations that tempt you, get away from them until you have spent enough time in God's presence, seeking Him, to be able to resist it. When you are able, by all means hang out with the people again. Your witness will be stronger and more penetrating. Don't avoid them altogether because we aren't supposed to completely avoid the people, just the lifestyle. But, you must be built up in your faith and that comes from time in the Word, prayer and in His presence.

6. Drunkeness destroys your body and your brain.

7. "If it feels good, do it" is not scriptural. It's worldly.

People who habitually sin do not have the fear of the Lord. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of all wisdom. The fear of the Lord is what keeps us from sinning. The love of the Lord is what propels us into action.

Blunt, honest truth, spoken in love, brother!

[hat_town21]

I appreciate it Keith. Thanks for your time:-)

[Smalcald]

Also I think as usual scripture is a good guide on to how to live.

First as said numerous times above drunkenness is sin, and willful "drunkenness and revelries" is treated very seriously, it is not a joke to live that life style, at least not according to Paul, "those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of heaven". I also think an excellent point was made up-thread, getting drunk destroys our ministry, we are to be separate from the world, not in a Budweiser commercial.

But the bible also shows us how to use wine or alcohol in a non-sinful way. Look at when wine is consumed by Christ or His disciples in the bible, it is always accompanied by food, or a meal. Other than that it is used in ceremonies or during things like weddings. Never is it consumed simply to sit around and drink, or by itself. Wine in the New Testament was a part of a meal; wine and beer do go with different foods and are enjoyable to take with a meal. Wine is used in the Jewish Seder, and of course many Christians during communion take wine. So I think we have some very good advice from scripture.

[Bread_of_Life]

make sure you drink lots and lots of water at the same time.

too much alcohol will overtax your liver and eventually lead to liver damage. But more water will help dilute the alcohol in your system.

Also, the more hydrated you are, the less hangover symptoms you'll be feeling later. Most hangover ills are actually dehydration ills.

quite, and don't do it too often.

Also, drink Irn Bru. It's a scottish soft drink that is also a magical hangover cure. True.

[hat_town21]

"magical hangover cure" eh...sounds sorta like those commercials for the pills that make your hangover go away. In essence I assume you could drink all you want and according to the add you just pop a pill and you're good to go...hah...right...

True, I know about how alcoholic drinks were consumed in the Bible. It's just wierd for me to think of that because of all the years I've heard my old pastor preach about how it wasn't alcoholic wine but just grape juice and how God wouldn't use something that destroys so much. The only problem I have with that is does that mean all of Europe is sinning when they drink wine at every meal? My college youth pastor told me one time when he went to Germany, the church he went to had a social get together thing with a keg of beer. Diff. culture's diff. norms...

Take care everybody!

[Smalcald]

Hi hat,

Yeah it is hard because many denominations for many years have preached the grapefruit bit, historically that simply is not accurate of course, nor does it coincide with scripture, but your minister

[hat_town21]

Good analogy smalcald. I've often thought about that...

[MK202002]

I realize 99.9% of christians believe it is a sin to get drunk. Probably the 1% aren't saved or just don't care. I have doubts...and I hate those. I realize everyone here will have a 100% strict answer but I don't have one. Maybe because I'm in college and everyone parties? I'm around it all the time? I'm not sure. But here's my doubt. It says in the bible that wine is a mocker...don't fall to drunkeness etc etc...where is the "do not get drunk" part? I can tell my friend, hey don't get wasted tonight you have an exam at 9am. It's obvious the right choice is to study and not go out. But he chooses to party and may or may not do well on the exam. His choice, none are wrong choices per say, one is obviously the better more "responsible" action, the other isn't. Not looking before pulling into traffic...not against the law per say unless you hit someone...obviously it's better to look and then cross. I've been drunk. It's fun. Sometimes I don't mean to..just happens..but if I do nothing wrong while drunk...say just watching a baseball game with a buddy of mine...where is the harm? I know about alcoholism but that's part of the smarter not to drink so much decision i've already gone over. I realize some think it's a sin to drink in any amount. I'm not looking for that either.

So I guess open the flood gates haha...but please be real honest...I'd rather have a hardcore response than sugar coating it.

God Bless...

Andrew

the devil would love to ruin a christains witness through this. Being drunk puts you in all the wrong places with all the wrong people. Terrible things happen that way. I don't drink at all as a matter or concious, althought I believe I have the freedom in Christ too. I hate alchohal, and I imagine if you tried to witeness to a non believer who hated it , they wouldn't listen to you at all.

[jeffnevins]

Straight talk from a devoted Christian, yet humble sinner.

I rarely spend $ on alcohol, and it wasn't until I found the animation studio party scene that I first got drunk (free wine).

I've always had very low body weight (125 lbs), so wine would go to me fast.

Sometimes I'd dance like a fool (at parties), get sick- in private (sometimes right away, sometimes later), or usually just get tired & need sleep.

I've never had a car or much of a temper, so I've thankfully never had problems in those areas.

This has happened once or twice a year for about seven or eight years.

Yet I never crave alcohol, and often go a month w/o it.

I've begged God for forgiveness after each time, most recently a month ago. Even once or twice a year is too much.

I will probably always choose to drink, but responsibly from now on- now at age 32, Lord willing.

Edited April 24, 2006 by jeffnevins

[Guest jckduboise]

I realize 99.9% of christians believe it is a sin to get drunk. Probably the 1% aren't saved or just don't care. I have doubts...and I hate those. I realize everyone here will have a 100% strict answer but I don't have one. Maybe because I'm in college and everyone parties? I'm around it all the time? I'm not sure. But here's my doubt. It says in the bible that wine is a mocker...don't fall to drunkeness etc etc...where is the "do not get drunk" part? I can tell my friend, hey don't get wasted tonight you have an exam at 9am. It's obvious the right choice is to study and not go out. But he chooses to party and may or may not do well on the exam. His choice, none are wrong choices per say, one is obviously the better more "responsible" action, the other isn't. Not looking before pulling into traffic...not against the law per say unless you hit someone...obviously it's better to look and then cross. I've been drunk. It's fun. Sometimes I don't mean to..just happens..but if I do nothing wrong while drunk...say just watching a baseball game with a buddy of mine...where is the harm? I know about alcoholism but that's part of the smarter not to drink so much decision i've already gone over. I realize some think it's a sin to drink in any amount. I'm not looking for that either.

So I guess open the flood gates haha...but please be real honest...I'd rather have a hardcore response than sugar coating it.

God Bless...

Andrew

Drinking is not a sin. Getting drunk is a sin because of what people do when they get drunk. Now a person may not commit a sin every time they get drunk. However, we should consider what people do when they are under the influence of any mind altering substance. When we are under the influence our reservations and morals are set aside. Most people quit considering consequences of their actions when they feel "drunk or high".

And even if we do not commit a sin while drunk our Father told us not to get drunk. A sober decision to get drunk means that we are being disobedient to our Father and He has made rules for us to follow for our protection against Satan and the powers and prinipalities of darkness.

The most dangerous part of drinking or using drugs is that our defenses from satan's attacks are down. Once we are, there is a crack in our armor, Satan comes in, attacks and then we commit all kinds of sin because we are now naked without God's armour protecting us. These are the reasons we should stay sober. If we are not able to stay sober we become followers of Satan and his iniquities.

In all things we are to use moderation. We were not told we could not drink, we were told not to get drunk. Jesus drank wine but I am sure He was never drunk, because He remained without sin.

Eph ch 6

Paul teaches that children are to be obedient to our parents. God is our father and we are his children.

6:10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. 12 for our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everthing, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.

The Lord gave us a wonderful and vast array of pleasures while we are here on this earth. He wants us to use any of them but we must not be foolish. If He gives us a command we are to follow it. We give commands to our children for their good. God who's love is so much greater has the same priniple in mind.

I hope this helps you.

Your sister in Christ

Jackie