Falling off the wagon

[Openly Curious]

What happens with a Christian person who falls off the wagon and starts to drink alcohol again after being away from it for years. Are they condemned by God? Are they still a saint? Should and do they still have fellowship with the church or do they get kicked out?

I am serious about the answers and comments that are given as I really want to hear what others have to say

thanks

OC

[JesusFreak1john17]

If that happens, they are drifting away from God..but it's never to late to run back..He'll still hold you in His arms..and call you His child.

You can't really be kicked out of the church..All ya gotta do when you leave Him, just turn around..and He will meet you right there.

[Guest LadyC]

wow. i'm really interested in seeing the responses this one gets.

i can't speak for all churches, but i can certainly speak for mine. the church we belong to is a recovery church. there are some who have been clean and sober for years, and others who keep falling off the wagon over and over. my husband is one of those that has fallen off more times than i can count.

generally speaking, when someone slips back into their addictive behaviour, THEY distance themselves from the church. and that's a terrible shame in my opinion. the church should never condone their behaviour, but they should always show love and compassion for them, and lift them up in prayer, give them encouragement, etc.

but when someone isn't AT church, it's out of sight, out of mind... so IMO, if the person is willing to actually show up, they should never feel shunned by the rest of the congregation.

recovery churches can be a wonderful, nurturing place for an addict. their sins aren't hidden there. everybody at our church has a past, and none of them are afraid to admit it. not a week goes by that somebody in the church isn't giving a praise report about how long they've been clean, or making a prayer request for themselves or a loved one who has slipped off the wagon.

i have a couple of friends at church who have been clean now for about 2 years, give or take a couple of months. they're a married couple, and the wife and i are pretty close. she told me she used to come to church higher than a kite. it was the very fact that people didn't treat her like a leper that kept her coming back.

for the record, she is now a sunday school teacher, and he is on the church council. and as for my husband? he's been clean (this time) since november...

[shanee]

well i turned after getting saved...but God let me come back.....i had to seek...and work at it but slowly but surly i feel great again... and for a while i wasnt sure because i was so deep with sin.....the truth will sent you free...hang in there

Joh 10:28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

[Richard_yaash]

What happens with a Christian person who falls off the wagon and starts to drink alcohol again after being away from it for years. Are they condemned by God? Are they still a saint? Should and do they still have fellowship with the church or do they get kicked out?

I am serious about the answers and comments that are given as I really want to hear what others have to say

thanks

OC

It is no different than any other sin IMO. We gently lift them up and help to restore them.

[Openly Curious]

Great replies so far and LadyC it good news to hear your hubby has been on the wagon since November

I know that there are alot of people who say there is nothing sinful about drinking so it's perplexing when I hear that they are drifting away from God should they fall off the wagon. Many have left the church because of being hurt badly to where they couldn't return as their spirit was killed dead to the point of not having anymore heart for the things of God within the church setting. And time goes by and their is no relief so little by little they start doing the only thing they knew to do before after all they already got rejected from the church what else can one do?

OC

[jackie d]

What happens with a Christian person who falls off the wagon and starts to drink alcohol again after being away from it for years. Are they condemned by God? Are they still a saint? Should and do they still have fellowship with the church or do they get kicked out?

I am serious about the answers and comments that are given as I really want to hear what others have to say

thanks

OC

the only questions I can answer OC is that no they are NOT condemned by God and yes they are still a saint.

I learned a long time ago while a Christian and continually falling off the wagon that God never left me, He NEVER condemned me and I never lost my place in His house...don't let anyone convince you or anyone else otherwise.

blessings

[Trusting Jesus]

A person who drinks alcohol isn't condemned! In excess it isn't good, and I am assuming that you are talking of an alcoholic who is back to drinking. Anything that controls you other than Jesus is wrong. But that person is still saved. Should a church kick them out? I don't believe so. If that person is in a position of Elder or Deacon, then they need to be removed from that position. If they come to church drunk, well, that needs to be dealt with. But generally, the brothers and sisters need to pray and support each other and help each other where we are weak.

<>< ><>

Nathele

[patricia1]

if perhaps you had a 10 mo old trying to walk and they go so far and then wobble and fall...How would any mom or dad will react to that stumbling child?

I know I would go over in a nurturing way, dry the tears ..hug that child...clean there pants if they get dirty, encourage them to try again....maybe walking a little closer.

That is how i see our father in heaven, loving and caring...

but to take advantage is another story, of His mercy and Grace. patricia1

[irishcowboy]

What happens with a Christian person who falls off the wagon and starts to drink alcohol again after being away from it for years. Are they condemned by God? Are they still a saint? Should and do they still have fellowship with the church or do they get kicked out?

I am serious about the answers and comments that are given as I really want to hear what others have to say

thanks

OC

statn knows our weaknesses, and will do anything to get us to fall prey to them.... drinking is a very difficult one too break.... all though we might fall off the wagon so to speak, we can get back up and keep on going, asking God to forgive us, or we can allow satan to win over and beat us up about how tough it is to stop......

one of his favorite lines....

see, told you, you can not do it.... you might as well just keep on doing what you want cause you cant do anything about it

atan comes to kill steal and destroy.... he wants to keep you from your true joy, peace, love...... anything to keep you from God.... our response is what matters.... we can rebuke him (power of the spoken word, speak it oout loud) or we can remain silent and allow ourselves to be beat up....

Christ gave us power over satan.... all we have to do is speak it with the faith of God.....

like one man says, he has C.P. ( cerebrial pulsy), C. P. does not have him..... he refuses to allow anyont to t ell him what he can or can not do, he speaks it out and does it... he preaches through out the country.....hwen some one tries to knock him down, he gets back up and keeps on going...

we all can do the same with any bondage that satan migh be trying t o place on us.... it does not matter if it is booze, drugs, sex, movies, gambling, coffee, gum, work, cussing, so forth and so on, it does not matter, with God, all things are possible, and some times we have to admit to God we just can not do it on our own, and that it is up to Him to take it from us... but then we have to leave it alone....

if God condemns us for falling off the wagon, we all would be in trouble....

mike