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Desire to be a vessel of honor unto the Lord Jesus Christ?
Join For His Glory for a discussion on how
https://christianforums.net/threads/a-vessel-of-honor.110278/
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Taking the time to pray? Christ is the answer in times of need
https://christianforums.net/threads/psalm-70-1-save-me-o-god-lord-help-me-now.108509/
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Depending upon the Holy Spirit for all you do?
Read through the following study by Tenchi for more on this topic
https://christianforums.net/threads/without-the-holy-spirit-we-can-do-nothing.109419/
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How are famous preachers sometimes effected by sin?
Join Sola Scriptura for a discussion on the subject
https://christianforums.net/threads/anointed-preaching-teaching.109331/#post-1912042
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Alcohol Issue?
- Thread starter paulwuk
- Start date
On one hand, the Bible strongly warns against alcohol in many places. In the proverbs and other places, it says that wine is not for kings. Presumably because their job was so important that the risk of becoming an alcoholic was too big a risk.
On the other, it doesn't say not to drink any at all. For example, a requirement for a church deacon in the NT is someone who is not given to much wine.
On the other, it doesn't say not to drink any at all. For example, a requirement for a church deacon in the NT is someone who is not given to much wine.
Obadiah
Member
It is true that the Bible strongly warns against being an alcoholic in many places. However moderate drinking is not alcoholism and God doesn't appear to be trying to tell us it's a sin since scripture never refers to any sin as a positive thing or a good thing.
I feel I need to mention a disclaimer here. I don't know your age and am not familiar with alcohol laws in the UK. I am NOT advocating breaking any laws, nor am I advocating doing anything that you truly believe is sinful!
There are many places the Bible talks about drinking alcohol in a positive way. If you do a study of all the references to drinking alcohol on the Bible, you would find that the vast majority of them associate drinking alcohol with happy positive occasions and blessings. The few warnings against it that can be found are either warnings against alcoholism (abuse and excess) or warnings against not taking the chance on it clouding your judgement in certain situations, such is if you are a king as mentioned by Questdriven. "It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink:" (Proverbs 31:4) More common in modern society I would think would probably include anything that is illegal, such as prohibitions in age laws and driving laws to name a couple.
Even in the case of the Proverbs verse, it still uses language that suggests a warning against excessive drinking rather than a complete prohibition of all alcohol. The New Living Translation translates Proverbs 31:4 as "It is not for kings, O Lemuel, to guzzle wine. Rulers should not crave alcohol." The words "guzzle" and "crave" seem to indicate it is referring to excess rather than a total prohibition.
The commonly used verse from the New Testament among many fundamentalists is Ephesians 5:18 which says "And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;". While some claim that this verse prohibits all use of any kind of alcohol for any reason and even take it to the extreme of not even allowing rubbing alcohol in their houses for medical use (!), once again, when you look at the actual meaning of this New Testament verse in the context of the entire word of God, it can only be a warning against excess, not an absolute prohibitions. It even says "wherein is excess"!
I think a wiser point of view on the subject of alcohol is to consider Paul's words in 1 Corinthians 10:23 (ESV) "All things are lawful, but not all things are helpful. All things are lawful, but not all things build up." I drink alcohol sometimes, but (as with many other things too) always ask myself first if doing this will help, hurt, or make no difference in the particular situation. For example from my own particular life, I don't drink around certain people if I know they will look at me as a hypocrite or in some other way hurt my testimony with them, even if they themselves are drinking. I also won't do it if my reason is to "show off" that I can do it. These are examples of things that wouldn't be "helpful" or wouldn't "build up" the body of Christ. On the other hand, moderate drinking can be helpful in some situations, and in others it might make no difference at all. Your decision to drink or not should be very flexible and very dependent on the particular situation and the reason you drink, and in no case should it be allowed to become so important to you that it takes precedence over God or hinders your Christian growth or testimony. For many people moderate drinking is not a problem, but for some other people in other situations this could mean total abstinence. It's very subjective and, as in all things, I would recommend prayer and being open to the guidance of the Holy Spirit in each and every situation.
I feel I need to mention a disclaimer here. I don't know your age and am not familiar with alcohol laws in the UK. I am NOT advocating breaking any laws, nor am I advocating doing anything that you truly believe is sinful!
There are many places the Bible talks about drinking alcohol in a positive way. If you do a study of all the references to drinking alcohol on the Bible, you would find that the vast majority of them associate drinking alcohol with happy positive occasions and blessings. The few warnings against it that can be found are either warnings against alcoholism (abuse and excess) or warnings against not taking the chance on it clouding your judgement in certain situations, such is if you are a king as mentioned by Questdriven. "It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink:" (Proverbs 31:4) More common in modern society I would think would probably include anything that is illegal, such as prohibitions in age laws and driving laws to name a couple.
Even in the case of the Proverbs verse, it still uses language that suggests a warning against excessive drinking rather than a complete prohibition of all alcohol. The New Living Translation translates Proverbs 31:4 as "It is not for kings, O Lemuel, to guzzle wine. Rulers should not crave alcohol." The words "guzzle" and "crave" seem to indicate it is referring to excess rather than a total prohibition.
The commonly used verse from the New Testament among many fundamentalists is Ephesians 5:18 which says "And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;". While some claim that this verse prohibits all use of any kind of alcohol for any reason and even take it to the extreme of not even allowing rubbing alcohol in their houses for medical use (!), once again, when you look at the actual meaning of this New Testament verse in the context of the entire word of God, it can only be a warning against excess, not an absolute prohibitions. It even says "wherein is excess"!
I think a wiser point of view on the subject of alcohol is to consider Paul's words in 1 Corinthians 10:23 (ESV) "All things are lawful, but not all things are helpful. All things are lawful, but not all things build up." I drink alcohol sometimes, but (as with many other things too) always ask myself first if doing this will help, hurt, or make no difference in the particular situation. For example from my own particular life, I don't drink around certain people if I know they will look at me as a hypocrite or in some other way hurt my testimony with them, even if they themselves are drinking. I also won't do it if my reason is to "show off" that I can do it. These are examples of things that wouldn't be "helpful" or wouldn't "build up" the body of Christ. On the other hand, moderate drinking can be helpful in some situations, and in others it might make no difference at all. Your decision to drink or not should be very flexible and very dependent on the particular situation and the reason you drink, and in no case should it be allowed to become so important to you that it takes precedence over God or hinders your Christian growth or testimony. For many people moderate drinking is not a problem, but for some other people in other situations this could mean total abstinence. It's very subjective and, as in all things, I would recommend prayer and being open to the guidance of the Holy Spirit in each and every situation.
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I've been told that for one out of every ten people if they drink alcohol and continue their body will adapt to give strong preference for that fuel source. Alcoholism is a chemical dependency characterized by the harmful consequences of repeated alcohol use. There are three stages of the disease but typically it is only diagnosed after behaviors have become persistent and very disabling or distressing.
So yes, if you have a problem with it, don't do it. Stage one means stop.
And yes, if you are convicted and pricked in the conscience, unable to accept with thanks and tend toward abuse? If this is a tool in the tool kit that lets you sin? "Hey, it wasn't my fault, I had been drinking..." Then seek help. The Lord speaks about cutting off the hand that offends or plucking out the eye and casting it from you but this? It has no life. Let is be among those things that you don't even slow down for. Keep on running the good race and just toss it aside. Keep running because alcohol is one of those things that can easily beset you.
If, on the other hand, you don't watch the commercials on television and are not easily influenced by the movies and if you're not out there buying drinks for members of the opposite sex in hope of enticing them, and if you are simply living your life for the Lord? Then yes, the fruit of the earth may be enjoyed with thanks. Moderation, not drunken and slovenly unchristian slurred excuses; thanks and not willingness to be drawn aside from the path, praise in all things. I like the non-fermented. There are some very nice "wines" out there but most would call them 'grape juice'.
If it sounds like I am against drinking? We all drink. Drinking water is okay. Drinking alcohol isn't sin. Sin is sinful. Eschew evil. Sin is sinful. Wickedness is when we can no longer contain the consequences of sin and it spills out of us toward others. Too many people hurt by this to ignore any more.
J
JCitoL
Guest
it is not wholesome to presume upon alcohol and to be an alcoholic, otherwise the moderate use of alcohol cannot be a problem in the faith
1 Timothy 5:23 "Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake(i.e. in case your body wants/needs) and thine often infirmities(i.e. and when you are internally/mentally laden)."
Blessings
