Is Alcohol a Sin?

[Alaska1]

Is alcohol a sin? TV preacher Charles Stanley definitely thinks so.
I have my own definite opinion; I wish not to comment unless I generate some opinions. Then I would eagerly join in the conversation. To me it's a fascinating subject and one worthy of discussion.

[WhisperWisdom]

No, it is only a sin if you abuse it. Everything in moderation. Some folks can't handle alcohol, and they should abstain from it. You gotta know your strengths and weaknesses.

[Alaska1]

No, it is only a sin if you abuse it. Everything in moderation. Some folks can't handle alcohol, and they should abstain from it. You gotta know your strengths and weaknesses.

That was an excellent answer. I agree with you.

(I find it highly interesting that the Creator of the Universe chose turning water into alcohol for His first miracle. I am interested in checking into a deeper symbolism as well--even the number of jugs.)

Water into Wine - The wedding at Cana - John 2:3-11
“3 When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, "They have no wine." 4 And Jesus said to her, "Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come." 5 His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you." 6 Now there were six stone water jars there for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. 7 Jesus said to the servants, "Fill the jars with water." And they filled them up to the brim. 8 And he said to them, "Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast." So they took it. 9 When the master of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom 10 and said to him, "Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now." 11 This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him.” (ESV)

"Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit." (Ephesians 5:18) In fact, there are many verses in the Bible which speak out against drunkenness. (a few examples, Romans 13:13; Galatians 5:19-21; 1 Peter 4:3.)

"If your brother is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy your brother for whom Christ died. "For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit...Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification....It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother to fall." (Romans 14:15-21)

But I'll let Paul have the last word:

"No longer drink only water but use a little wine for your stomach's sake and your frequent infirmities." (I Timothy 5:23)

[Ort]

Here is what our Lord said "For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, 'He has a demon.' The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and "sinners" '. But wisdom is proved right by her actions." Matthew 11:18-19

So, I've heard the argument that Jesus never turned the water into fermented wine at the wedding in Cana, but instead made "new wine" that had no alcohol content. That I do not know one way or the other. But, if people were calling Him a "drunkard", then He definately was drinking wine containing alcohol at some point in His life.

The sin in all this is drunkeness. Plus, as Paul said "Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of good. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a man to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble. It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother to fall." Romans 14:19-21

What he is saying is that if a person thinks that drinking some wine is ok for him, then it is. But if you are with a fellow believer who thinks that alcohol is not ok, then don't drink in front of him or her. Plus, drunkeness is a forbidden no matter what. Timothy had a stomache ailment, and Paul was telling him to take a small quantity of wine to help soothe his stomache.

I heard a story of a pastor who was visiting another country, and he was used to having a cold beer every now and again with his dinner. But, in this country pastors were not expected to drink any alcohol whatsoever. It looked bad to the believers in this particular place. So, he didn't order a beer with his dinner because he didn't wish to offend or cause anyone to stumble.

I hope this helps. :)

[Alaska1]

Excellent post. Thank you for taking the time to share all this. My only comment is this (and it is not in disagreement since you left it open). I believe the wine at Cana contained alcohol because of the statement "saving the best for last." And "when the people have drunk freely then the poor wine." This seems it could not apply to grape juice.

[Echad]

Well,
kind of like a gun. Is a gun in and of itself bad or evil? No. What the person who has control of that gun does with it determines the outcome of the act being for good or evil. I have taked with people who are almost militant in their belief about guns being bad/evil and alcohol as well. I know for a fact, especially based on my prior experience in law enforcement, that the majority of people can not drink alcohol in moderation. Only a very small amount of people that I know personally can drink in moderation. I mean that sincerely.
I am in agreement to what was stated in an earlier post due to the scripture reference from Rom.14. We need to be very mindful of our neighbor(s).
Really though, what good has alcohol ever done for mankind anyway?
You probably have no idea the kind of scenes I have walked into that were exacerbated by alcohol, in excess obviously...every one of them period, end of story.
However...is alcohol a sin? What is sin for one might not be for the other in this case regarding alcohol.
Only that can really be settled between you or the individual in question and God.

[Ort]

Well, in the case of guns or alcohol, you can leave a gun on a table alone by itself, and a gallon of wine on the same table. The gun won't be able to load itself and commit a crime, and the wine won't wander out of the house and make somebody drink it.

Objects or substances in and of themselves are not harmful. They are just objects/substances. It's the person in control of those substances/objects that determines their use. I mean, somebody could use an electric can opener and bash another person over the head with it and kill them. Doesn't mean can openers are evil.

I probably drink one drink a year, maybe. It's because I really have no desire for it, but if I'm at a wedding or something, I will have probably only half the drink. My liquid of choice is cold water. I do think, however, that the world would be a whole lot better off without alcohol.

[bghtnpd4]

I absolutely agree with your posts on this subject and can't add anything any better. Great job!

[Alaska1]

I agree also. I was hoping to get a range of ideas, and I am pleased that every one was reasoned and biblical. It's an important enough topic that I think it has been worthwhile.

I have been a moderate beer-drinker, 1 or 2 beers every now and then. Now, I very seldom drink. The reasons are not spiritual--only that as I grow older it seems to produce a more negative effect (as it all turns to sugar). And, it's more expensive now (with a heavy tax).

My favorite drink is coffee. That, too, should be in moderation, but only for health reasons--I think. Gluttony, however, is a sin conveniently overlooked by Christian society. Americans seem to win this prize and that could probably apply to excessive consumerism in general. Come to think of it, it can even lead to the downfall of a nation, or at least the economy. It may have something to do with our current situation--but I believe it was also orchestrated, purposely encouraged--the old order out of chaos theory. It wasn't that hard to do with dumbed down blinded sheeple, more like wolves with ravenous appetites ... well, I was even one of them--bought an inflated house I couldn't afford--one of those creative financing jobs. ... Is this connected to drinking? Only in the aspect of addiction ...

or--as one might call it--"heavy drinkers" of materialism.

[mattfivefour]

I know that I am free to drink ... for I am free from the law. But the Bible tells me not to use my liberty in such a way as to offend someone else or to cause them to stumble. The Holy Spirit's instruction to us through Paul is, "It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak." —Romans 14:21 Our life should be lived not in a way that pleases ourselves but that offers no offense to others. Our concern should be more on the welfare of others than on the desires of ourselves. That is what it means to "walk in love". Yes I am free to drink in moderation if I choose ... but how do I explain to someone who has a problem with alcohol ... perhaps an unsaved person ... or even a Christian ... that it is alright for me to drink, but not for you?

The Holy Spirit tells us, "Through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?" —1 Corinthians 8:11 And further, "If thy brother be grieved with thy meat (or drink), now walkest thou not charitably (in love). Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died." —Romans 14:15

Therefore I choose as long as I shall live not to drink. And, believe me, it opens up many avenues of witness when I go to official functions or join my staff at party events and I drink only water, soda, or juice.

I do not want to stand before Jesus on the day when we as Christians shall have our works judged and have to see that my life has offended some ... perhaps causing them to stumble. No doubt just by living I shall offend some unknowingly ... but I do not want to knowingly do so. For the day SHALL come when "the LORD cometh, for He cometh to judge the earth: He shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with his truth." —Psalm 96:13

But that is my choice. I must answer to God for my self and my actions. Not for yours. That is between you and God. So you decide as you wish ... for you are free from the law.

You have only two requirements place upon you: that you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength ... and that you shall love your neighbor as Christ loved us. (John 13:34)
.

[Alaska1]

Thank you brother, for bringing additional balance to a subject that is, in itself, a balancing act. It's like the other fascinating thread where we discussed socialism--brothers and sisters rationally approaching a controversial subject--not all agreeing totally, but in varying degrees--sometimes even on different sides of the line. But still talking in love. I will consider your words, Matt, at the same time hesitatingly continuing my role as "sand-in-the-oyster," but doing so in a loving manner only in the spirit of edification, hoping to not too literally be speaking as the devil's advocate. I believe there is that fine line when one can be construed as a legalist, for example, in the act of not drinking. And in those cases the theory may work in reverse. Perhaps every situation and every person should not always be, or constricted to, within the confines of a rigid and often manmade law. It also has to do with region and country and culture. Probably no one knew if Jesus Himself drank, but it would appear that He did--and, of course, there was the miracle at Cana (where of course He would not have performed His first miracle only to cause people to stumble...especially if they were drunk).

Of course, the Pharisees were always accusing Him of something--like gathering food on the Sabbath ...

This is just additional food for thought (served with the wine of Good Intention and Fellowship).

[mattfivefour]

Thank you brother, for bringing additional balance to a subject that is, in itself, a balancing act. It's like the other fascinating thread where we discussed socialism--brothers and sisters rationally approaching a controversial subject--not all agreeing totally, but in varying degrees--sometimes even on different sides of the line. But still talking in love. I will consider your words, Matt, at the same time hesitatingly continuing my role as "sand-in-the-oyster," but doing so in a loving manner only in the spirit of edification, hoping to not too literally be speaking as the devil's advocate. I believe there is that fine line when one can be construed as a legalist, for example, in the act of not drinking. And in those cases the theory may work in reverse. Perhaps every situation and every person should not always be, or constricted to, within the confines of a rigid and often manmade law. It also has to do with region and country and culture. Probably no one knew if Jesus Himself drank, but it would appear that He did--and, of course, there was the miracle at Cana (where of course He would not have performed His first miracle only to cause people to stumble...especially if they were drunk).

Of course, the Pharisees were always accusing Him of something--like gathering food on the Sabbath ...

This is just additional food for thought (served with the wine of Good Intention and Fellowship).

Exactly, bro. We cannot be legalistic about the things of God. That's why I go to pains to stress that I am free but I choose. The rule, in other words, is not that I MUST or MUST NOT do something ... but that I must consider what is my motive for doing or not doing it? That is the question.

As I said, while I may be free to drink I choose not to since I desire to walk in love toward my neighbor. That is what the Holy Spirit has laid on my heart. But everybody has to hear from the Spirit of God themselves and everybody has to decide the motive on which they operate and the degree to which they wish—and are able—to walk before the Lord. For me ... at this stage in my Christian life ... the pleasing of myself has lost more and more importance and the living so as not to offend others has gained in importance.

But, as Paul said, "Who are you to judge the servant of another? To his own master he stands or falls; and he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand." —Romans 14:4 So I do not judge in these things but rather I heed my own walk and pray and trust God for that of my brothers and sisters.

[Alaska1]

Exactly, bro. We cannot be legalistic about the things of God. That's why I go to pains to stress that I am free but I choose. The rule, in other words, is not that I MUST or MUST NOT do something ... but that I must consider what is my motive for doing or not doing it? That is the question.

As I said, while I may be free to drink I choose not to since I desire to walk in love toward my neighbor. That is what the Holy Spirit has laid on my heart. But everybody has to hear from the Spirit of God themselves and everybody has to decide the motive on which they operate and the degree to which they wish—and are able—to walk before the Lord. For me ... at this stage in my Christian life ... the pleasing of myself has lost more and more importance and the living so as not to offend others has gained in importance.

But, as Paul said, "Who are you to judge the servant of another? To his own master he stands or falls; and he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand." —Romans 14:4 So I do not judge in these things but rather I heed my own walk and pray and trust God for that of my brothers and sisters.

You have articulated most lucidly, and I can tell your heart and the Spirit are of one accord. This thread has gone way beyond my expectations. It is obvious you are not a legalist (by any stretch of the imagination) and I applaud you for your selflessness.

What little drinking I do is usually in the privacy of my home. If I do it in public I am mindful of who is present. My youth pastor son does not drink, my other son does in moderation, and I respect both of their choices.

Like we have all touched upon--what's right for one is not always right for another--that is, those areas which are not fundamental, the planks of our faith, the absolutes (and not set in stone).

[ngraham]

I do not believe that drinking is a sin, but as the others have said if it offends, don't do it. My big thing is the witness. Most lost people think that Christians shouldn't drink, so if they see one doing so, that messes with that Christian's witness and the other thinks the Christian is a hyprocrite. Hummm does that make sense.? Well, I knew what I was saying. LOL

[PraisingHimAlways]

I neither want nor have alcohol around, so for me it's a medical/health/spiritual issue...and recently a family member was badgering me about it, wanting to know why I don't want to drink wine on an upcoming special occasion...I just think that, at least for me, there's an evil attached to it and therefore I will give it no place in my life whatsoever. I know it wouldn't be pleasing to Him, and that's enough.

[mattfivefour]

I neither want nor have alcohol around, so for me it's a medical/health/spiritual issue...and recently a family member was badgering me about it, wanting to know why I don't want to drink wine on an upcoming special occasion...I just think that, at least for me, there's an evil attached to it and therefore I will give it no place in my life whatsoever. I know it wouldn't be pleasing to Him, and that's enough.

Praising, you have touched on a very important principle. The final verse in the following passage of Scripture outlines the principle ... but i have included the entire passage since it touches on ALL the "no drinking" points raised in this thread. (However, I stress again that the decision not to drink must be an individual one and not a matter of law. If someone truly wishes to please God and truly seeks to surrender self to the Holy Spirit, he or she will receive from the Spirit that which He wishes them to do. And that type of growth in grace is the ONLY growth that is real and the ONLY thing that God accepts.)

13 ... determine this: not to put an obstacle or a stumbling block in a brother’s way. 14 I know and am convinced in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself; but to him who thinks anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean. 15 For if because of food (or drink) your brother is hurt, you are no longer walking according to love. Do not destroy with your food him for whom Christ died. 16 Therefore do not let what is for you a good thing be spoken of as evil; 17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 For he who in this way serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. 19 So then we pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another. 20 Do not tear down the work of God for the sake of food. All things indeed are clean, but they are evil for the man who eats and gives offense. 21 It is good not to eat meat or to drink wine, or to do anything by which your brother stumbles. 22 The faith which you have, have as your own conviction before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves. 23 But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and whatever is not from faith is sin." —Romans 14:13-23

[Betty]

It is weird but since my son bought alcohol for the house, he drinks very rarely. (He is 30 by the way so old enough to drink. It is almost like knowing that he can drink anytime he wants makes him want it less. I probably drink two drinks a year at most.
betty

[vmoon]

My husband drank to excess. Unfortunately that's one memory I'd like to forget. I'd rather not have alcohol in the house because of those bad memories. However, I'm not opposed to my oldest bringing a beer when he comes to visit.
My youngest says he'll never drink because of what he has witnessed.
I don't think it's a sin unless it begins to control your life OR it offends someone.

[god_chick3]

2: vmoon...I understand what your saying.