Christians and Alcohol

[aggie03]

Howdy to all!

This is an official invitiation to Cajun Huguenot to have a discussion with me about whether or not a Christian can imbibe alcohol. The specifics of the discussion are as follows:

1. There is no posting limitation and the discussion will be officially closed when both people decide that they are finished.

2. Posts are to be kept short, meaning a few well developed paragraphs at most. This will allow for greater discussion of individual points rather then long posts that touch on several issues at once.

3. External links may be posted, though summaries of content must be placed with the links when appropriate.

4. The purpose of this dicussion is not "to win". It is to grow closer to God and learn more about what the Bible really teaches.

5. The official translation of the debate will be the 1901 American Standard Version (so long as Cajun consents :) ) as a single, accurate translation will allow for greater continuity and avoid problems that may arise from the use of multiple translations. E-Sword is a Bible application that may be downloaded for free from www.e-sword.net (http://www.e-sword.net), and it comes with an ASV add-on module.

6. This list of terms may be ammended upon the agreement of both people. Any suggested changes should be posted in this invitiation thread.

7. At the outset of the discussion, Cajun will put forward the concept that a Christian may drink alcohol and Aggie will take the contrary opinion.

[Cajun Huguenot]

The ground rules set above seem fair to me. I will be happy to discuss this issue. I would like to add that the proof of which position is correct (if either) is to be found in God's Word and not in social norms or taboos that exists in American culture at large, or in modern evangelical thoughts and feelings on the issue.

I believe the Scriptures, of the Old and New Testament, clearly show that wine and "strong drink" are, when used rightly, a blessing from the Lord our God.

I think many modern evangelicals have an unbiblical position when they say that it is a "sin" to drink alcohol.

Coram Deo,
Kenith

[aggie03]

I'm going to work on having the discussion thread started within the next day or so. I'm looking forward to it!

[aggie03]

Cajun and I have agreed to get started on this discussion again. I look forward to hearing what others have to say about it here :)

[mommy68]

I don't feel it's a sin to drink alcohol. I feel it's only a sin or becomes "bad" when someone abuses their right to drink alcohol and becomes an alcoholic. I feel that anything that can take over a persons life and steer them away from God and his word is most likely going to be wrong in God's eyes whether that be alcohol abuse, drugs, sex addictions or other bad things that can go overboard.

[Kelly]

Drink is not a sin, drunken behavior is. It is the responsibility of each Christian to know the right time and place to have a drink, as to not cause someone to stumble who doesn't know when to stop.

I have used my homebrewing as a witness. I invited my neighbor to help me brew, and when I pitched the yeast into a new batch, I prayed over my beer that God would protect it from infection and that it would taste good, make people happy when I gave it to them, etc.

My neighbor couldn't believe I prayed for such a mundane thing, he came from a Catholic background with a "break in case of emergency' type prayer life. He actually called his wife and mentioned the prayer. It got us talking about God and now he attends my church.

[ILove2Worship]

This topic could be discussed until we are all blue in the face but we all have different view points on the matter. Here is my opinion...

Drinking is not a sin. If you look in 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 it tells you what will not allow you to inherit the Kingdom of Christ. It says drunkards. I think personally that its a matter of where you are in your walk with Christ. No having a beer once in a while wont send you to Hell, but abusing it will. But I really think that you reach a place in your spiritual walk that you dont want that drink any longer it is no longer a desire for you.

[x0xJesusIsLovex0x]

I think its okay for anyone to drink alcohol to a point.