Is alcohol bad for christians?

[RebornInChrist]

Is it right for me a born again believer to drink alcohol?
Please explain:

Thank you!

 

[Hekuran]

Hello @RebornInChrist. A good question. But I notice you've asked two slightly different questions, first about Christians in general, second about you in particular.

Discerning good from bad is the practise of wisdom.

Alcohol in itself in itself is good. Jesus' first miracle according to John was turning water to wine.

But there are also plenty of warnings about drunkenness. Every good gift can be abused. There are plenty of bible stories where people have made terrible decisions under the influence of alcohol.

In your case, I believe you are on medication? So it's wise to avoid alcohol altogether. For you it has more potential to harm than to do good.

 

[RebornInChrist]

Hello @RebornInChrist. A good question. But I notice you've asked two slightly different questions, first about Christians in general, second about you in particular.

Discerning good from bad is the practise of wisdom.

Alcohol in itself in itself is good. Jesus' first miracle according to John was turning water to wine.

But there are also plenty of warnings about drunkenness. Every good gift can be abused. There are plenty of bible stories where people have made terrible decisions under the influence of alcohol.

In your case, I believe you are on medication? So it's wise to avoid alcohol altogether. For you it has more potential to harm than to do good.

Okay I will understand what you say...may the Lord bless your life.

 

[Dave M]

I have never seen no good come from drinking, but I have seen plenty bad

 

[RebornInChrist]

I have never seen no good come from drinking, but I have seen plenty bad

That's true... It causes allot of recklessness..

 

[Bill]

Is it right for me a born again believer to drink alcohol?
Please explain:

Thank you!

Lets punish Jesus , as he encourages wine drinking .

This is a silly question . It is common sense, drink responsibly . Scripture frowns on the drunkard.

 

[Brad Huber]

If you doint over do it, It helps to relax the body, and ease pains, so as to be able to sleep better, one of the earliest pain releivers. Anything can be corrupted, it doesnt make it evil.

 

[Downunder]

Is it right for me a born again believer to drink alcohol?
Please explain:

Thank you!

Depends on what you believe born again is about.
There are worldly Christians and there are Spirit-filled Christians.
Many men and women of the cloth do drink alcohol and endeavour to be acceptable to worldly people.

When Jesus stated that the truth [the Spirit of truth] shall set you free from captivity [from sin] then this freedom should also include freedom from all unhealthy habits - alcohol, cigarettes, marijuana and other drugs, gambling, etc.
And in my Pentecostal church, The Revival Fellowship, we all have powerful testimonies to how the infilling of the Holy Spirit set us free immediately and painlessly from many addictions and bad habits.
So as we walk along God's pathway, walking in the Spirit, we do not return to our previous worldly infirmities and lusts.
Also in abstaining from alcohol (and whatever else) we are not a stumbling block to newbies in the Lord who may not as yet understand overcoming the flesh in the power of the Spirit. My sister never got the victory over cigarettes, and has subsequently backslidden into the world puffing away and drinking alcohol.
The born new again Christian does not drink alcohol because we are under some legalistic code of penalty but because we are the temple of the living God and do not pollute our bodies as children of light.
Abstaining from alcohol - or rather being set free from alcohol - is also a good testimony to worldly people that our joy and comfort is not derived from plying our bodies with numbing substances.
Our joy is from praying in the Spirit and walking in the Spirit.

Titus 2:11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people,
12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age,

 

[Bill]

Depends on what you believe born again is about.
There are worldly Christians and there are Spirit-filled Christians.
Many men and women of the cloth do drink alcohol and endeavour to be acceptable to worldly people.

When Jesus stated that the truth [the Spirit of truth] shall set you free from captivity [from sin] then this freedom should also include freedom from all unhealthy habits - alcohol, cigarettes, marijuana and other drugs, gambling, etc.
And in my Pentecostal church, The Revival Fellowship, we all have powerful testimonies to how the infilling of the Holy Spirit set us free immediately and painlessly from many addictions and bad habits.
So as we walk along God's pathway, walking in the Spirit, we do not return to our previous worldly infirmities and lusts.
Also in abstaining from alcohol (and whatever else) we are not a stumbling block to newbies in the Lord who may not as yet understand overcoming the flesh in the power of the Spirit. My sister never got the victory over cigarettes, and has subsequently backslidden into the world puffing away and drinking alcohol.
The born new again Christian does not drink alcohol because we are under some legalistic code of penalty but because we are the temple of the living God and do not pollute our bodies as children of light.
Abstaining from alcohol - or rather being set free from alcohol - is also a good testimony to worldly people that our joy and comfort is not derived from plying our bodies with numbing substances.
Our joy is from praying in the Spirit and walking in the Spirit.

Titus 2:11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people,
12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age,

Jesus promotes drinking . Plain and simple . Water into wine at the wedding feast . And at the Last Supper .

And Jesus, via the Word, also tells us not to become a drunkard.

Middle of the road is good. So drink responsibly, and you are good to go

 

[Downunder]

Middle of the road is good. So drink responsibly, and you are good to go

Well each to there own but that is a poor testimony to the Holy Spirit and is not distinguishing one from the world.
More than once I have been able to witness to people because they have asked me as to why I do not drink alcohol.
We are called to be different from the world not to be imitators of worldly habits.
If a Christian can consume alcohol in moderation then a Christian can smoke marijuana in moderation, or gamble in moderation, etc.
The problem with all of this is that a Christian can become a stumbling block to those weaker in faith and doctrine; and if they fall away through your example?

Romans 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
18 Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men.
19 So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.
20 Do not, for the sake of food, destroy the work of God. Everything is indeed clean, but it is wrong for anyone to make another stumble by what he eats.
21 It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble.

 

[Bill]

Well each to there own but that is a poor testimony to the Holy Spirit and is not distinguishing one from the world.
More than once I have been able to witness to people because they have asked me as to why I do not drink alcohol.
We are called to be different from the world not to be imitators of worldly habits.
If a Christian can consume alcohol in moderation then a Christian can smoke marijuana in moderation, or gamble in moderation, etc.
The problem with all of this is that a Christian can become a stumbling block to those weaker in faith and doctrine; and if they fall away through your example?

Romans 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
18 Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men.
19 So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.
20 Do not, for the sake of food, destroy the work of God. Everything is indeed clean, but it is wrong for anyone to make another stumble by what he eats.
21 It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble.

If alchohol is bad for us, why then did Jesus make Wine from water ?

Why did Jesus use the image of wine as in wineskins, and why use wine for the Last Supper ?

 

[Downunder]

If alcohol is bad for us, why then did Jesus make Wine from water ?
Why did Jesus use the image of wine as in wineskins, and why use wine for the Last Supper ?

The gospels are part of the Old Testament and the Law. But there were prohibitions to uphold integrity and temperance (and plenty of warnings).

Isaiah 5:11 Woe to those who rise early in the morning, that they may run after strong drink, who tarry late into the evening as wine inflames them!

Proverbs 23:20 Be not among drunkards or among gluttonous eaters of meat,
23:21 for the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty, and slumber will clothe them with rags.

Proverbs 20:1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise.

Habakkuk 2:15 “Woe to him who makes his neighbours drink— you pour out your wrath and make them drunk, in order to gaze at their nakedness!

Deuter 29:5 I have led you forty years in the wilderness. Your clothes have not worn out on you, and your sandals have not worn off your feet.
29:6 You have not eaten bread, and you have not drunk wine or strong drink, that you may know that I am the LORD your God.

Certain persons were forbidden in the Hebrew Bible to partake of wine because of their vows and duties. Kings were forbidden to abuse alcohol lest their judgments be unjust. It was forbidden to Levite priests while on duty, though the priests were given "the finest new wine" from the first fruits offerings for drinking outside the tabernacle and temple.
The Nazirites excluded as part of their ascetic regimen not only wine, but also vinegar, grapes, and raisins, though when Nazirites completed the term of their vow they were required to present wine as part of their sacrificial offerings and could drink of it. John the Baptist adopted such a regimen and as a Nazirite.

 

[Bill]

The gospels are part of the Old Testament and the Law. But there were prohibitions to uphold integrity and temperance (and plenty of warnings).

Isaiah 5:11 Woe to those who rise early in the morning, that they may run after strong drink, who tarry late into the evening as wine inflames them!

Proverbs 23:20 Be not among drunkards or among gluttonous eaters of meat,
23:21 for the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty, and slumber will clothe them with rags.

Proverbs 20:1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise.

Habakkuk 2:15 “Woe to him who makes his neighbours drink— you pour out your wrath and make them drunk, in order to gaze at their nakedness!

Deuter 29:5 I have led you forty years in the wilderness. Your clothes have not worn out on you, and your sandals have not worn off your feet.
29:6 You have not eaten bread, and you have not drunk wine or strong drink, that you may know that I am the LORD your God.

Certain persons were forbidden in the Hebrew Bible to partake of wine because of their vows and duties. Kings were forbidden to abuse alcohol lest their judgments be unjust. It was forbidden to Levite priests while on duty, though the priests were given "the finest new wine" from the first fruits offerings for drinking outside the tabernacle and temple.
The Nazirites excluded as part of their ascetic regimen not only wine, but also vinegar, grapes, and raisins, though when Nazirites completed the term of their vow they were required to present wine as part of their sacrificial offerings and could drink of it. John the Baptist adopted such a regimen and as a Nazirite.

Gospels are not part of the Old Testiment .

Maybe you feel you know more than God .

The Scripture was not only Jesus , the Word made Flesh ( Gospel of John , chapter 1 ) but was orchestrated by the Holy Spirit . That is, the way it was set up was Divine as well.

So if you are feeling like you understand Scripture better than the way God has set it, then i will shake the dust off my feet.

Jesus tells us through his actions , to drink wine is ok . But in His Words, the Scripture , being a drunkard is not .

 

[B-A-C]

A little wine is OK sometimes. ( 1Tim 5:23; )
There are several verses that say getting drunk and going to drinking parties are wrong. ( Rom 13:13; Gal 5:21; 1Pet 4:3; )

I'm not sure I would use Jesus turning the water into wine as an example of wine being good for us. In fact Jesus rebuked Mary for asking Him to do it. ( John 2:4; )
He did it anyway, but it doesn't sound like it was in the original plan.

If we are going to drink a little sometimes, we need to be careful who we do it around. ( Rom 14:21; )

 

[Bill]

A little wine is OK sometimes. ( 1Tim 5:23; )
There are several verses that say getting drunk and going to drinking parties are wrong. ( Rom 13:13; Gal 5:21; 1Pet 4:3; )

I'm not sure I would use Jesus turning the water into wine as an example of wine being good for us. In fact Jesus rebuked Mary for asking Him to do it. ( John 2:4; )
He did it anyway, but it doesn't sound like it was in the original plan.

If we are going to drink a little sometimes, we need to be careful who we do it around. ( Rom 14:21; )

I always think of Rebuke as a strong word . I dont see Jesus words to be anything close to ' Rebuke ' to His mother.

But Jesus being God , could have chosen another path. Yet He reefers to Himself as the Vine and the Vine dresser, as well as our faith being like wineskins.

Wine was obliviously a big part of His life. And His use in words are revealing. That Jesus thinks well of wine. Why else would He bother instituting the Wine by saying , Matt 26 :
27Then He took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. 28This is My blood of the covenant,e which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it anew with you in My Father’s kingdom.”

 

[Downunder]

I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it anew with you in My Father’s kingdom.

I know the Catholics and the Anglicans love their wine, but not all churches interpret this to mean high quality red wine at 11-13% alcohol strength.
Many churches also correctly use red grape juice which is of course fruit of the vine.

 

[Bill]

I know the Catholics and the Anglicans love their wine, but not all churches interpret this to mean high quality red wine at 11-13% alcohol strength.
Many churches also correctly use red grape juice which is of course fruit of the vine.

Its a matter of interpretation. Just seems Jesus goes to great lengths to tell us about wine in Scripture.

 

[Shutterbug]

This is certainly a divisive topic as some congregations have former alcoholics in their midst. Well, they're not really former; they still are alcoholics.

Many drank a weakened form of wine as it killed some bacteria found in drinking water. I see nothing wrong with a couple on their anniversary toasting each other over a glass or two of wine as better things could be ahead. However, there is a fine line between quaffing an ale or two with friends and needing to drain every bottle in the domicile because it's there and doing so night after night. That is what some Christians went through, some experienced through others, and may have an irrational fear of it.

If you feel it's not for you, that's fine. But, don't condemn others for having a glass (not alone draining a large bottle) of wine with dinner. We can say no if we like, but keeping the glow going indefinitely creates problems of its own.

 

[DanielVision]

Jeremiah 35 talks about the Rekabites, a group of people that did not drink and lived in tents. God said they will always serve in His temple. I think God is looking for obedience. He used this group to demonstrate Israel's disobedience to His law that was not as strict as the Rekabites. No where in the Bible does it say to not drink alcohol, unless you take a vow of a nazir or if it causes you to stumble.

 

[Downunder]

or if it causes you to stumble.

or is a reason for others to stumble by your bad example.