Drinking

[steffie23]

I always believed that drinking was wrong, and I simply did not do it. Then, last night, I went out and had a few drinks. I didn't compromise my beliefs while drinking, and I didn't really do anything that I would regret (other than looking mildly stupid, probably...but that's kind of normal for me anywhay, lol). Now I am starting to wonder- is it really wrong? I mean, if you don't have enough to be drunk and lose your judgement, is there really any harm in drinking?

[YoungLink]

I don't believe that drinking is wrong. Drunkenness is mentioned in the Bible, but drinking alcohol in itself isn't mentioned as wrong.

Some Christians believe that the references to wine refer only to unfermented grape juice. This from Numbers 6 refers to drinking for people taking the Nazirite vow:
1 The LORD said to Moses, 2 "Speak to the Israelites and say to them: 'If a man or woman wants to make a special vow, a vow of separation to the LORD as a Nazirite, 3 he must abstain from wine and other fermented drink and must not drink vinegar made from wine or from other fermented drink. He must not drink grape juice or eat grapes or raisins. 4 As long as he is a Nazirite, he must not eat anything that comes from the grapevine, not even the seeds or skins.

I think that it doesn't only refer to grape juice in other parts of the Bible (ie. Jesus turning water into wine) because in the quote fermented drink and grape juice are clearly defined.

1 Timothy 5:23
Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses.

This isn't about drinking in the sense you mean, but a little is recommended here.

This ref from 1 Timothy 3 I think is relevant:
8Deacons, likewise, are to be men worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain.
It says MUCH wine, and also if it was grape juice it wouldn't be the same kind of indulgence.

I have heard also about the wine we take symbolising Jesus' blood, the bitterness of the wine is relevant to the bitterness of Jesus' sacrifice.. I'm sorry I'm putting that pretty badly haha. But you know what I mean?
Maybe that's irrelevant to drinking in the context you meant though.

That's my feeling on it anyway. :-D

[markedward]

There's nothing wrong with drinking alcohol. In my opinion, however, there's just two rules to follow:

1. Don't do it underage. The Word says to respect governmental authority, and almost every government has a law stating what age you have to be in order to drink.

2. Don't drink a lot. As stated already, drunkenness is explicitly mentioned in Scripture as being wrong.

[Revinius]

In the same sense..... where is the line? who judges where the line is? As soon as it hits your stomach it starts acting like a poison and making it's way to your blood stream and inhibiting neural activity...

[markedward]

This might sound ambiguous, but "common sense" is the line.

Once a person starts to feel their inhibitions going away, chances are they've already crossed that "line" without even realizing it.

[Revinius]

So, if noone knows their line till they are passed it..... arent they sinning by knowingly taking a drop?

[the inside out]

There's nothing wrong with drinking alcohol...just don't get drunk.

ALWAYS eat something before you drink. NEVER drink on a empty stomach. You will get sick!

[markedward]

So, if noone knows their line till they are passed it..... arent they sinning by knowingly taking a drop?If that's the case, then they're not using common sense.

Most people (that I know, at least) can feel the effects of alcohol after just a couple of drinks. That's when they stop. They're not drunk in the slightest, but they know it's a good time to stop. That's common sense talking to them.

Someone without common sense is the type of person who will say "Well, I don't feel drink, so I can still drink more" and they're drunk before they realize it. They did reach their "line," but, so to speak, they thought they could push the line farther back.

[Revinius]

If that's the case, then they're not using common sense.

Most people (that I know, at least) can feel the effects of alcohol after just a couple of drinks. That's when they stop. They're not drunk in the slightest, but they know it's a good time to stop. That's common sense talking to them.

Someone without common sense is the type of person who will say "Well, I don't feel drink, so I can still drink more" and they're drunk before they realize it. They did reach their "line," but, so to speak, they thought they could push the line farther back.

But what you're saying is that people hit the line then stop. If you have already felt the effects in hitting the line is your judgement not then inhibited?

[markedward]

If you have already felt the effects in hitting the line is your judgement not then inhibited?Considering I was using real people as examples, I'd say no. As I said before, they've felt the immediate effects of drinking alcohol, but that's when they know when to quit. It seems like you're trying to argue a moot point, or else you have the misconception that a single drink makes you unable to think anything through.

So... what exactly are you trying to say? Do you think drinking at all is wrong?

[Revinius]

my position is undecided which is why i am asking heaps of questions to those who are pro-alcohol. I personally drank my fair share before i came to Christ but got bored of it before then also. So my position on it isnt really skewed by any enjoyment or lack of enjoyment, i am quite neutral on that front.

I am saying that: If alcohol is poison (albeit mild form) then one has to wonder what the sense is in consuming it. Some say cos it gives an enjoyable buzz, but that buzz is the poison spreading to brain neurons. Given that it is already effecting the brain, ones faculties are compromised (albeit only slightly) but compromised nonetheless. Understand what i mean?

[markedward]

It's a little unfair to claim alcohol is a "poison." In the sense you're using it, then one could easily claim medicine, or soda, or even food in general is a poison.

Personally, I don't drink at all; never have, and I have no desire to. But I recognize that the Word doesn't condemn drinking alcohol in itself, only drunkenness.

[Revinius]

And what i am trying to ascertain is where 'drunkeness' is. It is a poison, and i will agree that excess sugar intake is also poisonous, but only in long term over-consumption.

What i am pointing at is: If drunkeness is the point where one begins to 'lose control' then the point is a few minutes after the alcohol is consumed because then it begins acting as a neural inhibitor. Can you give me rational reason why this is not 'drunkeness'?

[Jane Lane]

This is one that confuses me, a little.

I'm 20 in America, where the drinking age is 21. I drink maybe once every 3 months, and don't get too drunk. I feel I am responsible about it.

I should not drink until 21, because the government says so? It feels to me that the government is wrong. We can join the military, fight and die for our country at age 18, but taking a sip of wine is illegal? That seems irrational to me.

[Revinius]

I should not drink until 21, because the government says so? It feels to me that the government is wrong. We can join the military, fight and die for our country at age 18, but taking a sip of wine is illegal? That seems irrational to me.

Christ tells us to obey the authorities, because all authorities exist under him. The only reason to not obey is if the authorities law contradicts God's law.

The question i ask myself whenever i break a law is: "So.... does Christ's death mean so little to you that you would care so little for what he says?" Cuts me to the core everytime i think it. :(

[YoungLink]

Is it actually illegal to have alcohol before you're 21? Here the age is 18, but I think you have to "look over 21" to not get ID'd.
I'm pretty sure drinking it before then isn't illegal, just buying it.

[lwfc]

Is it actually illegal to have alcohol before you're 21? Here the age is 18, but I think you have to "look over 21" to not get ID'd.
I'm pretty sure drinking it before then isn't illegal, just buying it.
Yeah, the legal drinking age in the states is 21 for some reason :S The over 21 thing is just a policy most places use to not get caught out, we do it where I work.

I think drinking is fine as long as you're in control and don't get drunk. When I feel myself start to get tipsy, I'll drink water from then on. However I did that last night and still managed to wake up with a hangover this morning :(

[Jane Lane]

Christ tells us to obey the authorities, because all authorities exist under him. The only reason to not obey is if the authorities law contradicts God's law.

The question i ask myself whenever i break a law is: "So.... does Christ's death mean so little to you that you would care so little for what he says?" Cuts me to the core everytime i think it. :(

I do not understand.

It is fairly obvious that most authority in present-times does not care about God's law.

Why should we only be allowed to disobey these institutions when they directly go against God, when they do not have Christian interests at heart?

And how can all authority exist under Him when some of them go against Him?

The Bible is what I feel should rightly govern our lives, and if the Bible is not what the government is based upon, why should we listen to everything they tell us?

[Xel'Naga]

Read Romans 13. If the government says 'No drinking until 21' then guess what? Exactly that. It's when government conflicts with scripture that you observe scripture over government.

[Jane Lane]

Read Romans 13. If the government says 'No drinking until 21' then guess what? Exactly that. It's when government conflicts with scripture that you observe scripture over government.

"..For he is God's servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer..." excerpt from Romans 13.

The government is, in my eyes, very far from a servant of God. This institution now allows gay marriage in my state, for instance. Why should I listen to these laws if the true wrongdoers are rewarded, as opposed to punished?

[Revinius]

God uses evil men to do His will. His power is massive and often very ironically using those who are evil to bring about His plans. Just like He used Babylon and Syria to smash Israel in punishment so to does He use those who don't yet know Him to do His bidding.

Jesus also said to love your enemies. I would not be here today if the OT law was still enforced, i would be stoned.

[Jane Lane]

God uses evil men to do His will. His power is massive and often very ironically using those who are evil to bring about His plans. Just like He used Babylon and Syria to smash Israel in punishment so to does He use those who don't yet know Him to do His bidding.

Jesus also said to love your enemies. I would not be here today if the OT law was still enforced, i would be stoned.

And things we know are wrong, such as murder, should be outlawed as they are.

But I do not know which laws were created with a Christian intent. Surely it wouldn't be okay for to marry a woman, though legally I can. For these reasons, I will let the Bible be my ultimate guide, and if something is not explicitly spoken against, I will assume that partaking will not hurt me spiritually.

As the Bible does not say it's wrong for me to drink at age 20, so long as I do not over-do it, I will continue to do so. I will also continue to smoke marijuana, as it helps me with chronic stomach issues and I do not smoke enough to get "high".

[Revinius]

And things we know are wrong, such as murder, should be outlawed as they are.

But I do not know which laws were created with a Christian intent. Surely it wouldn't be okay for to marry a woman, though legally I can. For these reasons, I will let the Bible be my ultimate guide, and if something is not explicitly spoken against, I will assume that partaking will not hurt me spiritually.

As the Bible does not say it's wrong for me to drink at age 20, so long as I do not over-do it, I will continue to do so. I will also continue to smoke marijuana, as it helps me with chronic stomach issues and I do not smoke enough to get "high".

You are right in saying the Word is the ultimate law. So when the Word says: 1 Peter 2:13-14 "Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authorityor to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right." or Romans 13:1-2 "Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves." Then we would be right to obey?


I hate much of the law as much as the next person, but i am captive in conscience and spirit to the Word without which i would be dead in more ways than one.

[Jane Lane]

You are right in saying the Word is the ultimate law. So when the Word says: 1 Peter 2:13-14 "Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authorityor to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right." or Romans 13:1-2 "Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves." Then we would be right to obey?


I hate much of the law as much as the next person, but i am captive in conscience and spirit to the Word without which i would be dead in more ways than one.

Again though, the authorities are not Biblically just. You may say that I should then only not follow the laws that directly go against the Bible, but I wouldn't feel safe doing that in case some of the laws go against God in ways not depicted in the Bible. Like the lost commandments? If the government has proven itself unjust in the eyes of the Lord (and it has), I don't feel I can trust it with unknowns.

[*Hope*]

There's nothing wrong with drinking alcohol. In my opinion, however, there's just two rules to follow:

1. Don't do it underage. The Word says to respect governmental authority, and almost every government has a law stating what age you have to be in order to drink.

2. Don't drink a lot. As stated already, drunkenness is explicitly mentioned in Scripture as being wrong.

I agree with this. ;)

[Revinius]

Again though, the authorities are not Biblically just. You may say that I should then only not follow the laws that directly go against the Bible, but I wouldn't feel safe doing that in case some of the laws go against God in ways not depicted in the Bible. Like the lost commandments? If the government has proven itself unjust in the eyes of the Lord (and it has), I don't feel I can trust it with unknowns.

I dont see what the problem here is, you seem to be trying to justify things. The Word is clear, obey the authorities and their law, unless their law conflicts directly with God's law. Otherwise by going against the law of the land you are in sin. This is serious. Remember that these commands were written when Rome, the great persecutor, was in power.

[technotask]

Drinking is not a crime if you can control your mind and body.....

[Xel'Naga]

A little old... Closed.