Poll: Is Drinking wine a sin?

[nimblewillsgrace]

See poll above. edited post

[keck553]

Not an official poll because being new here I haven't mastered the art, but............

Lets preface by saying that I already believe that getting drunk is.

1. Drinking wine is always a sin.
2. Drinking wine is never a sin.
3. Drinking wine as a beverage is a sin.
4. Drinking wine for communion is a sin.

no, yes, no and no.

regarding #2, I believe God commanded the Hebrews to enjoy strong drink on ?? Sukkot ??

God would never, ever command someone to sin. Never.

[gringo300]

I believe that if you BELIEVE that something is a sin, that MAKES it a sin for you.

I can see a lot of people saying this is moral/ethical relativism. I don't think it is.

Think about this:

Say, hypothetically, that a person ABSOLUTELY believes that eating chicken is a sin and that person then voluntarily puts a piece of chicken in his/her mouth and starts chomping on it, and then swallows it...

Later, this person concludes that eating chicken isn't a sin, after all.

Well, that person still BELIEVED that it was at the time he/she chose to do it.

[Hunter121]

It only becomes a sin if you get drunk, because then you committed gluttony. Drinking isn't a sin, it's the overuse that becomes a sin, but overuse of anything is a sin.

[John 8:32]

It only becomes a sin if you get drunk, because then you committed gluttony. Drinking isn't a sin, it's the overuse that becomes a sin, but overuse of anything is a sin.

Do you believe you can dig your own grave with your teeth? Of course you can, in most instances where drunkeness is mentioned, gluttony is mentioned also.

[Withoutfcf]

Drinking wine is not a sin..Getting drunk is..Drinking isn't something i advise though -.-

[keck553]

I believe that if you BELIEVE that something is a sin, that MAKES it a sin for you.

I can see a lot of people saying this is moral/ethical relativism. I don't think it is.

Think about this:

Say, hypothetically, that a person ABSOLUTELY believes that eating chicken is a sin and that person then voluntarily puts a piece of chicken in his/her mouth and starts chomping on it, and then swallows it...

Later, this person concludes that eating chicken isn't a sin, after all.

Well, that person still BELIEVED that it was at the time he/she chose to do it.

well scripture says this, so it is so

[Raybob]

Sin? Depends on the person and their motivation. For me, I know it's a sin because I can never stop after one glass. I don't stop until it's all gone. For that reason, I don't even go there, haven't for 20 years with anything alcoholic.

I've heard from those familiar with wineries here in CA that the fermentation process used today is totally different from the natural fermentation process done in the old days. Supposedly, the new process gives wines and beer an addictive property that isn't found with natural fermentation. Can't say that's a fact but people that explained that to me should know well.

[EarlyCall]

What does the Bible say about it?We are told not to get drunk on strong drink.

We can reason this through. Can someone get drunk on a non-alcoholic drink? No. Drink tea until you explode, but you will not be drunk. So the command then concerns drinking something, anything that can make you drunk. And the command is not to abstain from it but rather to not get drunk on it. So then, drinking wine is not a sin, but getting drunk on it would be a sin.

[Fenris]

If it feels good, it must be a sin. We're not mean to enjoy life at all.

end sarcasm.

[Boo]

Well, I would doubt their claims. The days of the Bible still had alchohol in wine and "strong drink." It is the alchohol that was addictive.

I've heard people try to claim that the wine back then was not strong enough to be sinful, but the scriptures are full of cases where people got so drunk they did things that were very wrong and didn't even remember doing it.

I think we can all agree that drunkeness is the sin - not the drink.

[nimblewillsgrace]

Well, I would doubt their claims. The days of the Bible still had alchohol in wine and "strong drink." It is the alchohol that was addictive.

I've heard people try to claim that the wine back then was not strong enough to be sinful, but the scriptures are full of cases where people got so drunk they did things that were very wrong and didn't even remember doing it.

I think we can all agree that drunkeness is the sin - not the drink.

Yeah obviously never had home made muscadine wine!Nothing but sugar, muscadines and time!

[Fenris]

I'm reminded of a story about Rabbi Hirsch. He told his student that he was taking a vacation to go to Switzerland. When his students asked why, he told them "When I get up to Heaven, I want to have an answer when God says to me, ‘Nu, Shimshon, what did you think of My Alps?'"

And who could forget this famous (corrected) quote by Ben Franklin? "Behold the rain which descends from heaven upon our vineyards, there it enters the roots of the vines, to be changed into wine, a constant proof that God loves us, and loves to see us happy."

God put enjoyable things in this world for us to enjoy them. It only becomes a problem when we forget who put them there and why He did so.

[tango]

Sin? Depends on the person and their motivation. For me, I know it's a sin because I can never stop after one glass. I don't stop until it's all gone. For that reason, I don't even go there, haven't for 20 years with anything alcoholic.

I guess from this you're a reformed alcoholic?

I think you sum up the issue very well here. For me drinking a glass of wine is not a problem, drinking two or three glasses of wine is not a problem (assuming I'm not driving, of course). If I were entertaining friends I'd offer them tea, coffee, wine, beer, whatever. If I were entertaining friends who had issues with alcohol then I'd cut the alcohol from the list of options.

We stray into legalism if we figure that because some people have issues then it follows that none of us can partake. At the same time we have a duty to each other to not cause each other to stumble. That means not meeting someone struggling with alcoholism in a place where beer is freely available. It doesn't mean never even mentioning alcohol in case someone reads it and stumbles any more than it means never mentioning losing weight in case an anorexic reads it and stops eating.

[RollTide21]

It only becomes a sin if you get drunk, because then you committed gluttony. Drinking isn't a sin, it's the overuse that becomes a sin, but overuse of anything is a sin.

Pretty much...but I'd add this:

Alchohol is contrary to the Spirit in any quantity...IF it is being used to medicate. If we say "I don't get drunk, but I do drink a few beers at night", that's OK. But...if we "drink a few beers" because we are stressed or worried and we use the alchohol to dull our minds, that's a problem, I would say.

I drink beer and wine in moderation, but lately it's been a source of conviction for me by the Spirit. It's just very easy to drink too much, if you're a casual drinker. One night, I might have two glasses of wine and it be no big deal. The next night, I might be hanging with my wife and, the next thing I know, I've got a pretty good buzz. I know to cut it off right there, and people may think "Big deal". But...what about my plans for Bible reading that night? My prayer time? I'm certainly not coming before the Lord with a wine buzz going. LOL.

I guess I'd just say...alchohol isn't a sin in and of itself or anything. It's just kind of disruptive to a good, true Walk with Christ.