Social drinking?

[houston]

Kill Christian witness? Hardly. Opens up the door to tell them what the bible says about drinking. This is not an issue in (many) Reformed churches.

[MawMaw]

Originally Posted by AR Pastor

grape juice.

Our church also uses grape juice.

[Carl]

My long time pastor always testified how when he repented he poured all the booze down the kitchen sink and when he threw the bottles out was afraid someone would see them all in the garbage at the curb and what would they think of him.

This has been a great thread to read. I've learned a lot. I think one of the best points made was that with modern methods of preservation we really don't have to drink the fermented or alcoholic type drinks because there is so much else available. I also did not know that a person would need to drink a lot of wine to actually get drunk.

[Praxeas]

Originally Posted by LOVE JESUS

I have seen alcohol destroy marriages, children's lives and etc. Thousands are killed by impaired drinkers on the highway daily. My husband's mother was an alcoholic and it all started with social drinking to be with friends. It destroyed his parents' marriage along with other things too. It broke up their home and sent 2 young boys 13 and 15 living with whoever would take them in. All because of the grace of God, he never touched the alcohol. His mom died a Christian and his dad is serving God today all because of a praying mom and dad and their 2 sons. He would most definitely be against any form of alcohol.
The thing that concerns me is: WHO IS GOING TO SEE YOU WHEN YOU GO BUY THE STUFF IN THE STORE? What if someone came to your home and saw the bottles and you were trying to win them to God. It could kill your Christian witness in a heartbeat.
I guess I am a quite a bit surprised that any Apostolic would even think of drinking any amount considering their strictness on so many other things.

Lots of things kill marriages but it's not alcohol, it's the over consuming of alcohol

that's like "Guns don't kill, people with guns kill"

People that get drunk WANT to get drunk. It's not because of "social drinking".

It does not mean everyone is going to get drunk or become an alcoholic

The only people that will stumble over seeing you buy a bottle of wine at the store are those that have been taught and believe it's a sin.

As we have seen, the bible does not teach against drinking. It teaches against drunkeness.


BTW I don't promote social drinking. Personally if a Christian wants to have a glass of wine with their meal, do it at home but not in a group where others might be that have had a history of abuse with it

[obriencp]

Thanks for replying AR Pastor.

[obriencp]

I agree that we need to hold ourselves to a higher standard and we need to abstain from the appearances of evil. While I don't have a problem with people having a drink or two in front of me, I prob won't in public because I don't know peoples' convictions or whether or not the sinner will judge me.

Just because you can, doesn't mean you should.

BTW, I knew Elder Epley was just curious how liberal/unholy we all were. He definitely went fishing on this one.

[Praxeas]

Originally Posted by Carl

My long time pastor always testified how when he repented he poured all the booze down the kitchen sink and when he threw the bottles out was afraid someone would see them all in the garbage at the curb and what would they think of him.

This has been a great thread to read. I've learned a lot. I think one of the best points made was that with modern methods of preservation we really don't have to drink the fermented or alcoholic type drinks because there is so much else available. I also did not know that a person would need to drink a lot of wine to actually get drunk.

Wine varies in content.

One drink won't affect most people
http://iml.jou.ufl.edu/projects/fall05/garcia/body.html

[Evang.Benincasa]

Originally Posted by Praxeas

I wonder how many Orthodox Jews are alcoholics

Every Purim!

"Rava said: It is one's duty levasumei, to make oneself fragrant [with wine] on Purim until one cannot tell the difference between 'arur Haman' (cursed be Haman) and 'barukh Mordekhai' (blessed be Mordecai)" (Babylonian Talmud, Megillah 7b). ~Abba ben Joseph bar Ḥama (c. 280 – 352 CE)

[FlamingZword]

Originally Posted by obriencp

I agree that we need to hold ourselves to a higher standard and we need to abstain from the appearances of evil. While I don't have a problem with people having a drink or two in front of me, I prob won't in public because I don't know peoples' convictions or whether or not the sinner will judge me.

Just because you can, doesn't mean you should.

BTW, I knew Elder Epley was just curious how liberal/unholy we all were. He definitely went fishing on this one.

OK
Let us hold up to the standard of Jesus.
No standard can ever be higher than Jesus, he is the ultimate in holiness, no one can out-holy Jesus, he is the highest you can ever go.

John came neither eating or drinking and behold they say he has a devil

The son of man came eating and drinking and behold they say a man Gluttonous and a winebidder.

Does anyone actually believes that John ate absolutely nothing? and drank absolutely nothing?

But Jesus himself admits to eating and drinking with sinners.
Now what would sinners eat and drink?

why would the Pharisees accuse Jesus of such things and instead of contradicting them; Jesus actually admits that he did came eating and drinking.

Jesus not only admits that he did came eating and drinking, but he actually created wine for a wedding.

Jesus is right
"wisdom is justified of her children."

[Truthseeker]

Paul only taught to not drink in front of a weak brother who would stumble over it. Interesting, those who couldn't drink was considered weak.