Christians and Alcohol

[Openmind]

Ok...here is a real life situation involving christians, and what some believe is right and wrong.

A strongly christian friend of mine is having an 18th birthday party soon. Now, I'm an atheist, and I would have had no probs getting on the turps with some good mates and having a good time. My christian friend said that was ok - he would have a few drinks but wouldn't get sozzled. But...some other strong christian friends of his have said that they don't want alcohol there. And, as a result, he has decided there shall be none.

Now...it's his party, and he can prohibit if he wants to, prohibit if he wants to, prohibit if he wants to (sorry, couldn't help myself!)

But surely...are these christians on solid, faith backed ground to say that just becuase they don't feel like drinking or have a problem with it, no one else can? And that they don't feel comfortable with it? I know, that becuase they are christian, they have heavily influenced his decision in banning some of us drinkers from consuming our party beverages.

I would appreciate input from some christians over whether this is right or wrong!

Cheers

[ST88]

I would appreciate input from some christians over whether this is right or wrong!

If you really want to start an argument, tell them that Muslims are the ones who absolutely forbid alcohol. Mohammed gave ten curses to the makers, distributors, and enjoyers of alcohol.

[Righteous Indignation]

A case could be made that the Bible is pro-alcohol:

"Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts. Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more." Proverbs 31:6-7

"Then I commended mirth, because a man hath no better thing under the sun, than to eat, and to drink, and to be merry: for that shall abide with him of his labour the days of his life, which God giveth him under the sun." Ecclesiastes 8:15

[sledheavy]

I was raised in a christian setting which completely discouraged alchohol. I don't know if that's anything to vouch for now that I'm more secular, but if it's any consideration, I'm the first of a line of 5 fathers to not be an alcoholic by my current age, actually as far as I know, I'm the first of the male side of my inner family to not be a raging alcoholic.

I think christianity teaches to drink, but not get drunk, and I find that sound advice at times.

I do get drunk, though not on occasion, but out of moderation and not out of spite. It shouldn't matter christian or not, in my opinion.

[Ncik666]

Sign of the bibles times my friends,. It was written at a time when wine was, well, more common than water at some times and beer was a good wholesome drink to give to working people.
What I don't like about this is that the single person who doesn't like drink had an effect on the whole party. I would have a problem with that wether he was christian or not.

[spiritletter]

Drinking is okay for people who aren't alcoholics, whether they're Christian or not. Alcohol in itself is not a bad thing: what happens to alcoholics when they drink is very, very bad.

I have always been a little suspicious of certain Christian sects that become hysterical about alcohol. It's a little like saying gruyere cheese is evil.

[sledheavy]

they need dishaplyn.

[methylatedghosts]

Spike the alcy-free punch, IMO!!!

no, only kidding.

... although.....

Seriously though, I don't know why it matters that one person doesn't like alcohol that he should cause a party-wide ban.... I mean, no-one's forcing him to drink it. Well, from my experience people are rather selfish when it comes to alcohol, until they get drunk enough to be generous, and then they're too crunk to care whether someone accepts their offer anyways.

[john_anthony_gonzalez]

Ok...here is a real life situation involving christians, and what some believe is right and wrong.

A strongly christian friend of mine is having an 18th birthday party soon. Now, I'm an atheist, and I would have had no probs getting on the turps with some good mates and having a good time. My christian friend said that was ok - he would have a few drinks but wouldn't get sozzled. But...some other strong christian friends of his have said that they don't want alcohol there. And, as a result, he has decided there shall be none.

Now...it's his party, and he can prohibit if he wants to, prohibit if he wants to, prohibit if he wants to (sorry, couldn't help myself!)

But surely...are these christians on solid, faith backed ground to say that just becuase they don't feel like drinking or have a problem with it, no one else can? And that they don't feel comfortable with it? I know, that becuase they are christian, they have heavily influenced his decision in banning some of us drinkers from consuming our party beverages.

I would appreciate input from some christians over whether this is right or wrong!

Cheers

Some Christians just arent as strong willed as others so lets say you drank you might lead others to sin and get drunk. Or lets say your Christian friend drank and he led other people to drink and later on they decided to do it again and one fell into sin.

As Christians we should never even lead another brother or sister into temptation, so drinking is usually done in private with christians or among others in a setting that they know they will not lead others into sin or even make them uncomfortable,

[MikeH]

Ok...here is a real life situation involving christians, and what some believe is right and wrong.

A strongly christian friend of mine is having an 18th birthday party soon. Now, I'm an atheist, and I would have had no probs getting on the turps with some good mates and having a good time. My christian friend said that was ok - he would have a few drinks but wouldn't get sozzled. But...some other strong christian friends of his have said that they don't want alcohol there. And, as a result, he has decided there shall be none.

Now...it's his party, and he can prohibit if he wants to, prohibit if he wants to, prohibit if he wants to (sorry, couldn't help myself!)

But surely...are these christians on solid, faith backed ground to say that just becuase they don't feel like drinking or have a problem with it, no one else can? And that they don't feel comfortable with it? I know, that becuase they are christian, they have heavily influenced his decision in banning some of us drinkers from consuming our party beverages.

I would appreciate input from some christians over whether this is right or wrong!

Cheers

For the most part, Christians who drink will respect the wishes of other anti-drink Christians on terms of alcohol. There is also the issue of Christian friends who are employed by a church - they could be fired for going to a "drinking party!" Yikes!

The only way I see it as wrong is if the intent of the gathering is for everybody to get plastered, or if individuals who have alcoholism are going to feel pressured to drink.

[BozzyB]

The only way I see it as wrong is if the intent of the gathering is for everybody to get plastered

You've obviously never been to an 18th then!





BozzyB