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

[wheels5894]

For the Christians, the text about the Last Supper should suffice; the disciples are instructed to drink from the cup that contained the wine. Jesus comments that He won't be drinking it again but there is no suggestion that the disciples should not.

The scene takes place at what might be a seder. There are 4 cups of wine to drink at the seder and after Jesus dies the disciples seem to have carried on in Jewish ceremonies. Wine was part of daily life and religion in those days.

Now I cannot find a single place where the Bible forbids drinking; it hardly could if wine was to be part of the worship. Nothing seems to happen in this connection until Methodists started out as a new denomination and the Salvation Army is well. They, I believe were the ones who started the idea of not drinking but without Biblical support. Thus this is not Christian thing at all but a tradition of one or more denominations. Mind, I would have thought that to stay the right side of Christian values getting blotto would be out but enjoying drinks at a party if perfectly harmless in moderation.

As an afterthought, if a person cannot have a good time with friends without alcohol that I would say that person has a quite different problem, and alcohol isn't going to solve it.

Cheers, mine's a pint please!

[Openmind]

Thanks for the insights. I can see no reason why they should be uncomfortable around people who want to drink.

Of course, there is a problem if you need alcohol to have fun with friends. I don't need it. But, of course, it is one of life's pleasures and I enjoy drinking it, especially at large social gatherings.

And some of the people going are a little dry...a few drinks might make the night smoother for me!

But thanks again, hopefully I can talk some sense into them!

[wheels5894]

You could try a Jewish style story on them: -

" A man died and went up to judgement. God looked down on hi and said, 'Why did you not enjoy the things I gave you to enjoy?'

You know, I reckon the fruits of the vine are some of those things to enjoy. you could always try a him flask by the way.

Good luck.

[Openmind]

That's a good one! I'll try it.

I was thinking a hip flask...but thought it might be a little too suspicious.

[wheels5894]

I don't know where you live, but i the UK we have various blackcurrant drinks. Replacement of the drink with some suitable red wine and there's another answer.

[otseng]

I would agree with wheels5894. Alcohol is discouraged because of tradition rather than any Biblical support. One of Jesus' first miracles was turning water into wine. The sacrament of the communion is also supposed to be with wine. So, if anything, Christians are anti-Biblical if they totally ban alcohol.

The only prohibition I can find in the Bible about alcohol is to not get drunk. I think this is pretty clear. But, I do not see any command not to drink it. So, I believe a moderate amount of alcohol is perfectly acceptable.

[Openmind]

Ok...thanks for this information

(red wine/black currant juice sounds good. Water bottle and vodka can also work!)

So...bascially I should be informing these christians they have no need to be threatened, it's sanctioned by the bible, and they are not doing anything wrong by associating with someone like myself who is probably going to drink more than a "moderate" amount of alcohol at an 18th.

Or actually, is there a problem with watching someone getting slightly drunk? Is that sinful in any way?

[McCulloch]

I have seen Christians apply the teaching of this passage to this concept.

Therefore concerning the eating of things sacrificed to idols, we know that there is no such thing as an idol in the world, and that there is no God but one. For even if there are so-called gods whether in heaven or on earth, as indeed there are many gods and many lords, yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom are all things and we exist for Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we exist through Him.

However not all men have this knowledge; but some, being accustomed to the idol until now, eat food as if it were sacrificed to an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled. But food will not commend us to God; we are neither the worse if we do not eat, nor the better if we do eat.

But take care that this liberty of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. For if someone sees you, who have knowledge, dining in an idol's temple, will not his conscience, if he is weak, be strengthened to eat things sacrificed to idols? For through your knowledge he who is weak is ruined, the brother for whose sake Christ died. And so, by sinning against the brethren and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ.

Therefore, if food causes my brother to stumble, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause my brother to stumble.

There are people, who cannot manage alcohol. They are tempted to use alcohol and if they start, they cannot (or have a more difficult time than the rest of us) stopping appropriately. As an extension of the "Do unto others" teaching, it is thought by some that they should not be seen condoning or encouraging drunkenness or participating in those activities which certain weak brothers would have to be excluded from.

[twobitsmedia]

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

It is probably neither right or wrong. It is dependent on the conscious of the one throwing the party. Paul wrote to the Romans "I know, and am peruaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth anything unclean. to him it is unclean.(Rom 14:14)" The person throwing the party is right in believing there is nothing wrong with the alcohol, but the ones who feel it is a problem are also right. In vs 15 it says "But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with they meat, for whom Christ died." Even though the one throwing the party knows that the alcohol is not offensive in itself, he understands that by serving it to those who think it is, could affect their concsience. He is actually being very gracious to them.


Now to ask whether they are on solid ground to say that because they don't, no one else should? I don't think so. If they perceive drinking as some sort of sin, it is equal than to saying "I don't sin, so youi shouldn't either." It's kind of a self-absorbed Chrstian view that suggests that because I see the world the way i do, you have to also. But, the one throwing the party if taking the high road which is repectable.