Boanerges

Brother Struick if I am ever up your way you and I should kick back and have a beer togeather- a rootbeer that is!

Daniel

I'm just joining in here. And without having read all the posts, I will simply answer the OP's question of whether or not drinking alcahol is a sin.

While I don't see drinking as a sin, I do see getting drunk as one. Getting drunk leaves no room for the Holy Spirit to reside in us. Alcahol becomes our boss when we drink in excess. However, having said that, I also don't like to even social drink. I see drinking alcahol as a stumbling block for others. If a non christian alcaholic sees me drink even the smallest amount of liquor, that may send a wrong message to him/her. The message that drinking is okay, but since the alcaholic has a drinking problem, drinking is NOT okay, because it leads to getting drunk. So, I stay away from liquor all together simply so that I won't become a stumbling block for someone else. (Plus I don't like the taste of liquor!)

Arenlor

Drinking is NOT a sin, water into wine, the Bible states, and I'll find the reference in an hour or two, that it's when you become a drunkard that it is a sin. Once again, water into wine. Also, this is my blood, given for you.

Struick

Sounds good to me!

mustardseed

Good point, Arenlor.

__________________
God grades on the cross, not the curve.

The Dane

In my church in denmark (vineyard)
After each evening service we go to a cafe or bar, some drink 0,5 l of beer others just cofee, when we have parties we drink to but we drink reasonable. Dont think alcohol is a problem, just know your limiits and when to stop.
Our pastor says, Rather sit in the bar and think of church, than sit in the church and thin of the bar.

Seito

Very good point.

As I see it (and I haven't read all the posts either but) I don't see drinking as a problem, getting drunk is. Alcoholism is like what Jesus said when he was saying that "You can serve only one Master", except He was refering to money - but it works on the same principle. In the Bible it mentions countless times that drunkeness is a sin, just read any chapter of Proverbs and there's some sort of reference to drunkeness being for fools, or something like that.

However, i do appreciate what Daniel says, it may give of the wrong impression if you drink, even the smallest amount. The world is always watching what we do as Christians. So, I would say that drink is not a sin, but, personally, I wouldn't do it.

Hope it helps.

__________________
"Owe nothing to anyone -- except your obligation to love one another"
Romans 13: 8

Boanerges

Just me personally but I can't see myself hanging out in a bar, I wouldn't want to put my seal of approval on something that I have seen destroy quite a few lies - you know it's that-
1Th 5:22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.
thing- If I go to the casino or bar and someone else says" it must be ok, Larry's a Christain and he does it"- it could lead that person to really stumble- I wouldn't want that kind of responsability - and honestly there is nothing that interests me there, I was in quite a few of them ad a lost soul and never noticed one with a Godly atmodphere- I certainly never thought of hanging out in a bar as a church activity- I must be really old fashioned (not liberal).

James

Oh, Paul was on a tear in Thessalonians. Good stuff.

So why go to the bar at all. Go to the bar and think of church? Try and go to the bar and think of Jesus Christ, that would be difficult.

This whole drinking thing is kind of ridiculous. Sounds like a bunch of christians trying to figure out what they can get away with. If you have to ask, the answer is usually no. Stop trying to rationalize something you know in your heart you should not be doing.

Hang out at the bar and think of church. That's a riot.

Boanerges

agreed James- ruffle, ruffle