do you think drinking alcohol is sinful? jesus turned water into wine. jesus sat with the 'sinners'?

Question

european christians drink wine and such so why is it wrong? are north american christians being hypocritical?

Answer 1

The Bible says to avoid -drunkenness-, not just drinking in general. Jesus was a social drinker. But the pagans were the ones who got drunk. So I believe that social drinking is okay, but getting drunk is not. Be responsible, I suppose.

Scripture contains many warnings regarding the drinking of alcohol (Leviticus 10:9; Numbers 6:3; Deuteronomy 29:6; Judges 13:4,7,14; 1 Samuel 1:15; Proverbs 20:1; 31:4,6; Isaiah 5:11,22; 24:9; 28:7; 29:9; 56:12; Micah 2:11; Luke 1:15). However, Scripture does not necessarily forbid a Christian from drinking beer, wine, or any other drink containing alcohol. In fact, some Scriptures discuss alcohol in positive terms. Ecclesiastes 9:7 instructs “drink wine with a merry heart.” Psalm 104:14-15 states that God gives wine “that makes glad the heart of men.” Amos 9:14 discusses drinking wine from your own vineyard as a sign of God’s blessing. Isaiah 55:11 encourages “yes, come buy wine and milk…”

What God commands Christians regarding alcohol is to avoid drunkenness (Ephesians 5:18). The Bible condemns drunkenness and its effects (Proverbs 23:29-35). Christians are also commanded to not allow their bodies to be “mastered” by anything (1 Corinthians 6:12; 2 Peter 2:19). Drinking alcohol in excess is undeniably addictive. Scripture also forbids a Christian from doing anything that might offend other Christians or might encourage them to sin against their conscience (1 Corinthians 8:9-13). In light of these principles, it would be extremely difficult for any Christian to say he is drinking alcohol to the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31).

Jesus changed water into wine. It even seems that Jesus drank wine on occasion (John 2:1-11; Matthew 26:29). In New Testament times, the water was not very clean. Without modern sanitation efforts, the water was often filled with bacteria, viruses, and all kinds of contaminants. The same is true in many third-world countries today. As a result, people often drank wine (or grape juice) because it was far less likely to be contaminated. In 1 Timothy 5:23, Paul was instructing Timothy to stop drinking the water (which was probably causing his stomach problems) and instead drink wine. In that day, wine was fermented (containing alcohol), but necessarily not to the degree it is today. It is incorrect to say that it was grape juice, but it is also incorrect to say that it was the same thing as the wine commonly used today. Again, Scripture does not necessarily forbid Christians from drinking beer, wine, or any other drink containing alcohol. Alcohol is not, in and of itself, tainted by sin. It is, rather, drunkenness and addiction to alcohol that a Christian must absolutely refrain from (Ephesians 5:18; 1 Corinthians 6:12).

Alcohol, consumed in small quantities, is neither harmful or addictive. In fact, some doctors advocate drinking small amounts of red wine for its health benefits, especially for the heart. Consumption of small quantities of alcohol is a matter of Christian freedom. Drunkenness and addiction are sin. However, due to the Biblical concerns regarding alcohol and its effects, due to the easy temptation to over-consumption of alcohol, and due to the possibility of causing offense and/or stumbling of others – it is usually best for a Christian to abstain entirely from drinking alcohol.

Answer 2

The wine they would drink then was different from the wine of today. It was usually a fresh press, so more like grape juice then wine. It had a lot less alcohol, and due to the unsanitary conditions of water, was drunk more.

I don't think it's a sin to drink, but I prefer not to. I think drinking isn't right, and since I know that alcoholism has ran in my family, I don't even want to give an opportunity for that to happen to me.

Wine, when used in the right way, and within the right context, isn't bad. It's when it's taken to access that's the problem.

Answer 3

No, I don't think drinking alcohol is sinful. It's what you do after you drink it that is the problem. Many times when people are drunk is when the sinning starts! You just have to make sure you don't let it control your actions and thoughts and cause you to sin. I'm a North American, by the way. I hope I'm not being hypocritical in my life because I'm a Christian and I drink alcohol.

Answer 4

Most American Christians drink alcohol as well. This "alcohol is sinful" business is a historical leftover from the 19th century/early 20th century temprance movement in which the (in many ways laudable) efforts to curtail excessive consumption got tangled up with religion. But there's no doctrinal basis for that view--never has been.

Today, however, there is an added element. The only group of "Christians" who still promote this notion are those on the religious right. And it is simply part of their general agenda of social control --and to be blunt, none of tha tagenda follows Christ's teachings. It isn't Christian--or evenreligious, primarily. It is a political ideology wrapped in religious clothing. I'm sure many of the followers of those sects are sincere--I know many who are good, decent people. But misled by preachers and political leaders.

My point is--don't define American Christians in as "anti-drinking"--or otherwise lump us all toghether. Those with such views are a small--and shrinking--minority.

Answer 5

When I was a younger man, I would see people who were church-goers who could drink wine with their dinner or a beer or two at a cook-out. I figured that God was OK with each of us drinking what each of us could drink without getting out of control. Well, I could drink ALOT without getting (in MY view) out of control. I was always the designated drunken driver in my group of friends. Never got a ticket while drinking, never have had an accident, and I've always driven about 50,000 miles per year (for the past 23 years or so).

So - The behavior of some Christians led me (at the time a very inexperienced Christian) astray.

Now I understand why scripture tells us not to do something that in and of itself is not a sin, but that could lead a younger believer astray. It is ALOT easier for me to just not drink any alcohol than to try to read the minds of everyone who might witness me having a beer as well as the minds of everyone they might tell.

Answer 6

There is nothing wrong with drinking alcoholic drink in and of itself. Where it's wrong is when it's done to excess and it results in drunkeness. Drunkeness is a sin, but not drinking itself.

Yes, Jesus changed the water to wine at the wedding feast in Cana, and being a good guest, and not wanting to offend His hosts at the party, probably imbibed a little of it Himself.....

Answer 7

No. Wine is good for the stomach's sake is what the Bible says. I believe that drinking in excess is a sin and drinking to the point that you are drunk and stumbling around and making a fool of yourself would be a sin.

Answer 8

Jesus also drank alcohol which is why the pharisees called him "winebibber." North american christians are being legalistic and overly pious, but I don't think it's hypocracy.

Drunkeness is another thing btw.

Mat 11:19 The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children.

Answer 9

The reason why wine was encouraged was for health reasons as water was not purified. Wine with its alchohol was safer and hence gave less rise to stomach complaints. The wine industry has always been arround, just got more commercial. As for sin, that is really referring to over-indulgence which no one appreciates

Answer 10

The book of Romans, chapter 14, goes into detail regarding the reason why many Christians obstain from Alcohol.

To summarize, it says that nothing you eat or drink is unclean in itself, but that if what you eat or drink causes others to stumble, you're acting in sin.

Considering the major social issue in the world of alcohol abuse and alcoholism in the world, it is logical to conclude that it is better to abstain from alcohol than to enjoy the freedom of drinking it.

So, based on scripture, abstaining from alcohol is not hypocritical, but right and propper. Read it for yourself, if you don't believe me. The link is below.