Alcohol Hurts A Christians Witness – BULL CRAP!

Interesting post, passionate. Obviously you’re reacting to this poll which I think is slanted and one-sided. But I would love to hear some discussion about Christians who don’t feel drinking is a sin but choose not to because of their past addictions.

Overall I agree with your response to this article. Like everything in life, we should seek balance and moderation rather than reacting out of fear and going off the deep end.

Brad Ruggles
http://www.bradruggles.com

Yeah I might look back at this post later and wish I had been a little more tame…but I read that poll this morning and it has been boiling in me all day.

I actually have a few friends who are recovering alcoholics and Christians. From everything I’ve talked to them about, they know its not a sin, but they understand their weakness and don’t test themselves. They don’t have a problem with others drinking though.

I would say that if someone has an issue with drinking that they shouldn’t. I just have a problem with overarching statements that take away a Christian’s freedom.

Well put sir,

I think I’ll go read the “about” section then a few more posts

In general I concur with you, Greg, and I agree with Brad about “seek[ing] balance and moderation.” I grew up in a subset of society that was very fundamentalist/evangelical/social conservative where things like smoking, drinking and rock and roll were almost always viewed as sins (the first two, always, music was occasionally flexible). But what was often not explained was the reasons that drove the outcry against them: teenage parents, alcohol or drug addictions, etc that happened in the generation that was now raising kids.

Kevin Max (dc Talk, yes, I realize the irony of quoting a CCM artist on alcohol) talked about dealing with the balance Brad mentioned, especially when being a public/celebrity Christian. Many Christians are opposed to drinking as a blanket moral law, and I think the only way to bridge that gap is by kindness and understanding. Alcohol can be a seriously dangerous thing for some (see the success of Alcoholics Anonymous in the church) and we must remember that we are a witness both externally to the world, and internally to our brethren in Christ.

Dean. I agree with what you’re saying. What made me mad about the poll was how they based their views on polling a bunch of Christians. I think we need to consider our brothers that struggle with alcohol. But we also need to make sure not to alienate the lost beer drinker.

its funny, because i don’t think any non-christians stumble across christian.net to fill out a poll as to what would be the best way to “convert” them. being in advertising i’ve noticed that results like this show that we are really concerned with presenting a clean image of christianity. now whether we have the capacity to live up to the very image we put forth is questionable. it would seem that asking questions like this shows that maybe the lives we live, with or without alcohol, are not attracting people to God like we would hope. So let’s make blanket commandments to paint a better picture of our savior.

Greg, you doing a great job on this site, i’m enjoying it. Ortega, right on, that’s it, “let’s paint a better picture of our saviour”, I love it. The best picture of Jesus is just that – he’s our saviour.

Great post. It’s tough to tackle issues like this without just flaming people…well done.

But I will say that we are moving in a positive direction in America as a church on the topic of drinking. Gen xer’s and younger are more concerned with Gospel truth than American moral tradition

Also consider the source of readership (I know nothing about their site). Personally, drinking beer has enhanced my witness.

I just found your site today. I compliment you. You might be interested in a series of posts on my blog regarding drinking and idolizing of the weaker brother. Cheers!

Steve Scotts last blog post..Adoption (4) – Foster System

I have chosen not to partake of any beverages that contain alcohol. See http://www.fbcnewcarlisle.org under Pastors FAQ’s and scroll to “Is it okay for Christians to drink alcoholic beverages.” I think there are abunadant biblical reasons to abstain.

@Rick I read your article (a little hard to find). I think you need to read my post:

http://thebeerean.com/2008/05/preaching-to-the-chior/

If I used the same logic/scriptural interpretation that you did in your article there would be so many things that I couldn’t do that God has clearly given me freedom in scripture to do (eating pork, watching TV, sex with my wife, ect.).

Now I’m cool with you not drinking alcohol, but please don’t say that there is, “abunadant[sic] biblical reasons to abstain.” You insult our church fathers (Calvin, Luther, and Spurgeon to name a few) and Jesus who all drank alcohol to the glory of God.

Yah, Rick, I have to agree with Greg. It seems to me like you’re taking a very narrow subset of scripture and using it to drive an agenda. Yes, the Bible is *very* clear that drunkenness is a sin. I fully agree with that. Nearly all of your bullet points you use in the article to argue against drinking are predicated on the fact that it’s impossible to drink without having it progress to the point of drunkenness. That’s clearly not the case. Just like anything, the use of alcohol (whether it be a goblet of single malt scotch, a glass of Chianti, or a pint of Guinness) requires self-control. I’d encourage you take another, more open-minded look at this issue. I trust that if you do this, you’ll come to a more moderate view on drinking. I’m obviously not asking you to change your own personal view on drinking, rather, I’m hoping that you’ll be able to stop advocating this as what the Bible has to say about drinking. By taking such a narrow view, I’d venture to say that you’re only managing to alienate and divide the kingdom, rather than striving to be unified, as Christ taught.