Follow-Ups to Answer from Expert Elder Greg Madden

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ben wrote at 2008-12-10 10:54:01
Drinking is not a sin, even Jesus drank wine, but drunkenness is a sin.





Matt 11:19 (Jesus describing himself eating & drinking, then the reference of what the multitude had called Jesus)

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" The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Look, a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners! ."





John 2:7-10 (Jesus' Miracle of water into wine at the wedding in Cana)

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"Jesus said to them, "Fill the waterpots with water." And they filled them up to the brim.



And He said to them, "Draw [some] out now, and take [it] to the master of the feast." And they took [it].



When the master of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom.



And he said to him, "Every man at the beginning sets out the good wine, and when the [guests] have well drunk, then the inferior. You have kept the good wine until now!" ."





1 Timothy 5:23 (Paul writing to Timothy concerning Timothy's stomach problem)

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"No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for your stomach's sake and your frequent infirmities"



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Again, drinking is not a sin, but drunkeness is!

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Robert wrote at 2011-03-22 03:22:45
A very well argued and thought out answer indeed and as a follower of Christ I would simply like to point out a few counter arguments on a small part of the argument which have recently been pointed out to me, supported by the scriptures of coarse. Most of these points I got from nltworld.com.



The only part I would like to comment on is that according to the scriptures as highlighted in the previous comment, dealing with alcohol it seems it is only wrong to get drunk or to cause another to stumble. There are many verses in the Bible which speak of alcoholic beverage as a good thing and actually for blessing. 'And in this mountain The LORD of hosts will make for all people a feast of choice pieces, a feast of wine on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of well-refined wine on the lees' (Isaiah 25:6)



Nothing in itself was created sinful but only becomes such when men twist it away from God's original intention for sinful practices. Paul himself said "For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving" 1 Timothy 4:4. Therefore even alcohol has a good purpose but when used out of moderation and in excess it becomes damaging (as with vitamins) and used for evil purposes.



The reason that I bring this to attention is not simply to justify drinking, because it so easily can get out of hand to many people, as well as cause fellow brothers to stumble. But rather because if a believer talking and connecting while having a drink with unbelievers is what it takes to get to know them, connect with them and even share the gospel with them, then having a drink is not a sin but rather a Christ-honoring thing, something Christ himself did though the Pharisee's accused him of getting drunk, "For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon.’ The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and “sinners.”’ But wisdom is proved right by all her children." Luke 7 33-35.  

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