Welcome to Gaia! ::

The Bible Guild

Back to Guilds

What if Jesus meant every word He said? 

Tags: God, Jesus, The Holy Spirit, The Bible, Truth, Love, Eternal Life, Salvation, Faith, Holy, Fellowship, Apologetics 

Reply Questions & Answers
I have a question fellow followers.

Quick Reply

Enter both words below, separated by a space:

Can't read the text? Click here

Submit

Sir Abizon

PostPosted: Fri Sep 12, 2014 5:59 pm
I have always been told that addiction is sin, Like addiction to pornography, drugs, alcohol etc.

My question is.
Is it a sin, to drink alcohol once in a while? We are talking months apart from each other. Wheres it's not an addiction but more of a way to relax when you are free from responsibilities.


Please and thank you.
Jesus loves you.  
PostPosted: Sat Sep 13, 2014 1:42 am
Addiction is a sin because it binds you, controls you. It can, in many cases, (depending on the addiction) ruin your life entirely and destroy your relationship with God. (And others, for that matter.)

I don't think it's a sin to drink once in awhile though, no. As long as one isn't getting drunk. It's sinful to get drunk, but having a few drinks now and again isn't an issue I don't think. As long as you're not drinking to the point that you start to impair your ability to think and such.  

Jewelies

Friendly Survivor


Haven923

Aged Gaian

7,600 Points
  • Brandisher 100
  • Guildmember 100
  • Citizen 200
PostPosted: Sat Sep 13, 2014 3:51 am
Jewelies said it pretty perfectly. Drinking to get drunk is clearly a no-go. Having a casual drink? There is nothing wrong with that. If you are pressured into it and don't want to partake, then you shouldn't, though.

Personally, I abstain from alcohol. It's actually kinda entertaining some of the criticism I get from my fellow soldiers. A soldier that doesn't drink is one in a million. I haven't ruled out ever drinking alcohol, but as of yet I haven't found a desire for it. Especially after seeing how easily it can be abused.

I really don't see how throwing up all over yourself, being unable to say your own name, not remembering the night before, and having a pounding headache can be considered "fun."

Maybe my sense of "fun" is warped by American standards, but I'll keep to it wink  
PostPosted: Sat Sep 13, 2014 4:25 am
Haven923
Jewelies said it pretty perfectly. Drinking to get drunk is clearly a no-go. Having a casual drink? There is nothing wrong with that. If you are pressured into it and don't want to partake, then you shouldn't, though.

Personally, I abstain from alcohol. It's actually kinda entertaining some of the criticism I get from my fellow soldiers. A soldier that doesn't drink is one in a million. I haven't ruled out ever drinking alcohol, but as of yet I haven't found a desire for it. Especially after seeing how easily it can be abused.

I really don't see how throwing up all over yourself, being unable to say your own name, not remembering the night before, and having a pounding headache can be considered "fun."

Maybe my sense of "fun" is warped by American standards, but I'll keep to it wink


I agree with both of you guys on this one. I don't drink due to the fact I HATE the taste of it, and something else that brings to another point that I would like to add.

Each church has different ideas about this topic. If you are still unsure, you can ask your minister about what is allowed. Especially if you are to become an elder/senior member of the church.

For example, as a Soldier (which is classed as a senior member), I can't drink at all, even if I wanted to. That is because of them trying to combat addictions like alcohol abuse.

If not, ask God about it, and he can show you to the right answer. I know it's not much help but hey, it's something sweatdrop  

musasgal

Stellar Helper

20,950 Points
  • Partygoer 500
  • Magical Gems 500
  • Battery 500

real eyes realize

Invisible Guildswoman

PostPosted: Sat Sep 13, 2014 9:20 am
I'll offer some scripture.

• About addiction:

        2 Peter 2:19 (NIV)

        19 They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity—for “people are slaves to whatever has mastered them.”

        Matthew 6:24 (NIV)

        24 “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

        Romans 6:22 (NIV)

        22 But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.



If we become a slave to whatever we're mastered by, and we cannot serve two masters, then we're not suppose to be slaves to anything but God. So, we shouldn't be addicted to / be mastered by anything—but God.



• About drinking:

Drinking is not a sin first of all if Jesus himself drank (and Jesus didn't commit any sins, otherwise he's not our sinless sacrifice prophesied by Isaiah 53). Secondly, Jesus commanded that we commemorate the last supper (the last supper involved wine/fruit from the vine). Thirdly, the apostle Paul even recommended that Timothy drink a little wine mixed with water to fix his stomach problems. If someone abstains from any and all alcohol, that's fine too. Neither one is sin.

        Luke 7:33-34 (NIV)

        33 For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon.’ 34 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.’




        - Concerning John the Baptist:

        Matthew 11:11 (NIV)

        11 Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.



        - Concerning Jesus:

        1 Peter 2:22 (NIV)

        22 “He committed no sin,
              and no deceit was found in his mouth.”[a]

        Footnotes:

        a. 1 Peter 2:22 Isaiah 53:9



        - Last Supper:

        Luke 22:17-20 (NIV)

        17 After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, “Take this and divide it among you. 18 For I tell you I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”

        19 And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”

        20 In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.[a]

        Footnotes:

        a. Luke 22:20 Some manuscripts do not have given for you … poured out for you.



        - Timothy told to drink wine:

        1 Timothy 5:23 (NIV)

        23 Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses.



As others have said, drunkenness is the sin / transgression of the law / what God condemns.

        Deuteronomy 21:20-21(NIV)

        20 They shall say to the elders, “This son of ours is stubborn and rebellious. He will not obey us. He is a glutton and a drunkard.” 21 Then all the men of his town are to stone him to death. You must purge the evil from among you. All Israel will hear of it and be afraid.


        Ecclesiastes 10:17 (NIV)

        17 Blessed is the land whose king is of noble birth
            and whose princes eat at a proper time—
            for strength and not for drunkenness.


        Proverbs 23:21 (NIV)

        21 for drunkards and gluttons become poor,
            and drowsiness clothes them in rags.


        Ephesians 5:18 (NIV)

        18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit,
 
PostPosted: Sat Sep 13, 2014 12:50 pm
real eyes realize
- Timothy told to drink wine:

1 Timothy 5:23 (NIV)

23 Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses.


A little historical fact I learned a while back: The wine they had apparently so frequently in Jesus' time wasn't quite like the wine we have nowadays. Some experts believe that it was far more diluted than modern wines. The reasoning they provide is that as the wine ferments and converts the sugar to alcohol, it is, in effect, cleansing itself. The alcohol kills any bacteria the water may have contained and renders it safe to drink. In Jesus' time wine wasn't just a recreational drink, it was actually a safer choice!  

Haven923

Aged Gaian

7,600 Points
  • Brandisher 100
  • Guildmember 100
  • Citizen 200

Lady Vizsla

PostPosted: Sat Sep 13, 2014 2:35 pm
No it's not. Drinking alcohol isn't a sin. But drunkenness is. Do we not sip wine in remembrance of Jesus' blood sacrifice?
 
PostPosted: Mon Sep 15, 2014 9:55 pm
Sir Abizon
I have always been told that addiction is sin, Like addiction to pornography, drugs, alcohol etc.

My question is.
Is it a sin, to drink alcohol once in a while? We are talking months apart from each other. Wheres it's not an addiction but more of a way to relax when you are free from responsibilities.


Please and thank you.
Jesus loves you.


Addictions happen in two ways: physiologically and spiritually. Some addictions are physiological, like being addicted to heroine. However, there is always a spiritual aspect to addiction, and that spiritual aspect is where the sin comes in.

The sin is idolatry, in short.

There's nothing wrong with drinking alcohol. Jesus turned water into wine. Paul told Timothy to take a little wine for his stomach. Wine was used to purify water so that it was safe to drink. Drinking alcohol is not a sin. Drunkenness is a sin. But if you feel tempted to get drunk, you should probably avoid alcohol.
 

Scarlet_Teardrops

Sparkly Genius

Reply
Questions & Answers

 
Manage Your Items
Other Stuff
Get GCash
Offers
Get Items
More Items
Where Everyone Hangs Out
Other Community Areas
Virtual Spaces
Fun Stuff
Gaia's Games
Mini-Games
Play with GCash
Play with Platinum