Christians and Alcohol

Posted August 5, 2008
Filed under: Uncategorized |

It’s probably safe to say that the title of this post conjures up some strong emotions in a lot of people. This very issue was tackled at our services this past Sunday.  Here are a few highlights from the sermon:

  • We must own our faith and know where we stand on the issue of whether it’s OK for a Christian to drink alcohol.
  • The Bible says that alcohol in moderation is OK, but getting drunk is a sin.
  • We don’t get to interpret scripture the way we want to.  When the Bible says wine it means wine.  Just as when the Bible says Jesus it means Jesus or when it says Hell it means Hell.
  • The issue of whether it’s permissible for Christians to drink alcohol is not worth debating.  It goes in the “open hand”.  Things like Jesus being the only way to Heaven, the virgin birth and the Bible being the infallible word of God go in the “closed hand”.
  • Buying alcohol for people underage is a sin.
  • Alcohol related deaths in America are 100,000 a year.  Obesity related deaths are 300,000 a year.  We should be just as concerned about obesity as we are about alcohol.

I encourage you to watch the message HERE (just click on the play button) and wrestle with where you stand on the issue if you don’t already know.

4 comments so far

  1. nonie on August 6, 2008

    Are you saying its a sin to be obese?

  2. beth on August 7, 2008

    we heard a pastor say once that just b/c something is permissible doesn’t it’s something you should do. i think that’s a decision everyone needs to make for themselves. but i like the way you put it. it is in the Bible.

  3. mattlbailey on August 12, 2008

    Nonie:
    Yes, I am saying that obesity is a sin. It is not being a good steward of our bodies. Obesity usually means that we are not controlling our eating habits and are mastered by the food that we consume.

    Beth:
    That is a great quote. In fact it comes from I Corinthians 6:12. I think that very well sums up the debate on alcohol and food. Where we may have the freedom to drink or eat what we want it is not always beneficial for us to do so. We should not let anything master us.

  4. nathanbriscoe on July 13, 2009

    How many rapes, murders, spousal/child abuses, car accidents, undue arguments, and hateful words come about with alcohol in the mix? Obesity?

    Let’s be real about this issue.


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