Alcohol - Abstinence or Not?
The Methodist Church has long held that Abstinence from alcohol is the best Christian witness.
Paragraph 162J of the United Methodist Book of Discipline affirms the denomination’s “long-standing support of abstinence from alcohol as a faithful witness to God’s liberating and redeeming love for persons.”
What do you think?
Another good question along these lines is what is your definition of drunkenness? When is a person under the influence of alcohol? Is it a blood level? Is it a behavioral change? Is it some other standard?
Scripturally there are passages that support abstinence and that support having a little wine for your stomach's sake. Yet remember, you take medicine by the spoon full, not the jug full - lol.
Your thoughts?
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What passages in scripture support abstinence from alcohol? Thanks.
Here are a few passages that talk about abstinence. Often they are references to times when persons want to be holy, righteous, in tune with God. You make your own decision!
Proverbs 23:31-35 - 31 Do not gaze at wine when it is red,when it sparkles in the cup,when it goes down smoothly! 32 In the end it bites like a snake and poisons like a viper. 33 Your eyes will see strange sights and your mind imagine confusing things. 34 You will be like one sleeping on the high seas, lying on top of the rigging. 35 "They hit me," you will say, "but I'm not hurt! They beat me, but I don't feel it! When will I wake up so I can find another drink?"
Proverbs 20:1 - Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler; whoever is led astray by them is not wise.
Alcoholic drink is first mentioned in the story of Noah - Genesis 9:20-27. When fermented wine took away his modesty, his son Ham mocked him.
The power of wine to overcome a man's godliness and common sense is a recurrent theme of Scripture. After much drinking, Lot was easily lured into sexual immorality - Genesis 19:30-36.
The Bible lists drunkenness among the grievous sins that cannot be tolerated in an assembly of believers. A professing Christian guilty of drunkenness must be expelled from the church - 1 Corinthians 5:11.
Often the best witness of someone following God is to abstain. When a king was judging the people he was admonished to abstain from intoxicating drink - Proverbs 31:4-5. A priest had to be fully sober while he was ministering in the Temple - Leviticus 10:8-11. Anyone who took a Nazirite vow, a vow to set himself apart for a period of special dedication and service to the Lord, was forbidden to eat or drink any product of the vine. He was specifically required to abstain from wine and strong drink - Numbers 6:3.
For clear head and godly example, the Scriptures often call for abstinence.
God promised when we meet temptation, God will provide a way out - 1 Corinthians 10:13. Some are easily drawn into uncontrolled drinking. For them total abstinence is the way God provides. Because a little alcohol might be enough to get some started on the road to alcoholism, God in His Word advises some against drinking even in moderation.
Just some Scriptures that have led the UMC to adopt abstinence as the best Christian witness. I hope this helps.
Here's my 2 cents and personal experience: So dang an expensive form of liquid and over indulgence short term not good for the mind or body and long term usually very poor for the liver and generally ages folks upon late age 30s-50. Usually contains high-levels of carbs, ie - six pack abs = keg abs.
Best advice to young folks don't get started. Just another society "life-crutch". Glad I stopped in my mid 20s!
Wow! now there's a subject of controversy.
alchol can allow you to do stupid things, things you might not otherwise do.
Alchol is fattenning. Drinkiing 1 alcholic drink a week caused me to gain weight, stopping that drink, allowed me to lose it again. It also made me emotionally "feel" like an alcholic. I was having that drink simply because it was available and not even because i felt the need or even the desire to have it. Just plain stopping was the best solution.
Alchohol in medicinal amounts can be good. Like a spoonful of sugar or vinegar, it can aid in digestion.
If someone has made a commitment to oneself or to God it is very important to stand by the commitment, to "stay clean" if you will. Go to god HE Will help. Don't allow temptation & weakness of others to be a block in your vision and commitment to God. Be certain that it is God driven motive and not a holier than thou approach. If it is God driven, HE Will Be There for you.
One of the first miracles performed by Jesus was turning water into wine. This, in my opinion leads to believe that wine, or alcohol itself is not negative or evil, but the overindulgence is.
In the Bible we see many instances where alcohol (when consumed in excess) inhibits the thoughts and actions of those who abuse it. In Genesis we see Lot having intercourse with both of his daughtes after getting drunk. Some may say he was tricked, but if he hadn't overindulged, it would not have happened at all.
This is just one of many instances where we see the ill affects of too much alcohol.
As for myself, I don't drink at all, however I wouldn't say that Abstinence is the key. I believe responsibility, and maturity go a long way.
Just having seen the damage alcohol has done to people's lives has been enough for me. Plus I have been blessed with a dislike for the taste of alcohol. While there is scripture about a little wine being good for you (I personally do not think drinking a little alcohol is a bad thing), one must look at the reason for drinking the alcohol in the first place. I will just leave it at that. My dad, who never tasted it once told me, "If you never try it, you will never have to worry about having a problem with it". I have been a firm believer in that (although I did not follow his advice and tried it, but I did not swallow it ha ha.... thankfully I never liked the taste or the effects and worse yet the after effects). My dad was a smart man.
Up until prohibition, alcohol was used by most denominations. As with anything-too much is not good. Self control is one of the fruits of the HS.
What concerns me about the UMC is that alcohol is prohibited, but abortion is allowed in some instances. Go figure!
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