Alcohol - a world wide phenomena

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.

Christians should drink alcohol ...

  • Only once in a great long while, and only for special occasions chosen by God.

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • In any amount, at any time, for God placed no restrictions on the drinking of alcohol.

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • ???, I don't know if or when God allows the drinking of alcohol, as I am still studying this out.

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Can only drink alcohol when in God's service or ministry.

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Total voters
    29
Feb 7, 2022
646
75
28
Alcohol is a scientific...depressant.
Therefore can easily cause attempted body harm to one's self or others.
Yes, it is also in scripture as well.

Prov 23:29: "Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes?"
 
Feb 7, 2022
646
75
28
"Do not join those who drink too much wine or gorge themselves on meat," - Proverbs 23:20
That 'translation' carries an inherent bias. It does not say, "Do not join those who drink too much wine (alcohol)".

That is a terrible paraphrase and violates the Hebrew.

Pro. 23:20 HOT - אל תהי בסבאי יין בזללי בשר למו׃

Pro. 23:20 HOT Translit - al-T'hiy v'šov'ëy-yäyin B'zolálëy väsär lämô

Prov 23:20: "Be not among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh:"

"Winebibbers" = alcohol drinkers

There are no words in the Hebrew which read, "drink too much wine".

To incorrectly translate the Hebrew to say that, implies then your a priori, that a little alcohol is fine, but that isn't what the Hebrew says at all, neither implies.

It says do not be mingling with those who fill themselves up with alcohol. The phrase "too much" is not present and is subjective nonsense. Many Diné (aka 'Navajo') on the 'Rez' when surveyed in study, see even only one drink of alcohol as a "bad thing to do" by both drinkers and non (May & Smith, 1988).

The very next verse basically repeats this verse.

Prov 23:21: "For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags."

Drunkard is old English, coming from two words, "drink" (swallow liquid) and "ard" (hardy, with their might, boldly (without shame)). A drunkard is literally someone who drinks (in this case, alcohol) with their strength of effort without shame. They fill themselves with alcohol.
 
Feb 7, 2022
646
75
28
Alcohol is not a sin.
That's a strawman of the position taken. Alcohol represents in symbol sin and death. Drinking alcohol is the sin.

Job 15:16: "How much more abominable and filthy is man, which drinketh iniquity like water?"

Joel 1:5: "Awake, ye drunkards, and weep; and howl, all ye drinkers of wine, because of the new wine; for it is cut off from your mouth."

Isaiah 5:

20 Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!

21 Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!

22 Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink:

The wicked are bold to drink alcohol and are unashamed. Even 'Christians' who now reverse good and evil, sweet and bitter.

Deu 32:32: "For their vine is of the vine of Sodom, and of the fields of Gomorrah: their grapes are grapes of gall, their clusters are bitter:"
 

tourist

Senior Member
Mar 13, 2014
42,550
17,022
113
69
Tennessee
U r correct...the Bible tells us little of the physical effects. But, science tells us what is contained in that post and all is medically correct, not just an opinion from the Doc's.
I guess, like all things, it depends on whose opinions that you value that play a part in shaping your perception. I am talking about myself here so please take no offence.
 

tourist

Senior Member
Mar 13, 2014
42,550
17,022
113
69
Tennessee
19) Proverbs 23:19-20 – A wise person will not be among the drinkers of alcoholic beverages.

It's not what is say, though, does it.

"Do not join those who drink too much wine or gorge themselves on meat"

This is drunkenness and gluttony.
The key words are too much and gorge. I concur with your estimation.

A wise person would consider the proverb you provided. A more spiritually mature person, in regards to drinking and eating would emulate the part about too much and gorge and avoid doing such a thing.

It is like abstaining eating food sacrificed to idols. A more spiritually mature person, in regard to idols, realizes that idols are not alive but just the representation of something intrinsically evil. The person with the more mature spiritual perception would then be free to eat such foot, but avoid gorging oneself in regards to drink and food.
 

tourist

Senior Member
Mar 13, 2014
42,550
17,022
113
69
Tennessee
I don't like it when people twist scripture to suit their personal views. At least that's how this appears to me.
There is a lot of that in the BDF. It is called wresting scripture to conform to one's narrative.
 

tourist

Senior Member
Mar 13, 2014
42,550
17,022
113
69
Tennessee
Wine is found in Genesis when Noah, after the flood, got drunk. “Then he drank of the wine and was drunk, and became uncovered in his tent” (Genesis 9:21). The sad record is that Noah drank and stumbled around naked and shamefully exposed himself to his sons. Not a good ending.
If the word 'wine' in the wedding of Cana account refers to grape juice then how can the word 'wine' in the account of Noah caused Noah to become drunk, if in fact, the wine was grape juice?
 

Aaron56

Well-known member
Jul 12, 2021
2,749
1,573
113
That 'translation' carries an inherent bias. It does not say, "Do not join those who drink too much wine (alcohol)".

That is a terrible paraphrase and violates the Hebrew.

Pro. 23:20 HOT - אל תהי בסבאי יין בזללי בשר למו׃

Pro. 23:20 HOT Translit - al-T'hiy v'šov'ëy-yäyin B'zolálëy väsär lämô

Prov 23:20: "Be not among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh:"

"Winebibbers" = alcohol drinkers

There are no words in the Hebrew which read, "drink too much wine".

To incorrectly translate the Hebrew to say that, implies then your a priori, that a little alcohol is fine, but that isn't what the Hebrew says at all, neither implies.

It says do not be mingling with those who fill themselves up with alcohol. The phrase "too much" is not present and is subjective nonsense. Many Diné (aka 'Navajo') on the 'Rez' when surveyed in study, see even only one drink of alcohol as a "bad thing to do" by both drinkers and non (May & Smith, 1988).

The very next verse basically repeats this verse.

Prov 23:21: "For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags."

Drunkard is old English, coming from two words, "drink" (swallow liquid) and "ard" (hardy, with their might, boldly (without shame)). A drunkard is literally someone who drinks (in this case, alcohol) with their strength of effort without shame. They fill themselves with alcohol.
Nonsense.

Winebibbers are noted for their drinking, ”wine” is in the word. If you are known for drinking wine you are an alcoholic.

This is consistent with gluttony: someone known for eating food. If you are known for eating food you are a glutton.
 

Dino246

Senior Member
Jun 30, 2015
25,369
13,730
113
If the word 'wine' in the wedding of Cana account refers to grape juice then how can the word 'wine' in the account of Noah caused Noah to become drunk, if in fact, the wine was grape juice?
Simple... one fits their narrative, the other doesn't, so the one must be grape juice and the other must be alcoholic.
 

Dino246

Senior Member
Jun 30, 2015
25,369
13,730
113
Nonsense.

Winebibbers are noted for their drinking, ”wine” is in the word. If you are known for drinking wine you are an alcoholic.

This is consistent with gluttony: someone known for eating food. If you are known for eating food you are a glutton.
Your "logic" isn't logical.

A person known for eating food is not necessarily known for eating excessively. A glutton is known for eating excessively.

Similarly, a person known for drinking wine is not necessarily known for drinking excessively.
 

Dino246

Senior Member
Jun 30, 2015
25,369
13,730
113
That 'translation' carries an inherent bias. It does not say, "Do not join those who drink too much wine (alcohol)".

That is a terrible paraphrase and violates the Hebrew.

Pro. 23:20 HOT - אל תהי בסבאי יין בזללי בשר למו׃

Pro. 23:20 HOT Translit - al-T'hiy v'šov'ëy-yäyin B'zolálëy väsär lämô

Prov 23:20: "Be not among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh:"

"Winebibbers" = alcohol drinkers
Once again your bias blinds you. That the second part of the sentence implies impropriety in the pattern of eating, so the impropriety is implied in the first part of the verse as well. The key is excess, not mere consumption.
 

Magenta

Senior Member
Jul 3, 2015
59,830
29,203
113
"
Once again your bias blinds you. That the second part of the sentence implies impropriety in the pattern of eating,
so the impropriety is implied in the first part of the verse as well. The key is excess, not mere consumption.
"You can always tell an alcoholic...

But you can't tell them much."
 
May 22, 2020
2,382
358
83
Sorry, but I'm a big boy...I don't need strangers giving me their interpretation of scriptures. Believe what you will...I know I do.

Well..if you reject God's word then you might as well just publish your own bible as many have done...since the 1960's.
 
May 22, 2020
2,382
358
83
I believe that I have no scriptural basis to tell someone not to drink. I have much scriptural basis for telling one to not get drunk. There is a difference. I have known many who could have a drink or two with no trouble.
If someone asked me if I thought they should drink or not, I'd tell them that they'd probably be better off without it. But I wouldn't use scripture to tell them not to, since I believe scripture puts forth responsible drinking.
Since we will never do away with alcohol, I believe the best thing to do is to educate people on how to drink responsibly and the dangers of misuse. If I see someone drinking too much, I'll say something. Though I don't know anyone who drinks.
I've been through rehab and 5 years of 12-step group attendance. So I know a thing or two about this subject.
.....and...you would be wrong....."tickle my ears and tell me what I want to hear"...alive and well in your assessment.

.....and ignore God's words huh? All the while bury the wrecked bodies therefrom...huh!!!

It is established science.....misery loves company.
 
Feb 7, 2022
646
75
28
I thought that the equation of your position states that wine = grape juice? Now, you're stating that wine is alcohol.
Have you really misunderstood this entire time?

Wine has two meanings in scripture, depending on context.