This week I am going to step into an area that I've been wanting to write about for a while now. Drinking as a follower of Christ. This is always an interesting topic and growing up in the "Bible Belt of the South", I was taught that Christians should not drink because it is a sin. After growing up and studying the word more on this topic I realized that drinking is not a sin. Ephesians 5:18 clearly states, "Do not get drunk with wine." It doesn't say "Do not drink wine".
With that being said, I also know that this is a personal decision. Drinking alcohol is something that I have come to Jesus with. I know in my heart that I do not drink to become drunk. Personally, I love the taste of wine, beer and mixed drinks but I do not like the feeling of becoming drunk. Some of the best conversations I have had about our Heavenly Father and His Kingdom have been with brothers and sisters in Christ while drinking some kind of alcoholic beverage. That is not a sin.
I also want to point out that there are many sins that we commit daily.
Below is a section of Galatians 5 from two separate versions:
19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
{King James Version}
19 When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures,
20 idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division,
21 envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
{New Living Translation}
All sorts of sinful nature is listed, and as a follower of Christ we all struggle daily with many of these. We live in a fallen world and no one is perfect. The one that stands out to me the most is the hatred/hostility sin. I know there are many Christians that believe drinking is a sin. Most of the time those feelings are expressed with hatred and judgement. This is not of The Father, just as becoming drunk is not of The Father.
I do not write this to try and change your mind. I do not express my thoughts on drinking as a believer to start an argument or point fingers. I only want to explain my thoughts of how I believe so I can share my heart freely.
Romans 14 says:
20 Do not, for the sake of food, destroy the work of God. Everything is indeed clean, but it is wrong for anyone to make another stumble by what he eats.
21 It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble. 22 The faith that you have, keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who has no reason to pass judgment on himself for what he approves.
23 But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.
{English Standard Version}
I feel that God has called me to share my faith. Not to make others question their own, but to create an understanding of mine. I welcome any thoughts or questions on this topic as well. I think it is wonderful to keep communication open and learn from one another and from His Word.
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