I left this comment in this blog earlier today. So I’ll ask my readers to answer it.
Here’s a question no one has ever answered satisfactorily for me.
-Why does a Christian want to drink a beer?-
If you know it’s wrong to get drunk and you don’t need a little alcohol to stay dysentery free, then why?
I do not want a discussion about legalism and christian freedom in my comments. I simply want an answer to this question, “What advantage do you get from drinking?” Why do it?
I get the idea from all the people who argue that it’s ok that the main reason that they want to drink socially is because they were taught that it is wrong. It is pure rebellion. In fact, the best reason I’ve ever gotten from anybody when I asked this question in person is that it is fun. Also I’m probably not going to buy the argument that it is delicious. Nobody lives the taste of beer the first time, and most of us are not in the habit of drinking stuff we think is nasty until it starts tasting good.
I am conceeding that the Bible doesn’t say “thou shall not consume alcohol” and that it does say “be not drunk with wine.” Let’s not have a discussion of whether or not it is okay. I want to know; why drink at all? Especially since there’s no clear line between sober and drunk.
how is there no clear line between sober and drunk??
i go to college, the place where perhaps the majority of the drinking in this country takes place. and i have seen it all – i’ve seen people take a little bit of wine with their dinner for a charity function, and i have seen people passed out in their own vomit at a frat party. clearly, there is a gamut.
the bible doesn’t bar people from drinking. in fact, when you take the eucharist, the words that the church leader reads strictly state that the wine to be given (some churches do actually give wine) is/represents the blood of christ (depending on what sect). let’s not forget the whole water into wine thing. people in biblical times drank alcohol because, in a lot of cases, the alcohol was more pure than the drinking water, and this is a tradition that has carried for centuries in many places for the same reasons. however, you are correct in stating that the bible says we shouldn’t be drunk – in fact, i think that it states this in several places.
why drink at all? why not? contrary to the neo-conservative christians of the fifties, it IS possible to have a beer or to have a glass of wine and remain sober. drinking can be done responsibly by responsible people, and in fact it is the people who DON’T drink socially who have the biggest problem processing the alcohol (to use a colloquialism, there is a reason why people at college call others a “two beer” insert name for a homosexual).
in europe, there is a group of people who grow fruit for their wineries and make wine. some also get involved in micro-breweries. and you’re suggesting that they should not partake of that? that would be like growing a garden and someone coming along and telling you that it’s “wrong” to eat your tomatoes. the bottom line is that, in responsible doses, alcohol is really no different than fruit juice or water or what not, because if you give the body sufficient time to process the alcohol then there is no chance of getting drunk. why drink alcohol? for the same reasons you drink your cran-raspberry juice and pineapple smoothies. one could argue that all of the sugar in those drinks is “bad” for you, because sugar makes people hyper and causes adult onset diabetes, yet i see no one leading the charge on that debate.
i believe the phrase “everything in moderation” comes to mind. unfortunately, there are some people who, when it comes to alcohol, just have no idea what “moderation” truly means.
I really don’t want a discussion about the rightness or wrongness of drinking alcohol here. Just an answer to why do it.
I suppose I can accept “why not” as an answer, but not a very helpful one
There is no clear line between sober & drunk. to the best of my knowledge, beer does not come with a “boosts your BAC by .03″ printed on the can. And who determines the sinful BAC?
I think that a glass of scotch or a glass of wine is a good way to calm down at the end of the day. A beer with dinner calms a lot of my friends down and helps them get away from work and enjoy their homes more.
My grandfather had a “suit and tie” job. When he got home he would put on a t-shirt and jeans to signify that work was done and it was time to relax.
I think that my generation, who don’t have “suit and tie” jobs, use alcohol for the same reason.
Believe it or not, drinking (in moderation) is good for your heart. It raises your good cholesterol level and helps prevent blood clots.
I sometimes slowly sip a mimosa or enjoying a beer at the end of a long, stressful week to help me relax.
I know you won’t buy the “taste” argument…but there is a legitimate culinary stand on the situation. It’s a sommeliers entire job to know what will enhance a dish and what will ruin it. What you choose to drink with your meal (whether it be alcoholic or non-alcoholic) can elevate or destroy a culinary experience.
And it works with beer, too – a nice dark brew like Guinness or even a smooth ale like Smithwicks makes the average burger taste incredible. Meanwhile, it makes pork or risotto taste strange.
Jeremy, if you want to know more about the BAC, you can always read the wiki here. It’ll explain what impairments happen at what point.
Also, they can’t print that beer will boost your BAC by x amount because it varies greatly per person based on their body weight, how long it takes them to consume the beverage, and their metabolism.
I answer the question by asking another question:
“Why do you digest any substance into your body?”
My personal opinion would be one of three answers:
1. Because of the feeling it will make you feel. i.e. advil will make a headache go away, etc.
2. Because of the nutritional value. i.e. so you don’t starve, die of dehydration, etc.
3. Because of personal preference of taste.
Now, having stated this, I will say that I drink alcohol because of numbers 1 and 3. You may not buy the idea that a beer is delicious but I do and I think personally that I felt that from the first time I sipped. I also love wine but don’t much care for other drinks so I refrain.
I pose this to you…do you enjoy a cold soda after mowing the lawn? Does a cup of coffee get you going in the morning? I would submit that your personal preference in what you consume is a matter of free will, so long as your heart is in the right place (Christ centered) and you aren’t being a stumbling block.
I love drinking a beer after a nice sunny day relaxing with friends. Why? Because I like the taste and I like the way it makes me feel (honesty). Probably the same reason people (including me) enjoy drinking a cup of coffee in the morning.
I don’t see a lot of folks bringing up this debate about coffee…
“Why does a Christian want to drink a beer?”
I can’t really answer that because I’ve never had the desire to drink beer, and the smell alone, which I’ve experienced in restaurants, at hockey games, etc., is enough to let me know that I would hate the taste. But I’m willing to bet that there are people who like the taste (like Jad’s #3). I probably would like wine, though, and I have thought about how it would be to have a glass of wine at my wedding or at a really fancy dinner, when a soda just wouldn’t fit the occasion.
Jad’s #1 is what worries me. If I have a glass of wine every now and then or at the end of the day to help me “unwind,” then what happens when I come home from an extremely stressful day? I know that wine or beer or whatever will help me relax and feel better, so what stops me from having two glasses, or three? Since I know its effects on me, an occasional alcoholic drink could turn into seven alcoholic drinks after a really hard day, and, before I know it, I’m plastered.
To me, it just seems easiest to avoid getting drunk by never finding out alcohol’s effect on me or how many beers it would take to get me that way.
It’s the same with coffee. I love the smell, and I don’t mind when people drink it. But I’ve witnessed people who can’t wake up at all unless they’ve got coffee in their systems. I don’t want to know that coffee boosts my energy- then I drink it every morning, and I can’t start my day until I have this particular thing in my body. I’m really not down with using beverages to affect how I feel.
If people have the self-control that I’m afraid I may not, I don’t see a huge problem with occasional drinking- if they’ve definitely got it under control, I don’t see any harm from it, but I certainly can’t see any good that comes from it. I don’t get the point. To me, it’s safer to avoid sin by avoiding the potential for sin- sort of a hedge around the law to be on the safe side.
To the Christians who like how alcohol makes them feel: “Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.” Ephesians 5:18. One is just a temporary mood changer, and with the Holy Spirit, I don’t see how anyone should have to rely on alcohol to make them feel better.
I know that’s not an answer, and I know you didn’t want a discussion like this. But it’s my birthday, and I feel like writing. So…okay.
@ Caroline: First and foremost happy birthday!
Second, I knew that I would be taken a little out of context. Getting drunk vs. relaxing are two totally different things. I don’t use alcohol as a mood changer. Plus, when stress hits me I take a totally different approach, I pray. I pray hard for God to take my worries and for comfort, then I go work out or make music, etc. I try to use healthy outlets to harness everyday life stress, not mask pain with alcohol.
I totally understand that some folks can’t do that, just like some folks can’t wake up without coffee (which I’m WAY more guilty of than the alcohol stuff)
Anyway, I felt compelled to comment again. Sorry for the blog-stalking.
Jeremy, hope you’re not too mad that I invaded bro. Just wanted to drop in an opinionize.
God bless, Jad
I DO IT TO GET DURNK!
(Actually, I’ve never had a drop of alcohol in my life.)
It doesn’t mean that if you are a Christian, you cannot drink beer. You can! but do not drink more that what you can take to stay sane.
Ryan, did you mean to spell it “DURNK?” If you did, it’s kind of funny. If you didn’t, it’s really funny.