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NASB | 1 Corinthians 6:10 nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | 1 Corinthians 6:10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers [whose words are used as weapons to abuse, insult, humiliate, intimidate, or slander], nor swindlers will inherit or have any share in the kingdom of God. |
Subject: is a christian allowed to drink |
Bible Note: Dear Keliy, When the Scripture discusses intoxicating drinks it is talking about fermented beverages. Consequently, the alcohol content of any such beverage would not have much exceeded 15 percent by volume; normal strains of yeast cannot live in higher concentrations. (That fact, by the way, belies the argument of wine as an alternative to the lack of potable water.) Distilled liquors, which can be produced with alcohol contents as high as ninety-five percent, did not exist in Biblical times. One might argue, therefore, that drunkenness associated with this more modern version of "strong drink" might be a matter of prohibition to believers as pharmakeia (Galatians 5:20). Although the abuses, excesses, and consequences of alcohol historically is a matter of record, we'd not want to argue against it on that basis. As Christians we are not pragmatists. Given our clear admonitions to be alert (1 Corinthians 16:13), vigilant, and sober (1 Peter 5:8) -- since our adversaries (the world, the flesh, and the devil) do not rest from their operations -- I would rather argue that alcohol consumption is a detriment to our pursuit of holiness. It may also be noteworthy that deacons and the Godly, older women are to be characterized as people "not given to MUCH wine" (1 Timothy 3:8; Titus 2:3); whereas, elders are to be "not given to wine" (1 Timothy 3:3; Titus 1:7). I have pointed this out before, and have been told that it makes too fine a point about distinction between those phrases. Perhaps it does. I am not a student of Greek. Consequently, I would not be dogmatic about it. Nevertheless, for me -- and perhaps this is a matter of my own individual limitations -- the use of alcohol would compromise the primary objective of our holy calling. I am currently taking pain medication for a physical problem the doctors are working to resolve. I find myself frustrated at the altered state of mind caused by those pills. I can't imagine having no other justification for that sort of thing than entertainment, which is the usual purpose of alcoholic beverages. Just a few of my thoughts on the subject. In Him, Doc |