Why do some Protestant churches prohibit the drinking of wine

[Cat]

I don’t think anyone here is disputing the sin of drunkenness.

There’s a fine line here.

I hear Catholics joke about getting drunk. This upsets me.

If I were to joke about having sex with men other than my husband, there would be protests from Catholic Christians. People would tell me that my “joke” was inappropriate" and that there are some things that you just don’t joke about.

Same if I were to joke about killing someone, or stealing Christmas presents. Joking about sin is probably not a good idea in mixed company. (Maybe with your spouse who knows you well, it might be OK.)

But why is it OK to joke about getting drunk? Getting drunk is a sin, right? And I would say it’s a serious sin because it places others in danger (e.g., drunk driving, rape, illicit sex, fighting, hurting children, e.g., by not coming home for Christmas, etc.)

I wonder if perhaps a lot of Catholics don’t consider getting drunk a serious sin, but more along the lines of overeating at the Christmas buffet? But you see, people who overeat at the Christmas buffet don’t smash into and kill an innocent teenaged driver, or rape their girlfriends (belly gets in the way), or start fights with a tablemate who accidentally insults their sports team, or forget to go home to their waiting family.

 

[MelanieAnne]

Cat ~ Intemperance and Gluttony are sins just like many other things are sins. A case can be made that such things are akin to murder because they are things that kill the person that does them, even if it takes years to do so.

When people are discussing drinking wine in positive terms, that “positive” ends at drunkenness because drunkenness is far beyond moderation/temperance. If people joke about being drunk they have a problem.

You are not obligated to drink wine, or any sort of alcoholic beverage. You don’t have to be around people who do. It’s a personal choice. Others should not criticize you for your choice, nor should you criticize them for making a different choice. Either choice does not confer superiority on the person who makes it (something others in this thread seem to have alleged at time, but not you, from what I have seen.)

My Grandfather was the kind of man that you have described your family to be ~ he never took a drink. It came from an experience early in his life, but he was also a fundamentalist Christian. Alcoholic beverages were also not found in his home, nor would anyone of dreamed of bringing such things there. When he went other places, and some person or another had a glass of wine or something similar, he declined any offers to share it. In such venues, sometimes my Grandmother had a tiny glass from which she took an occasional sip, but never finished. It worked out fine for as long as we had him with us.

 

[CWBetts]

Cat,
Your broad generalizations are insulting. A drinker is not a rapist! You are suggestimg that every time someone gets drunk someone gets beaten, raped, or killed!! This is an unfair depiction, when you refuse to see the difference between a habitual drunkard and someone who has a drink with dinner.

 

[Cat]

Cat,
Your broad generalizations are insulting. A drinker is not a rapist! You are suggestimg that every time someone gets drunk someone gets beaten, raped, or killed!! This is an unfair depiction, when you refuse to see the difference between a habitual drunkard and someone who has a drink with dinner.

Please read my posts with greater care.

I have strived in my posts to differentiate between those who drink casually and those who get drunk.

I have also strived to make it clear that intellectually, I am not opposed to casual drinking, although I have admitted that in my heart, I cannot accept the practice. I have not tried to persuade people on this thread to my point of view or condemn them for their point of view, but only to inform them of the uselessness of trying to persuade me and others like me to accepting casual drinking as a practice. I have asked for tolerance and acceptance, and for a ceasing of “fun-making” of total abstainers. We feel left out enough as it is, since we are a very small minority. One would hope that at least the Christian communities would accept us and be our friends.

I admit that I have not differentiated between those who are habitually drunk and those who are occasionally drunk. That’s because in my opinion, there is no difference. Drunkeness is a sin, whether it is practiced habitually or occasionally. Drunkeness is NEVER acceptable for Christians because the Church and the Bible condemn drunkeness as sin.

Perhaps I should amend the paragraph above. IMO, the habitual drunkard is an alcoholic, and I believe that this condition is a treatable disease, and that the person suffering from this disease should seek treatment and healing. Alcoholism is a scourge, not a joke.

I did NOT suggest that every time someone gets drunk, that someone gets beaten, raped, or killed. If you will read my postings instead of pre-judging me, you’ll see that I said that there is “danger” that this could happen.

Surely you have read the heart-wrenching stories of good people who happened to have a few drinks more than they should have, and ended up in a tragic situation. Such stories abound in every city and town. The dangers of drinking alcohol are real, not fundamentalist myths. It is a drug. (So is caffeine, BTW, and there are dangers with caffeine, too). *Someone who drinks who does not recognize or admit the dangers shouldn’t be drinking. *

 

[CWBetts]

There is NO harm in a single drink. There is NO harm is responsible drinking. By refusing to socialize with peole who drink responsibly, you are missing out on frindships with some truly wonderful people.

 

[Stephen168]

Let’s try it this way:

• Christ did drink alcohol
• Christ would not do anything wrong
• Therefore drinking alcohol is not wrong

Luke 7:33-34 - God the Son drank wine….

I think you both agree.

(Jesus) was accused of being a drunk. Are those Protestant churches that forbid the drinking of wine doing the same?

Yes, I think so. Some Protestants have a twisted view of alcohol consumption. One is a teetotaler or drunk; all or nothing. Liquor laws in some states perpetuate this weirdness by separating alcohol consumption from any other social activity. The only good reason I can think of for having lived in California while my kids were teenagers. (sorry MelanieAnne )

 

[jim1130]

Please read my posts with greater care.

I have strived in my posts to differentiate between those who drink casually and those who get drunk.

I have also strived to make it clear that intellectually, I am not opposed to casual drinking, although I have admitted that in my heart, I cannot accept the practice. I have not tried to persuade people on this thread to my point of view or condemn them for their point of view, but only to inform them of the uselessness of trying to persuade me and others like me to accepting casual drinking as a practice. I have asked for tolerance and acceptance, and for a ceasing of “fun-making” of total abstainers. We feel left out enough as it is, since we are a very small minority. One would hope that at least the Christian communities would accept us and be our friends.

I admit that I have not differentiated between those who are habitually drunk and those who are occasionally drunk. That’s because in my opinion, there is no difference. Drunkeness is a sin, whether it is practiced habitually or occasionally. Drunkeness is NEVER acceptable for Christians because the Church and the Bible condemn drunkeness as sin.

Perhaps I should amend the paragraph above. IMO, the habitual drunkard is an alcoholic, and I believe that this condition is a treatable disease, and that the person suffering from this disease should seek treatment and healing. Alcoholism is a scourge, not a joke.

I did NOT suggest that every time someone gets drunk, that someone gets beaten, raped, or killed. If you will read my postings instead of pre-judging me, you’ll see that I said that there is “danger” that this could happen.

Surely you have read the heart-wrenching stories of good people who happened to have a few drinks more than they should have, and ended up in a tragic situation. Such stories abound in every city and town. The dangers of drinking alcohol are real, not fundamentalist myths. It is a drug. (So is caffeine, BTW, and there are dangers with caffeine, too). Someone who drinks who does not recognize or admit the dangers shouldn’t be drinking.

Personal choice brings with it personal resposibility. Your view is commendable and commitment admirable. Some people choose to drink and become irresponsible. Why do we have so many strays dogs and cats across the country? Irresponsibility of people. Why are some ravines clogged with discard appliances? Irresponsbility of people. Bottom line: Responsibility (and you could also add accountability). You feel strongly and I will not dismiss that. Just remember that not everyone who has a drink, whether occassionally or daily, does so with malicious or irresponsible intent. Sometimes we can teach more with moderation than excess on either end.

 

[Cat]

Personal choice brings with it personal resposibility. Your view is commendable and commitment admirable. Some people choose to drink and become irresponsible. Why do we have so many strays dogs and cats across the country? Irresponsibility of people. Why are some ravines clogged with discard appliances? Irresponsbility of people. Bottom line: Responsibility (and you could also add accountability). You feel strongly and I will not dismiss that. Just remember that not everyone who has a drink, whether occassionally or daily, does so with malicious or irresponsible intent. Sometimes we can teach more with moderation than excess on either end.

Not to sound like a curmudgeon, but it seems that a lot of “moderate” drinkers end up in drunk driving accidents. Occasionally we hear of the repeat offender, but more often, we hear of the poor soul who just had a few drinks at the party.

I’m sorry, but I have a hard time with “moderate” when it comes to something as potent as alcohol. To me, it’s kind of saying that a little gun is safer than a big gun.

And keep in mind that there is a certain percentage of the population that are wired (genetically?) for alcoholism, and moderate drinking will be extremely difficult, if not impossible, for them.

My conclusion: the risks aren’t worth the little bit of pleasure. Of course, I don’t believe in bunjee jumping or recreational skydiving either, and I don’t leave open glasses of milk sitting on the table in our house full of cats.

 

[Bill_Pick]

Not to sound like a curmudgeon, but it seems that a lot of “moderate” drinkers end up in drunk driving accidents. Occasionally we hear of the repeat offender, but more often, we hear of the poor soul who just had a few drinks at the party.

I’m sorry, but I have a hard time with “moderate” when it comes to something as potent as alcohol. To me, it’s kind of saying that a little gun is safer than a big gun.

And keep in mind that there is a certain percentage of the population that are wired (genetically?) for alcoholism, and moderate drinking will be extremely difficult, if not impossible, for them.

My conclusion: the risks aren’t worth the little bit of pleasure. Of course, I don’t believe in bunjee jumping or recreational skydiving either, and I don’t leave open glasses of milk sitting on the table in our house full of cats.

I HAVE A GLASS OF WINE EVERY NIGHT AND TWO ON XMAS AND TWO ON NEW YEARS , IF IT WAS GOOD FOR MY Lorg its ok with me,SMILE