Down through the years I have noticed that when someone finds out that I am a non-drinker, they have problems with it. Its kind of like they wonder what's wrong with me. Well, I don't drink because I don't like the taste. Plus I can feel the alcohol evaporating in my throat and in trying to clear it, I sound like a cat with hair balls.:goofball::ROFL: It is not from some religious belief and I am not an alcoholic.
Funny thing is if I say that I don't smoke and never have, it doesn't cause a problem.
QUESTION: DOES ANYONE ELSE EXPERIENCE THIS FROM EITHER THE DRINKING OR NON-DRINKING SIDE.:waving:
Oh, yes. Many, many times I have gotten reactions from people because I don't drink.
Christians and non-christians alike have looked askance, told me it was no big deal, encouraged me to have "just one", and excluded me from events and conversations.
And you are right -- no smoking is not a problem for almost everyone. But no drinking? All of a sudden you are a freak. I know just what you are talking about.
dear mike, hey , i am proud of ya for not drinkin at all..... though i dont believe drinkin in and of itself is wrong. unless one is an alcholic..and overdrinks..
i can also say that i havent had a drink in 15 years now.. and ill tell ya when i quit and all.. i found my friends numbers went down a little bit.. but it did show me who my true friends were.. and most all them still drink some at least.. i never had them put me down for not drinkin anymore.. but maybe its cause they knew i was once like them hehe.. i dont know..
maybe its because you didnt drink before.. i dont know.. you do bring up an interisting topic though.. makes ya think some as to why ..
I think that people think the non drinkers are fuddy duds and squares. It might be also that they think it has to do with religion. Maybe you should address it in your profile =)
Maybe I am totally a weird duck, but when I see on someone's profile that they don't drink, I look a little mre seriously at what else I may find that I like! Coming from a family that had serious issues with alcohol and a marriage with the same affliction, it is a relief to not have that problem lurking about in a new relationship.
Its not that I avoid those who drink (Maybe I do those that say "often") but it makes me smile to know it will not be an issue. So...maybe there are as many or more ladies out there that smile when they read that part of yourprofile.... you just dont know it. At either rate, kuddos to you for being honest and for holding to what is true and real!
Hmm...I don't drink, but I've never been looked down on for it...that I noticed anyway...but for me it is a religious stance. Sorta. Getting drunk is wrong. I don't care who you are. Plain and simple. Losing control of your moral will is never wise. "When you're drunk you can resist everything but temptation", and while that may not be the case "all the time" "with everyone"...it's just not safe. Just drinking? I don't know...I don't think it's "wrong"...but I'm also too afraid to try it honestly. Alcohol has a different effect on everyone. What if I like it a lot? What if I'm the kind of guy that turns violent? I know I have problems with depression...what if I tried to attempt suicide? It's very easy to make one mistake that changes your life forever, and it's even easier when your drunk. So I'll pass, thanks... I believe that's the wise choice. And I have to ask...are there upsides to drinking? Of all the abused substances out there...I'd have to say alcohol is the worst. It's kills the most. It destroys the most lives. Why support an industry that encourages so much sin and pain? All the elders/deacons/deaconesses/leaders of the church are not suppose to go near wine...I'm a deacon, I have an excuse not to drink, lol. Anyway...while I don't think "drinking" is a sin, I do believe getting drunk is. "Drinking" is between you and God...if you can do it with a clear conscience and avoid drunkenness, then go ahead.
Proverbs 4:17 - Alcoholic drink is called the wine of violence.
Proverbs 20:1 - Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging.
Proverbs 23:19-20 - A wise person will not be among the drinkers of alcoholic beverages.
Proverbs 23:21 - Drunkenness causes poverty.
Proverbs 23:29-30 - Drinking causes woe, sorrow, fighting, babbling, wounds without cause and red eyes.
Proverbs 23:31 - God instructs not to look at intoxicating drinks.
Proverbs 23:32 - Alcoholic drinks bite like a serpent, sting like an adder.
Proverbs 23:33 - Alcohol causes the drinker to have strange and adulterous thoughts, produces willfulness, and prevents reformation.
Proverbs 23:34 - Alcohol makes the drinker unstable
Proverbs 23:35 - Alcohol makes the drinker insensitive to pain so he does not perceive it as a warning. Alcohol is habit forming.
Proverb 31:4-5 - Kings, Princes, and others who rule and judge must not drink alcohol. Alcohol perverts good judgment.
Proverbs 31:6-7 - Strong drink could be given to those about to perish or those in pain. Better anesthetics are available today.
Ecclesiastes 2:3 - The king tried everything, including intoxicating drink, to see if it satisfied. It did not. (Ecclesiastes 12:8)
Ecclesiastes 10:17 - A land is blessed when its leaders do not drink.
Isaiah 5:11-12 - Woe to those who get up early to drink and stay up late at night to get drunk.
Isaiah 5:22 - Woe to "champion" drinkers and "experts" at mixing drinks.
Isaiah 19:14 - Drunken men stagger in their vomit.
I once used to say.. yeah it's all between the person and God.. and while that may be true.. we are called as God's Children to come out from the WORLD. to be SET APART and Different. I look at those people who freak out when someone says they dont drink.. and think they are very much like the World. because the World woudl react that way.
As was pointed out in another post.. what BENIFIT, or GOOD comes from drinking? Anything? I have yet to see ANYTHING good come from drinking.. and since the science community cant decide if even having a glass of wine is good for you or not... you can't use that as an EXCUSE. and that is what it woudl be a justification to allow a person to do WHAT THEY WANT.. rather than living a life in suplication to Christ.. and doing what HE wants.
Would Christ want that drink? Would he want to be in a enviroment where drinking goes on? Is it edifying to the body of Christ for you to be drinking? Does itglorify the Lord. Since we are called to bring him GLORY in EVERYTHING we do...???
I don't drink. I have in the past... But have totally surrendered to God and don't believe it has any place in HIS life.
And if I dont fit in because of it... well PRAISE GOD!
Road goes both ways here, friends. I love a glass of shiraz with my prime rib, and have been given to understand that soils my "Conservative Christian" pedigree.
My, how the prayer chain buzzes when I place my restaurant order.
It don't matter to me, however, as the songster asserts.
dear cinder, id like to make a couple replies to some things you stated..
your words here
what BENIFIT, or GOOD comes from drinking? Anything? I have yet to see ANYTHING good come from drinking.. and since the science community cant decide if even having a glass of wine is good for you or not... you can't use that as an EXCUSE.
my question would be do we believe science or do we believe the bible?
cause the bible says this as the times for someone to have a drink.. and where it would serve a good purpose..
1 timothy 5:23 No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for your stomach's sake and your frequent infirmities.
then we can see here who the bible says who should not drink wine or intoxicating drink. and then it tells us who should be given strong drink and and who should be given wine..
proverbs 31:4-7 4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel,
It is not for kings to drink wine,
Nor for princes intoxicating drink;
5 Lest they drink and forget the law,
And pervert the justice of all the afflicted.
6 Give strong drink to him who is perishing,
And wine to those who are bitter of heart.
7 Let him drink and forget his poverty,
And remember his misery no more.
so we cant tell folks that the bible says they cant drink..
but as has been shown before by some others drunkeness is frowned upon in the bible.. yes ..
but as we can see in verse 6 and specially in verse 7 above that feller they speak of prolly had right many sips of wine as to be able to foget his poverty and remember his misery no more..although he prolly had a different kind of misery the next day hehe thats just my guess there..so its not condemned in that time of fashion.. thats not to become a habit though.. as its too many verses that speak about not becoming drunk with wine.. but better yet to become drunk in the SPIRIT...
your words again
Would Christ want that drink?
luke 22:17-18 17 Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, "Take this and divide it among yourselves; 18 for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes."
my words here
nope i dont think HE d take that drink right now..
your words again
Would he want to be in a enviroment where drinking goes on?
mine here
JESUS was in that environment when he was at the party and made the wine out of water.... HE also dined with the tax collectors and sinners.. im sure wine was the drink of choice for them .. not HIM i dont think..
then as we can see at the last supper his deciples had wine im right sure.. but not JESUS..
so what i recon im tryin to say is that i think its wonderful that you and others dont drink at all.. i myself dont either.. but i dont think we should condemn anyone who does have a drink and doesnt do it to get drunk ... as drunkeness is talked ill of in the bible.. but just havin a drink is not..
I appreciate the post, and was sitting on the sidelines considering all that has been said. I have been enlightened that those who select "don't drink" may do so because they hate the taste of alcohol. I will admit that i assumed it was a religious decision.
I enjoy the dark beer for a night out, and to get to a real dark one, like a stout as the evening progress. I have visited many microbreweries and I am an expert in quality beers. I get frustrated when i go to "bars" / restaurants and they don't even know what a nut brown ale is, much less how an IPA is not. I also enjoy going to wineries and wine tasting. i've brewed my own beer and made my own wine. Quite frankly, i don't have a problem with having too much, and i will on occasion. i'm nearly 50 and a parent, so i follow the rules of safe drinking and driving and dating (hee hee). I don't drink very often, mostly because of the calories and how my mind scolds myself for not drinking more water! My brother was an alcoholic (until he prayed and he had no more thirst). My ex would drink 3-4 beers before i got home from work, and didn't act "drunk" but i figured he had/has a drinking problem and led to his dissatisfaction with his life.
I support the medical evidence that there is a genetic disposition for some "humans" to become alcoholics. Bottom line_____ i don't want to feel like i can't order a tsingtao with my cashew chicken.
Just wanted to add a comment. Don't think it was alcoholic wine that Jesus was passing around at the last supper. Couple reasons.
One: ....lol, it was Jesus. Wisest man, King, Prince...not the kind of people that the bible thinks should be drinking.
Two: The purpose and atmosphere of the passover supper was not exactly fitting for alcoholic beverages. The bread was to be unleavened, and the wine was supposed to be "new"(grape juice). It was a solemn "feast" in remembrance of the flight from Egypt.
Anyway...getting drunk is wrong. Drinking is fine, although possibly not the wisest thing. Just try not to get drunk. Temperance in all things.
