Selaphiel said:
Alcohol is healthy? I've made no such claim.
But drinking alcohol in a responsible manner is not very dangerous.
Alcohol in drinks do serve a purpose though, the taste of wine and beer are largely determined by alcohol, in that way it serves as an aromatic compound.
I'd say this concession gives me the essential "win" in the argument over alcohol.
You've denied that alcohol has any nutritional or biological value. Excellent, and honest.
Yet you cling to some kind of cultural tradition (of men) or hedonistic baggage, i.e., the "responsible" use of alcoholic beverages.
By this I presume you mean either "drinking in moderation" or its 'ritual use' in a Bread & "Oinos" ('wine'?) ceremony instituted allegedly by Jesus at the Last Supper.
In response to this, I make the following points:
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(1) RE: "Drinking in Moderation" -
The New Testament (Paul, Peter, etc.) states "Be Sober!" nearly THIRTY TIMES, in about a half-dozen expressions and suggestions, and implications. To these exhortations, most North American Christians of every denomination respond by interpreting the instruction, plea, strong suggestion, abjuration, as:
"Drink moderately; Drink responsibly."
Imagine if you will, if we were to interpret other similar pleas and instructions the same way:
The New Testament instructs us to:
"Flee Fornication! Avoid Sexual Immorality!"some 20 or 25 times. On the same logical basis we could interpret this as
"Fornicate moderately: Practice 'Safe Sex'.
Wear a condom. Get clear consent first.
Tell your partner you have herpes or tested positive for AIDS."
Most Christians (even moderately drinking ones) probably have a problem with this hermeneutic and exegesis.
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(2) Ritual Use in Eucharistic Celebrations: Since your argument is 'responsible use', i.e., in quantities that are moderate and symbolic, i.e., as a small 'taste', or act of obediance/participation in Christian community, not gluttony or drunkeness, we can assume that the following would be acceptable on technical aspects:
"But using [insert drug of choice here] in a responsible manner is not very dangerous."
I start a club/religion/sect/organization which has a participatory symbolic ritual: We use small quantities of
COCAINE, mixed with
Meth-Amphetamine, mixed in a little grape-juice 'shooter'. It symbolizes our membership and participation in our religious organization. We do so openly, explaining that we never use more than 5 milligrams of cocaine, or 2 milligrams of 'meth' per person, we don't let outsiders participate, and we always advise our members to be 'modest', and sensible about consumption of our special symbolic "brew". In our country (or wherever), we satisfy the authorities that we always store our cocaine and meth in safe containers, that we practice good hygene, and that we don't let children get access to our storehouses of drugs.
What sort of message do you think this would carry to all outsiders in the communities where we live? What example or instructional value does this give to curious children? How will those who oppose us and critique our cultural and ritual practice interpret our "harmless" tradition?
What would Paul think of our innovation regarding a "Last Supper" style ritual for our group? Oh wait, I know; he already spoke to this issue, didn't he?
"...therefore, if something I do were to make my brother to fall into sin, I will not do it while the world is standing, lest I make my brother stumble and sin." (1st Cor. 8:13)
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The obvious question then comes to mind.
Many mainstream Christian groups, even large denominations, have come to understand that the New Testament recommends
abstinence, not "moderation", with both alcohol, and sex, because this impedes the Gospel the least, when such abstinence is done in the right Spirit of charity and concern for weaker brothers, sisters, neighbours, and children.
Is it not likely, even very obvious, that something has gone terribly wrong in modern hermeneutics and exegesis, when either (a) hypocrisy is created in the selective interpretation of 'freedoms'? or (b) other formerly clear teachings become so significantly weakened (e.g. the position on fornication), that almost any behaviour is accepted?
Finally: What damage is done to the authority of the Bible, especially the New Testament, when churches can RE-define 'normal' and acceptable ethical behaviour over and above the teaching found in the NT itself? Isn't there a 'consistency' requirement for any NEW revelations or innovations? A backwards-compatibility if you will, for modern Christian doctrine and practice?
Or do we open the Bottomless Pit and let out every variation of behaviour that would formerly have been identified as "sin"?
We have in fact already seen this in some denominations today, with the approval of open homosexual relations, recreational alcohol and drug abuse, fornication and 'open-marriages', reckless selfishness and hedonism.
What will distinguish a "Christian" in the near future? Bingo gambling? Building-maintenance funds?
peace
Nazaroo