tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3743286130964155757.post-42453572363329462182008-05-01T14:42:00.000-07:002008-05-01T14:42:00.000-07:00Vgrid,<BR/><BR/>1. You said, "Christian religions have ‘branches’ that go from teetotaler to nearly drunk." <BR/><BR/>This is true, but I think many Christians are missing out and really don't need to. Alcohol is a gift from God, meant to be enjoyed responsibly. That being said, some folks should probably just stay clear of alcohol, because they can't handle it. The same could be said for anyone of any faith or lack there of. Good advice for Christians and Atheist alike. <BR/><BR/>2. You said, "A lot of it deals with the definition of who you are. What are you labeled as (one can be a person who loves beer and not a drunkard)." <BR/><BR/>Agreed, a drunkard, in my book, is someone who has a problem with alcohol, who drinks to get drunk, etc. But even getting drunk once is a sin, so it should be avoided. That being said, I'm not perfect, sometimes I eat too much at the buffet too. And gluttony is also a sin. The issue here is doing your best to avoid a sinful life. If you have a big problem with temptation, then you should avoid it. As a Christian, you should strive to be Christ-like, but all of us will fall short, we all sin.<BR/><BR/>3. You said, "Do you think it's wrong," implying an action is a sin, if you think it’s a sin. <BR/><BR/>A sin isn't a sin, just because the individual thinks it is, at least not in my book. As a Christian, I think the less added or removed from scripture the better when using the Bible as a guide. So, I take what the Bible says, more or less at face value. Therefore, getting drunk is a sin, according to the Bible. But I think choosing to live a life of regular drunkenness is an even bigger sin. Again, we will ALL fall short when striving to be Christ-like, but we should continue to strive none the less. If you struggle regularly with a particular sin, you should avoid the temptation. For some, that would mean avoid beer. <BR/><BR/>Vgrid, I really appreciate your comment and insight. Its refreshing to hear an Atheist comment on my faith without insulting me. You seem like you’re pretty well versed for an Atheist, are you a prior man of faith?<BR/><BR/>Thanks agin, and hey, stay in touch!<BR/><BR/>BryonBryonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09477503566985637974noreply@blogger.com