tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3743286130964155757.post-44285694722508831552008-05-02T09:41:00.000-07:002008-05-02T09:41:00.000-07:002008-05-02T09:41:00.000-07:001. Moderation truly is the key. My family is primarily baptist (ranging from southern to american)The southerns are teetotalers (my mom won't even let beer inside her house). She gives alcohol way too much power. Her disdain for it has turned it into an idol. If it's mere presence can make her less of a christian, than that thing is more powerful than god. My father (they are divorced) is much less strict; he may not consume beer (or he just has one every now and then) but he doesn't run from it like it's the plague. He hasn't made it stronger than god.<BR/><BR/>2. I'm not sure if getting drunk, is a sin. Getting drunk and staying drunk routinely definitely would/could be. But going to a wedding and having one too many surely isn't. Like in the above #1, the problem is not drunkenness, the problem is idolatry. If alcohol has replaced god in your life, then that is the problem. <BR/><BR/>When you suppress something so much that it becomes a negative influence (like saying one should never under any circumstances get drunk)then it's more than a sin, its a problem that will affect your life, even if you aren't a christian. <BR/><BR/>3. Striving to be christ-like isn't that hard to do. Modern christianity tries to make it out to be hard, but it isn't. If you know something is wrong, don't do it. Additionally, remember what one of Jesus major themes was, while he was technically for the old law.<BR/><BR/>Matthew 5:18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.<BR/><BR/>He wasn't for the strict adherence of the law. His major role (other than the whole dieing for your sins) was to get people to WANT to follow the law (which shows their love for the LORD). When people joylessly followed the law it became an idol. <BR/><BR/>Why did Jesus overturn the tables in the church? It didn't really bother him that people were actually buying their sacrifices there, the problem was that it meant nothing to the people. The sacrifice wasn't a SACRIFICE, it was going through the motions. They did it because that's what they do, not because they loved the LORD.<BR/><BR/>So the thing is, are you not getting drunk because you believe it to be a sin and want to follow the law? Or are not doing it because you love the lord and want to do his will?vgridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14607672659287674965noreply@blogger.com