For follow-up discussion and general commentary on the topic. Comments are sorted chronologically.
Greetings-
Galatians 5:16 ESV But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.
1Co 6:19 What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
1Co 6:20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.
1Pe 1:15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;
1Pe 1:16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
When we realize the above verses we then can become less "me" while more of God can show through us.
God Bless You
I recently overheard a conversation about alcohol, that influenced the choices that i make. I agree that bible does not state that consuming alcohol is a sin and yes, i agree that it can be good in modiration, but i also agree that alcohol destroys lives... When we make purchases of spirited iteams we support (with our finances) business of hard liquires.. Therefore, unconsiouslly we support the destribution of spirited drinks to people who do not exercise self control.
The problem is not whether we drink or not. The problem comes when we judge others for something the bible clearly gives freedom to do. Who are we to judge another mans servant? Jesus died for our freedom, not to put others in bondage again. Galations 5:1. We are to show grace to others on these things as it is so easy to become self righteous and prideful.
If our brother goes into the liquor store for a bottle of wine to have with his supper and maybe a few friends, he is not living in sin. And if we judge him we will come under the greater condemnation.
So to me it is not whether I drink or not, but how I judge my brother that does.
This same kind of thinking goes along with gun control. Guns do not kill people. People kill people and sometimes us guns to do it. Since people use guns to kill people should we take away all guns? Then only the criminals will have guns.
The women's temperance movement was not temperance but elimination of all alcohol. But that only made alcohol an underground business and did nothing to eliminate drunkenness.
It is a well known fact that many auto accidents are caused by drunkenness, but getting rid of the liquor business will not change that. People that drink to get drunk will still drink to get drunk.
Laws and rules do not change people, only the spirit of God that lives in us changes people. Without the spirit we can do nothing. Some people can not drink without getting drunk and should stay away completely from it. But most people can drink without problems. God did not make us all alike and he allows some things in some peoples lives that He does not allow in others.
We are to allow for those differences and not judge others in what God allows. If the super apostles would get off their high horse and get rid of their pride and self righteousness these things would have never been taught as sin in the first place. But they have become a tradition of the church and as such will probably always be there. Living by the letter of the law kills the spirit.