It just occurs to me that the majority of society, Christian or not, drink for simply that reason, to get drunk. Why? It makes them forget things they don't want to remember, it makes them "fit in", as an excuse to be social, or simply for the sake of getting drunk because it makes them "loosen up" aka act like an idiot.
Here's my opinion, and take it how you will, I think it has good spiritual basis, so perhaps both sides of this arguement can learn something and grow from the comments we give to one another.
Example: Let's say I have a friend who has never had a drink in his/her life before, so they do not know what it takes to be "drunk" for them. They do not know their personal tolerance, making it impossible to determine when they will be "drunk". Now, let's say this person has a very LOW tolerance, and one single beer makes them drunk. According to the opinions given on this board, as well as scriptural fact, their drunkness is a sin.
I think this certain instance falls into the "flee from the appearance of sin", because if your pastor (US, anyways, I'm aware some UK pastors have no problem with a chery or beer) or a deacon, or another church member walks into a pub and sees you sitting there, beer in hand, having a joyous time, one of two things will happen.
A) You both ignore one another, and pretend it never happened because you don't want it to get back to the church body that it "appeared" you were getting drunk or were drunk.
B) It WILL get back to the church body, passing along the thought that it may be okay to get drunk, influencing Christians that aren't mature in their faith, creating a whole lower-society of Christians who are okay with being drunk.
Another occurance could be one of those young Christians appearing at a bar, not yet having enough maturity in their faith to know when they've taken drinking too far, sees a rather mature Christian of their church body drinking/being drunk, they may take it as an endorsement, totally affecting the way they think.
Do not cause another brother to stumble, friends.
If for no other reason, I think of it like this...
Modern Christians have boycotts on video stores that sell or endorse pornos, as well as supermarkets or "superstores", and other "non-Christian" markets.
Why? Because Christians believe it is degrading the people of our society.
Now, how often do you flip on the TV to see a beer commercial with a pastor, deacon, or any Christian sitting there talking about how God gave them this beautiful drink to deal with their many infirmities. You don't. You see a well endowed woman bouncing across the screen, all over some young guy with a beer or a group of young people at a club or party. Now, any Christian sitting in the room will say, "Oh, that's terrible". (Lord have mercy, particularly Christian mothers..."That's just despicable how they depict women." heheheh...Mom...Gotta lover er')
So, my point is, why buy the beer/alcohol if the manufacturers of that drink portray people in that manner? Isn't THAT wrong?
I'm just not seeing how people overlook things like this everyday, and it's downright hypocritical if you ask me.
Another thing is....Even if you have one drink, one small amount of alcohol, your whole mind is changed. Reflexes slow, making you a hazard to yourself and others. (I don't care how many out htere may say, "oh! Designated Driver!!!!" There will be a point in time when one is not available, and someone may think they're fine because they had "just one".) Now not only is drinking endorsing secular views, degrading our society, leading Christians the wrong way, but it's also now a hazard to humans.
Review and pray over this, everyone, I'm just curious if this is my own personal conviction and prejudices or if God is really trying to use me to change people's hearts, and I honestly think, pray and hope for the latter.
Van