Alcohol

God does not say that drinking alcohol is wrong. But He does say that drunkenness is a sin, and I believe this includes being "buzzed". For consideration, read 1 Corinthians 8:8-13. It speaks of food...but the same principle outlined here can be applied to the topic at hand. "Food will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do. But take care that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol’s temple, will he not be encouraged, if his conscience is weak, to eat food offered to idols? And so by your knowledge this weak person is destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died. Thus, sinning against your brothers and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble." More scripture to consider is Romans 14:1-5 "Now accept the one who is weak in faith, but not for the purpose of passing judgment on his opinions. One person has faith that he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats vegetables only. The one who eats is not to regard with contempt the one who does not eat, and the one who does not eat is not to judge the one who eats, for God has accepted him. Who are you to judge the servant of another? To his own master he stands or falls; and he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand. One person regards one day above another, another regards every day alike. Each person must be fully convinced in his own mind." If I follow these teachings, then if my acceptance of drinking alcohol is tempting or causing someone else to stumble, or if it is being used to condone another's sin, I am to be considerate of that person and refrain from doing it in their presence. These people are weak in their faith, if they have faith at all, and for me to put this stumbling block before them is a sin. But that person's weakness does not negate someone else's freedom. A Christian may participate in alcoholic consumption in the privacy of their own homes, or with other believers elsewhere, who do not have a weakness regarding the matter, as long as they are thoughtful and careful about those who are weaker. It is not sinful for believers to partake as I've laid it out. This sometimes leads non Christians or weak Christians to accuse those who are free, of being hypocritical. It is definitely wrong of them to accuse a person in such a way. This is unjust judgment. There are many who's consciences are clear before God, and He has given them the freedom to enjoy these things without another's condemnation or accusation. So, if you are a person who is free in your conscience to consume alcohol, then the only restrictions put upon you are that you are not to get drunk and you are not to enable someone else's sin or cause them to stumble with your freedom. And conversely, someone who is weak in their faith is not allowed to dictate that other's not exercise their freedom, nor are they just in accusing them of hypocrisy. Here is something to remember; Romans 12:18 "If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all." Romans 14:21-23 "It is good not to eat meat or to drink wine, or to do anything by which your brother stumbles. The faith which you have, have as your own conviction before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves. But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and whatever is not from faith is sin." In short; Do not cause someone else to stumble, and do not impose your weakness upon another or accuse them of wrong of which they are not guilty.