To drink or not to drink...what does the bible say.....

Folks,

First off I am reading a book called Sipping Saints, by David Wilkerson, and let's just say it is a very challenging, thought provoking, real-truth-smack-you-in-the-face kind of book. I truly want to encourage people to not take my word for it, but seriously read the book, cover to cover, it's an easy read, only a 118 pages....so here below is just an excerpt from the book.....

"If you are a Christian who chooses to drink beverage alcohol and wine, I challenge you to be honest about it. Don't justify your indulgence by using Jesus or Paul as an alibi. Be honest enough to admit that you drink because you enjoy the taste; because you seek an exhilarating effect; because you refuse to allow anyone to interfere with your freedom. Be honest enough to also admit you are not above getting addicted, just as millions of honest people have. Be honest enough to acknowledge that your taste for beverage alcohol could lead to alcoholism, if allowed to grow.

If you choose to drink, don't be a closet user. Don't be a hypocrite. If it is not a sin for you to indulge, drink in the presence of children, your pastor, your trusted friends and relatives. If it is not a sit against god or your body, His temple, then permit yourself to drink before going into a secret closet of prayer. Drink not only at mealtime, but celebrate all of God's goodness to you with a drink in hand. Drink to you health, to your salvation, to eternal life, to divine protection.

If you cannot drink to your faith, then it is sin, because the bible says, "whatsoever is not of faith is sin" (Romans 14:23) If you cannot hold up your glass of beverage alcohol and look into the face of God to thank Him for it and experience the witness of the Holy Spirit, then, like Adam and Eve, you are hiding behind fear.

If you cannot drink under the steady gaze of the holy Christ; if you cannot drink in the glow of the indwelling Holy Spirit; if you cannot drink with a pure and yielded conscience, then you should not drink at all! It would be dishonest.

If the world has lost its morals.....God hasn't. He is still the unchangeable holy Father who commands a universal family of sanctified children. Let us be honest enough to place our moral standards under divine review until they conform to His.

Ten Reasons for Total Abstinence

1. It is an offense to new Christians.
2. It is unscriptural, condemned in both the Old and New Testaments.
3. It is mockery; it is unwise;
4. It has the potential to deform unborn babies, poison the liver, and cause depression
5. It is recommended only for the terminally ill people with heavy hearts.
6. It is a shameful example for children.
7. It is wrong because it identifies one with the terror and despair of six million alcoholics.
8. It is a phony substitute for the true wine of the Holy Spirit
9. It can easily become addicting, even to the godliest of people.
10. It has the overwhelming potential to turn a sober child of God into a fool.