Alcohol

Can Christians drink alcohol? This question opens up all kinds of debate within the church. Many churchgoers believe Christians should completely stay away from alcohol, bars, and anything that has to do with drinking since the Bible condemns drunkenness and instructs Christ-followers to be sober-minded. Other churchgoers, however, believe that consuming alcohol in moderation is not a sin. These Christians often argue their point from 1 Corinthians 8 in which the Apostle Paul says, "Be careful, however, that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumbling block to the weak." Many take this to mean, by the context surrounding it, that drinking alcohol is permitted, but Christians should be careful not to cause someone who is prone to alcohol abuse or someone who believes it is a sin, to stumble in his/her faith by seeing another Christian drinking. A church's views on alcohol can even be seen sometimes in the worship service; some churches use grape juice for Communion, while others use wine.