I used to be a teacher.

 

I always made very sure that my personal life was completely separate from my school life.

 

I would never get drunk in front of a student at any time BUT I also wouldn't think twice about having a drink with my dinner or in my home regardless of how many students knew I was doing so.

 

Alcohol is a legal product and as an adult that achieved his 21st birthday MANY years ago it is 100% legal, moral and ethical for me to have a drink. Quite frankly it is not my students business.

 

If the student has a problem then quite frankly it is the student's problem not mine.

Why would anyone that is a believer do something that would bring reproach upon Christ Jesus

When in the book of proverbs 23:31 it says THOU SHALL NOT LOOK upon the wine when it has turned red...with a little research one can find the meaning to be once it has fermented, dont even look at it.

What part about this do people not understand?

Drinking, Drunkeness, whatever, however you want to split hairs on it..is wrong not because Big Bubba thinks so but because God's Word teaches us that it is wrong, The marriage at Cana, and the mircale at Cana..who knows if it was in God's will or not. Just because God performed a miracle doesnt necessarily mean that is what He wanted to do. Study the passage very carefully. Sometimes God answers our prayers, not because it is what is best but because we keep praying and we change His mind. Have you ever heard the saying be careful for what you ask because you might just get it. Whoever thinks that because Jesus turned water into win makes it okay to socially drink is just being fooled and deceived by the enemy. It is a proven fact that gambling and alcohol ruins lives.

Are you kidding?

 

Are you implying that God will knowingly do wrong because men want him to and that He knowingly performed a miracle that allowed men to act in a sinful manner? I'm not buying that.

 

Your last sentence certainly paints with an awfully broad brush. I would more likely say that gambling and alcohol in excess ruins lives.

Of course, if we are going with stats, I would assume that we can find one that would support the statement that countries with strong poverty issues have lower teenage drinking problems. I would assume that some African countries have little to no teenage drinking problem.

 

? I would say Russia, who has strong poverty issues, also has a strong drinking/alcoholsim issue.

 

As far as the other stats, I don't know what you mean by a "teenage drinking problem," but most other countries that allow teenagers to buy alcohol don't really consider teen drinking a problem as it is quite normal and socially acceptable.

? I would say Russia, who has strong poverty issues, also has a strong drinking/alcoholsim issue.

 

As far as the other stats, I don't know what you mean by a "teenage drinking problem," but most other countries that allow teenagers to buy alcohol don't really consider teen drinking a problem as it is quite normal and socially acceptable.

So they may have more teenagers abusing alcohol but because they allow it they wouldn't have stats on a teenage drinking problem. Not sure you can use that reasoning to say allowing teenagers to buy alcohol gets rid of teenage drinking problems.

Responsibility of raising a child would be my first argument and I have had that discussion many, many times with students.

 

Spouses are SUPPOSED to be committed to each other. Boyfriends/girlfriends change as often as ring tones.

 

"Its acceptable for the adult, young student, because they are capable of being responsible while in 99.999% of the time, you young students are not."

 

Correct?

"Its acceptable for the adult, young student, because they are capable of being responsible while in 99.999% of the time, you young students are not."

 

Correct?

They believe they are adults and are held back by us old-foggey's.

So they may have more teenagers abusing alcohol but because they allow it they wouldn't have stats on a teenage drinking problem. Not sure you can use that reasoning to say allowing teenagers to buy alcohol gets rid of teenage drinking problems.

 

I'm not saying allowing teens to buy alcohol will rid us of our "teen drinking problem," but the culture of other countries don't place as great of an emphasis on drinking. What I'm getting at is this: is it a sin only in a few countries,who place a great importance on not drinking, or is it not a sin in parts of the world where it is perfectly acceptable? I will also add that anything can be done in excess that would cause harm to oneself or others (speeding is a good example).

I'm not saying allowing teens to buy alcohol will rid us of our "teen drinking problem," but the culture of other countries don't place as great of an emphasis on drinking. What I'm getting at is this: is it a sin only in a few countries,who place a great importance on not drinking, or is it not a sin in parts of the world where it is perfectly acceptable? I will also add that anything can be done in excess that would cause harm to oneself or others (speeding is a good example).

If we are talking the actual sin, it doesn't matter what the world thinks in it being a sin or not rather what God thinks and judges.

 

But I believe you are more referring to the perception of it being a sin, and I would say that morals in countries are vastly different. I believe the Scandanavian countries have a much different view of drugs than other countries.

They believe they are adults and are held back by us old-foggey's.

 

 

Right. So , therefore, if its an issue of being responsible(adult) vs being irresponsible(teen), doesn't that same argument hold true for alcohol consumption?

There is a difference between spouses having sex and unmarried, teenagers having sex.

 

I agree! I have always thought the second was much better than the first...:walk:

I agree! I have always thought the second was much better than the first...:walk:

:jump: :laugh: :laugh:

First a homily then a question.

 

The homily.

In my home while I was growing up my parents always kept a small supply of various liquors. When we had guests social drinking among the adults was usually part of it. As a child I saw my parents (and grandparents) enjoying a drink on more times then I can count. My Grandfather (RIP) enjoyed his Scotch. The men in the family ALWAYS had a drink of Scotch with him when visiting his home. One of my proudest days was when I was old enough to join the men even though I never liked Scotch. I have never seen my parents or Grandparents drink to excess.

 

The question

Were my parents and Grandparents bad parents because of the example they set for me and my siblings?

 

In many posts that's certainly the point that's coming across when talking about teachers or other in positions of authority if they have the audacity to have a drink where a youngster they have authority over may observe this behavior.

There are so many things in this world that God has given us to enjoy. The abuse of any of them is the sin. In this case, we're talking about the abuse of alcohol. Does the abuse of chocolate make eating chocolate a sin?

 

The distinction that separates drinking alcoholic beverages from drunkeness is the line that marks the sin. It's the abuse! You do NOT have to get drunk to drink alcohol. In some cultures (ie France) children begin drinking wine at a young age.

 

The best thing for adults to do, if they enjoy alcoholic beverages, is to show kids the responsiblity of drinking them. There is no shame in enjoying a glass of wine or a beer, or even a good bourbon or scotch around children.

 

The shame is drinking to the point of drunkeness and then proceeding to make stupid decisions such as drinking and driving, or being completely belligerent or obnoxious while intoxicated.

I used to be a teacher.

 

I always made very sure that my personal life was completely separate from my school life.

 

I would never get drunk in front of a student at any time BUT I also wouldn't think twice about having a drink with my dinner or in my home regardless of how many students knew I was doing so.

 

Alcohol is a legal product and as an adult that achieved his 21st birthday MANY years ago it is 100% legal, moral and ethical for me to have a drink. Quite frankly it is not my students business.

 

If the student has a problem then quite frankly it is the student's problem not mine.

 

I can only attest to what I find true in my life. As Big Bubba (I think) said, I will not judge anyone else based on the decisions that they make.

 

An example from my own life - when I started teaching I was a smoker. It was perfectly legal for me to smoke and, according to most religions I know, not morally wrong. However, I was aware of my position as a role model and knew that I was setting a bad example, as smoking leads to a variety of health problems and it is, of course, illegal under the age of 18.

 

I never smoked at school, no matter how late I would be getting home. But I did smoke in my car on the way home or going to the store, etc. Kids saw that and knew I smoked. You might find this as strange, but some of the kids that talked to me about it would in a VERY, VERY minor sense idolize me and say things like, "I smoke too! Cool!" I felt terrible that I, as a role model, had any part in promoting the behavior, or a least being part of a kid's rationale in doing it. It took me two years, but I gave up the habit.

 

Back to the topic. I think that it is wrong for ME as a teacher to consume alcohol. Whatever anyone else wants to do or feels right in doing, I have no problem with that. I have enough on my own plate to deal with.

 

Back to the very original topic, I am not sure if consuming alcohol is a SIN. Since I don't use it, that is one sin (if it is) that I do not have to ask forgiveness for.

In many posts that's certainly the point that's coming across when talking about teachers or other in positions of authority if they have the audacity to have a drink where a youngster they have authority over may observe this behavior.

 

You are, perhaps, drawing an unintended conclusion, at least on my part. All that I can say is that kids come from a variety of background, some not as fortunate as you to have sensible people that use alcohol sensibly. Some (way too many) come from families that alcohol is abused. They may not separate me casually partaking in a beer with their drunk, passed out, maybe even abusive, parent.