1. I can't be sober-minded if I'm not sober.
2. Alcohol has an assignment: destruction.
Why then did Jesus turn water into wine ? Why then was wine served at Communion ?
3. Alcohol is a depressant. Anything that depresses should be avoided at all costs.
Coffee is a stimulant ..avoid at all costs ?
4. I don't want to make my brother or sister stumble in the name of exercising my "Christian liberties." My choice to drink could lead to someone's demise.
How about legalism doesn't that cause folks to stumble .?
5. Alcohol skews my judgment.
Certainly if you drink too much of it..so does food by the way if you eat too much of it
6. Alcohol leaves me worse, not better.
Wine has health benefits doesnt it .. Paul certainly thought so
7. What I do in moderation, my children will do in excess.
Legalism probably produces miore alcoholic children than Alcohol in moderation if the number of Pk's kids gone wild that I have observed is anything to go by
8. Even the unsaved know I shouldn't drink. Bible in one hand, beer in the other — any lost person could point this out as a confusing contradiction.
And that may be the reason why they stay unsaved .. nobody is attracted to a religion of mere legalistic rules and regulations :)
9. Alcohol doesn't bring others closer to the Lord when they see me drinking, but farther away.
Only the Holy Spirit draws people to the Lord .. Your handling of alcohol may impact your personal witness that's it .. you can abstain from alcohol from here until eternity it wont draw a sngle person to the Lord unles sthe Spuirit draws them
10. Alcohol doesn't bring me closer to the Lord when I drink, but farther away.
Perhaps Because your faith is in your own conduct and not in God's word
11. I want to be fully awake and ready for the return of Christ, not drowsy, sluggish and fuzzy.
Stop eating so much sugar candy and fatty foods you wont be drowsy sluggish or fuzzy :)
14. I want to avoid all appearances of evil.
Bible doesnt say you should avoid all appearances of evil otherwise Jesus would have been the worst offender hanging with sinners and what not. What it says is that you should Hold fast to solid doctrine and avoid evil doctrine in any form that it appears ... the context was doctrine not alcohol
15. Alcohol makes it much harder for me to practice the fruit of self-control.
Well speak for yourself :)