[Conservative til I die]

I don't know what any of this has to do with anything, but....

Faith is what saves us from eternal separation from God. Works are worthless...

"Faith without works is dead." Make of it what you will.

If you drink a martini, toke a bong, puff a cigar, or hit a punching bag out of anger, you may be guilty of something. But it is the ernest desire of the heart to follow God that will override any noxious behavior.

That's a dangerous viewpoint. It allows for moral ambivalency and disrespect for God's law by saying "I'm a good person and that's all that matters." You'll hear gays use that all the time, for instance.

Jesus did endorse drinking to excess.

Oh really? Show me where Jesus endorsed drunkenness. Was Jesus a drunkard as well?

[pageonetoo]

"Oh really? Show me where Jesus endorsed drunkenness. Was Jesus a drunkard as well? "
Already did, you just failed to see it, I guess...

"I don't know what any of this has to do with anything, but...."

It is about everything that matters... Gods' economy...

Moral relativism is what allows our culture to exist.

Faith brings works, but as a result...not as the MOTIVATING force, but as a response to His leading.
I have seen more "back-slidden" christians, because they never grasped the concept of submitting their will to God. If God is in control, He will take away any urges or unclean thoughts. "Resist the Devil, and he will flee" is an admonition to hold steady against sin. But God gives us the ability.
Paul, in his writings said' I know in whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep me, until the end." Paul knew that it was God's control of Paul's life, which would keep him for eternity.
I tend to think those supposed back-sliders may never have received God into their heart, just their minds.

The purpose of man is to glorify God.

The goal of man is to be eternally with God.

If your salvation depends on whether you took a drink, smoked a joint, or ate too much, then they could all prevent you from entering into the covenant with God, guaranteeing our eternal life...
He puts no such constraints. The temple priests have added their own interpretation to the Word, to bring us in line with group thought.

But God is a God of individuals. If only one person were to accept Him as Savior, He could gladly die the death He did, to be resurrected "according to the Scriptures".. to provide for our eternal life...

He did it for me. He did it for you. Whosoever will call on the name of the Lord, WILL BE SAVED.

If there is any other question, I will be glad to expound!

By the way, which did come first? chicken/egg?