Making the Heart Glad
Making the Heart Glad
There is, of course, a major difference between pleasure and amusement. Amusement, by simple definition, is an activity requiring no brain waves; muse meaning 'thought' and a-muse meaning 'no thought.' Pleasure, however, is a gift of God that involves the senses, sometimes to the point of empirical euphoria. Consider the Psalmist extolling the virtue of good wine, "and wine that makes the heart of man glad." Yes, that is in your Bible. And no, he is not writing about grape juice. He is talking about the legitimate relaxing and uplifting effects of an alcoholic drink. Unfortunately, the majority of evangelicalism doesn't agree. Their idea is that any degree of participation in this area equals excess. And that is too bad. They really are not aware of what they are missing.
I have had many conversations with my weaker brothers and sisters regarding this area of not only Christian liberty but quite possibly Christian responsibility (after all, God made the wine!). After a search of the Scriptures the best they can do is say, 'Well, it is right for some but not right for others.' Which of course means the spiritual won't and the carnal will.
Then there is the argument that the "wine" in the Bible is a non-alcoholic drink. These legalists would have us believe that the ruler of the marriage feast in chapter 2 of John's gospel regarding the wine that Jesus had made said, "Everyone at the beginning sets out the Welch's sparkling grape juice and when the guests have well drunk then they bring out the grape kool-aid, but you have brought out the best non-alcoholic, grape flavored water at the last."
My father had a drinking problem. Not all the time, but there are still episodes in my childhood that remain in my memory. At one point he even checked into one of those places that help you dry out and teach you how to not allow drinking to govern your life. I disclose this about the greatest man in my life to add import to what I say lest any reader suspect my thoughts on this matter come from one who has been sheltered from the dark side of misuse.
When teaching the college students in our home I often refer to where they fall in time. Most were born only 18-20 years ago. They have only been aware of a Democratic president. From their experience, the Internet, Cable TV, space shuttles, and Taco Bell have always existed. By pointing this out, one can begin to discern whether all that appears normal and right may not be normal and right for the Christian but merely that which is accepted for the time in which they live.
150 years ago Christians had no problem with the moderate consumption of alcoholic drinks. In the past, the monthly stipend for pastors included not only money, food, and housing but also tobacco and rum (not cooking rum). The present 'Christian' sentiment regarding the evils of any consumption of alcohol started with the liberals' and Unitarians' propagation of the Social Gospel, which of course falls under the apostle Paul's vehement condemnation of any other gospel besides the truth. (By the way, it didn't take the fundamentalists long to jump on the jump-off-the-wagon wagon. They always fight their enemies by joining them. Call Prohibition—Fundamentalists and Liberals Together—thought you'd like to know).
So our weaker brothers' legalistic teaching regarding alcohol has been borrowed from the pagans. This present day problem has given the large majority of evangelicals a false way of evaluating personal righteousness. And possibly worse, it has given the pagans around them a false impression of what a Christian is: a person who puts in 2 hours of church a week, is hopelessly addicted to ESPN, but is a teetotaler.
Many of you may not know this, but I make fabulous salsa. The taste and heat are just right and I delight to prepare and serve it to our friends who rave about how it just is so much better than any they have ever had. The only thing that makes it better is one of RC's ice cold home brews. Angela, my wife, is an awesome cook. Her specialty is Italian cuisine. The pasta and lasagna that she serves are out of this world. The perfect compliment is a glass or two of chianti, which she also uses in her sauces. Some people who have sat at our table have been shocked when my little girls ask if they can have some of daddy's wine and I reply that they will to wait until they are 14. No, I don't care what the government says. My dinner table is my dinner table. And at my discernment my children can do anything their dad does. Our children will not be taught that drinking is the sin you do when you're old enough. The best way to teach is to model the truth as you teach it.
Our church serves wine and real unleavened bread during communion. The experience of the Lord's table is heightened by these quality elements. I can not help but compare when we are away from home and have communion at another church. Grape juice and crackers just do not compliment such a solemn and joyous occasion. Remember, when God had the Israelites set up formal worship all the senses were engaged. The burning of incense, the beauty of the tabernacle or temple, and the music of skilled musicians, not some teenager with an electric keyboard.
In the ongoing debate of what defines legalism, license, and liberty we must allow the Word of God to be the authority and not extra-biblical, reactionary, social gospel propaganda. Anyone wanting to start a crusade to combat things that are offensive to God should start by critiquing the inventory of the local "Christian" bookstore. That should keep you busy for a while.