Valerie is a 42-year-old, single, Reformed Christian lady who lives in Baltimore. She doesn't remember a time
before she knew and loved Jesus, but she does remember accepting John Calvin into her heart in March of 2000.
Valerie is a member of Christ Reformed Evangelical Church in Annapolis.
Though her career aspiration is to be a housewife, Valerie has not yet found anyone suitable who wishes to hire
her for employment in that field (or, more properly, anyone suitable has not found her), so in the meantime she
earns her daily bread working in communications -- editing, writing, print design and website management.
Fundy-Duddies
Some friends of mine coined the term "fundy-duddy" last night to describe people who insist on imposing their anti-alcohol sentiments upon others. But as I think about it, I wonder why we call such folks "fundamentalists." Consuming or abstaining from alcohol isn't a fundamental of the Christian faith. Why have we let the antis go on claiming the high moral ground of biblicism? Aren't they playing as fast and loose with the Word of God by adding to Scripture as liberal do by subtracting from it?
Posted by Valerie (Kyriosity) at 8:35 AM
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6 comments
On September 17, 2009 9:58 AMKevin Cassidywrote... Just popping in again. Good question. I think the concern is how often drinking leads to drunkenness, which is prohibited in Paul's letters, and must have at least had the existing stigma in Jesus' time if the Pharisees called him a drunkard (can't recall right now if/where there is OT prohibition, but I think so).
So I think many "antis" get it wrong in that it isn't prohibited. In doing so, they deny God's good gifts and are like Pharisees, and that isn't good. But I think many "pros" also don't give enough credence to the fact that they have sinned when they *do* overimbibe, that they *will* overimbibe again at some point in the future, and the antis have a point in that that is sin in need of repentance. And drunkenness isn't only wrong for it's own sake, but I've been amazed how much damage it does in our lives.
And this is coming from an alcoholic who has real biological and sinful reasons not to drink and has had to think all this through.
And so, we're all once again wrong before the throne and need the healing that Christ alone can bring. Did we doubt we'd end up here?
On September 17, 2009 11:58 AMKevin Cassidywrote... That's what I was thinking, and I can't recall about the Torah, either. Any thoughts on the larger thought?
One more thought on it: that imbibing alcohol (or really any substance that changes your normality, but I imagine we aren't going there) can only be blessed here in how it brings one closer to God and in greater community with His people. Can it be part of enjoying one another in such celebration under His auspices? Yes, and it is even shown as such in the Gospels. Is it often done in that way, rather than for escape, or for personal enjoyment at the expense of the group, or for "courage"? Erm...we are a sinful people.
