Look How Far We've Come

In the early days of this country the first settlers knew all about the Calvinist or Reformed faith. They were usually coming to the new country to escape from persecution. They had read their bibles and come to know that Luther and Calvin and many other learned men were correct about the way they had interpreted the bible. It seems in the U.S. today this biblical knowledge is of secondary importance to the traditions which have sprung up through a false understanding of the bible. One of the things I am speaking about is the "law" of men in which we are not allowed to drink alcohol, even though the bible speaks to this many times, the "law" which says that any sort of dancing is sinful. It is surprising to me how very prevalent these beliefs have become, even among unbelievers (I should say among the unchurched). When I was attending the Baptist church I went to for awhile, I nearly ate myself alive for taking alcohol when my husband and I went out on the town. Today we were talking about the fun we had on Sunday playing a joke on one of our members with a certain machine. One of my coworkers felt the need to comment about how awful this was (she had used the same machine at the school on several of our staff members just 2 days before!). Then she began to talk about how the whole church was as drunk as could be (she did not use this term but a very offensive term!)at New Years' Eve. We had invited her to go to our church party with us but she refused saying she was not going to have a "dry" New Years'. We told her that everyone would be bringing the drinks of their choice to the party and that she would be welcome. So now we are a bunch of drunken sots just doing everything wrong.

When did it become an unofficial law that because I am a Christian I am no longer allowed to enjoy the good things that God has given to us? My bible tells me that God has given me all things to enjoy but not to abuse! Is it because of the Anabaptists? Is it a perversion of the faith that the first settlers had? Is it simply from a mis-understanding of what the bible says about these things? Is it wrong to drink wine at Communion, just because it is wine? Was Jesus wrong to turn the water into wine? Should He have turned it into grape juice? Do men know more about what sin is than the Lord? Heaven forbid. May I always enjoy the good gifts of God and praise Him for them. May I never allow the opinions of men cause me to criticize what God gives! May these wrongheaded men and women never cause guilt in my heart for enjoying the gifts of a loving Creator! I hope that she will one day understand. Until then I need to talk to her about just how offensive she was toward me personally with her comments. Pray for me, if you would!

Till next time...