Posted on 06/15/2006 12:56:52 PM PDT by Kahonek
GREENSBORO, N.C. (BP)--Messengers to the 2006 Southern Baptist Convention adopted resolutions on such currently controversial topics as immigration and the environment June 14, but the debate time was dominated by an issue addressed repeatedly in the convention’s 161-year history -- alcohol.
A lengthy debate on a recommendation concerning the use of alcoholic beverages consumed the Resolution Committee’s report in the morning session. In a departure from recent years, the committee needed the evening session to complete its report.
When the back-and-forth on alcohol finally ended, the messengers passed with about a four-fifths majority a resolution not only opposing the manufacture and consumption of alcohol but urging the exclusion of Southern Baptists who drink from election to the convention’s boards, committees and entities. Like other resolutions, it is not binding on SBC churches and entities.
The resolution’s supporters contended the action was needed because some Christians believe they may drink based on a wrong interpretation of the believer’s “freedom in Christ.” They said abstaining from alcohol preserves a Christian’s purity and testimony, while drinking can be a “stumbling block” for others and has destructive results.
Opponents argued that the resolution promoted a position based on Southern Baptist tradition instead of Scripture, which describes the use of wine in the Old and New Testaments. Concern also was expressed that a resolution excluding those who drink alcohol could be the start of a list of sins that would disqualify people from serving in the convention.
The passage of the resolution marked the first time the SBC had approved an alcohol-related recommendation since 1991, according to the records of the convention’s Executive Committee. The 15-year gap is the longest between approved resolutions on alcohol since the convention adopted its first such recorded measure on the topic in 1886. In all, the SBC has approved 57 resolutions related to alcohol since that year.
T.C. French, chairman of the Resolutions Committee, acknowledged afterward that the panel was a “little surprised” the alcohol measure dominated debate, considering some of the other issues addressed in the 15 resolutions.
“We felt like since we had not presented [a resolution] on alcohol in a number of years, we felt like we needed to get that done,” French told reporters.
The committee offered the resolution without recommending any restriction in SBC life for those who consume alcohol. Jim Richards, executive director of the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention and a messenger from First Baptist Church of Fort Worth, Texas, introduced on the floor an amendment calling for abstinence among those serving in the SBC, and the Resolutions Committee endorsed his recommendation.
The amendment, which also passed with about four-fifths of messengers in favor, said: “Resolved, that we urge that no one be elected to serve as a trustee or a member of any entity or committee of the Southern Baptist Convention that is a user of alcoholic beverages.”
“While there may be liberty, we cannot violate [the admonition in 1 Corinthians 8 that] says our liberty can become a stumbling block. … [T]he use of alcohol as a beverage can and does impede our testimony for the Lord Jesus Christ,” Richards said in support of his amendment. “[O]ur leaders should take the high road in our walk with the Lord Jesus.”
Voicing opposition to the amendment, Tom Ascol, pastor of Grace Baptist Church in Cape Coral, Fla., and executive director of Founders Ministries, a Southern Baptist organization that advocates reformed theology, referred to an New Testament account of Jesus at a wedding as his rationale.
“Christ turned water into wine,” Ascol said.
Speaking against the resolution, Benjamin Cole, pastor of Parkview Baptist Church in Arlington, Texas, said he does not advocate the drinking of alcohol but he feared the convention was in danger of “misstepping” if it adopted “a position that is contrary to what the Bible teaches in the flexibility of the scriptural admonitions as they relate to the consumption of alcoholic beverages.”
Cole’s father died at the age of 39 from a liver disease brought on by alcoholism.
“My father did not die because he drank alcohol; my father died because he drank alcohol in excess,” said Cole, who said as a 13-year-old he cared for his father during the last six months of his life.
In defense of the resolution, committee member Dwayne Mercer, pastor of First Baptist Church in Oviedo, Fla., said while he appreciates “the fact that people become alcoholics because they drink too much alcohol, my parents always taught me, ‘If you don’t take the first drink, you don’t have to worry about taking the last.’”
In opposing the resolution, Jeff Young, pastor of Corinth Baptist Church in Ravenna, Texas, said the older members of the SBC had won the battle to proclaim the Bible is “authoritative and sufficient, but when we pass extra-biblical resolutions such as this, we pull the rug out from underneath that teaching.”
Or may it be that hardcore Baptist better understand the biblical definitions for wine. From a logical standpoint one might ask, if Jesus were God as He claimed to be, how could he have turned water into rotten juice. After all, that's what fermentation is. Can God create anything imperfect? Why would God create rotten juice from water? Wonder if the loaves he multipled were molded and the fish he multiplied spoiled? Hmm, why again would he create decayed juice. Perhaps in biblical days, one definition of wine may have been "fruit of the vine", (pure, not decayed).
I would invite anyone to drink two beers, two glasses of wine, or two shots of whisky, all which are by the way equal in alchohol content. After you drink them, get in your automobile, start driving and call the traffic police to pull you over. Then convince him your judgment is not impaired. I think you would be legally defined as "under the influence."
Again, I would invite all of you biblical scoholars to do an in-depth study of "wine" as defined in biblical days. You will find that wine can refer to "fermented or un-fermented." Absolutely not, Jesus did not produce a 150 gallons of fermented wine to intoxicate and indanger the lives of people. Obviously many who think they know Him, do not.
You have the seeds of Episcopalianism in you. ;-D
Words of a man who was back-slidden at the time and miserable because He has disobeyed God.
Exactly, the alcohol content of everyday wine in biblical days was excessively low, would have been extremely difficult to become intoxicated on it. Here's where the "ignorance" of many are evident. They only think of wine as defined in today's vocabulary.
Right on, this is where so many justify their own desires with biblical text. They fail to use the entire Scripture as a means of interpreting. Rather they pull a text out of context and abuse it for their own selfish endulgences.
People who endulge in "spirits" do so because they are not filled with the "Spirit." Alcohol is a substitute for them! It relaxes them and makes them happy.
I know I'll get flamed for this, but I have to add this:
Up here where I live, the members of these small Baptist churches believe it is okay to rape your daughters, granddaughters, steal from other church members in a business deal, eat like a pig till you become one, have an affair with the choir director, etc.
But DON'T drink alcohol, you'll go to Hell for that.
I'm serious.
Many years ago I was involved with a family that had this philospophy, as did all the ones in their church. The father was a deacon and pillar of the community, he was in church every time the doors opened.
He also was the most evil person I ever encountered in my life. A lot of his family members are now having serious problems because of his evil. All of his grandkids are drug addicts, etc.
I would never be caught in one of those kinds of churches again. And that evil man did more to turn me away from organized religion than anything.
I never met a drunk as evil as that self righteous man was. And, I've said this before, and I'll say it again: The ones who insist on pushing their views and morality on you are usually the ones with the guiltiest conscience about something.
We had a pastor who maintained that wine in the 1st century Middle East was diluted 20 to 1. I always thought that was pretty funny because in order to violate the scriptural admonition "be not drunk with wine" would mean consuming so much liquid within a time constraint that it would have to be consumed even while using the facility.
"Not exactly. The problem is the hypocrisy. On Sunday they preach no drinking, but were seen drinking on Saturday. Was the reason I left. Am now Catholic."
A hillbilly girl ping from the Tennessee/Kentucky border ;)
The hard-core Baptists up this way love illicit sex and greed. Just don't drink, or you'll go to Hell.
I love the ones who hug and call each other "Sister Jones, Brother White," then go home and can't stand each other.
Wouldn't feed a poor starving kid because it would slow down their race to the All-You-Can-Eat Buffet after church.
I cannot stomach hypocrits.
Really? And you were there so you know this for a fact? The bible doesn't say he produced unfermented grape juice, it says wine. Wine is not unfermented, regardless of how you try to spin it.
I also found out the real reason there are so many dry counties in Kentucky. The elders of the churches are the ones doing all the bootlegging. They would lose all their money if the old biddies in the Baptist Church didn't get their way--no alcohol. Ooops! I just reverted back to my redneck ways!! Please don't tell anyone!
I'm a recovering drunk and a minister. This stuff makes them look like fanatics.
Picture this one:
Anderson County, TN, circa 1974 or so. At that time you couldn't buy beer or other "spirits" on Sunday.
But, EVERYBODY except the cops (ya'd think) knew you could head to Oliver Springs and buy ". . .anything you want."
Two elderly sisters ran the business out of their house.
We called the establishment "Mama DoRight," but the lady's real name was Mamie Dunlap (or so the legend goes . . )
I wouldn't know of course, I just heard this tale ;)
I went ahead and pinged you billhilly, because you must have some insight into what mindset those west Tennessee billhillies are thinking.
Let me go ahead and invite you to the Lord's House when you are living here.
You don't even have to bring your own snakes,KYGrandma will probably have some extras ;)
Wine is fermented juice, just as bread is fermented wheat flour.
Do you also condemn bread?
As an ordained SB minister who spent 10yrs as a drunk, I have recovered and am "a new creature in Christ." I am a fanatic! Jesus was a fanatic, hence they crucified Him. He Himself said, "they hate Me because I testify their works are evil." Alcohol is the root of many evils in our society and the true man of God will denounce its use. Consider the grave yards, the hospitals, the parentless children, the abused spouse, the wrecked families, the insane asylums, and then ask yourself -- would Jesus Christ promote the use of anything that brings such pain and devastation upon His creation? I think not! My, how the "god of this world" has blinded man, even many of God's own people. God have mercy on us!
Men go to hell for rejecting Jesus Christ. Rest assured many Christians make it into heaven, but many of their rewards will have been lost due to their loose living.
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