Posted on 11/05/2006 6:57:21 AM PST by Gamecock
I can't provide a direct correlation between the rise of Dispensationalism, Fundamentalism and anti-alcoholism, but there certainly is an implied correlation.
Dispensationalism led to a wide-spread evangelical movement based on the immminent return Christ, which prompted the beginnings of Fundamentalism in 1878 at Niagra, which continued into the 1920's with C.I. Scofield and leading the pack.
The idea of Christ's imminent return led to prohibitions against being in places of worldly entertainment, including theatres and bars, etc. The idea was, "you wouldn't want to be in a place like that when Christ returned, would you?"
Concurrent with that were fiery evangelists such as Billy Sunday whose messages were heavy on the evils of alcohol. They in turn, walked hand in hand with the prohibitionists, who themselves had a sort of evangelical fervor and bent.
From that time forward, it has been Fundamentalists, primarily, who put heavy stock in total abstinence. For example, attendance at major Fundamentalist institutions such as Wheaton, Moody, Taylor, Trinity, Bob Jones, etc., was dependent on a pledge of abstinence, and in some cases, a statement that one has not engaged in such activity as drinking for at least the past year.
Note: this is a quick overview, not intended as particularly scholarly, but intended to demonstrate a rather (possible) coincidental relationship of anti-alcoholism and Fundamentalism.
Have I included enough caveats?
He was accused of being a drunkard.
I agree with your historical assessment too. I think it is tied in with Carrie Nation and Prohibition as well. Assemblies of God, I know, prohibits drinking, and I believe that denomination started up around then.
Honestly Jude, do you ever think he was drunk?
If Jesus drank wine, I don't see the problem with Him drinking other alcoholic drinks.
But He did drink wine, which, for those who think alcoholic drinks are evil, would mean that John, a teetotaler, was holier than Jesus.
Read my post
No, but clearly he enjoyed his wine - and made his own. It's not like he brought Grape Juice to the Wedding at Cana - he made several kegs worth of wine.
He was a bartender at a Jewish wedding.
There are 14, and most of them frown upon "strong drink" except when a person is on his deathbed.
(Numbers 6:3 KJV) He shall separate himself from wine and strong drink, and shall drink no vinegar of wine, or vinegar of strong drink, neither shall he drink any liquor of grapes, nor eat moist grapes, or dried.
(Numbers 28:7 KJV) And the drink offering thereof shall be the fourth part of an hin for the one lamb: in the holy place shalt thou cause the strong wine to be poured unto the LORD for a drink offering.
(Deuteronomy 14:26 KJV) And thou shalt bestow that money for whatsoever thy soul lusteth after, for oxen, or for sheep, or for wine, or for strong drink, or for whatsoever thy soul desireth: and thou shalt eat there before the LORD thy God, and thou shalt rejoice, thou, and thine household,
(Judges 13:4 KJV) Now therefore beware, I pray thee, and drink not wine nor strong drink, and eat not any unclean thing:
(Judges 13:7 KJV) But he said unto me, Behold, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and now drink no wine nor strong drink, neither eat any unclean thing: for the child shall be a Nazarite to God from the womb to the day of his death.
(1 Samuel 1:15 KJV) And Hannah answered and said, No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my soul before the LORD.
(Proverbs 20:1 KJV) Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.
(Proverbs 31:6 KJV) Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts.
(Isaiah 5:22 KJV) Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink:
(Isaiah 28:7 KJV) But they also have erred through wine, and through strong drink are out of the way; the priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink, they are swallowed up of wine, they are out of the way through strong drink; they err in vision, they stumble in judgment.
(Isaiah 29:9 KJV) Stay yourselves, and wonder; cry ye out, and cry: they are drunken, but not with wine; they stagger, but not with strong drink.
(Isaiah 56:12 KJV) Come ye, say they, I will fetch wine, and we will fill ourselves with strong drink; and to morrow shall be as this day, and much more abundant.
(Micah 2:11 KJV) If a man walking in the spirit and falsehood do lie, saying, I will prophesy unto thee of wine and of strong drink; he shall even be the prophet of this people.
(Luke 1:15 KJV) For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb.
He also created poppys and coca trees and marijuana plants.
Do you think he rolled his own?
Bartenders don't drink the product.
This is a divine endorsement of strong drink - from one's tithe!
And somehow, it's a bad thing?
He explicitly made the booze so people could drink up. Ps. 104 explicitly said that God gave men wine to gladden their hearts. He said no such thing about cocaine, heroin, nor marijuana. Your reasoning is specious.
What bars have you been in?
They certainly didn't have vodka, tequila, whiskey, gin or anything even closely resembling what we call "strong drink" today.
For all we know "stong drink" may have been coffee or herbal tea.
I have never in my life witnessed a bartender drinking on the job. Have you?
What bars have you been drinking in?
*little c, not to be confused with the title for Christ.
I've been called a lot of names.
Are you suggesting that the Lord was a drunkard?
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