The Evangelical WOW

[prisonchaplain]

"I don't drink, smoke, gamble or chew--and I don't go with girls that do."

 

"Garbage in.  Garbage out."  Be careful what you feed your mind on--why allow the Devil to vomit in your household?  Use the off button, brother!

 

Maybe one of our greatest "urban legends" was backmasking.  The idea was that certain Rock 'n Roll groups had intentionally placed demonic or immoral messages within their songs--backwards.  Supposedly the concious mind could not filter out the gibberish, but the subconcious mind would be forced to feed on the immoral suggestions unfiltered.  Bottom-line:  Stick to Christian music!

 

No to bingo, lotteries, and gambling.  Back in the day, even card playing was discouraged--it looked too much like gambling.

 

Harken back a couple generations and dancing was a major taboo.  One comedian even quipped, "Repent and be Baptist, for all have fallen short of the Assemblies of God."  (It was tongue-in-cheek, because we forbade dancing and many Baptists were okay with it).

 

Of course makeup was taboo back in the 50s and 60s, until 'progressive pastors' broke down the taboo by saying, "Some old barns need a coat of paint."

 

Was there some legalism and silliness in all this?  Some.  On the other hand, many nonreligious folk have taken to abstinence from alcohol, and the current political administration is more adamant against tobacco than we are.  Many civic leaders see casinos as causing more social harm than economic good.

 

Bottom line:  A lot of the words of wisdom are wise indeed. 

[Lakumi]

Christian music isn't Iron Maiden!

I already followed the WoW without realizing it, since as I said before coffee makes me sick, I don't like alcohol or drugs or cigarettes.

Tea, well most of it tastes the same, and I'm not a fan, well maybe the pine varety-but that's camp food.

Strange how life lines itself up

[The Folk Prophet]

Iron Butterfly, on the other hand...

 

[prisonchaplain]

Christian music isn't Iron Maiden!

 

Don't be so hard on this band.  They try to keep up with the faith-driven metalists!  :-)

 

http://www.christianmusic.com/genres/christian-heavy-metal-music.htm

[Lakumi]

Don't be so hard on this band.  They try to keep up with the faith-driven metalists!  :-)

 

http://www.christianmusic.com/genres/christian-heavy-metal-music.htm

 

I donno, when you're name is Black Sabbath, that alone just gives your metal a few points

[prisonchaplain]

How did my post about social behaviors turn into a competition between Christian and secular alternative music??? 

[Lakumi]

I donno bout you, but I'd still love to see Mormon Power Metal

[andypg]

I come from a Catholic background where our churches survive because of weekly Bingos and we give our eight year olds an opportinuty to sip wine. It's how I knew I preferred red wine over white.

 

My girlfriend grew up in a devout Methodist family with her father's side being Catholic. She describes the differences between the two sides at parties as night and day. The Methodist side don't drink and are very proper. Her Catholic side...let's just say an aunt on her Catholic side plans on taking her to Vegas now that she's 21.

 

My family, devout Catholics, love their music and are great social drinkers. When my girlfriend met them she was shocked at how OK with alcohol a family could be.

 

For a week I thought about attending a Baptist high school (long story) and their rules said I could not attend parties that had dancing and could not listen to rock music, which meant I had to give up guitar lessons and turn in my iPod because that's all I listen to. Personally, I never understood it. Luckily, as I was heading to the temple last week with my bishop, he admitted he accidentally downloaded all of Led Zepplin's work but was glad that at least he downloaded something he really enjoyed. So +1 for Zepplin.

 

No offense to those Christians who do not drink for religious reasons, but I don't understand it. Never understood the whole grape juice instead of wine for communion. Even as an LDS I'm still a little thrown off by the water for sacrament. I mean, for the LDS there is at least direct revelation, for protestantism there isn't a direct command. I guess it's because I see alcohol as more of in moderation than out right need to ban it. (Though there is a direct command from God in the LDS sense, I understand why LDS do not partake.)

 

Guess it's just my up bringing.

 

Though I should say, one thing that does bother me (luckily I haven't encountered this yet as an LDS) is a holier than thou attitude towards those who do not drink. I don't see people who are not-LDS and drink coffee, tea or alcohol as bad or less worthy or partaking of something evil. I tend to see it like the Jews see their commandments: If you're Jewish, follow them, if you're not, I'm not imposing it on you.

[Maureen]

...No offense to those Christians who do not drink for religious reasons, but I don't understand it. Never understood the whole grape juice instead of wine for communion. Even as an LDS I'm still a little thrown off by the water for sacrament. I mean, for the LDS there is at least direct revelation, for protestantism there isn't a direct command. I guess it's because I see alcohol as more of in moderation than out right need to ban it. (Though there is a direct command from God in the LDS sense, I understand why LDS do not partake.)...

There are some protestant denominations that do use wine in communion like Lutherans and I believe Anglicans.

 

Growing up I had a pentecostal friend who was brought up with these restrictions like no smoking, no alcohol, no dancing, no gambling and in the some cases no movies at a movie theatre. My friend's parents would not allow her to go see a Charlie Brown movie at the theatre but her mom watched her soap operas regularly. As a kid I just did not understand this. Her parents would not even allow her to go to other churches (like my Lutheran church, even though I would attend her church occasionally); I think her parents were ignorant about other protestant churches. Now my friend is grown with grown kids of her own and she practices her faith with less restrictions than when she was a kid. At least she now allows herself to go see movies. :)

 

M.

[prisonchaplain]

I can explain (not persuade) the prohibitions.

 

1.  Alcohol:  drunkedness is definitely a sin in the Bible.  Strong drink is warned against.  Pentecostalism blossomed at the same time the Temperance Movement was in full swing.  Alcohol fueled spousal abuse, excessive gambling, and generally obnoxious behavior.  As car travel increased, many states have limits that amount to one drink, or less in the system.  10% of Americans are alcoholic.  All this drove together and drove many churches to believe it was just wiser to totally abstain.  BTW, some scholars will argue that the wine of Jesus' day was little more than grape juice--that we distill much stronger alcohol today.

 

2.  Movie Theaters, night clubs, etc.  Immoral portrayals and associating with people who drink such stuff in.  BTW, I agree that it is humorous and hypocritical to avoid Charlie Brown and the theater, but watch the Soaps at home.  Few churches continue to avoid the theaters, though many of us still warn against feeding on garbage--whether from TV, movies, or other media.

 

Ironically, I'd argue that someone struggling with alcohol or tobacco addiction will find better support in church than in public today.  We may preach against it, but we'll love the one who battles it.  Most in public look at the smoker like a modern day leper.

[The Folk Prophet]

Most in public look at the smoker like a modern day leper.

 

I wonder on this. I certainly don't have a broad enough experience to say for sure (though I do have a fairly broad experience as I travel for work a lot). I think this to be true if and when the person has cigarette in hand -- especially when standing between me and the entrance of the store I'm trying to access. I'll admit to some nasty glares. However, take that same person in the store and (assuming I didn't already cause an issue with the glare) I will interact with that person the same as anyone else, friendly-like and all.

 

Now, yes, when I look out my front window and the neighbor kid is smoking in front of his house -- the same neighbor kid who was blessing the Sacrament a week back -- yeah...a bit of frustration, annoyance and disapproval...for sure. But, the next time I see him, I'm friendly. So, yeah...not sure.

 

Sorry....thread jack. :)

[prisonchaplain]

I had in mind the bus stop where mothers clutch the babies tightly to their chests, and look at the fellow with a cigarette like he'll instantly transmit lung cancer to her little cherub if he gets within 50 feet of her.  But hey, here in Washington the community condemns the evil Tobacco Industrial Complex, but laudes the local, organic marijuana "co-ops."  :-)