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Welcome to Varied Expressions of Worship

Welcome to Varied Expressions of Worship

This blog will be written from an orthodox Christian point of view. There may be some topic that is out of bounds, but at present I don't know what it will be. Politics is a part of life. Theology and philosophy are disciplines that we all participate in even if we don't think so. The Bible has a lot to say about economics. How about self defense? Is war ethical? Think of all the things that someone tells you we should not touch and let's give it a try. Everything that is a part of life should be an expression of worship.

Keep it courteous and be kind to those less blessed than you, but by all means don't worry about agreeing. We learn more when we get backed into a corner.

Wednesday, August 31, 2016

Opus 2016-231: Middle Class Morality: Prohibition

Middle Class Morality (MCM) frowns on the abuse of alcohol.  Immature males tend to look at drunkenness as a joke.  That is not MCM.  It also often condemns its use as a beverage.  Part of the heritage historically is Prohibition.  Another attempt to regulate booze were the blue laws which made it illegal to purchase alcohol on Sunday.

Most people have heard of Prohibition.  This was a time when the Constitution was amended to make it illegal to sell alcoholic beverages.  The time gets a lot of bad press.  A lot is made of the rise of organized crime that came as a result.  What you don’t hear about is the way in which the non-front page news got better.  Physical abuse of wives and children decreased in that time.  I would imagine if there were statistics they would show that traffic deaths declined.  The many ways in which alcohol undermines civil society were curtailed.  But people want their booze so all you heard was what the press wanted you to hear.  Some things never change.

The basis for all this was Biblical teaching.  For example,
(Proverbs 23:20 KJV)  Be not among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh:
That is just one example in Proverbs.  Much more is found at the end of the chapter and other places in scripture.  While having a glass of wine at dinner did not seem to be a problem, getting drunk was a clear sin.
(Proverbs 23:21 KJV)  For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags.
Another interesting part of this that I find in Proverbs is the insight that alcohol is a drug to dull the pain of the lower classes.
(Proverbs 31:6-7 KJV)  Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts.  Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.
So if you are hopeless and have given up, drink up.  If you believe in the future and the power of God to change and redeem then abstain.

Viva la middle class morality.

To be continued...

homo unius libri

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Comments are welcome. Feel free to agree or disagree but keep it clean, courteous and short. I heard some shorthand on a podcast: TLDR, Too long, didn't read.