The Other Side of the Argument
It’s been quiet without Blonde Moment. Not only was there no loudmouth pushing chocolate, cracking jokes and reading me the latest horrifying headlines on www.cnn.com, but an air of subdued mourning continues to permeate the whole office. I think Bill the Cat was hit hardest by the news. I haven’t seen him that quiet since Britney Spears got married. (And that last statement should fire him up just enough to make today a little more interesting.)
My sources inform me that it has historically been company policy to lay off temps when evaluating a sorry bottom line at the end of a quarter. So perhaps I was a little rash in calling our bean-counter “two-bit.” I still find it funny to call accountants “bean counters,” but if you are an accountant and you’re offended by that, feel free to write and tell me to knock if off.
With so little leisure time at work now, and seeing as how this is finals week at school, I’ve been pretty quiet as far as this blog. Actually, I started several entries, but recycle binned every one of them when nothing sounded right. Now I’m wondering if perhaps I’m going through some sort of blogging burnout. Hmmm . . . now that’s an interesting one for my shrink!
Just kidding, I don’t have a shrink. And I anticipate any burnout will be rekindled as soon as my schedule slows down again. I’m taking it much easier next term. In the meantime, one of my readers suggested to me that I refer you to other blogs that I read and find interesting.
Oooh. He Shouldn’t Have Done That.
Check out Dory at Whittenberg Gate for some great, mostly conservative thoughts on how scripture applies to everyday life. Especially interesting are her posts about The Parable of the Legalistic Steward and Adding to the Law of God. One of the most thought-provoking paragraphs of the former entry reads,
“Just in case I haven't offended everyone yet, let's consider the use of alcohol. The Scriptures are clear that drunkenness is forbidden. Drunkenness is described as situations in which people lose self-control, fall into sin, and/or speak foolishly. (For example, Noah, in Genesis 9) However, this is not the same thing as the 'glow' that is the natural effect of drinking a moderate amount of alcohol. This is spoken of positively. (For example in Psalm 104:15) This was the situation at the wedding in Cana, (when the guests had, "well drunk"), that Jesus found it appropriate to make more wine! (John 2) Avoiding all use of alcohol is certainly an effective method of avoiding drunkenness, and for some people it may the only way that works for them. But we often take this too far by making the avoidance of all alcohol the principle in place of the scriptural principle to avoid drunkenness.”
Most Christians – evangelical and Apostolic alike – won’t like admitting that she has a point. Drinking just seems so . . . worldly. Out of curiosity one day, I read all the scriptures in the Bible concerning “strong drink” and wine. Every scripture I found concerning strong drink speaks negatively of it. There are, however, many OT and NT scriptures that speak positively of wine. The scriptures frown on drunkenness, and there are scriptures that require women and pastors to “not be given to much wine” wherein one could make the logical deduction that “a little wine” would be okay as long one did not drink oneself drunk. Think about it; if you tell someone not to drink a whole lot, you're not telling them not to drink at all!
Please correct me if I’m wrong – but I’ve always thought that the sin was not drunkenness in and of itself but the consequences that follow, such as losing one’s self-control as well as committing the sin of gluttony. If I’m right, would that make losing one’s temper, overeating and becoming drunk all equally sinful? That thought makes me squirm.
Questions, comments, concerns? E-mail me! I reserve the right to quote you unless you ask otherwise.
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