Thursday, May 16, 2013

Gladdening the Heart

A friend at the goat races


A few weeks ago I attended the goat races sponsored by Sly Fox Beer in Phoenixville, PA.  http://www.slyfoxbeer.com/.  Simon, a three-legged goat, was the winner and was honored by having his name appended to the brewery’s 2013 Mai Bock.  The prior year’s winner, Peggy, was also a three-legged goat, making one wonder that if three legs are better than four, perhaps two are better than three.  I may just have to come back next year to see if that theory has any merit. 

While I certainly enjoyed seeing the various varieties of goats and the racing techniques used by their trainers, the main draw for me and the thousands that attended was the beer.  Is that OK to say?  Or does enjoying a good, craft beer or three automatically label me as a lush?
 
The truth is that we have a love-hate relationship with alcohol in America.  Around two-thirds of Americans say they consume alcohol at least occasionally according to a recent Gallup survey.  However, we mostly feel guilty doing it.  Perhaps it’s the result of how tightly religion is woven into the fabric of American society.  According to a 2008 U.S. Religious Landscape Survey conducted by The Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life, close to 85% of Americans claim a religious affiliation.  Some religions, like Islam, prohibit alcohol consumption outright.  America’s majority religion, Christianity, is ambivalent about drinking alcohol. 

If you take a detailed tour of the Christian Bible, you will find much to justify arguments on both sides of the issue.  But the parts that speak most strongly against consuming alcohol principally deal with its abuse.  Perhaps we can all agree that it’s not a good idea to get stinking drunk.  That’s when bad things are most likely to happen.  Certainly, driving a car is about the stupidest thing one can do while under the influence of alcohol.  Also, people with an addiction problem shouldn't drink regardless of what it says in the Bible.  Addiction issues and other problems associated with overindulgence are the reasons that many Christians believe drinking alcohol should be equated with sinning, and that good Christians should be teetotalers.  It’s thinking like that, of course, that brought us the 18th Amendment and Prohibition.  Fortunately, the Prohibition experiment in this country was short-lived.

Personally, I take my guidance from David in the Old Testament and Jesus in the New.  Psalm 104, which is usually attributed to David, thanks God for “wine that gladdens the heart of man.”  Jesus, who was a descendant of David, made wine from water at Cana to gladden the hearts of those attending the wedding.  If that’s not enough to inform us that he approved of wine, Jesus tells us that according to the religious authorities of his day:

John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and [they said], “He has a demon.” The Son of Man came eating and drinking and [they said] “Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.”  (Luke 7: 33-34) 

That is one of my favorite quotes from Jesus, because it provides so much insight into his character and, perhaps, his appearance.  While the Pharisees, who opposed what Jesus was teaching no doubt went too far in describing him as a glutton and a drunkard, there are ample passages that provide evidence that Jesus liked to eat and drink.  Jesus knew that many barriers tend to break down when you dine with people.  He knew that there is virtually no better way of reaching people and gaining their trust than to share a meal and a few drinks with them.  Consequently, if I were a casting director making a movie about Jesus and his ministry, I would find someone who looks like they enjoy eating and drinking.  I would forego the Viggo Mortensen-types for someone more like Jack Black.  In fact, the fellow pictured at the top of this post would be perfect for my version of the story of Jesus. 

So fellow Christians, feel free to do as Jesus did and have a drink or two with friends and acquaintances.  It will gladden your heart whether you are watching the goat races or your favorite hockey team compete for the Stanley Cup.  And it’s the Christian thing to do, so there’s no reason to feel guilty about it.


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