Christian Living

The drinking of wine has been a problem for thousands of years. We read that Noah was drunk with wine in Genesis 9, and Lot was drunk in Genesis 19.
The Proverb writer declares in his final chapter that wine is not for kings or princes. Again, in Proverbs 23, he says, The drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty.
In First Samuel 1, Eli thought Hannah was drunk and rebuked her for it.
Queen Vashti lost her position as Queen because of a drunken husband in Esther 1.
Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine (Isa 5:22a).

Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks; I know thy works (Rev 2:1-2a).

We avoid thinking about death in our culture. We’re uncomfortable talking about it. We would rather just brush it aside with a nervous laugh and change the subject. But we can’t brush it aside for too long, because we and everyone we know will die.

Many years ago, I wrestled with this question. I distinctly remember asking an older bishop why we as a church have standards. I will never forget his answer, “We have church standards because we have found that if you want to have a plain church, you need to have a written discipline.” In other words, the ultimate goal he had for the church was that it remains plain and separated. His experience was we would not maintain that separation without a written standard.

As Christians, we face forces designed to erode what we believe. Many of our worship services are a ‘convinced again’ experience. Other personal experiences convince us again of the realities of the unchanging truth. Recently another ‘convinced again’ experience was going along with a three-day evangelism effort in New York City. I believe the youth would testify the same.

Baring-Gould/Barnby

Some of the most well-received words of our Lord are found in Matthew 11:28. Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
This is an invitation from our Savior. Yet, as He walked among men, He was one who knew little rest. Day after day, the crowds followed; begging for healing, for teaching, for signs, and for miracles. Some nights He prayed all night. One night, He went walking on the water. And by His own testimony, the Son of man hath not where to lay His head (Matt. 8:20).

An intriguing life philosophy caught my eye while leafing through United Airlines seat back magazine, Hemispheres. I’ve been fascinated ever since. These two words were given by a TV celebrity as his “secret path” to stronger emotional health and longevity of life. His philosophy made strong logical sense. But is there spiritual substance?

“Things are different than they used to be,” Uncle Jon told his sister. “They just have to get used to it.” Uncle Jon had gotten used to various changes in his Mennonite church life. As a young man, he got used to the idea of discarding the plain suit in favor of a lapel suit. (When Jon appeared ready for church in his new suit one Sunday morning, his father chuckled at the boldness of his son; his mother cried.) Jon enjoyed courting a young woman who also followed worldly fads, then got used to a wife who cut her hair and later discarded her covering.

The human race has a problem. This problem first appeared in the heavenly world when Lucifer exalted himself. The problem was transferred to the earth when Adam and Eve felt they could rise above the clear direction that was given them by God Himself – Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. This rebellion attempted to elevate man above his Creator but succeeded only in starting him on a slide away from Him and trouble ensued. We know the after effects of what happened next by what is recorded in Scripture and by what we all experience today.