Baptists and Alcohol
- Thread starter JM
- Start date
- Status
DMcFadden
Puritanboard Commissioner
Just the saved ones.
Actually, it was a Baptist who invented bourbon. Elijah Craig, minister, entrepreneur, and founder of the Baptist-related Georgetown College in Kentucky is widely credited with creating the official spirit of the Bluegrass State around 1789. Today, Kentucky's Heaven Hill Distillery sells a high-end single-barrel bourbon named after Craig.
Most historians trace the teetotaling movement to the 1830s and problems with alcohol abuse on the frontier. The Baptists joined with the Methodists and theologically liberal city folks to control the abuses.
Today, many Baptists partake of the psychoactive drug, CH3CH2OH, with its characteristic pattern of affecting the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors, to produce a depressant (neurochemical inhibitory) effect. Even though I came from the liberal ABC, my alcohol inhibitions are pretty strong, primarily due to pervasive alcoholism in the extended families of both my wife and myself.
Actually, truth be told, Baptists don't convert to Presbyterianism for the views on baptism. It's the permission to drink alcohol that draws them like moths to the light.
HaigLaw
Puritan Board Sophomore
Actually, truth be told, Baptists don't convert to Presbyterianism for the views on baptism. It's the permission to drink alcohol that draws them like moths to the light.
I didn't know how much of that was tongue in cheek, but I enjoyed it all, especially the above-quoted part.
Backwoods Presbyterian
Puritanboard Amanuensis
It is worth noting that the RPCNA was very active during the 19th century in regards to the temperance movement.
pilgrim3970
Puritan Board Freshman
The Reformed Baptist congregation my wife and I used to worship with split the difference and had both wine and grape juice at communion.
I grew up in a household where alchohol was a no-no (Assemblies of God - yup, I've had quite a journey). Imagine my mild surprise the first time I went to synod as a Reformed Episcopalian and there was an open bar during the banquet which was held the last night!
I grew up in a household where alchohol was a no-no (Assemblies of God - yup, I've had quite a journey). Imagine my mild surprise the first time I went to synod as a Reformed Episcopalian and there was an open bar during the banquet which was held the last night!
Reformed Covenanter
Cancelled Commissioner
How sad; the RPCI has many teetootlers, but it was never a requirement like it was in the RPCNA...thankfully.
Reformed Covenanter
Cancelled Commissioner
Oh yes, keep in mind that Ian Paisley's Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster is an officially total abstinence denomination.
pilgrim3970
Puritan Board Freshman
For the most part, Baptists have been teetotalers...A sobering thought (
It would you are in a humourous spirit this morning!
Backwoods Presbyterian
Puritanboard Amanuensis
How sad; the RPCI has many teetootlers, but it was never a requirement like it was in the RPCNA...thankfully.
Also thankfully the RPCNA has recently made the issue one of Christian Liberty.
blhowes
Puritan Board Professor
Isn't being a teetotaler a good thing? I would think that for most Christians, unless you're a heavy drinker, abstaining from drinking alcohol is not too difficult to do. Having that under control, it frees you up to focus on correcting other sinful behaviors, like smoking cigars and other worldly vices.
That one deserves a double thanks!
BTW, from the research I have done, it appears that prohibition grew out of the feminist movement as well.
Personally, I think prohibition as it is practiced in the SBC is very dangerous. It sends the message that we can make ourselves more or less righteous by what we put in our mouth.
raekwon
Puritan Board Junior
Since when is smoking cigars (necessarily) a sinful behavior or a worldly vice?
Ivan
Pastor
caddy
Puritan Board Senior
I think Bob meant to print his text in sarcastic Red raekwon.... : )
blhowes
Puritan Board Professor
Sorry, comment was made TIC (tongue-in-cheek). Just trying to "stir the pot" a tad, and see if I could "get you guys going".
Go enjoy your cigar,
Bob
raekwon
Puritan Board Junior
blhowes
Puritan Board Professor
My sarcasm detector is on the fritz this morning.
tcalbrecht
Puritan Board Junior
Beverage alcohol was one of the issues that helped split the fledgling Presbyterian Church OF America (aka OPC) back in the '30s.
How sad; the RPCI has many teetootlers, but it was never a requirement like it was in the RPCNA...thankfully.
Amen, brother. Pass the guiness.
Reformed Covenanter
Cancelled Commissioner
How sad; the RPCI has many teetootlers, but it was never a requirement like it was in the RPCNA...thankfully.
Amen, brother. Pass the guiness.
No beer comes near.
pilgrim3970
Puritan Board Freshman
How sad; the RPCI has many teetootlers, but it was never a requirement like it was in the RPCNA...thankfully.
Amen, brother. Pass the guiness.
No beer comes near.
As much as I like Guiness, I'd have to say that Spaten runs a close second in my book.
DMcFadden
Puritanboard Commissioner
Judging by the habits of some of my friends out here in CA, I observe that the old taboo against drinking alcohol as a beverage is dropping away. As a child, we used to recite the church covenant on communion Sunday monthly with its line about "refraining from the use of alcohol as a beverage."
On my last Israel trip a So. Cal. Baptist pastor uncorked a bottle of wine at his dinner table in front of a couple dozen of his laypeople. 40 years ago that would have been unheard of, even out here.
My practice is governed by family proclivities towards alcoholism and the fact that I was able to "justify"/ignore putting on 126 lbs in the last 13 years. Obviously, my level of sanctification is not well suited for the consumption of addictive substances like food, drink, and PB.
How sad; the RPCI has many teetootlers, but it was never a requirement like it was in the RPCNA...thankfully.
Amen, brother. Pass the guiness.
No beer comes near.
A couple of questions from to our friend across the Pond. 1st Is the Guiness we get in the states the same caliber as the one you are able to purchase?2nd. I read once the Guiness that is now produced is not the same as the one that was once produced in Ireland, I might be wrong but is Guiness now brewed in England? Inquiring minds want to know? Also I like a half and half with Harps Lager.
Reformed Covenanter
Cancelled Commissioner
2nd. I read once the Guiness that is now produced is not the same as the one that was once produced in Ireland, I might be wrong but is Guiness now brewed in England? Inquiring minds want to know? Also I like a half and half with Harps Lager.
To be perfectly honest, I have no idea. But I don't see any reason why the Guiness you get in the USA would be any worse than what we have.
moral necessity
Puritan Board Junior
2nd. I read once the Guiness that is now produced is not the same as the one that was once produced in Ireland, I might be wrong but is Guiness now brewed in England? Inquiring minds want to know? Also I like a half and half with Harps Lager.
My uncle was in the Air Force in England/Ireland in the late 60's/early 70's. He said the Guinness there on tap came out in globs that would flop into your glass, not like the watered-down version we have in the states. I usually use Bass Ale for the half/half. I'll have to try it with the Harps. Thanks for the tip!
- Status
