Touch Not, Taste Not

[Christusregnat]

Hello All,

We bought a Baptist Hymnal from the mid 20th Century about 10 years ago, and it had a delightful little jewel of a hymn that is to the tune of "O Tenenbaum":


There's danger in the flowing bowl!
Touch not, taste not, handle not!
'Twill ruin body, ruin soul!
Touch not, taste not, handle not!

'Twill rob the pocket of its cash;
'Twill scourge thee with a cruel lash;
And all thy hopes of pleasure dash,
Touch not, taste not, handle not!

"Strong drink is raging," God hath said:
Touch not, taste not, handle not!
And thousands it hath captive led!
Touch not, taste not, handle not!

It leads the young, and strong and brave;
It leads them to a drunkard's grave;
It leads them where no arm can save--
Touch not, taste not, handle not!

Come let us join each heart and hand,
Touch not, taste not, handle not!
To drive the traffic from the land;
Touch not, taste not, handle not!
We need the strongest, bravest hearts
To foil the cruel tempter's arts,
And heal his fearful wounds and smarts--
Touch not, taste not, handle not!

Oh, hasten, then the happy time!
Touch not, taste not, handle not!
When joyful bells their notes will chime;
Touch not, taste not, handle not!
Then raise the temp'rance flag on high,
And lift your voices to the sky--
Sing glory be to God on high!
Touch not, taste not, handle not!



The verse above the "hymn" is, of course Paul's injunction to not buy into this paganism.

Of course, in our family, this quickly became "O Temp'rance Tree! O Temp'rance Tree!"

Cheers,

 

[JennyG]

I don't think it would fit the tune "O Tannenbaum" very felicitously.
I've never heard it before, but whether wisely or not, it clearly was written by some simple-hearted believer with a burden to do his best to guide his brothers in the right and narrow way -- so please don't mock!

 

[raekwon]

That's (unintentionally) funny stuff right there.

 

[TimV]

The problem comes when the simple-hearted start mocking those who have done the dirty work of learning the subject matter. How much respect is then due them?

 

[Rich Koster]

The Fundies have their own extra 10 commandments, thou shalt not drink alcohol is one of them. The others, TSN smoke, TSN dance, TSN go to movies ....

 

[VictorBravo]

Moderation

Folks, is this thread edifying? If so, post something useful to the saints.

Otherwise, the thread gets closed.

 

[Kevin]

from Deut. 14 (ESV)

22(L) "You shall tithe all the yield of your seed that comes from the field year by year. 23And before the LORD your God, in the place that he will choose, to make his name dwell there,(M) you shall eat the tithe of your grain, of your wine, and of your oil,(N) and the firstborn of your herd and flock,(O) that you may learn to fear the LORD your God always. 24And if the way is too long for you, so that you are not able to carry the tithe, when the LORD your God blesses you, because(P) the place is too far from you, which the LORD your God chooses, to set his name there, 25then you shall turn it into money and bind up the money in your hand and go to the place that the LORD your God chooses 26and spend the money for whatever you desire—oxen or sheep or wine or strong drink, whatever your appetite craves. And(Q) you shall eat there before the LORD your God and rejoice, you and your household. 27And you shall not neglect(R) the Levite who is within your towns, for(S) he has no portion or inheritance with you.

So God commands his people to do something that will "lead them to a drunkads grave"?

This is not "rob(bing) your pocket of cash" it is gratefull acceptance of the blessings God provides us.

When a song mocks Gods graceous provision for his people, and calls "evil" what God calls "good", then it does not make my list of "delightful little jewels"

just saying.

 

[Christusregnat]

I don't think it would fit the tune "O Tannenbaum" very felicitously.
I've never heard it before, but whether wisely or not, it clearly was written by some simple-hearted believer with a burden to do his best to guide his brothers in the right and narrow way -- so please don't mock!

Jenny,

When Paul rebuked such people in Colossians, he did not say that they were simple-hearted believers, but warned the saints to avoid them as they have vain philosophy:

18Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,

19And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.

20Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,

21(Touch not; taste not; handle not;

22Which all are to perish with the using) after the commandments and doctrines of men?

23Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body: not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.

When someone so grandly misquotes the Scripture to suit a pagan ideology, they are worthy to be mocked.

Cheers,