Ok, normally I don't comment on every TV evangelist I watch. On Sunday mornings there is a particular Pastor I like to watch to see what ridiculousness he is spewing each week. Some things I actually agree with and some I do not. Today was particularly disturbing because 1. the size of his congregation listening to this and 2. he is on television and has I think a responsibility to be accurate.
His rant was in regards to Jesus' turning water into wine. It seemed a bit I would say even painful for him to read the verses. I would guess because it looked like Jesus advocated the drinking of wine. Then that's when the rants started. First, using "what was wine back in Jesus' day"? The case made was disturbing at best. All he has at his disposal is to make an argument because as every other person knows and understands that this is a heart issue. You can't guilt people into doing the right thing. It doesn't work that way. Or at least for the majority of the population it doesn't work that way. When he got to the point of contradicting himself I think I threw up a little in the back of my throat.
Like seriously dude?
Jesus drink "wine" that was really condensed jelly/jam that was reconstituted with water to create a "grape juice", not wine?? Good Lord! Then, as an attorney would do, he saved the best zingers for last. "Well, if you still aren't convinced, then you should come to the ER with me when a child is struck by a drunk driver or do a funeral for a teenager who was killed in an alcohol related death and THEN you'd change your tune". Really? Well, using that line of logic I guess we should stop owning guns because they kill people or eating food because you could become obese.
Legalism is a slippery slope. It starts with a good principal: self control, but goes to the point of making a "God tells us to do/not do this thing" when clearly it does not. Wow. I am astonished that this is allowed to happen in churches today. Why? BECAUSE WE ALLOW IT!!
My challenge to myself and anyone who reads this blog: Read scripture and actually determine what the writer meant. Not make up your mind and then make it fit. Amen!
