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To: Lurker

I take it you are basing your questions on some Evangelicals I know.

First of all, the Bible is not primarily about what is not allowed, spoiling your pleasure. The Ten Commandments are one of the few places where negatives are used, and I think we can agree on most of it: it’s not really nice to steal, kill people, wreck other people’s marriages, and the like.

But the Bible, including the Old Testament, is more about what to choose if you want to be happy. Choose God.

Moreover even the negative commandments are not designed to deprive people of pleasure, but to make them realize what to avoid if they want to avoid being unhappy, as well as turning away from God. Because committing sins doesn’t really make you happy, not in the long run.

But as for some of your questions, no, the Bible does not say that it is evil to drink in moderation or to dance. Some Evangelical groups swear off drinking and dancing, but as far as I’m concerned, that’s voluntary. Nothing wrong with it, if that’s what they want to do, but it is not required by the Bible or by traditional Christianity.

I don’t notice that such people are noticeably less happy because they don’t have a glass of wine with their lunch. Personally, I generally have one beer a day, or wine or gin & tonic if that’s what’s being served. I’ve gotten drunk twice in my life, and didn’t find it much fun.

What’s noticeable is that most of the good Christians whom I know, Protestant or Catholic, generally enjoy life as much as or more than those without any religion.


71 posted on 05/19/2010 8:16:23 AM PDT by Cicero (Marcus Tullius)
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To: Cicero
The Ten Commandments are one of the few places where negatives are used, and I think we can agree on most of it: it’s not really nice to steal, kill people, wreck other people’s marriages, and the like.

Every one of the Ten Commandments, all of which I agree with btw, can be boiled down to one thing: Don't steal.

Murder? The unjustified theft of a life.

Theft? Well, that's just....theft.

Coveteousness? That's "pre-theft", no matter if it's your neighbors ass, his fields, or his wife's ass.

False witness? That's the theft of the Truth.

God's name in vain? That's the theft of the respect owed to God.

I don't have a problem with God, nor with Jesus. I have a problem with the dozens of varieties of "doctrine" floating around out there. From one denomination to the other they're often mutually contradictory or just plain silly.

L

72 posted on 05/19/2010 9:39:27 AM PDT by Lurker (The avalanche has begun. The pebbles no longer have a vote.)
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