Theology on Tap

Many Christians have a problem with alcohol. Not a drinking problem, mind you. But I believe the issue of alcohol has become a major one within the church. Not because of its importance, theologically or practically. But because it’s such an obvious taboo. At least within my home denomination, the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Denmark, but I suspect in other places as well.

My mind turned to this subject once again when I came across Blaqenedwyte’s brilliant post, Theology on Tap. Controversial, indeed, but thought-provoking as well. I mean, why not?

Historically, most evangelical Christians have shunned alcohol, but none so vigorously as the SDA Church. I will glady give all due respect to the health message of our pioneers which was really ahead of its time in the late 19th century. Many people have met God through this focus and continue to do so in some parts of the world.

But times change, and Adventists no longer have a monopoly on healthy living–far from it. The stance of total abstinence from alcohol of any source may have been helpful in many cases, but does it really need to be a cardinal point any more? Furthermore, I personally find no Biblical mandate for complete abstinence.

This is dangerous ground to tread. Why? Because it has become a case of black and white (or maybe it’s always been). Nobody wants to talk about it. Sure, there’s talk. But no reality check. The embarassingly low membership rate of the Danish Abstinence Union (Dansk Afholdsunion) speaks for itself. It seems as if we’ve all closed our eyes to the fact that a large portion of our fellow Adventists find it perfectly all right to enjoy a glass of wine with a good meal. Maybe people are afraid to wake up and find that a couple of drinks is actually not the end of the world and never will be.

On the other hand, the minority who take this position (no official figures here–maybe it’s even 50-50) don’t want to bother raising the issue because of the sometimes very hostile remarks they’ve become accustomed to hearing whenever the curtain is drawn back just a little bit. Better to just stay silent, then.

Is this really a problem? Perhaps not. But there shouldn’t be dishonesty within a church, not even on relatively minor issues as this. Sometimes, especially among young people, it’s as if there’s an invisible line dividing the doers and don’ters, each group frowning upon the other’s choices. That certainly can’t be healthy.

United in Diversity. Sounds good, right. The question may be, how diverse should we be? But before we can answer that, we need a reality check. The real question to ask is: How diverse ARE we and what do we do about it?

Michael W. Smith

It’s still ringing in my ears, but wow was that great. Michael W. Smith visited Herning, Denmark tonight, and of course I had to go–along with more than 5.000 Christians from all over the country. He was here for the first time two years ago, and today’s concert was just as good as the last one.

The great thing about the concert is that while it was very much a rock conert–great musicians, loud music, and an over-the-top crowd–at the same time it was so much more: a worship party, a time of devotion, an evangelistic meeting, a gathering of friends.

How often do you go to a rock concert and stay behind for an hour afterwards, talking to somewhere between 50 and 100 friends from near and far who just happened to be there?

How often do you go to a concert and sing along and jump up and down to the music, but see the band giving their praise to Jesus and praying with the crowd?

How often do you get to fill a 5.000-seat arena in ultra-secular Denmark with people praising God together? And this was not camp meeting–it was a regular scheduled concert at regular prices.

You should definitely come next time.

Interesting, though, is the complete absence of media attention. Given, not all concerts deserve the attention they might want to have. But it seems as if in Denmark committed Christians are a closed cirle of people which the media has a silent agreement to totally ignore. Unless, of course, they abuse human rights (by daring to question gay marriages) or ridicule common sense (by teaching kids that Evolution may only be a theory).

Michael W. Smith is huge in the US. He’s a Grammy winner, and well known, even outside Christian circles. He even performed at the Republican Party Convention before the last presidential election. In Denmark the name would hardly raise an eyebrow. For he’s a Christian, probably right-wing too, and that’s just something them uncivilized, backward Americans still haven’t got rid of. Thank god we’re not like that.

Danish society has come a long way the last 20 years when it comes to public acceptance of faith and religion. But I think that Michael W. Smith becoming mainstream is still way down the line.