Comments on: I: What Is Beer?

By: Shawn Wamsley

Shawn Wamsley — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 15:39:00 +0000

This passage has earned me the ire of many protestant pastors over the years. Deuteronomy 14:22-27

“22 Be sure to set aside a tenth of all that your fields produce each year. 23 Eat the tithe of your grain, new wine and oil, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks in the presence of the LORD your God at the place he will choose as a dwelling for his Name, so that you may learn to revere the LORD your God always. 24 But if that place is too distant and you have been blessed by the LORD your God and cannot carry your tithe (because the place where the LORD will choose to put his Name is so far away), 25 then exchange your tithe for silver, and take the silver with you and go to the place the LORD your God will choose. 26 Use the silver to buy whatever you like: cattle, sheep, wine or other fermented drink, or anything you wish. Then you and your household shall eat there in the presence of the LORD your God and rejoice. 27 And do not neglect the Levites living in your towns, for they have no allotment or inheritance of their own”

I have used it to throw many a wrench into tithing and abstinence discussions. The LORD’s command seems to be that we should consume our tithe in whatever form pleases us (food or booze) in a celebratory feast with the Lord, and don’t forget to include the neighborhood priests. Go in the name of the Lord and be blessed.

By: adhunt

adhunt — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 00:49:48 +0000

But there’s no lawn bowling in the winter! Ah, the first beer, mine was a Guiness, I hope it will also be my last.

By: jstambaugh

jstambaugh — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 00:21:14 +0000

After a truly crappy day at work (mostly because teenagers are rude and teenagers whose parents are republicans seem ruder [at least today]), your post was a breath of spring to this day’s emotional, spiritual and intellectual tundra. It took me back to my days in Minneapolis, to my first beer, sitting alone in Brit’s pub with a Romeo y Julieta Corona (for those not in the “know” I’m talking about a shape and size of cigar) and a pint of, what I think was, McEwan’s Scottish Ale (but not McEwan’s Scotch Ale). Ah, memories (for all you NCUers just know that I was also skipping chapel at the time! Ha!). Now, I demand that all those living in the Twin Cities (and as far away as Duluth) who read this post go immediately to Brit’s Pub between 11th and 12th Streets on Nicollet Mall across from Orchestra Hall, approxamately 12 blocks (if memory serves right) from NCU. Raise a pint in my stead, but give a toast in honor of Tony and his excellent post. Have the fish and chips, too. God I love that place.

By: quickbeamoffangorn

quickbeamoffangorn — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 22:30:39 +0000

You did great until you got to the invention of distillation.

I think it would be better to figure out now much the body produces naturally. The conversion of sugar to alcohol occurs in every person.

4 cups of wine at Passover (the four expressions of redemption) from hebrew tradition based on Exodus 6:6-7.

On the grape juice issue As far as I know the Concord grape itself didn’t exist until 1849 not to mention the pasteurization process.

So I would say that best guess of 2.5% alcohol content by volumne and 16oz of wine.

That’s if I supported Sola scriptura.

And being Irish I’m sure there is an exception for us somewhere, if not I’ll take up the bible code for support;>)

By: adhunt

adhunt — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 22:07:23 +0000

George,

For one, I am no more naughty than Jesus himself. Well, that’s certainly wrong, but at least in regards to alcohol. Having abstained from alcohol for 20 years, I approached it gingerly with due care and have been a model of restraint.

Secondly, I think that given my differing views on Spirit Baptism (as in secondary and subsequent) and eschatology you are correct, I am not a “pentecostal” in the classical brand. But I am a tongue-talking charismatic Anglican and I most certainly affirm the active working of the Spirit in ecstatic ways!

By: George P. Wood

George P. Wood — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 22:02:18 +0000

I think you guys should rename your blog, “The Naughty (Ex-)Pentecosals.”

By: Shawn Wamsley

Shawn Wamsley — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 21:08:37 +0000

Tony,

You wrote:

“By my reading then, and taking into account the whole Gospel tradition, Jesus blessed wine at the wedding, he drank it frequently with sinners, and passed it on in command via the blessed Sacrament of his blood. Ergo, we are commanded by Jesus to drink wine; and beer has about half the alcohol content, so we should drink twice as much beer as we do wine.”

One can only hope that our Great Reductionist (George P.) rises to the occassion for this one. I am giddy with anticipation.

Great post, BTW