Addressing Your Comments – December 2020

We often receive a significant number of comments from our viewers, given our limited exposure. To address these, we plan on taking a 10 to 15-minute segment to go through your thoughts and provide responses. Welcome to this evening's comment show. Let's dive into your comments.

Mike Amy's Insight: Scriptures Confirming Jesus' Return

Mike Amy shares an insightful perspective on scripture, indicating that many passages confirm Jesus returned within the generation he was speaking to. A comparison of Luke 23:27-30 to Revelation 6:14-17 highlights this belief, supported by historical accounts from Josephus. He notes how zealot leaders in Israel attempted to escape Jerusalem during the Roman siege, hiding in mountain caves, only to be found crushed by rocks. This warrants further research on my part.

Secular historians like Tacitus and Cassius Dio, alongside Josephus, corroborate the signs Jesus described for the last daysThe final years of the old covenant age—fulfilled in the first century, not future end times.. An important line in Revelation states, "The revelation of Jesus Christ, given to him by God to show his servants things which must shortly come to pass." Understanding the use of "shortly" is crucial; it refers to immediacy, not a prolonged period.

Daniel's Reflection: The Oasis Line

Daniel reflects on a line he found in Oasis's lyrics, "I met my maker, I made him cry…" He appreciated the line's beauty, despite not fully understanding its meaning. We, too, are left pondering its significance.

John Miller's Take: Jesus and Drinking

John Miller commented on a previous discussion about Christians and drinking, particularly Jesus turning water into wine. His interpretation is that the importance isn't about the morality of drinking. Instead, it's about Jesus not showing up empty-handed to a party. Long story short, if attending a party, bring the good stuff. John's insight adds an interesting perspective to the traditional understanding of this story.

Kevin Garno's Quest: Researching Jesus' Return

Kevin Garno inquires about researching Jesus' return, affirming his intent to explore this subject further. We encourage Kevin, as research is always beneficial, whether for personal understanding or broader discussions.

Professor Feather's Opinion: On Body Image

Professor Feather shared views on body image, referencing Solomon's appreciation for the female form. He comments on the example of a 400-pound woman, attributing her form to gluttony and a lack of self-control. He suggests that to attract a mate, one must make themselves appealing, acknowledging that only in God's love are there no compromises.

We advise caution, Professor Feather. Such comments can be controversial and upset others. Issues of body image are sensitive, and it's essential to approach them with empathy.

As we continue these discussion segments, we encourage open dialogue and diverse perspectives. Your comments are valuable, and we appreciate your engagement. Please continue sharing your thoughts for future discussions.

Reflections on Gluttony and Self-Control

The Complexity of Judging Others

When discussing self-control and gluttony, we should approach these topics with empathy rather than judgment. Criticizing someone for their eating habits by claiming they lack self-control is oversimplifying a complex issue. It’s not just about telling someone to bite a wall instead of eating; humanity is much more complex than that. Sure, there are people who overindulge, but everyone has their struggles. Making oneself attractive is often linked to societal pressures, which are different for everyone.

Standards of Beauty

Commentary about how people, particularly women, are pressured to maintain a certain physique often overlooks the underlying societal standards. Women generally have a higher body fat percentage naturally, and staying thin is a constant struggle for many, influenced by cultural expectations. Men face these challenges too, and I’m one of them, which is why judgmental comments can be quite dismissive. Yes, physical attraction plays its role, but let’s not be too quick to judge why one person is heavier and another is slimmer.

Christianity and Material Concerns

Is having enough money or being perfect physically as important as some make it out to be in the eyes of God? When discussing Christian principles, let’s focus on love rather than superficial attributes. Our concerns with materialism and physicality are ultimately just "stuff of the flesh."

A Call for Love

As Christians, let’s take these discussions as opportunities to demonstrate love and understanding. Injecting humor into these conversations, like playing organs when preaching, can lighten the mood and remind us not to take things too seriously.

Drugs, Alcohol, and Christian Ethics

In our discussions, we often talk about sermons, criticism, comedic timing, and listener feedback. An intriguing viewpoint was shared by James B. regarding alcohol consumption. He equated drinking with the use of illicit substances, arguing that, biblically, both fermented and unfermented grape juice were referred to as wine. His perspective was that any alcohol consumption equates to drunkenness.

To Drink or Not to Drink

Discussing whether one sip of alcohol makes someone drunk sparks interesting debates. Is abstaining from all substances what Christianity calls for? James B. suggests that, just like substances, what matters is the love of Christ. As long as that’s maintained, the specifics of substance use become secondary.

Final Thoughts

Whether it's gluttony, societal standards, or drug use, what underpins it all is love and understanding. In Christianity, the spiritual focus should remain on love and the teachings of Christ. Though each individual’s journey is unique, prioritizing empathy and understanding can guide us toward more compassionate dialogues.

Coping with Pain in Hospice Care

If I can, let me share something personal. My mom is 83 years old, and she’s in hospice care. She's dealing with horrible pain—terrible pain in her arthritic hips, back, knees, and feet. She lives in a constant state of discomfort because the regulations are so strict against opiates. Her cardiac surgeon even came in and said, "We’re going to prescribe you something. You need to take something." My mom has been against pot her entire life, but she uses it to ease her pain now.

Alcohol and Pot: A Spiritual Perspective

You're saying that if it's okay to drink alcohol with God, then it's okay to use pot. You're right. Get over the physical aspects of faith; it’s not about this world and all its stuff, which is what religion often makes it. It’s about the heart. If you have addiction problems, you stay away from substances. Bottom line: You're not honoring God with your life if you don’t. Addiction can ruin people, but whatever the case, thank goodness that God has grace.

Addiction and Grace

If you’re addicted and you use cocaine or drink or whatever, we pray to God to help you out. Maybe those addictions will lead you to be broken and see your need for God. We often forget that it’s in our weakness that God is proven powerful. I’m so glad we covered that subject.

Personal Reflections on Drinking

So, here’s my personal favorite: I used to drink a lot. Who’s it from? Cameron Stalen. "The only reason to drink is to get drunk. If you’re not drinking to get drunk, then you are an idiot because it tastes awful. The only reason to drink alcohol other than getting drunk is to impress people, which is also very sad. I know firsthand about drinking; that’s why I don’t do it anymore."

Alcohol and Sin

We know from the Bible that getting drunk is a sinMissing the mark of faith and love—no punishment, just lost growth or peace.. We know that Jesus never sinned. We also know that he drank wine, but he didn’t get drunk. I believe the reason he didn’t get drunk is that the wine he drank didn’t have enough alcohol in it to get him drunk—maybe it didn’t have any alcohol at all. The Bible does not say Jesus drank alcohol.

Your entire conclusion on this is totally wrong. When you used to drink a lot, that was your personal problem. You got off of it by God’s grace. You said that people only drink alcohol to get drunk, which is not true. I know plenty of people who drink alcohol just for the taste of it, and I’ve never seen them get drunk.

Personal Anecdotes

My grandpa can drink five beers in one sitting and it won’t even change him. You’re 100% wrong on that. My grandpa always talks like this, but in all seriousness, it doesn’t affect him. I could probably throw ten beers at him, and it wouldn’t change him at all. He just has a tolerance for it. Don't you hate these generalizations? They’re just hasty.

The Role of Alcoholism in Family

This is not water; this is peach schnapps. I want to admit to you right now. There’s alcoholism all in our family tree. I like to drink, and I like to get sloshed—bottom line, I like it. It’s not a recommendation or a pronouncement against; it’s just the fact. I stand before my maker completely free of guilt, shame, or fear. If it became a problem, I would stop because it wouldn’t be expedient, but in my life, it has yet to affect me when I do it on occasion.

Jesus and Alcohol

So, I don’t care what everyone else says: Drinking is a sin. Jesus never drank alcohol. Let me say, by the way, when you make that comment about Jesus never drinking alcohol, he drank a weakened form of wine. What you’re saying is that Jesus embraced wine responsibly.

Roman vs. Hebrew Wine Consumption

The Romans had a tradition of diluting their wine with twelve parts water, making it weak. Some argue that Jesus drank this Roman wine instead of the full-strength Hebrew wine. By suggesting this, you're implying that Jesus embraced Roman culture over his own Hebrew culture, which seems unlikely. After all, Jesus came for the Jews, not to embody Roman customs.

The Significance of Alcohol

The main discussion here seems to be missed. Whether it was heavily diluted or not, the wine still contained alcohol. If you consume enough, it has the same effect; drunkenness is a possibility regardless of dilution. Plus, considering that the Romans were responsible for crucifying him, it's hard to imagine Jesus aligning himself with Roman practices just to embrace their weaker wine.

Alcohol and Responsibility

Kenya Mendes commented, eliciting strong reactions by noting how intoxication leads to poor decisions. She referenced people she knows who've been involved in drunk driving incidents resulting in fatalities. Moderation, quoting Aristotle, is key. It's important to note that consuming alcohol and making reckless decisions aren't just personal failings—they affect everyone around you.

Ethos of Moderation

Aristotle's idea of moderation as a virtue is noteworthy. If one's actions while drinking can potentially harm others, it’s definitely not loving. While religious doctrines often address these behaviors, it's crucial to consider the ethos behind them, not just the rules themselves.

A Call for Simplicity

At the core of this debate is a simple principle: love God and love others. Beyond that, it's crucial to evaluate if one's actions reflect love. If so, that’s commendable. If not, perhaps re-evaluating those actions is necessary, without getting bogged down in particulars.

Alcoholism and Relationships

Sarah Leanne Young shared a story about a man whose mood stabilizes only after consuming a couple of beers. He struggles with being decent to people without alcohol due to a medical condition. This raises an intriguing question: is it better to be a kind alcoholic or a sober, unloving person? Ultimately, the motivation should be love, and providing for one's emotional health is crucial.

Comparison with Caffeine

Drawing comparisons, some people depend on two cups of coffee every morning to function well socially. Both caffeine and alcohol alter behaviors, and abstinence can lead to withdrawal symptoms like headaches and irritability.

The Heart of the Matter

Ultimately, the question isn't about what you consume, but rather how your actions reflect your intentions, echoing what Steve said: it's all about love.

Loving God and Loving Your Neighbor

It's essential to consider the two greatest commandments: love God and love your neighbor. However, this love exists on a continuum. For instance, if someone drinks three beers to keep calm and this state helps them love people due to the absence of a thyroid issue, then it could be considered loving for him to consume the beers. In this scenario, his actions align with his understanding of Christian values. But if another person drinks alcohol and, although it seems to improve their mood, they end up hurting others, crashing their car, or causing harm, then their love is not fully expressed across the spectrum.

In summary, the two great commandments are to love God first and then love others. If you’re fulfilling these capacities, you shouldn't worry about other issues.

Mormonism and Revelation

Byron from Calgary provided a humorous yet off-topic comment: "Why don't LDS prophets get a revelation to institute the new temple sacrament of tithing for the dead?" He wonders about the church funds paying off debts on behalf of others and muses about the communal property ideas upon which Mormonism was founded. As a response, it’s noted that they attempted communal property early on, but it didn't work. Despite the humor, Byron raises an interesting historical point.

Alcohol and Its Effects

Howard King shared some thoughtful insights on alcohol, noting its dual nature as both a poison and an antiseptic. It was historically used to preserve food when other preservation methods were unavailable. Howard mentions his personal experience, stating he makes wine each fall to prevent his excess fruit from spoiling. However, due to his type 2 diabetes, he's unable to enjoy the juice later. Instead, he uses a small amount of whiskey for its antiseptic properties on the advice of his dentist. Notably, his dentist also warned about the potential for addiction.

There's an acknowledgment that many who drink or use drugs might be addressing deeper psychological issues, attempting to self-medicate. While humor often accompanies such discussions, understanding and empathy are needed.

Embracing Imperfection and Faith

The conversation at hand touches on the imperfection of human nature. Ideally, everyone would avoid overindulgence, whether with alcohol, food, or other desires. However, human flaws persist. The Christian faith is about focusing on Jesus, who sacrificed himself for our sins, and striving to walk in faith and love. While Howard’s concern about self-medication holds truth, the broader perspective of Christian faith is about love and grace, recognizing human weaknesses while striving for a higher purpose.

In life's journey, many turn to faith as a means of coping with life's complexities, searching for solace in a higher power. While self-medication is common, the ideal is to find balance and monitor behaviors lovingly and conscientiously.

Exploring Christian Anarchy

Somehow, with something. If it's not music, it's something to self-medicate. It could be work, yeah, it could be making money, it could be anything; it could be doing a show.

The Next Topic: Christian Anarchy

Yes, yes, yes. All right, the next Christian AnarchySomeone who follows Christ as their only authority—rejecting institutional control over their spiritual life. that's coming up, we are going to be talking about transgenderism.

Stay Tuned

And here it comes. We'll see you all on Cat on Gat and Al.

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(22:30) I was thinking if we had to pull out of the jar, but…

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