Friday, September 28, 2007

Beer, Homosexuality, and Ecumenicism

Excerpts from the article on the call for boycotting Miller by Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights are from here.

First I'd like to make a few comments. What's interesting is the call for ecumenical fighting against homosexuality and a beer company (let's not mention the sexual molestations of thousands of boys by RC priests and covered up by archbishops and the head of Rome or the issue of drunkenness.) I mean, really...a call for all these religions to boycott a BEER company? How many Buddhists and Jews and Muslims and Hindus actually drink beer? Boycotting a beer company is their solution to dealing with vile homosexual conduct? Here are some excerpts (in italics) I found interesting: "We are calling on more than 200 Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist and Hindu organizations to join with us in a nationwide boycott of Miller beer," he said.

Catholics, Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus (and most Protestants) need the Gospel of Jesus Christ too. They have a false religion that can’t save and that rejects the ONLY God and Savior Jesus Christ who alone paid the ONLY payment for sin that appeased the wrath of God the Father.

Donohue says the Catholic League feels "confident that once our religious allies kick in, and once the public sees the photos of an event Miller is proudly supporting, the Milwaukee brewery will come to its senses and pull its sponsorship altogether."

Religious allies? RCC (Roman Catholic Church) finds RELIGIOUS ALLIES with Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus and Protestants? How exactly can this be when the RCC has condemned ALL who are outside of her?

Let’s recall Rome’s first crusade: There were seven crusades total, and there was such bloodshed particularly in the first one of 1099 in Jerusalem, that it is said Heads were cut off, body parts of men and horses were so numerous that one had to literally pick his way through them to get anywhere and “that in the temple and portico of Solomon, men rode in blood up to their knees and bridle reins.”

But today, it may be fair of the RCC to claim her once arch enemy to be an ally (well on her end anyway—Muslims will tell you they reject RCC out of hand):

RCC Cat. # 841 The Church's relationship with the Muslims. "The plan of salvation also includes those who acknowledge the Creator, in the first place amongst whom are the Muslims; these profess to hold the faith of Abraham, and together with us they adore the one, merciful God, mankind's judge on the last day."

Rome’s Nostra Aetate given in Oct. 1965 by “Pope” Paul 6th : The Catholic Church rejects nothing that is true and holy in these religions [Hinduism, Buddism]… The Church regards with esteem also the Moslems. They adore the one God, living and subsisting in Himself, merciful and all-powerful, the Creator of heaven and earth,-- Rome’s Nostra Aetate given in Oct. 1965 by “Pope” Paul 6th

Catholic churches in the Netherlands should use the name Allah for God to ease tensions between Muslims and Christians, says a Dutch bishop.

A problem however still exists with such "allies" because according to the RCC:

"Outside the Church there is no salvation" RCC Cat. #845

RCC 846 “…the Council teaches that the Church, a pilgrim now on earth, is necessary for salvation... 846 RCC Hence they could not be saved who, knowing that the Catholic Church was founded as necessary by God through Christ, would refuse either to enter it or to remain in it.”

Trent CANON XIII.-“If any one saith, that little children, for that they have not actual faith, are not, after having received baptism, to be reckoned amongst the faithful; and that, for this cause, they are to be rebaptized when they have attained to years of discretion; or, that it is better that the baptism of such be omitted, than that, while not believing by their own act, they should be baptized in the faith alone of the Church; let him be anathema.”

The RCC adds Mary to Christ Jesus; the pope to the authority of Scripture; works to grace; purgatory to the Cross. It has a different bible, it worships statues and dead people, it has indulgences, it has pagan practice of calling forth their deity into a cracker and wine, and it has prayer beads like other pagan religions around the world (Buddhism and Islam for example). RCC has no ally in those she continues to consider an Anathema.

Back to the article's excerpts....

"If it doesn't, the only winners will be Anheuser Busch and Coors," he said.

If Miller doesn’t pull out completely from this Soddomy Fair these are the winners? Is that what this is about? Money? Other beer companies? I thought this was an issue regarding homosexuality and their flagrant vile attack on Christianity (of course the painting of The Lord’s Table can hardly be on par with the Truth of Scriptures—the painting is just that: a painting Rome holds dear. It has nothing to do with Biblical Truth and the real Person of Christ…we don’t even know what Jesus and His disciples looked like). I suppose alcoholism and drunkenness isn’t a “moral” issue for RCC. From now on Catholics, Buddhists, Jews, Hindus, Protestants, get drunk on only Busch or Coors’ beer (if you buy Coors you will not only be pulling that huge amount of money from Miller (just how many beer drinkers are there in Buddhism and Hinduism??) but you will be supporting a "Christian" family!

1Co 6:9 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, 10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.


Concerned Women for America first drew attention to the Last Supper poster Tuesday. The group wants California's elected officials – including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sens. Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer – to "publicly condemn this unprovoked attack against Christ and His followers."

Well Women Who are Concerned for Some Issues of America, the problem is that this isn’t a war of the flesh nor of politics. To call on God-hating liberal politians to "publicly condemn this unprovoked attack against Christ and His followers" is silly. Why? Because by their actions and words they have proven ALREADY to hate Christ Jesus and His people (Rom. 8:7; Col. 1:21; John 7:7; John 15:18-20; Rom. 3:18) . There is no neutrality toward God and sin ever, for anyone. Romans 3 shows this as does Eph. 2:1-4. Why would the World want to defend Christ Jesus? They don't. They won't. They can't. They too, are enemies of God and need salvation. And again, where’s the “concern” for drunkenness which Scripture talks about as an issue of sin?

First, consider God's perspective on homosexuality (among other sins):

Rom 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.

Rom 1:20 For His invisible attributes, namely, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.
Rom 1:21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.
Rom 1:22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools,
Rom 1:24 Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves,
Rom 1:25 because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.
Rom 1:26 For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature;
Rom 1:27 and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.
Rom 1:28 And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done.
Rom 1:29 They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, 31 foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. 32 Though they know God's decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.


Because the deviant sin of homosexuality is so grievous, it shows the absolute hardness of a person's heart and how God has allowed that person to go the full way of their sin nature. If anything is clear from Scripture (see also 1Cor. 6:9; 1Tim. 1:10 also), is that homosexuality is a spiritual issue, not just a moral one. Put another way, its a moral issue BECAUSE its a spiritual issue.

So, understanding this, why does anyone think boycotting a beer company will do anything? I think this is misplaced focus.Or at least boycotting a beer company for the wrong reasons is wrong. The issue of drunkeness is ignored with these folks.

It should revile us who claim His name for HE is being reviled.

The ONLY thing that can bring hope to anyone at that street fair is salvation in Christ alone.

To think that Miller Brewing Company, an alcoholic company, a secular company, to behave any differently other than to make money and help those who want to party harty, is wrong thinking. Who was expecting high moral principles from a BEER company? And what about all the other sponsors? Are they less culpable?

Now, to the issue of this ecumenical call: there is NOTHING that Christians have in common with Catholic, Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist and Hindu religions. Nothing.

They reject the ONLY God and Savior Jesus Christ the Master. They reject salvation by faith alone in Christ Jesus alone apart from any and all works. They refuse to give the Lord Jesus Christ SOLE honor, SOLE praise, SOLE glorifcation, SOLE credit for all parts of one's salvation.

All these religions including those calling for the boycott, need Christ Jesus the Lord AS MUCH AS the homosexuals they are fighting.

Our war is not with a beer company. Our war is a spiritual war that demands spiritual weaponry:

Eph 6:10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Eph 6:11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. Eph 6:12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Eph 6:13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.

Eph 6:14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, Eph 6:15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. Eph 6:16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; Eph 6:17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, Eph 6:18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication.

Let’s remember when trying to include "Christians" in this war on Miller:

Eph 5:17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,

Its up to a person to boycott a particular company. I do that myself. But I do it not to change a company's mind, but rather to refuse to knowlingly give them my money to help them support an agenda that goes against biblical principles. I have to choose if and what companies I will refuse to use, because frankly, most companies are owned and operated by unbelievers. But this won't change their hearts. Only God can do that.

May I leave you with this passage:

1Pe 4:3 The time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry. 4 With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you; 5 but they will give account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. 6 For this is why the gospel was preached even to those who are dead, that though judged in the flesh the way people are, they might live in the spirit the way God does.