The Journey 262: Life in early church
Read: Romans 12
Going for Family Oriented Movies, and Family theme Parks. There are certain aspects that people would want to do things together as a family. One of the famous destination of the people all over the world is the Disney World. But recently the Disney World has courted a controversy. The reason for the controversy is the decision to sell wine and beer in this family park. According to the news agencies, the announcement to this effect was made on the Disney Park Blog by the Beverage Director of the Disney Parks and Resorts that as a part of enriching the overall experience of the park, the guest will also be treated to French inspired cuisine which includes wine and beer. For this they have earmarked three separate restaurants. The decision to open up beer bars and serving wine has cause mixed reaction among the people here. People who are for this decision of serving alcoholic drinks, argue that since other parks serve alcoholic drinks, there is no big issue in Disney park serving alcoholic drinks and moreover no one forces people to buy these drinks and hence to buy or not is the prerogative of the guest who come to the park. But the people who oppose this decision argue that Disney World is a family park, where parents and children come for some wholesome fun. Selling alcoholic drinks can ruin and spoil the whole climate of the family atmosphere which some people enjoy when they spend time with the family. But one of the major criticism that people tent to level is that finally even for family parks like Disney world it is money and making more money and profit is what ultimately matters. In a country where Christians have no qualms to serve alcoholic drinks during receptions that follow after wedding or baptism service, or a in a social function, people who have no problem to hold a glass of alcohol even in the midst of an august gathering, these decision of Disney Park does not surprise me as I feel this decision is nothing strange and quite normal in the context of this country. The issue to be addressed is not why is Disney park has taken a decision to serve alcoholic drinks, on the contrary the issue that needs to be addressed how can we tackle the issue of alcoholism and addiction that is now so rampant in in subtle way even in the premises of church, openly in church related functions like wedding and baptism, in social functions and finally so prevalent among the Indian Christians here in United States. The theme that we meditate is “Transformed Living” and the portion that we shall use for our meditation is from Romans 12. I think this is the most powerful passages on how as believers we are supposed to channel of transformation of change and transformation. Paul exhorts us that if we need to live authentic Christian life by discerning the will of God daily what is expected that we should not confirm to the patterns of the world and take always renew ourselves by the renewing of the mind. In a world where every person stresses his individual freedom and has his own ethics and morality that he subscribes to validate his immoral living, Christ calls us to live in way that is separate from the passion and patterns of the world. As a set apart community, I think we Christians need to consciously think whether our bodies are offered as a living sacrifice to the Lord or used as an object to fulfill the desires of the flesh and for intoxicating it with food and drinking habits that finally contaminate not only the body but the “soul”, causing irreparable harm to ones family, community and to the church. It is ironic that fellowship sometime in the church is now becoming not true fellowship but “Fellow-Sip”. Let us be concerned not about alcohol served in Disney World but alcoholism in our Church.
Rev. Dr. Joe Joseph Kuruvilla
Going for Family Oriented Movies, and Family theme Parks. There are certain aspects that people would want to do things together as a family. One of the famous destination of the people all over the world is the Disney World. But recently the Disney World has courted a controversy. The reason for the controversy is the decision to sell wine and beer in this family park. According to the news agencies, the announcement to this effect was made on the Disney Park Blog by the Beverage Director of the Disney Parks and Resorts that as a part of enriching the overall experience of the park, the guest will also be treated to French inspired cuisine which includes wine and beer. For this they have earmarked three separate restaurants. The decision to open up beer bars and serving wine has cause mixed reaction among the people here. People who are for this decision of serving alcoholic drinks, argue that since other parks serve alcoholic drinks, there is no big issue in Disney park serving alcoholic drinks and moreover no one forces people to buy these drinks and hence to buy or not is the prerogative of the guest who come to the park. But the people who oppose this decision argue that Disney World is a family park, where parents and children come for some wholesome fun. Selling alcoholic drinks can ruin and spoil the whole climate of the family atmosphere which some people enjoy when they spend time with the family. But one of the major criticism that people tent to level is that finally even for family parks like Disney world it is money and making more money and profit is what ultimately matters. In a country where Christians have no qualms to serve alcoholic drinks during receptions that follow after wedding or baptism service, or a in a social function, people who have no problem to hold a glass of alcohol even in the midst of an august gathering, these decision of Disney Park does not surprise me as I feel this decision is nothing strange and quite normal in the context of this country. The issue to be addressed is not why is Disney park has taken a decision to serve alcoholic drinks, on the contrary the issue that needs to be addressed how can we tackle the issue of alcoholism and addiction that is now so rampant in in subtle way even in the premises of church, openly in church related functions like wedding and baptism, in social functions and finally so prevalent among the Indian Christians here in United States. The theme that we meditate is “Transformed Living” and the portion that we shall use for our meditation is from Romans 12. I think this is the most powerful passages on how as believers we are supposed to channel of transformation of change and transformation. Paul exhorts us that if we need to live authentic Christian life by discerning the will of God daily what is expected that we should not confirm to the patterns of the world and take always renew ourselves by the renewing of the mind. In a world where every person stresses his individual freedom and has his own ethics and morality that he subscribes to validate his immoral living, Christ calls us to live in way that is separate from the passion and patterns of the world. As a set apart community, I think we Christians need to consciously think whether our bodies are offered as a living sacrifice to the Lord or used as an object to fulfill the desires of the flesh and for intoxicating it with food and drinking habits that finally contaminate not only the body but the “soul”, causing irreparable harm to ones family, community and to the church. It is ironic that fellowship sometime in the church is now becoming not true fellowship but “Fellow-Sip”. Let us be concerned not about alcohol served in Disney World but alcoholism in our Church.
Rev. Dr. Joe Joseph Kuruvilla