Footlights fund-raiser this weekend in Antioch

What's this world coming to??? A Church using drinking and gambling to raise money...

Not a surprise seeing how the catholic church stands behind wars were inocent men women and children are killed. Next they will be using prostitution to draw in new comers.

Ummm...they drink wine as a religious rite. Catholic priests and nuns aren't barred from drinking. And most churches across the US have Bingo nights to raise money, which is a form of gambling.

As for prostituion, the church gained wealth and power in the 12th-15th century suing this and many other heinous practices.

Faith is a great belief to have, organized religions on the other hand can be just as corrupt as any corporation or government because their practices are dictated by man.

Just go read Matthew 21:12 and then try justifying this nonsense

Matthew 21:12-13 rather.

now it is a problem...huh, they have done this for years...just wondering

Unbelievable wrote:

Just go read Matthew 21:12 and then try justifying this nonsense

No one was trying to justify this. We're just pointing out that this kind of thing isn't new in response to your "what is this world coming to" comment.

Hey unbelievable, are you new to town or have you had your head in the sand for a long time. Yeah, they've been doing Footlights for a very long time... and people actually used to go to it too, unlike the sad turnouts they have now. It is a little ironic though but what's new? But sadly enough, if you're going to try and raise money in the Antioch area, what better way than selling alcohol.

Unbelievable wrote:

Just go read Matthew 21:12-13 and then try justifying this nonsense

Since the event didn't take place in the church proper, I don't see how the passages you reference apply. More meaningful passages warn us of the excesses of gambling:

1 Timothy 6:10; Hebrews 13:5; Proverbs 13:11 and 23:5; and Ecclesiastes 5:10.

As for drinking, scripture has much to say regarding the drinking of alcohol (Leviticus 10:9; Numbers 6:3; Deuteronomy 29:6; Judges 13:4, 7, 14; Proverbs 20:1; 31:4; Isaiah 5:11, 22; 24:9; 28:7; 29:9; 56:12). However, Scripture does not necessarily forbid a Christian from drinking beer, wine, or any other drink containing alcohol. In fact, some Scriptures discuss alcohol in positive terms. Ecclesiastes 9:7 instructs,“Drink your wine with a merry heart.” Psalm 104:14-15 states that God gives wine “that makes glad the heart of men.” Amos 9:14 discusses drinking wine from your own vineyard as a sign of God’s blessing. Isaiah 55:1 encourages,“Yes, come buy wine and milk…”

What God commands Christians regarding alcohol is to avoid drunkenness (Ephesians 5:18). The Bible condemns drunkenness and its effects (Proverbs 23:29-35). Christians are also commanded to not allow their bodies to be “mastered” by anything (1 Corinthians 6:12; 2 Peter 2:19). Drinking alcohol in excess is undeniably addictive. Scripture also forbids a Christian from doing anything that might offend other Christians or encourage them to sin against their conscience (1 Corinthians 8:9-13). In light of these principles, it would be extremely difficult for any Christian to say he is drinking alcohol in excess to the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31).

Jesus changed water into wine. It even seems that Jesus drank wine on occasion (John 2:1-11; Matthew 26:29). In New Testament times, the water was not very clean. Without modern sanitation, the water was often filled with bacteria, viruses, and all kinds of contaminants. The same is true in many third-world countries today. As a result, people often drank wine (or grape juice) because it was far less likely to be contaminated. In 1 Timothy 5:23, Paul was instructing Timothy to stop drinking the water (which was probably causing his stomach problems) and instead drink wine. In that day, wine was fermented (containing alcohol), but not necessarily to the degree it is today. It is incorrect to say that it was grape juice, but it is also incorrect to say that it was the same thing as the wine commonly used today. Again, Scripture does not forbid Christians from drinking beer, wine, or any other drink containing alcohol. Alcohol is not, in and of itself, tainted by sin. It is drunkenness and addiction to alcohol that a Christian must absolutely refrain from (Ephesians 5:18; 1 Corinthians 6:12).

VyvB...I have absolutely nothing against drinking alcohol at all in moderation... It's the circumstances under which this is being promoted. A sign outside of a church promoting it?? You are right, Jesus did partake of wine. But he didn't do it in a way to raise money for religious purposes... let alone promote gambling...Why would a church promote gambling, something that some people might struggle with?

A church is a place of worship, not a place to sponsor or promote things of this nature. Not a social club.

And no I'm not new to town, blows my mind every time I see this stuff happen.

Unbelievable, if you are a member of St. Peters, express your concern to the powers that be. And perhaps step up to chair an alternate form of fundraiser.

If you are not a member, then why does this matter to you?

I am a long time member of St. Pete's, I personally don't go to this fundraiser because I don't drink and don't gamble (just not my thing, not being *righteous*). I believe the underlying idea behind it originally was a night of fun and fellowship along with raising funds, and it was what many members of the parish enjoyed. Maybe they need re-evaluate what their members find fun, but I don't see this as some great travesty.

Unbelievable wrote:

VyvB...I have absolutely nothing against drinking alcohol at all in moderation... It's the circumstances under which this is being promoted.

Shut up! Another jerk lecturing to all the idiots out there, Do you know what Jesus did as well? He reminded small minded and ritcheous wind bags not to lecture anyone else about their religion or how they choose to live or at least wash the windows on that glass house you reside in.

Don't like it? Don't go. Not that anyone would want to socialize with you anyway. No point in spending the night with a omnipotent Jimmy Swagart wanna-be, all the while being lectured about what an awful life you lead.

Give us a break would you? Have you ever read John 3 4 99 cents? And God told the wind bag to shuteth upist or so himself help him, he was going to go biblical on his worthless self.

Commandment 11: though shalt double down on 10 and 11 when 9 and under is showing!

Yeah, another tolerant "religious" person showing thier disdain for anyone that doesn't believe in what they do. By the way, I go to Footlights almost every year to support them even though I'm not a Catholic or all that religious in that sense. It's supposed to be a fundraiser so why do the dealers cheat for their friends and even other people they don't know. And why do the people at the bars give away so much alcohol without taking any or enough tickets? How do they think they are helping the school by doing so? Do they really need people to like them so bad? Any business that did this would go under fast.