Sunday Sales: The GOP, Christian Conservatives, the Bible

Today, the religious right enjoys its greatest access to the corridors of power, particularly because of its relationship with conservative members of the Republican Party. Access is the result of electoral success, especially the stunning 1994 election that brought Republican control to the House of Representatives. But access also comes in other forms. Unlike previous religious right organizations, the modern Christian right walks a narrow uncharted path between the heart-felt convictions of its membership and the practicalities of day-to-day politics. Ironically, it is not as easy as it once was for the religious right to crusade against all that is considers evil because the current leaders of the religious right have become players within Republican Party politics. It is much easier to rant and rave from outside the halls of power and raise money by doing so than to influence policy from within.

Which leads me to the GOP decision not to pursue the legalization of Sunday Alcohol Sales here in Georgia. Only Indiana is the other state that does not allow the sale of alcohol on Sundays. At the beginning of the session, it was thought that this would be the year that the GOP finally pass legislation allowing the sale of alcohol here in Georgia, but staunch resistance to the Christian Conservative wing of the Georgia GOP are having none of that

Now this is obviously a concern to many Christians conservatives—and for good reason! With the rampant abuse of alcohol in this country, resulting in shattered lives and tens of thousands of deaths each year, any person with a conscience should be deeply concerned about this issue. However, caution is also needed in a different direction: too often Christians have moral outrage because of abuses of one of God’s gifts—outrage that leads to a condemnation of those who are not abusers. Things that once were issues are often now regarded as normal activities. Some Christians have condemned others for wearing make-up, going to the opera, or even sending Christmas cards. Christians, it seems, have an incredible ability to invent rules and regulations. It’s endemic to human nature—but it’s also a modern, unvarnished form of Pharisaism.

But despite all of that, we should ( & I don't drink alcohol) allow the sale of alcohol here in Georgia on sundays. What's the big deal anyway? All of this backward thinking needs to be put aside by those who are opposed to this. Folks living along the border of Alabama, Tennessee, South Carolina, North Carolina & Florida can easily drive across the state line on Sundays & buy a beer, even a shot of whiskey. That's money that should be kept here in Georgia instead of going to these states, filling up their coffers.

But....................

Majority Leader Chip Rogers of Cherokee County decided against bringing it up for a vote due to what he describes as not having the votes to pass the legislation.

The REAL reason why he didn't push this bill is because of fear by he, along with others of the Christian Conservative wing of the party who still can influence the GOP in such a way. Now being a deacon at my church & being a christian & conservative, I find nothing wrong with allowing alcohol sales on sundays. If Christian Conservatives in the GOP are so against this, then I wonder why aren't they against allowing guns inside of our churches? Now that's a NO-NO!

This doesn't make any sense!

All I got to say is yet once again leadership is missing up there at the State Capitol & once again a special interest group is pulling the strings of the Georgia GOP.

So much for moving forward as a state