Hypocrisy

I notice more and more of these casino parlors. Some are 'stand-alone' mini gambling joints while many convenient stores and eateries stick a few machines in their establishments to shore up revenue. Our Methodist Church has a social get-together once each month at a local restaurant. The guideline we follow is to avoid restaurants that serve alcohol or offer games of chance.

This reminds me of personal observations back in the mid-1970's, when my father owned a steak house in Collinsville, Illinois. My parents did not drink alcohol and had to address the matter of serving alcoholic beverages in their restaurant. They came to a middle ground in their resolve. The restaurant would have no bar where patrons could just sit and drink but there would be liquor on the menu so patrons could order alcoholic drinks with meals.

My parents were active in their church and my father belonged to the Gideons International and supported local church organizations by offering his establishment for church meetings without charge and discounting meals at near cost prices. The 'church folks' took advantage of my father's generosity for years. The Gideon's decided that they could no longer meet at the restaurant if it sold alcohol.

What was hypocritical about this was the fact that I personally observed other Gideon's dine at the restaurant on individual outings who would order alcohol. The reality irritated me but did not surprise me. I always knew there was truth to the following: 'Never take a Baptist fishing because he'll drink all your beer; take TWO Baptists fishing and they won't drink any of your beer.'
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