A Spiritual Lesson In Toon Language 52
Topic: Evils Of Alcohol
Series: The Muppet Show, Tiny Toon Adventures, The Simpsons, Looney Tunes
Episodes: Sandy Duncan (The Muppet Show), One Beer (Tiny Toon Adventures), The Apes Of Wrath (Looney Tunes) High Note (Looney Tunes), There's No Disgrace Like Home (The Simpsons), Days Of Wine And D'ohses (The Simpsons), Duffless (The Simpsons)
Lesson PDF link: 52.pdf
Introduction
What is alcoholism? This can be defined as drinking too many alcoholic drinks in too short of a time on a chronic basis. Why is this a very bad thing? This a lot of times causes a person to get drunk which can hurt lots of common sense judgments that we have to make every day. This can also cause all sorts of negative things to happen. We will look at some clips and see how alcohol acts on the characters in these clips and we will have discussion time after each one.
Clip #1 from “The Muppet Show: 114) Sandy Duncan”:
What is this song from Sandy Duncan portraying?
This shows loneliness. She is singing about questioning why she's there and feeling bad all the time.
Clip #2 from The Simpsons: "There's No Disgrace Like Home":
What do you see in this clip? Marge makes a huge mistake and gets drunk and acts really silly (we will get to this more later with another clip). What I would like to show is that there is a lack of morale with the family due to this. A person cannot really and shouldn't feel good about actions like this and it can affect your overall sense of well-being.
Clip #3 a full length cartoon short--Tiny Toon Adventures: "One Beer":
What do you see in this show?
These characters share a beer and get drunk off of it and it messes up their judgment about driving and makes them even have problems possibly with relationships. They even crash their car in the end and die. This shows a lot of realism for life.
Clip #4 from a theatrical short from Looney Tunes: "The Apes Of Wrath":
What do you see in this show?
The drunken stork can't do his job correctly and probably deserves to get fired. This is another problem that alcohol can give a person. Lack of judgment creeps into the jobs of the drunken I would think many times.
If we further look at the consequences to a job, we can look at music. Every note has a job to do that is big or small. Watch what happens.
Clip #5: The Looney Tunes short: "High Note":
What did you see in the show?
First, I am of the opinion that this note is supposed to be a half note for a string type instrument such as a violin based on the pattern of notes portrayed in the cartoon and what I saw about this piece (The Blue Danube). The little half note is supposed to ring out its proper sound for the rhythm and texture to be pleasant and good to the ears. It is so drunk that it can't even stay on the staff it's supposed to and has to be chased constantly and then eventually be put back in place by everyone else. No one would be able to get into this piece of music correctly as an audience member. It turns into a frustrating mess for everyone--just like any job. If you were being counted on for a job to do and you were not with it and not dependable, you would frustrate the hard workers and probably shouldn't have a job much longer especially if things didn't improve or if the employer is even very patient. On top of this the drunken half note is a big bad influence on the other ones who normally seem to work hard, but more about this unfortunate part of alcoholism very soon.
Clip #6 from The Simpsons: "Days Of Wine And D'ohses":
What do you see in this clip?
Even when a person tries to sober up, there can be problems. In this clip, Barney gets laughed at, but he is more determined than ever to be sober here because he doesn't want to be looking like a fool or idiot when he is not. This puts a huge stumbling block in the way of Barney because he doesn't have much support.
Clip #7 is a full length episode from The Simpsons: "Duffless":
What do you see in this episode?
Homer is nudged by Marge to give up drinking for just one month to teach him a lesson about how wonderful life can be without this money thief and unhealthy way of living called alcoholism. Although as well, you see that Homer has other problems, even legally. Homer is sorely tempted through the month, but he succeeds and actually doesn't want to drink immediately after and takes Marge on a bike ride. It would be good for Homer to quit all the way, but he is back to drinking probably even the next episode.
The Bible States In Proverbs 23: 19-21; 29-35 (NIV):
19 Listen, my son, and be wise, and set your heart on the right path:
20 Do not join those who drink too much wine or gorge themselves on meat,
21 for drunkards and gluttons become poor, and drowsiness clothes them in rags.
29 Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaints? Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes?
30 Those who linger over wine, who go to sample bowls of mixed wine.
31 Do not gaze at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly!
32 In the end it bites like a snake and poisons like a viper.
33 Your eyes will see strange sights, and your mind will imagine confusing things.
34 You will be like one sleeping on the high seas, lying on top of the rigging.
35 “They hit me,” you will say, “but I’m not hurt! They beat me, but I don’t feel it! When will I wake up so I can find another drink?”
If I am looking at this correctly, Solomon in wisdom is showing what addiction is like. It isn't pretty.
The Bible States In Proverbs 20: 1
Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler; whoever is led astray by them is not wise.
In other words alcohol can impair judgment and loosen tongues to the point that sinful chaos ensues.
The Bible States In Ephesians 5: 15-20
15 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise,
16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.
17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.
18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit,
19 speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord,
20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
This is to say that in God's kingdom, drinking too much and everything that goes with it is a waste of time and must be avoided. Getting drunk leads to many things that can be avoided from lack of money to opportunities lost, to legal trouble and that's just for the physical things. God's kingdom doesn't run on drunkenness, but on faith in Jesus Christ, prayer, good works that God has planned, and yes, sobriety.
The truth is clear, that we can't worship God very well if we are drunk. Other addictions can be inserted into this area of the lesson too.
The Bible States In Galatians 5: 16-26 (NIV)
16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.
17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want.
18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery;
20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions
21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.
26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
When temptation strikes, we are urged to still strive for what the Spirit of God needs and wants instead of what our earthly desire thinks it wants. We will find that God's plan is best. Drunkenness and other problems like it will not win the day and it is a constant struggle and we should never become comfortable in such bad habits as alcohol, lust, rage, etc. Such things as these can separate us from God without His grace and healing being sought continually.
The Bible States In Isaiah 57: 15; 66: 2
57: 15 For this is what the high and exalted One says— he who lives forever, whose name is holy: “I live in a high and holy place, but also with the one who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite.
66: 2 Has not my hand made all these things, and so they came into being?” declares the LORD. “These are the ones I look on with favor: those who are humble and contrite in spirit, and who tremble at my word.
And over all, to help defend yourself, you need to stay away from the influence of people that will hinder efforts to break such habits. If you remember in The Simpsons clip for "Days Of Wine And D'ohses", Moe didn't want Barney to sober up because of a huge money loss. Evidently, he isn't a good influence and the like should be avoided for healing to be properly done.
Clip #8 from The Simpsons: "Days Of Wine And D'ohses":
What did you see in this clip?
Moe is a pretty bad influence as stated before. Once Barney gets sober this time he should stay away from Moe if he really wants to be sober permanently.
The Bible States In I Corinthians 5: 9-11
9 I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people—
10 not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world.
11 But now I am writing to you that you must not associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or slanderer, a drunkard or swindler. Do not even eat with such people.
Linking all of these scriptures to the cartoons, what does it all mean to you?
This is to say that if we are with people that are claiming to be of God and they still do these kinds of habits, especially unrepentantly, then we can easily become like them or like them again. To stay clean, we must surround ourselves with the helpful and uplifting to our Christian walk, so we will be strong enough and reliable enough to spread the grace and salvation of Jesus Christ to those who are in these traps without falling under these types of influences.
Healing is possible and definite in Christ. Trust Him and be set free. It may not even be easy, but you will find it worth it. Faith in Jesus Christ, perseverance, loving support, much prayer, and patience are key. Jesus heals these problems and saves from sin and shame. We need to strive to be more and more like Him and we will through His grace.