The church’s viewpoint on alcohol is somewhat hypocritical in my opinion. It’s heartwarming to note that not all the of Christendom thinks alcohol intake is a sin.
But we are somehow intrigued by this news report of South African church who baptize new members with alcoholic beverages instead of water.
52-year-old Bishop Tsietsi Makiti, who is the founder of the church known as Gabola and the brain behind the idea says that the congregants at the church have also been given a go-ahead to drink alcohol during church services.
According to online reports, Bishop Makiti’s church has witnessed its membership rocket to over 500 members in just under two months due to the beer baptism.
He says he was motivated by the scriptures narrating how Jesus changed water to wine.
He added;
People who drink and get baptized by beer are happy and peaceful. This means they are living in the shadow of God.
The church accommodates people who are not welcome at other churches.
Its name ‘Gabola’ is the Tswana word for drinking. There is only one branch at the moment but the Bishop is looking forward to expanding it further.
