By Charlie Butts
OneNewsNow.com
August 1, 2014
Guinness and Company is hearing from Christians offended by their latest commercial, “The Empty Chair”.
The commercial is designed to honor American military, but Monica Cole of One Million Moms points out the troubling aspect of it.
“Guinness beer has a new commercial airing where the background music is a popular gospel hymn, ‘Leaning on the Everlasting Arms,’” she explains. “Currently, One Million Moms is contacting Guinness beer asking them to change the music and not use Christian hymns to sell beer.”
Since there is a military theme, Guinness could have chosen music associated with the military, or even created its own original instrumental. There is little rationale for their choice of a song strictly associated with Christianity.
“Guinness beer could have chosen many different songs, many different choices, but they specifically chose ‘Leaning on the Everlasting Arms’ as the background music in their ad,” she says. “The ad does not have the lyrics of the song, but because of its popularity anyone could recognize the hymn.”
One Million Moms is asking people to go to their website and send a letter letting the company know a Christian hymn should not be associated with the promotion of alcohol consumption.
Dr. Mark Creech, executive director of the Christian Action League, said that he has seen the commercial. “I like its message of support for the military. It tugs at your heart-strings. But to associate the use of a drug with a sacred Christian hymn is sacrilege. Is there nothing sacred anymore? Make no mistake about it – beer is a drug. In fact, beer is the beverage of choice for those who consume alcohol, and alcohol is the nation’s number one drug problem,” he said.
“Although many Christians choose to drink, many others consider alcohol inconsistent with a holy Christian life,” Dr. Creech added. “Can you imagine the response of the Muslim community, if this company used Islamic sacred music, a religion that summarily rejects alcohol consumption? But never mind the Christians; we don’t need to be sensitive to them.”
Dr. Creech encouraged the Christian Action League’s supporters to participate in the One Million Moms campaign expressing displeasure with Guinness’ choice of a hymn to sell their beer.
To view the “Empty Chair” commercial, click here.
Take Christian Action:
Go to the Million Moms website and send an email letter strongly encouraging Guinness and Co. to change the back ground music in their “Empty Chair” commercial. Ask that they no longer use a hymn out of respect for Christians. To log onto to the Million Moms Campaign and send your correspondence, click here
This story was posted by permission of OneNewsNow.com. The Christian Action League also contributed to its content.