Alcohol, Prostitution, Slavery, and Controversy...

The small town of Greensburg, KY has entered the alcohol debate. There is a push by some (as well as our neighbor: Campbellsville) to sell alcohol in the city limits, by the drink (I was not aware you could buy it any other way, but I think they distinguish between the glass and the can/bottle/keg). In Kentucky each county decides whether it will be dry, which means it is illegal to sell alcohol in the county, or wet, which means it is legal to sell alcohol in the county. Alcohol proponents have now found a new way to "ease" us into being a 'wet' county; it involves first being "moist."

"Moist" means that we sell alcohol only in restaurants by the drink. The argument always involves "the great economic benefits" that will solve all of our financial problems as we increase revenue through alcohol sales. It is the same argument, if I might add, that politicians used to bring the state of Kentucky (as well as many other states) to adopt the sale of lottery tickets. And now it is the same argument used by our present Governor BeShears to push through legislation allowing Casinos in Kentucky. (I wonder how long it will take them to use that argument for legalized prostitution and euthanasia...)

Some of the more "progressive" "churches" in Greensburg and Campbellsville seem to be taking one of two stands on the issue of alcohol sales by the drink: (1) looking the other way or (2) attempting to rationalize a moderation view on alcohol.

While I have not been a pastor for very long (since the beginning of 2003), I cannot seem to understand, not only how a Christian would seek to justify a 'pro-sales' stance on alcohol, but how a pastor could support or even ignore such a proposal.

The Baptists are against it. Thank you, my once-saved-always-saved brothers and sisters!

I have been a pastor just long enough to do the funerals of two men who died as a direct result of alcohol consumption...

(1) Man in his upper 50's, got so drunk at a bar that he fell off his bar stool and busted his head on another bar stool. He went into a coma and died about three days later.

(2) Man in his early to mid 50's, who destroyed his liver as well as about every other major organ in his body (cigarettes probably added to the problem). I visited him two days before he died and tried to lead him to Christ after the doctor gave him eight days to live. It was to no avail. (When Satan deceives an individual all their life, what prevents that deception from continuing till they die?)

"But alcohol sales will bring more money into our small Kentucky county!" Maybe, just maybe poverty or lack of money isn't the problem. Maybe sin is the problem. Maybe the spiritual emptiness is the problem. Maybe the hopelessness, despair, heart-ache, and destruction sin brings is the problem.

Alcohol has never strengthened a marriage, brought a family together, saved a life, educated a child, lowered the crime rate, healed the sick, lowered the poverty rate, or lowered the unemployment rate.

On the other hand it has broken up marriages, destroyed families, killed (both drunkards and the innocent), led to child abuse (physically, mentally, sexually, etc.), increased the crime rate, caused sickness, increased poverty, and increased unemployment.

How much is a dollar worth compared to an eternal soul?

And do not get me started on the self-centered Christians who seek to establish their "right" to drink socially. (To them: Crucify the desires of the flesh!)

Let me make a few more points:

(1)Slavery proponents - quoted Scripture to claim that slavery within certain boundaries was okay
Alcohol proponents - quote Scripture to claim that alcohol consumption within certain boundaries is okay

(2)Slavery proponents - claimed some slave owners were sinful because of their abuse of slaves
Alcohol proponents - claim some alcohol-users are sinful because of their abuse of alcohol

(3)Slavery proponents - touted their 'right' to own slaves
Alcohol proponents - tout their 'right' to drink alcohol

Is my view legalistic? No, I think walking the fine line between sobriety and drunkenness in alcohol consumption that we like to call moderation is legalism. So what about you: To drink or not to drink?

But whatever happens in Greensburg, the church will continue to point the world to Christ.