Monday, June 8, 2009

Can We Talk?

Having been in two establishments the last two weekends for wedding receptions, I want to make a few comments about alcohol. Maybe more than a few. I used to be the Youth Pastor in our church and when it came to talking to teens, I always took the approach with them that the most responsible drinking is no drinking at all. By drinking, of course, I mean alcohol.

Why did I do that and why do I take that stand now? In keeping up with the new supposedly "tough" drinking laws being proposed, it seems to me that they aren't tough at all. It seems to me that a person has to kill someone before the courts really get tough with drinking and driving. We live in a culture that not only loves drinking, but really thinks that getting drunk is just something that goes along with the social climate and is the way to have fun.

If you take a child to a Packer game, you risk the results of football fans and drinking -- not a good combination. And it's getting worse, not better. I don't enjoy going to games like I used to because I have to constantly keep alert for beer being spilled on myself or my wife throughout the game. Just part of the culture, right? Have a good time -- drink and then really drink.

Someone asks if I think it is wrong to social drink. I am not sure what is meant by that. The Bible doesn't condemn having a drink, I suppose, but I know it condemns drunkenness. But why do it at all? Have you ever seen anything good come from drinking alcohol? I haven't. And those I have talked to about this haven't either. In fact I regularly deal with families being torn apart by this very thing. It is tragic.

Quite frankly, the drinking culture in our community is embarrassing. I encourage adults to become and stay non-drinkers. Someone said that what one generation does in moderation, the next does in excess. I think that is true. We change the culture not by putting people down or condemning, but by showing a better way. Certainly as Christians, we can strive to not be a "stumbling block" to others by our lives. Do people just want to have fun? I think more fun comes from not having bleary eyes, obnoxious speech, stupid behavior or angry outbursts.

Up North Wisdom says it starts with one person at a time. Take a stand against a culture that exalts drunkenness. Push for tough laws that punish drunk drivers before they kill someone. And be a good example that having fun doesn't have to mean including alcohol. If the Word of God is true and we should strive to glorify God in all we do, then let that truth carry over into our social lives and let's show the next generation that we can live better, more effectively, and less destructively. Thanks for listening.

20 comments:

  1. Leave it to the somewhat non agreeable...figure it out on her own...non conformist daughter...to agree but disagree.
    Amen to taking a stand on a culture that exalts drunkenness...for tougher laws to punish drunk drivers. I really think though that much attention is given to "drinking" and whether it should be done moderately than to say Sexual Immorality. 1 Corinthians 6:18 “Keep on running away from sexual immorality. Any other sin that a person commits is outside his body, but the person who sins sexually sins against his own body.” Or how about bitterness and unforgiveness. There is some pretty scary stuff written in the Bible about unforgiveness and being judgmental. Among Christian circles drinking seems to be talked about frequently while less is said about coming too close to that line of sexual immorality…”well as long as I don’t go all the way” or unforgiveness “ I forgive him but it doesn’t mean I have to be able to stay in the same room with him”. I’m sure you would say you’ve seen many families ripped apart from bitterness, unforgiveness and sexual sin as much as drinking. I think that many people struggle with addictions and should definitely stay away from drinking. I think many people struggle with having inappropriate relationships with people and should “flee” temptation. I think many people struggle with having judgmental attitudes towards others and should avoid conversations that feed their judgments. BUT Thank God it’s not all of our righteousness that saves us or lack there of that condemns us. I love Galatians 2:21 “I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!" If I look in the mirror I’m so pathetically a sinner. I hope I stay away from what drags me down but I know I don’t want to focus on the ”what” and I want to stay focused on the Who…the one who graciously saved me through faith.

    Love ya dad.-I know you agree :)

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  2. wow...sorry...it's longer than your post...not shocking I guess :)

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  3. I have been accused of speaking too much about unforgiveness and bitterness. I speak often about sexual immorality as well. That being said, I wish more people would speak out about the issues of drinking. Interestingly enough, I think there is a close connection to all of above mentioned issues, but one thing we will always agree on is the awesome mercy, love and forgiveness of our Lord and Savior. He not only forgives but removes our sins as far as the east is from the west. What an incredible God we serve! And what in incredible daughter you are! You bless my life, Becky.

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  4. It's titled "Can we Talk?"...can we ever! Let's just hope other people will post now. I'm done I promise :)

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  5. It's open forum, people. Let's hear from you.

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  6. I've heard every excuse under the sun justifying alcohol consumption. Like you, I ask, 'what good ever comes from it?' Some say health benefits (wine), I say take a vitamin. The common, 'well Jesus turned water in to wine' is the most overused excuse, but really people can find any excuse to justify their actions.

    I wonder why it's so important to hang on to that part of self that says 'I can if I want to.' Is it pride, rebellion, or insolence? If it's that contentious of an issue, what's the harm in just staying away all together?

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  7. I love you message about personal convictions. "Don't put your issues on someone else." It's so great that someone who struggles with porn throws away his computer. I mean what good could come from having a computer with all that access. Just don't tell others it's wrong to have a computer. It's so great that someone who struggles with gambling throws their deck of cards in the garbage. Just don't tell others it's wrong to have cards. Why do any of those things that might take any of us to that line. Thats why it's so scary to stand on that line of judgement and decide what others should do. "Personal Convictions"... I'm glad I'm not telling anyone to throw their computers out or telling them to put down their wine. I certainly would if they struggled with that issue and felt personally convicted and then I would make sure I don't have a plank in my own eye. K-Done for real...I think.

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  8. This is coming from the more agreeable, somewhat conformist daughter...I'm with Becky! Biblical absolutes, church standards, personal convictions...all different things. I think the struggle I have, especially with the issue of drinking, is the fine line between taking a stand against it and being judgemental. Dad, I hate to say this, but when you tell that story about how when I was a young girl, I saw some people drinking wine while we were having dinner at their home. I made a comment about how I noticed that you and Mom weren't drinking it and that I was very happy you weren't. Well, that was partly because I thought you would have probably been committing one of the gravest sins. I would have been worried for your soul! Now, I'm not trying to say that this is what you taught us about drinking, but it is what I got out of it as a young child. Again, a fine line. Just some further fuel for discussion here! :) I love you Dad! I have always appreciated the fact that you and Mom took a strong stance personally to not drink.

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  9. Kristy your new blog picture is so cute:)

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  10. I keep saying it but evidently I'm not explaining it very well that this is the point I am trying to make. Not that drinking is worse than anything else or that it is a personal conviction(which it certainly is). It is a CULTURAL issue. It is about the culture we live in. A culture that lifts up and extols drinking as the thing to do and way too often to excess. Not a judgment but an observation. I love the responses. But -- I really love you, Kristy! As with all my kids, you bless my life. And if you ever see Gary turn left in a supper club, make sure you let him know which direction is ALCOHOLIC.

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  11. And wow! I agree with Becky -- a great picture.

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  12. It would be great to have a culture
    of Godoholic's. I'd love to be spilled on by that!

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  13. I could be wrong but after reading the comments on drinking it sounds like no one has lived with the affects of drinking in their everyday life. Like I said, I could be wrong. I've lived with it along with the fear, embarrasement, frustration, and deep feelings of hopelessness it causes. I've seen loved ones killed or maimed for life; lives ruined forever in one flash of time from drinking. When the life of the drinker is ruined, many lives are ruined as well. Many people say they are social drinkers and yet look how society suffers from them. Drinking isn't a personal choice when it kills others, and look at the statistics; thousands are killed every year. I invite you to go to the jail and look in on the poor souls thrown in the drunk tank who probably said at one point in their life, "I'm only a social drinker". And that is only one life. Think of his/her entire family, friends and community who are devastated as well. Okay...long enough, but people need to wake up and smell the beer. It's not hard to do since we live in Green Bay.

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  16. Tim's parents have been social drinkers...only having a glass of wine here and there... and Tim has never been drunk a day in his life. My parents never brought an ounce of alcohol in our home and I partied like crazy.

    Again as I've said in my other comments...people need to be cautious about standing on that line of judgment. Tim's parents have fed into his life and others and can hardly be put into a category of "society suffering from them".

    My Grandpa was an alcoholic and felt the same way as you Collie and I completely respect that. I do not need to go to prison to see the effects of alcohol. I just need to ask my Grandma or Mom. I certainly do not need to go to prison to see a sinner or "poor soul"...for that I only need a mirror.

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  17. Well said Becky I also only need a mirror.

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