I was talking with a preacher
friend of mine who minsters in a rural community in a small southern
state. He was telling me that in a
recent election the county voted to remain “dry” and prohibit the sale of
alcohol, I believe it has been dry since prohibition. In a follow up election, the city that serves
at the county seat voted to go “wet”, to legalize the sale of alcohol. Thus creating what is called a “Damp”
county.
My friend, who is of the more
conservative position, was deeply disappointed in the decision. In practical terms this means that people who
want to buy alcohol will have a shorter drive.
It also means that some businesses will experience increased sales and
profits as they offer a new commodity.
Will it increase the amount of alcohol consumed in the county? Will it result in higher rates of addition
among the citizens? Will there be an up
tick in alcohol related crimes? You can
find statistical data for support both “yes” and “no” answers to these
questions.
No one in their right mind is in
favor of alcoholism or alcohol related crimes such a DUI or spousal abuse. But what should the church do? There is already talk of a boycott or
political actions, of appling pressure to the city officials to repeal this
recent law. One individual reportedly
has plans to shift all of their shopping to another county that is still “dry”.
Laws are not the solution to
moral problems of our society. Allow me
to illustrate. In this same community
recently there was a kidnapping. This
kidnapping was a reprisal for a drug theft; a woman in the community stole a
significant amount of money and heroine from a drug dealer. This drug dealer in an attempt to recover the
money and drugs from the thief kidnapped a child that he though was her son it
was actually her nephew. Thankfully,
upon realizing his error, the child was released unhurt and the drug
deal/kidnapper apparently fled the area.
In this case there are laws
against dealing drugs, stealing drugs and money, and kidnapping children. This rural county doesn’t need another set of
laws for these crimes. The churches in
this rural county will likely not protest and call on the county commission to
offer new legislation to prohibit drugs, theft or kidnapping.
Law is essential for civil life,
but is not perfect, and it can never be a substitute for He who is perfect.
Law is a great teacher, it can
tell us what is right and what is wrong, but it can never make us want to do
right.
Law can be a precious guard for
freedom, and we must guard our laws, but it cannot impose freedom.
For this rural county I respect
and admire their desire of proponents of “dry” to protect people from the
ravages of alcohol abuse. But a law will
never do that, no more than a law will stop drug dealers, drug theft, or acts
of reprisal. The only effective antidote
for the evil of alcohol abuse is the gospel, beautifully expressed in the
ministry of the church.
Now before we become too
condescending toward our country cousins, has the church in urban or suburban
communities tried to argue for prohibition against different evils? Do we retreat to the safety of our stain
glass sanctuaries and decry the evil of, addition, abortion, white slavery or
name your vice here. The church must
denounce evil but it must get so close to it that it can see beyond the façade
to the person held captive.
Side Bar: I am not about to wade
into the “Can a Christian drink alcohol” debate. Social media has of recent been flooded with
raging debates on that issue. These
debates have offered more smoke, steam and hot air than substance.
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