The abuse of alcohol has taken another life. A fine young woman, who knew and loved Jesus, has now gone home to meet Him after being killed by a drunken driver. She was a 2006 graduate of Northside High School and in her first semester as a student at NC State University. A bright, energetic, Jesus loving young woman has left us all to quickly. In light of this tragedy, I would like to repeat part of an article written earlier this year:
We often hear in the news that America has a drug problem. Frankly, I agree with that acessment. In discussing that problem, we could talk about the dangers of cocaine, marijuana, meth, or heroin, but then we would be overlooking America’s #1 problem drug. That drug is not any of those aforementioned illegal substances, instead it is a legal drug called ALCOHOL.
Alcohol has produced more deaths than any other drug. Over 55% of highway fatalities are alcohol related. It causes heart problems, liver problems, and powerful addictions. There are over 17 million alcoholics in America today, and the number is increasing. Alcohol addicts, by far, outnumber the addicts of any other drug. And what about the misery index? When you consider the death, disability, psychosis, and addiction that alcohol causes, it surely produces more misery than any other drug.
But what makes alcohol so dangerous is that it is sold legally. Not only is it sold legally, but it is as widely available as a bottle of ketchup, a bottle of shampoo, or a baby’s bottle of milk. It is just another package of consumer goods. It is widely advertised on TV, radio, billboards, and magazines. Alcohol distributors will spend $600 million, asking you to drink their brand. And note this; Americans will spend $25 billion on beverage alcohol this year. Not million, billion!
But in spite of all the damage alcohol causes, we continue to ignore its evils. Some Christians even debate whether the consumption of alcohol is Biblcial or not. I think those friends miss the point. As Paul the Apostle wrote, "Everything is permissible for me, but not everything is helpful. Everything is permissible for me, but I will not be brought under the control of anything ( 1 Corinthians 6:12 Holman Christian Standard Bible)."
My friend, Dennis Swanson, has written a fine essay, Abstinence for a Life of Wholehearted Service which makes a great contribution to the debate. You may link to it by clicking on the title. After reading the article and considering the information presented above, see if you don’t agree that abstinence from alcohol consumption is a Biblically sound conclusion that is practical and evidences judicious prudence. Even with liberty comes responsibility.
