The following series of articles may also be found on the website of the
Mill Street church of Christ in London, KY
www.millstreetcoc.org
The articles also appeared in the weekly newspapers of the:
Sentinel Echo Newspaper Article & Times-Tribune Newspaper Article
on:
Friday, November 11, 2011 & Saturday, November 12, 2011
London, KY Corbin, KY
~Another Vote for Liquor Sales Expansion?~
Will London lose its innocence…again?
“Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil…that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight…that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink: Which justify the wicked for reward, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him!” — Isa. 5:20-23
Part 4
What has been the effect on the people of London from a seven year exposure to alcohol sales? The editor of the Sentinel Echo stated in the October 19, 2011 paper, “We’ve grown accustomed to it!” He then stated, “So likewise, in a few years, we will have grown accustomed to seeing the package liquor stores on the corner and the cases of beer in the coolers at Walmart, CVS, and Speedway.” He acknowledged that all this was a part of London’s “progressive path”, stating that today, “…we don’t think twice about alcohol…a wet vote doesn’t mean that bars and clubs sprout up in London”. However he then wrote, “we don’t want to see bars and clubs sprout up in London.” He referred to them as the “seedy elements” of alcohol.
Whatever ethical standard he is appealing to, in saying that “bars and clubs” (which sell liquor) are the “seedy elements” of alcohol, but that restaurants and package liquor stores, or Walmart, CVS pharmacy, and Speedway which do so, are not “seedy elements”; that standard is certainly not the Bible. By what standard of authority then does he condemn “bars and clubs”? It is certainly not due to their selling of alcohol! Does he appeal to the Bible in his reference of “bars and clubs” as “seedy elements of alcohol”? Are “seedy elements” viewed as sinful in his mind? Is his opposition of them due to any sinful activity that goes on inside? Does he accept or reject the Bible’s definition of, and condemnation of sin? Is the Bible also a ‘non-issue’ with him? The Bible calls lasciviousness, drunkenness, revellings AND SUCH LIKE (Gal. 5:19-21) works of the flesh! They are sin! Does he oppose bars and clubs on this basis? He mentioned the need to get past ‘misinformation’. That is the point of making known what the Bible says on the matter. The Bible condemns those who put out misinformation because, in doing so, God’s truth is distorted. As a result, those who desire the truth, are exploited (2 Peter 2:2-3 - “…the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you).
The Bible teaches that misinformation is spread by covetous people who have no faith in God’s ability to provide for their needs (Luke 12:15; Col. 3:5). Otherwise, they would appeal to the standard of the Bible in all matters. The Bible not only provides the truth on alcohol and drunkenness, it reveals that a person who views sin as a “non-issue”, has an evil heart. He mentioned several times of how people have grown accustomed to the sight of alcohol, concluding that exposure for the last seven years makes THIS petition a “non-issue”. The Bible calls this, hardening of the heart. It occurs thru continued exposure/practice of sin (Romans 1:32). “Continued exposure” has resulted in exactly what the Bible has consistently foretold in regard to sin: hardness of heart.
Hardness of heart was why the prophet Jeremiah stated of Israel, there was a “perpetual backsliding” (Jer. 8:5), until “…they did not know how to blush.” (Jer. 8:12). They came to view their sin as a “non-issue”. The statement that sin is a “non-issue” is not only evidence of a hardened heart but of a proverbial ‘fence-straddler’, which is also condemned in the scriptures (Matt. 6:24). The church at Laodicea had such an attitude toward sin and was void of convictions. They were told, “I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent.” (Rev. 3:15-19)
It is also an insult to those in this city and county who have moral convictions, and who are unwilling to compromise morality for the sake of worldly gain/profit. It evidences the mindset found in the Old Testament of Israel who, in asking for a worldly king, “wanted to be like the nations around them” (1 Samuel 8:5-6, 19-20). We see this same mindset in the language of those who support expanded alcohol, or who view it as a ‘non-issue’. They both reason, “other nearby cities already have it; let’s be like them.” Would this logic be equally applied to abortion clinics? Is this not the logic behind expanded gambling, horse racing facilities…other states/localities “are doing it”? The Bible principle is, “don’t follow a multitude to do evil…so as to pervert justice” (Exodus 23:2 – “You shall not fall in with the many to do evil, nor shall you bear witness in a lawsuit, siding with the many, so as to pervert justice...”).
The Bible is clear as to the reason for the wrath of God: “…ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth” (Rom. 1:18). Truth continues to be suppressed as people progress in their view of sin as a “non-issue”. Misinformation on sin makes the one who distorts the truth, just as guilty as those who are openly involved in the sin! Rom. 1:32 declares, “Though they know God’s decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.” One who advocates economic success thru immorality is against God, and also condemned in the Bible (Rom. 6:1).
Jesus said, "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” (Matt. 5:4). This blessing is for those who mourn over sin rather than see it as a non-issue because of their lack of conviction and a calloused heart. The Bible states the real ‘phobia’ of such people in John 3:19-21 – “…this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.”
to be continued…
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