The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1942-10-22
STEPS TOWARD SOLUTION OF
THE ALCOHOL PROBLEM


LESSON -Ecclesiastes 1917 Amos
5:21-24; Romans 14:19-21 II Corinthians
6:l7; I Peter AIS.
GOLDEN TEXT-Let judgment run down
as waters, and righteousness as a mighty
stream.-Amos SPA.
Let's do something about it! That
is the right word regarding the
liquor problem now. The time is
past for theorizing or deploring-we
need action. The liquor interests
have redoubled their efforts of late
because they fear the aroused pub
lie opinion of decent Americans.
Why do not Americas 100000
church members say the word now,
and curb this awful thing which is
threatening to destroy us?
|. Right-Minded Rulers (Eccles.
1O:1O.
National leaders should set the
example for the people-an example
of sobriety, of clear-headed thought
and full devotion to the cause Of
our country. Are they doing it?
We quote: washington is the wet
test spot in the nation. The per
capita consumption Of alcohol in the
District of Columbia is almost twice
that of the wettest state in the
Union. In 1910, 426 gallons were
consumed for every man, woman
and child. Nevada, the wettest of
all our states, consumed 2.65 gal
Ions per person. There at Washing
ton where they need the clearest
heads, the steadiest nerves, and the
highest morals, they are drinking
the most booze" CDR l. M. Hargett.
What about 1912? Those who have
been able to observe, indicate that
conditions are probably worse now!
The secretary of war and the Sec
rotary of the navy have insisted on
the desirability of the sale of beer
in service canteens. No wonder
the Brewers Digest of May, 1871,
gloated: Zone of the finest things
that could have happened was the
insistence by high ranking officers
to make beer available in army
camps Here is d chance for
the brewers to cultivate a taste for
beer in millions of young men,"
America had better wake up!
ii. Right-Spirited People (Amos
5:21-24).
God has no pleasure in the re-
ligious obscrVances and the pious
words of a people who profess to
worship but who come with unre-
pentant hearts and unclean hands.
Can God bless the man Cor his
money! who profits either directly
or indirectly from the sale of in
toxicants? Amos has the answer.
Let US heed his plea that righteous
ness should run through our nation
al, as we'll as our personal lives,
las a mighty stream"
III. Right Living Christians
(Rom. 14:l9-2l; II Cor. GIT; Pet.
4:1-5).
We have already suggested that
there are 5000, 900 church members
in America. If they were all right
living Christians there can be little
question that they would long since
have eliminated the liquor business,
for it is certainly most unchristian.
Apparently they are either not real
Christians, or they are asleep to
their responsibility. Our Scriptures
in this section tell us that in a true
Christian life there is
/. No offense (Rom 14:19-2D.
The question here is that of eating
meat offered to idols, which does not
concern us; but the great Christian
principle here stated is of the high
est importance and bears directly
on our daily life.
None of us lives to himself (Rom.
14:0. Everything we do counts
either for or against Christ. Such
an ordinary 1--WE regret thing as
staying away from church service
speaks to the world and especially
to our ncighbors of our loss of in
terest and respect for the worship
of God. Apply that principle to the
use of any alcoholic beverage, and
every Christian must be total abb
stainer
2. No Compromise 0I. Cor. GID.
We have come to the unscriptural
and deeply dangerous viewpoint that
if Christian wants to compromise
a bit with the world, the flesh and
the devil, that's his business" God
does not think so. He says: Come
out from among them, and be We
separate" The weakness of the
church on this matter of liquor is
that too many of the Is, 100000 are
guilty of the sin (and that's what it
ISL of compromise.
3. No Worldliness q Pet. 4:1-5).
Here again the assumption of many
is that there are two groups in the
Church-worldly Christians and spir-
itually minded ones, and that each
is as good as the other. Both classes
are there, no doubt about that, but
God never has and never will coun-
tenance Worldliness on the part OF
His people.
Essentially, there are just two OPP
posing principles in this World-self.
will and Gods will. We are either
controlled by the flesh or by the
Spirit of God. Peter makes it clear
that the one who claims to belong
to Christ should no longer be con.
trolled by self-will, but by God S
will. Are we ready, fellow Chris
tians, to yield to Him?
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