The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1943-07-22

GOu!-l corinthians y.
Billions of dollars-hoW many we
cannot say-make up the annual cost
of liquor to America in dollars and
cents. Terrifying as it is, that stu
pendous waste is but a drop in the
bucket compared with the moral and
spiritual degradation, the sorrow and
suffering, the poverty and distress,
which must be added into our liquor
bill.
For it is not only a matter of dol
lars, but of blood and tears, or de-
stroyed usefulness, lost virtue,
wrecked homes, and so on and on
and on. We go right on paying the
bill, allowing ourselves to be misled
by clever propaganda, and skillfully
manipulated statistics-or it may be
our sheer Indifference. When will
America awaken!
Our lesson faces us with the cost
of this despicable traffic in the life
of the individual to the social order,
and in the light of eternity.
I. The Personal Cost (Deut. 81:
1920.
Liquor destroys individuals relent-
lcssly, rapidly, and effectively. Have
we forgotten that fact?
The passage in Deuteronomy pre-
sents a drastic remedy for a dread
full situation. Drink and gluttony
were recognized as the deadly in
strument which would bring boy
to the place where he was incor-
rigible. Stubborn, rebelIious, and
disobedient, his parents were to
bring him to the elders for a final
Judgment
If one thinks the penalty too harsh,
he must remember that it was estab-
lished in the early days of Israel
when it was necessary for God to
use such drastic remedies to stamp
out incipient evil.
1t must be remembered that in
ancient Greece weak children were
left out to die, and in Rome father
could at will put to death even
grown up son.
The point of this scripture for us
is that a life of debauchery (and it
can start with Just a glass of Wine)
leads TO the ultimate destruction of
life. 1t is far too high a cost to pay
for sinful indulgence.
II. The Social Cost prov. 90:
20, 2D.
Drunkenness and aluttony lead to
poverty and rags. The Incorporate
man cannot keep up with the high
cost of supplying his growing appe-
tite. Even as he tries to satisfy its
Unsuitable demand, it also renders
him unfit to earn a living.
So the vicious circle works its
way around and stops not until the
drunkard tottcrs off in his rags, I'M
less perchance some loved one or
friend takes care of him.
Do we not all recall how families
in our own communities have been
ruined and become charges upon the
county or charitable organizations
because of the destruction wrought
by a father who was a Winebibber.
Not only does it bring poverty
upon families, but it reduces able
and gifted men to shambling wrecks
and thus deprives society of the
benefit of their lives and service.
A present-day illustration is the
unsolved problem Of absenteeism for
days after pay day in our essential
industries. Again we say the cost
is altogether too high; let US get rid
of this monster before it destroys uSl
III. The Eternal Cost q Cor. 6:
GID.
Money lost is serious. Life lost is
far more serious. But the saddcst
cost of all is the eternal damnation
of the drinkers soul.
We quote from DR.. Horace Martin
these stirring and meaningfui words:
ut is my calm judgment that any
man who names the name of Christ
should take an attitude of horror and
disgust at the liquor traffic and the
use of liquor as a beverage. There
are at least three places in the New
Testament where the Bible says that
no drunkard shall inherit the king
dom of God.
IF any man takes that statement
seriously he must think twice be-
fore he refers TO the use of liquor in
a joking manner, or in any way con-
dones the use Of alcohol as a bev-
erage" (Lesson Commentary.
Drunkenness is a foul and sinful
thing, claSsed by the apostle Paul
with the lowest Of human vices. Re
view the list as it is given in verses
and 10 (and by the way notice the
other sins mentioned there), and
place drunkenness in its proper
classification.
Call it what it really is-sin, and
then call on the One who can save
from sin. You will then be washed
from your sin, sanctihed, and justi-
fed in the name of the Lord Jesus
". 1D. In Christ there is hope for
the drunkard A spiritual revival is
the real answer to the liquor prob
lem. Let us seek to promote it even
as we at the same time give our
selves to an intelligent and construc-
tive battle against this destructive
force in the life of our nation