The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1943-10-29

Council Of Religious Education; used By
permission.
BIBLE TEACHINGS ON
ABSTINENCE
international Temperance Sunday
LESSON TExT-Leviticus 1911. 2. sill;
Proverbs STA, S; Luke l:13-l6.
GOLDEN TExT-Beware. I pray thee.
and drink no wine nor strong drink
Judges 1884.
Total abstinence from all alcoholic
liquors is the only sensible and ef-
fective policy for Christian people.
Some, who want to use alcohol them
selves, like to stress the Bibles
teaching of temperance. They point
to the use of wine on the part Of peo-
pie in biblical times, although they
fail to note that more often than
not it was non-alcoholic. (See 1.-THE
Bible. and Wine" published by Loi-
zeaux Brothers.)
Another thing they ignore Is that
we live in a different day with q
mechanical society, when alcoholic
beverages are offered through high
pressure advertising and in highly
distilled and potent form.
What we are most interested In IL
what the Bible teaches about the
matter. We note that
Abstinence is Necessary
I. For Spiritual Obedience (Lev.
1912, 8-11).
In the religious life Of nation
one expects the leaders to set the
example for the people to follow.
Two things we may rightly demand
of those who serve the nation in its
religious life: ~ a vision Of God
and obedience to that vision In life
and service, and (2) the exercise Of
sound, God-guided judgment in the
affairs Of the people.
But note what happens when the
prophet and the priest turn to wine
and strong drink. They err in vision
lisa. 28:7). That is, they have no
clear concepts of divine truth, and
lead the people into error. Further,
we see that "they stumble in judg-
ment."
To every true servant Of God
comes repeatedly the opportunity
and the need of rendering judgment,
that is, of advising and counselins
those to whom he ministers. If his
mind is befuddled by the use Of al.
cohol Cor, for that matter, by any
other kind of worldly indulge1ce) he
will STUMBLE" and cause his PEG
pie to stumble.
A sad incident is related in Levitt
Gus 1871, 2, of the sons of Aaron
We are not told directly that they
were intoxicated, but it is implied in
the fact that there is an immediate
injunction against the use of wine by
the priests (Lev. 10:8-1D.
II. For National Order prov. 81,
4, 81.
It is a notorious fact that the iq.
uor interests strongly influence the
political life of nation. (See "The
Wrecking of the 18th Amendment"
by Ernest Gordon.)
While political leaders may make
sanctimonious protestation that gov.
ernment agencies are not influenced
by the liquor interests, it is common
knowledge even to those who are
Slightly informed that the two are
closely associated.
The result of that unholy alliance
is rightly described in Proverbs 31:1
-"They forget the law, and
pervert the judgment of any of the
afflicted" Much of the sad disorder
in the body polite is traceable di.
rectly to the door of the makers and
sellers of alcoholic beverages.
1t is depressing and disturbing
thing when the leaders of a nation
are known to lean on alcoholic slim
ulants-the broken reed on which
man can only be pierced. The de
structive influence of their example
can be imagined.
iii. For Personal Usefulness
(Luke 11:l3-16).
John was to be born into a life OF
such blessed usefulness to God and
man that he was to be a "joy and
gladness" to his parents, great in
the sight of the Lord" and instru-
mental in turning ''many of the chill
dren of Israel to the Lord"
Such life is worthy of emulation
on the part of every young man and
woman. What is the secret Of it?
Undoubtedly, fine Christian parent
age had much to do with it.
Other elements also entered in,
such as rearing and training, but Of
great importance was the fact ".
15) that he was not to be driven by
the false stimulants of this world,
but by the milling Of the Holy Spirit
of God. No ''wine nor strong drink, -
but being "filled with the Holy
Ghost" there, young people, is the
secret Of a happy and useful life.
Note that John was to be "great
in the sight of the Lord" ". 49,
nothing finer or more distinctive
could be said about a man. That
greatness simply could not exist
along with indulgence in 'swine nor
strong drink" Being filed with the
Spirit precludes the use Of intoxi-
A..