The Detroit tribune. (Detroit, Mich.) 1935-1966, 1955-06-11
A Minister Looks at the Problem
continued from Back Page

many media for this neutrality-suspicious. zines
biboards, window displays, radio and televson ium
mated signs. direct mail etc. In 1853 the industry
spent s2ooooooo0 for advertising This represents AGO
of the total expenditure for advertising all other
products America In the it is known that
$3.50 900 900 spent for alcoholic beverages while
only l955 100000 for all religious and welfare
activities including privately supported relief projects
1t is hard believe, but easy understand why the
newspapers refused print the above statistics The
the speaker that the liquor industry adveres
heavily the newspapers they would dare print
them. Is this freedom of the press?
SO much for the negative side of the picture AS
minister it to be expected of to be against
thing. In reality my message for youth is positive
My approach when counseling is condemn alcohol
quite much exalt Christ and to reveal the Chris
an concept of temperance. What then. do tell people
who to for ALPHABETICALLY questioning young
people? may classify approach under four headings:
l. THE BIBLE is CLEARLY AGAINST THE EVILS OF
DRINKING ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES.
To of the astonishing things is the biblical at
ttude toward strong drink in day when wines and
mild alcoholic beverages part of the daily diet.
Drinking water premium those lands, and good
drinking water often nonexstent The of alcohol
for medicinal purposes often recommended. There
little else by the way of smuant all
prised that advice should be given by the Apostle Tim
ohy: Take little wine for thy stomachs sake What
does surprise is that the drinking of wine for mere
pleasure opate for the ills the mind spirit
should De violently attacked And this hnd what
the real teaching of scripture concerning drinking
There than 20 pointed references the evils
of drinking and 100 the subject
Someone has noted that this is than what is said
about stealing, adury pride, hypocrisy, blasphemy.
Let quote but few:
Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning,
that they follow strong drink; that continue until
night, It'll wine nflame them isaiah SAID
But they have erred through wine, and through
strong drink out of the the and the prophet
have erred through strong drink they swallowed up
Of wine, they of the way through strong drink
they in vision, they stumble in judgment" isaiah
2s:7).
at is fit for kings to drink wine; nor for princes
strong drink lest they drink and forget law and
vert the judgment of of the afflicted" proverbs
1t accident that caused the Old Testament priest
ly system to naugurate policy of "nodrnkng for its
revered leaders. The would serve Israel s
Nazarite must that neither a should come
his head should strong drink pass between his
lips he would so lead Thus discover the evil in the
sin Of Samson and the meaning the of John
the Baptist from wine. Luke l:l5).
Why mention the Bible at all? Because for Christian
people the Bible the authority of faith and practice 1t
is the guide book for daily living 1t therefore
for something know what its viewpoint the prob
lem of alcohol
II. THE BODY IS CREATED TO BE THE
TEMPLE OF GOD.
We proceed into the specific teaching of the Bible
concerning
that is creature of two worlds. He is made phys-
cal being with faculties for responding the stim of his
physical environment To derive the benefit from
these stimuli and he must exercise not to
dull his receptvity Likewise, he is made spiritual be-
with inner faculties capable of responding the slim
uli of the being of God Indeed this is what gives
his true dignity-for he rise above his environment
and reach far beyond the limits of his physical universe
and touch the eternal God Anything that duls his pir
itual reflexes is wrong.
The teaching clearly stated know ye that your
body the temple of the Holy Spirit and your
for you have been bought with price?" q Cor. s:
l920) What God has called holy; what He has redeemed
the priceless of CSvary what He has been pleased
to nhabit His earthly home-dare dishonor with
filthy and poisonous living? If dehle the temple
Of God him shall God destroys for the temple Of God is
holy, which temple ye." Cor. 3;16)
Let be clear in judgment Alcohol stands high
the list of offending vices II is not the only by
which may dehle the temple of God. Let all be-
bring dishonor bodies by unchastity
Eutony avare and the of narcotics and artificial
stmuants of any sort.
III. BELONGING TO CHRIST MEANS THAT WE
MUST BE UNDER THE CONTROL OF CHRIST.
This is the biblical meaning of the word temperance
IA