Cheers?

I had the radio on for the local news, and that was followed by a phone-in talk show. The primary subject in each program was the same. At least on the surface. Scotland has two serious medical problems in general, and they are childhood obesity, and excessive alcohol consumption. Do I need to remind you that we are just into a new year, ushered in by the party season?

The news carried the stories of families torn apart by the abuse of alcohol, usually as a result of a party. Our hospitals have to take on extra staff for A&E because they know there will be a spike in injuries, like broken bones, lacerations from knife wounds, aggression, a wife or partner bloodied by a slap or a punch causing a broken nose or jaw, and sadly children who are in fear of their dad or mum abusing them, or having been abused in some way. All of these situations are well documented on open source. The bottom line is that many people cannot be relied on to drink responsibly, but that is the slogan put out by the alcoholic drinks companies. Is there anything more laughable, embarrassing, and showing them to be the hypocrites they are?

On one hand we are advised to be sensible and responsible in the consumption of alcohol, knowing all of the dangers and risks. But on the other hand these same people change almost as soon as that first drink hits their system, and everyone suffers as a result, including themselves. It is too much to ask the drinks industry to talk the truth about the problems their products cause. Doing that would reduce their business, and all their shareholders would lose lots of money. We can’t have that now, can we? This brings me to the crux of the matter. Money. Plain and simple. So, while speaking platitudes to the consumers, they will continue to sell alcohol to whoever will buy it including the young, addicted, and vulnerable. The likelihood of any probable health benefit is a secondary consideration to profit. I don’t expect things to change anytime soon!

Poverty

The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. Mark14:7NIV

There is a massive drive in the UK to wipe out the need for food banks, and poverty itself, but is this realistic? The government have announced their intention to appoint a ‘Minister of Poverty’, but can this work? This short verse contains three important points, but leaves the most important to the last in an effort to drive home the message.

“The poor you will always have with you” goes against the government’s action in appointing a minister to eliminate poverty because we are told whether we like it or not, there will always be poor folks among us.

“You can help them any time you want” is a clear reminder of the need and importance as believers to do all we can to reduce the effects of poverty, while acknowledging the clear fact that we will never eradicate it.

“You will not always have me” is the stark truth which rises above the desire to help the poor, and addresses a more fundamental need. There are two levels to this phrase. Jesus was telling His disciples that there would shortly come a time when He would not be with them, but without saying how it would happen. However today this phrase applies to those who, through their own free will, reject Him and His gift of salvation. Some (literally) very poor people will lose out twice. No food and no future, and it doesn’t have to be like that.

Based on this, I suggest we are not doing the whole job if all we do is supply food for the body. Food is very important, but Jesus tells us clearly that it is only half the work needed. It is more important that we give the message of the more nourishing heavenly manna for their soul to supplement the food for the body. Then, and only then, we will have completed the full commandment.

Party!

“Let’s party” seems to be the byword for a good time, and the signal that party time is the only way to have fun. The unspoken thought behind the words, at least in my culture, is that alcohol must be a part of the night’s revelry, otherwise it’s a waste of time. But does it have to be that way?

In our young, immature years, we think that some wine, beer, or spirits will unlock the door to fun, and happiness. Sadly, many have to learn the hard way that this is not true. Ask the young girl who ends up with the choice between having an unplanned baby, or an abortion. Ask the young man who has picked a fight with his best pal, and maimed him for life. Ask the nurses at A&E. Ask the Police who have to literally pick up the pieces shed on a good night out. Ask a parent who lies awake praying that their son or daughter is safe and will come home unharmed.

We can’t be too hard on our teenagers, when we remember our own youthful escapades. We may have got out of our youth unscathed physically, but many of us bear the unseen scars mentally and emotionally. That is the very reason parents, and yes grandparents too, worry for their own because they have been there, and even now may live with the uneasy consequences. So the next time your mum or dad says, “be home by …”, “stay safe” or “keep good company” or “don’t be on your own”, it’s not because they want to be a kill joy. On the contrary, they want you to avoid the pitfalls they almost fell into, and they know that the unintended bad memories stay real and vivid for a long time. Maybe for ever. So next time you hear the words, “let’s party” try to keep in mind the things that are important. The things that will outlast your years, way beyond any (bad) decision you may make for the short term. Oh, and for the record you CAN have fun and enjoy yourself without alcohol. It’s true!

“Then he said, ‘I know what I will do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger barns! I will put all my wheat and good things together in my new barns. Then I can say to myself, I have many good things stored. I have saved enough for many years. Rest, eat, drink, and enjoy life!’ “But God said to that man, ‘Foolish man! Tonight you will die. So what about the things you prepared for yourself? Who will get those things now?’ Luke 12:18-20

Responsibly

We are all adults, and we know that we must act responsibly, but have you noticed (if you haven’t, you are numb from the neck up) that our Radio and TV are choc full of adverts for alcohol, all the way from alcopops to the real hard stuff. Every advert finishes with the words on the screen, “please drink responsibly”. Why do you think they say that? Yes, it is a legal requirement, but why was the industry made do it against their will? Firstly it’s because it’s a good idea, and secondly, and I see this as more important, there are many many people who do NOT drink responsibly. In fact the vast majority of drinkers do NOT drink responsibly, they just want to get drunk, and there are lots of bad news reports when drink is involved. Ask any policeman, nurse, doctor, or social worker. If you live in Scotland especially at New Year time, you will know what I mean!

You might smile at the adverts for alcohol, but what if we took this to another level, and when it comes to the Bible, it should read, “please read responsibly”? At this point, you may be raising your eyebrows while asking yourself, where is he going with this? A very good question. In just the same way that the warning is needed for those who might abuse alcohol, a similar warning is required for some who might just over-egg, or over-do, or over interpret Scripture verses. I accept that we all have our favourites, but we should never misuse the Bible to read the way we want it, and to our own ends or agenda.

Not reading the whole Bible responsibly can result in ‘non-mainstream’ beliefs, and that same misuse can pit one group of believers over and against another. If we take a few verses in isolation, we can just about justify anything. However, if we follow the instruction to “please read responsibly”, we will avoid any extreme pitfalls and live a balanced Christian life. After all, the Bible contains the very words of life! The whole canon of Scripture is essential to our understanding, ALL of it, not just a few chosen verses!

All Scripture is given by God. And all Scripture is useful for teaching and for showing people what is wrong in their lives. It is useful for correcting faults and teaching the right way to live. 2 Timothy 3:16

The Christian Alcoholic

Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler,  and whoever is led astray by it is not wise.

Proverbs 20:1

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. 1 Corinthians 6:19

Recently I have become more and more aware of people in the evangelical church who dabble with alcohol. I have also noticed cases where the little dabble takes the form of endorsement and the active condoning of almost any form of hard drink. This kind of lifestyle goes counter to the teaching of the Scripture.

Ah, I hear you say, but what about the first miracle of Jesus in Cana where he turned water into wine? If you read the story in full, you will not see any reference to Jesus either drinking the wine that was miraculously made, or suggesting that His followers should. Some in the church have hung their hat, and their argument on this miracle because it happened, and not because of the message in the story. The message is summed up in the words of Jesus’ mother Mary, when she said: “Do whatever he tells you”. Is Jesus telling His followers to make wine? Is He suggesting His followers should drink wine? No! The message is one of obedience, and one we would do well to follow ourselves.

The apostle Paul chose to abstain from some things he knew he could do, but he didn’t do them because the resulting example would have been contrary to the message of the Kingdom. But let’s go back to the title. We know that an alcoholic does not go out of his or her way to end up like that. We also know that every alcoholic starts out with a single drink. Are Christians exempt from this law of nature? Are there no alcoholics who risked it and lost big time? The statistics are the same. The risk and percentage of alcoholism is not determined by religion, social class, job, or gender.

So, here is my problem. Armed with this public knowledge, why would anyone take that first drink? Let me take it a step further. Why would any Christian, church leader, or pastor think that the example set is a good witness, even if they don’t succumb and become another sad alcoholic who risks losing a lot, and may even everything that is important to them, and to those who look up to them? Even Paul didn’t do some things because he could. Can any of us put ourselves on a higher plane? The apostle said it this way:

I don’t understand why I act the way I do. I don’t do the good I want to do, and I do the evil I hate. And if I don’t want to do what I do, that means I agree that the law is good. But I am not really the one doing the evil. It is sin living in me that does it. Yes, I know that nothing good lives in me—I mean nothing good lives in the part of me that is not spiritual. I want to do what is good, but I don’t do it. I don’t do the good that I want to do. I do the evil that I don’t want to do. So if I do what I don’t want to do, then I am not really the one doing it. It is the sin living in me that does it. Romans 7:15-20

Turkeys Found at Rangers and Celtic FC.

Just found another two major turkeys out! Why not take a look at my 12 Jan blog? I was actually beginning to think the major Scottish football bodies had turned the corner in their support of the drink industry. Not so! They have both now been paid handsomely to be sponsored by Tennents Brewery. In case you don't know, that's a drinks company!


Yes, I am disappointed. I am disappointed at the forked tongues of the boards who seem to agree that drink is a major problem with the disruptions at the games, home and away. They also seem to concede that the 'old firm' games foster domestic violence at the hands of men (usually) who take out their frustrations of defeat (one of the teams has to be beaten, or play badly, or was robbed) on their unsuspecting wives, partners and children. It's not the football clubs who pick up the pieces, it's the hospital and maybe the family.


Oh, I forgot. Maybe the big 'T' on the strips means 'afternoon Tea', or 'cream Tea' or 'Tea time'! Silly me..... Give us a break, we all know better than that, but knowing better doesn't seem to stretch to the Rangers and Celtic board rooms. I now have a mental picture of turkeys sitting around the big boardroom table putting their money where their cheque book is. It might even, truly, be where their heart is. Because when all is said and done, sponsorships are done for a business reason. They are not done in this case to help the violence problem, or the domestic problem, or the child afraid to learn the result of the game, for what it might mean to him (or her) and their mum.


In the words of the old Sinatra song, '.. and then they go and spoil it all by saying something stupid, like.... I love you.. (drinks industry)'! Too strong? I don't think so. The next time I see a board room official, or manager, of either Rangers or Celtic FC spouting about how they will deal with the drunken, violent behaviour of their fans, forgive me for thinking it's all lies and deceit, and switching off. They had their chance to be taken seriously, and they blew it! All I will see is a talking turkey (again)!