Fourth in a series of Informal Chats with Young People on their Perplexing Problems
Drink, Drinking . . . Can one drink intoxicating liquor and be a Christian too? Well, he might, if he wants to be the poorest, meanest, most- no-account Christian on the face of God’s earth (1 Cor. 10:21). He can be the Christian who utterly despises his God- given birthright, who scorns his opportunities to count for Christ, who breaks every commandment (John 15:10-17) the Lord ever gave. Such a Christian is a disgrace to the name he bears. Listen, young friends, the worship and service of the Lord Jesus Christ and the liquor industry and habit are diametri cally opposed (Gal. 5:17-23). They have absolutely nothing in common. Life which is for Christ embraces all that which is clean, unselfish, pure, righteous and noble, whereas liquor, and those who market it, represent everything foul, criminal and sinful. Nowhere is the difference between the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Satan more clearly marked out than here. To hear and see the gay advertising of liquor you might be led to think that it’s quite harmless; everybody drinks and it’s the modern thing to do. Don’t you believe it. What is not shown in the glittering glass is the appalling sight of the finished product. One should really take the post-graduate course and view liquor’s victims (Prov. 23:29-35). Look at them—bleary-eyed, senseless, dirty, reeling. Here’s the true character of this despicable thing (Prov. 20:1). You really should know the family of John Barleycorn. He’s the father of crime and debauchery, the husband of heart ache and bitter tears, the brother of adultery and sensuality and the uncle of poverty and disease. He’s an arch-thief taking his victim’s judgment, self-respect, character, health, home, loved ones, money and, eventually, life. Liquor is death in solution. It is the poison of hell. As you value your life, don’t touch it (Eph. 5:20). Don’t you believe the devil’s lie that the Bible doesn’t censure the liquor habit. Many times the Spirit of God warns of the danger of drunkenness (Rom. 13:13,14). It is something with which Christians are not to associate (1 Cor. 5:9-11). It bars one from the Kingdom of God (1 Cor. 6:9,10). It causes hell to enlarge its borders (Isa. 5:11-14). It is the companion of all kinds of evil. As Christians, we should earnestly hate it. Why does the young person take his first glass? Why, the devil whispers in his ear that drinking is smart, and modern and everyone does it. But the devil lies as he always does. Drinking is smart as beating in your skull is smart. It’s modern like death. It’s popular like the broad road which leads to eternal destruction. It would be far better to jump into a den of rattlers than to begin this horrible thing. Can one drink in moderation? Listen to me carefully as I tell you that a child of God can’t afford to touch this evil which is responsible for so much sin and wrongdoing. No one can ever drink in moderation. The ones who claim they can take it or leave it always take it. The first glass robs you of the ability of sound judgment. Then, you would be supporting an industry which is hell’s own and might be using your influence to send a weaker brother or sister to a drunkard’s grave. The right way, the safe way, the Christian way is total abstinence (1 Thess. 5:22). The positive side of the question is: Will my drinking glorify God? Will Christ be more honored by my life as a drinker? Will the Heavenly Guest within my heart be pleased? The answer to these is a thunderous “ No.” Not by the wildest stretch of imagination could one believe that God would be pleased in the defilement of my body through drink. So, let our decision be that by God’s grace we will drink no liquor while the world standeth (1 Cor. 8:13). J A N U A R Y . 1 9 5 0
Clothes, Make-up, Etc. . . . While these two pages apply to our girl readers I want the boys to read them too. Listen now, in the question of dress it’s altogether possible for the Christian young person to be chic and attractive in appearance, and charming in manner without following the extreme styles dictated by ungodly people. In this matter of clothing, as well as in all other questions, we must remember that our bodies are Christ’s, and that bur task is to care for them, and that includes cloth ing them, to please and honor Him (Rom. 12:1, 2; 1 Cor. 6: 19, 20). Don’t think for a minute that this can’t be done. Present-day styles as advertised by the movie and the magazine exert a tremendous influence on the clothing habits of the world. Many people rush headlong to follow the latest dictates of fashion. They’ll wear anything, or nothing at all, if it’s the latest. And modern clothing, particularly athletic and bathing dress, seems to be geared to the idea of shame lessly and brazenly exhibiting as much of the body as the law will allow. Unknown to many people this matter has roots deep in moral principle (Rev. 19:8). The Bible tells us that our first parents, fresh from the creative hand of God, wore no clothing for they were without sin (Gen. 2:25). But when sin entered, the first thing God did was to clothe them, for clothing hinders and prevents sin (Gen. 3:21). Also clothing is a constant reminder that sin necessitates the provision of a blood sacrifice. Today when people openly uncover their bodies they are flaunting their naked sinfulness in God’s face. Why, the first thing the jungle savages desire, when their hearts are cleansed by the blood of Christ, is to be clothed. Modern indecent styles are an at tempt, on the part of people who should know better, to defy God and His commandments. Christian young people will have nothing to do with this thing. Surely the key to this problem of dress is God-honoring modesty and moderation (1 Tim. 2:9,10). One need not revert to the styles of the past century, but neither should the Page Thirteen
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