Temperance!

My people have deep roots in Athens, Alabama. Two years ago, the hedonistic forces of fermentation won a mighty electoral battle to permit the very limited sale of alcohol in the county. The bitterly defeated, tee-totalling warriors of temperance did not go quietly, however, and the matter is again on the ballot by referendum in a few weeks. On the way into town this weekend, my wife and I chuckled when we saw the marquee at a church in our tribe quoting Proverbs: "Wine is a mocker; strong drink a brawler," etc. I said, "WELCOME TO THE CHURCH OF CHRIST, Y'ALL!" Only to realize that this was but a tiny shot within a salvo of rhetoric, bad theology, and inter-fellowship intimidation.

A distant relative is a prominent Prohibition soldier. He recently sent the following missive to thousands of Athenians and encouraged the recipients to sent it on to all their friends. Thus, abiding his wishes, please behold some interesting hermeneutical polemics, emphasis his:

Hello Everyone:

As a Christian I can not vote for something that the Bible says is wrong. I can not contribute to anyone's downfall in anyway. That is basically the bottomline in this issue for me.

So, you see, the real issue here is "greed." Public officials want more tax money to spend. Bars and night clubs will be next. By the way, a Sports Bar and Resturant (sic) is already planned by a family in Athens. It will be on South Jefferson Street. It was on the front page of the Athens-News Courier on Tuesday.

I think this point is something that people that vote for the legal sales of alcohol do not fully understand. I would not vote for it even if it meant closing down our public school system.

Anyway, I hope you agree with me and vote to discontinued the sale of alcohol in Athens.

Please take the time to read these scriptures that apply to Christians and what the
world has to offer:

2 John 9-11, "Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds."

2 Corinthians 6:14, "Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?"

John 15:19, "If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates
you."

2 Peter 2:20, "For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning."

1 Thessalonians 5:7, "For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night."

Gal 5:19-21, "Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom
of God."

Do you want to be condemed at the judgment in the sins of others? Does making a few dollars justify your involvement in the sale of alcohol? There is no way you can explain this to your kids, to God or to keep it from being a bad reflection on the church! If you vote for the continued sale of alcohol in Athens you are as guilty in God's sight as the drunkard or the drunk that runs over someones kid and kills them. (emphasis mine actually, because this is my favorite part- jrb) You can not even work in a place where this evil is sold. Stop for a moment a give this vote some serious thought! We made it just fine in Athens since 1818 without the legal sale of alcohol.

If you call yourself a Christian; then act like it and vote no to stop the sale of alcohol in Athens.

Ciao,
[MB]

Being a good Command-Example-Necessary-Inference kind of guy, I'm surprised that he didn't mention the party at Cana, new wineskins or the Lord's Supper, but I am sure that must have something to do with the alleged alcohol content of First Century booze.

Welcome back to 1919, Athens.