|
CHRISTIAN MINISTRY REALITY ACTION STEPS:
-
Engage the corrupt culture head-on. Don't avoid it.
Shine the light of truth on it.
-
Assume that the corruption of the culture is negatively
impacting your church members. Your strongest members
will be filled with disgust for what the culture is doing to
people. They want to know that the church shares in
that disgust, and stands with them in the fight against it.
Your weakest members may actually be under the yoke of it.
How else can we explain the high rates of divorce, abortion,
addiction to pornography, and sexual sins being reported
among members of churches everywhere?
-
Preach and teach in such a way as to expose the dark and
sinful underbelly of evolutionary humanism.
-
Reach out to those most seriously affected by the corruption
of the culture. "Tell them of Jesus, the mighty to
save. Rescue the perishing!"
-
Provide your people with printed, digital and Internet based
resources which up-lifts, enlightens, informs, and empowers
them concerning the truth between the hopeless dogma of
humanism, and the hope-filled truth of Christianity.
-
Live the life of which you teach and preach. Be a
living Epistle (II Corinthians 3:2).
CHRISTIAN MINISTRY EDUCATION REALITY ACTION STEPS:
-
Study, learn, explore truth, go deeper, read books, don't
presume you know or still remember. The culture of
corruption is constantly morphing. Know what it is
promising, and where it is heading.
-
Take a course in Biblical Apologetics, Theology or Biblical
Creationism.
-
Enroll in a theological degree program from a Bible-based
Christ-centered Divinity School, Seminary or Bible College.
Pay the tuition, study hard, apply what you learn, and be
better equipped to push back against the hopeless darkness
of humanism.
-
If
you have dropped out of such a program, get back in.
Push back against the resistance. Ask yourself , "why
the resistance in the first place?" Exactly who wins
and loses when a Bible-based degree program is neglected in
times such as these?
-
Start a class of your own, teach a course, write articles,
write blogs, write a book, or create a web site where you
can teach others what you know, and have learned about the
difference between light and darkness.
-
If
you are an alumni of a Bible-based Christ-centered Divinity
School, Seminary or Bible College, pray for it, tell others
about it, keep in touch with it, and send even a small
financial gift often enough to encourage the school's
leadership to stay in the battle. The proponents of
evolutionary humanism are vocal and active foes of
Biblically honest Christian ministry education, and would
like noting more than to see it fade away either through
irrelevancy or if necessary, through legislation which
declares it divisive. That is, because (in the words
of the Humanist Manifesto II) "They separate rather than
unite peoples."
-
We
MUST push back against the culture of corruption.
That's the REALITY of it!
Christianity even when watered down is hot enough to boil
all modern society to rags. - G.K. Chesterton
The brothers Hophni and Phinehas may not be the
best know of Old Testament characters, but they are among its
worst examples of obsessive sexualism. When we think of
degraded sexuality in the Old Testament, usually two persons
come to mind, Samson and David. Not to excuse their
sexual sins, but the sons of Eli hold the titles of being
among the most degraded and debauched persons recorded in the
Bible.
The
reason that these brothers claim such a place of dishonor is
because they serve as a clear example of the predictable
consequences of knowingly rejecting the Lord as God.
Whenever and wherever the created sets himself up against the
Creator, one of the outcomes will always be a slavish
preoccupation with erotic sex. That is, obsessive sexualism.
Consider the historical background. “Now the sons of Eli
were worthless men; they did not know the LORD and the custom
of the priests with the people. When any man was offering a
sacrifice, the priest's servant would come while the meat was
boiling, with a three-pronged fork in his hand. Then he would
thrust it into the pan, or kettle, or caldron, or pot; all
that the fork brought up the priest would take for himself.
Thus they did in
Shiloh
to all the Israelites who came there. Also, before they burned
the fat, the priest's servant would come and say to the man
who was sacrificing, ‘Give the priest meat for roasting, as he
will not take boiled meat from you, only raw.’ If the man said
to him, "They must surely burn the fat first, and then take as
much as you desire," then he would say, ‘No, but you shall
give it to me now; and if not, I will take it by force.’ Thus
the sin of the young men was very great before the LORD, for
the men despised the offering of the LORD
(I Samuel
2:12-17 NASV).
These two scoundrels were actually stealing and eating the
offerings! But that’s not the worst of it, and that’s
not what makes them an example of obsessive sexualism. They
were engaged in something far more disgusting and despicable.
They were obsessed by a slavish preoccupation with erotic sex.
“Now Eli was very old; and he heard all that his sons were
doing to all
Israel, and how they lay with the women who served at the doorway of
the tent of meeting”
(I Samuel
2:22 NASV). The evil brothers, had set up their own sex
slave trade among the women who were suppose to be chaste and
holy servants at the most sacred site of worship in all
Israel!
The
slide from serving God to becoming the slave of sexual
passions was predictable. There is something deep in the
inner being of humanity that is bent toward devotion. If
that devotion is properly directed toward the Creator, then
human beings rise toward that which is pure. Conversely,
if the focus of devotion is toward the created, human beings
descend into that which is impure, and obsessive sexualism is
always one of the consequences. History bears this out.
For
example, during the height of the French Revolution (which a
great many humanists still idealize as a historical watershed
event), Christianity was ridiculed, assaulted, outlawed, and
the grossest forms of obsessive sexualism paraded publicly.
During this time the most shameful sexual obscenities were
encouraged. The great Cathedral of Notre Dame was
desecrated by rededicating it to the so-called Goddess of
Reason. The rededication ceremony was enacted by a most
vulgar parade winding through the streets of Paris culminating
in a naked prostitute being placed on a throne in the
sanctuary of the cathedral. Humanists who love to point
to the French Revolution as the dawning of western
enlightenment would do well to actually read the history of
what was rightly called “The Reign of Terror.”
Does any of this have relevance to the United States?
Most assuredly it does! Like Israel of old, and France
prior to The Reign of Terror, the
United States
has a rich and extensive history that is rooted in the worship
of the Creator. Shortly after the end of WWII, America
returned to its fascination with humanism which had actually
begun in the 1930s, but had been restrained as a consequence
of the II World War. During the past sixty plus years
the embrace of humanistic philosophy has served to erode our
national standards of godliness and decency. Nowhere is
this more observable than in the national attitude toward
human sexuality.
Americans have become accepting of a form of sexuality that
was only a generation ago considered indecent at the least and
criminal at worst. Consequently, it seems that the only
form of sexuality likely to be portrayed as aberrant is that
which is conducted between one man and one woman within the
confines of legal marriage. All other forms, however
disgusting and deviant, are promoted as desirable and even
constitutionally protected. The similarities between
Israel during the time of Eli, and that of the French
Revolution are not lost on the concerned observer.
We
recognize that obsessive sexualism is a driving and
significant force in American culture. What are some of
the evidences of this?
-
Ubiquitous glorification of promiscuous sex on television
and in motion pictures
-
Sensual sex themes used in almost all forms of product
advertising
-
The sexually unchaste look that is popular among young
people
-
Sexually revealing/enhancing clothing items that drive
fashion trends
-
Pornographic themes used in everything from video games to
magazines
-
Preoccupation with the look of the physical body in ways
that enhance sensuality
-
Promotion of sex as a form of recreation
-
Sexually enhancing drugs widely promoted during primetime
television
-
Sexual addictions, especially Internet based pornography
which ranges from viewing copulation, sex with children,
sodomy, sexual bondage, and bestiality
-
Shockingly low rate of virginity among college-aged young
people
-
General acceptance of oral sex among high school students
-
Tragically high rates of teenage pregnancy
-
Holocaust levels of abortion
The
result is the degrading of the beauty and even holiness of the
God-created and ordained sexual component of human nature
which is designed to protect both the future of the human
race, and the very foundation upon which all forms of social
justice and wellbeing depend. The fact is, when human
beings reject God, they always descend into obsessive
sexualism. The result of which is the degrading of the
dignity and worth of humanity. Millions of individuals
are being deeply scarred by this, including millions of
children and teenagers who have been robbed of the innocence
of childhood. No historian can point to a good and just
nation which built its greatness on obsessive sexualism.
Christian ministry and Christian ministry education together
face the serious and growing reality that obsessive sexualism
has already made inroads into the lives of millions of
Christian families. If we ignore it or avoid it, we
strengthen it. We must neither ignore it nor avoid it.
PUSHING BACK
AGAINST THE CORRUPTION OF OBSESSIVE SEXUALISM
CHRISTIAN
MINISTRY REALITY ACTION STEPS:
-
Engage the corrupt culture head-on. Don't avoid it.
Shine the light of truth on it.
-
Assume that the corruption of obsessive sexualism is
negatively impacting your church members. Your
strongest members will be filled with disgust for what the
culture is doing to people. They want to know that the
church shares in that disgust, and stands with them in the
fight against it.
Your weakest members may actually be under the yoke of it.
How else can we explain the high rates of fornication,
adultery, teen pregnancy, abortion, homosexuality, and
addiction to pornography being reported among members of
churches everywhere?
-
Preach and teach in such a way as to expose the dark and
sinful underbelly of obsessive sexualism.
-
Reach out to those most seriously affected by the corruption
of obsessive sexualism. "Tell them of Jesus, the
mighty to save. Rescue the perishing!"
-
Provide your people with printed, digital and Internet based
resources that up-lifts, enlightens, informs, and empowers
them concerning the truth between the devastating
consequences of sexual perversity and the long-term
blessings of sexual integrity
-
Live the life of which you teach and preach. Reject
obsessive sexualism through your choice of products,
clothing, entertainments, television viewing habits,
reading, and Internet activity. Demand that the
leadership of your church dress and act in such a way as to
project the most wholesome and trustworthy image possible.
Be a living Epistle (II Corinthians 3:2).
CHRISTIAN
MINISTRY EDUCATION REALITY ACTION STEPS:
-
Study, learn, explore truth, go deeper, read books, don't presume
you know or still remember. The culture of corruption
is constantly morphing. Know what it is doing, and
where it is heading.
-
Take one or more courses on the Biblical model for human sexuality,
and how to understand and deal with sexual addictions.
-
Enroll in a theological degree program from a Bible-based
Christ-centered Divinity School, Seminary or Bible College.
Pay the tuition, study hard, apply what you learn, and be
better equipped to push back against the hopeless darkness
of all forms of humanism.
-
If you have dropped out of such a program, get back in. Push
back against the resistance. Ask yourself , "why the
resistance in the first place?" Exactly who wins and
loses when a Bible-based degree program is neglected in
times such as these?
-
Start a class of your own, teach a course, write articles, write
blogs, write a book, or create a web site where you can
teach others what you know, and have learned about the
difference between light and darkness. Become familiar
with quality Christian organizations that God has raised up
to fight against the degrading consequences of obsessive
sexualism. Start with
Pure Life Ministries, and then become familiar with
similar ministries.
-
If you are an alumni of a Bible-based Christ-centered Divinity
School, Seminary or Bible College, pray for it, tell others
about it, keep in touch with it, and send even a small
financial gift often enough to encourage the school's
leadership to stay in the battle. The proponents of
obsessive sexualism are vocal and active foes of Biblically
honest Christian ministry education.
-
We MUST push back against the culture of corruption where obsessive
sexuality is promoted as normal as opposed to the debasing
perversion that is it. That's the REALITY of it!
Christianity even when watered down is hot enough
to boil all modern society to rags. - G.K. Chesterton
COMING SOON - REALITY SERIES FOCUS #3 Abortion
Holocaust
THE ECONOMIC IMPACT
OF ABORTION
By Dennis M. Howard
© Copyright, 2010 by Dennis M. Howard,
The Movement for a Better America, Inc.,
PO Box 472, Mt. Freedom, NJ 07970-0472
|
IMPORTANT NOTICE TO OUR READERS: We wish to
express sincere appreciation to Dennis M. Howard for his
generous permission to publish this article.
Master's position in opposition to the evil of abortion
is well documented. Our
Life-Issues programs are unique in higher education.
However, we recognize that the issue of the economic
impact of abortion has been totally ignored by the
secular press, and arguably under emphasized even within
the pro-life community. In light of the budget
crisis facing America, the time may now be right to
confront the reality that the evil of abortion has
metastasized throughout the structure of our entire
nation. Mr. Howard's sterling credentials
add a high level of credibility to this article, and
Master's is honored to endorse his organization
The Movement for a Better America. |
In 1968, Paul R. Ehrlich published The Population Bomb,
his sensational forecast of a world doomed by a population
explosion. In it he flatly predicted: “In the 1970's and '80's
hundreds of millions of people will starve to death in spite
of any crash program embarked upon now.”
Not one of Ehrlich's predictions came to pass. Instead, the
Supreme Court declared abortion on demand to be the law of the
land in 1973, and launched the slaughter of more than 52.3
million American babies --not by famine and starvation, but by
deliberate execution at the hands of a greedy abortion
industry.
Worldwide, an estimated 1.5 billion babies have been aborted.
And the social and economic cost has been as devastating as
anything Ehrlich predicted based on his paranoid fears of a
population explosion that never happened.
How Abortion is Destroying America
52.3 million abortions equal the population of 65 largest US
cities!
Download
the latest version of "The Abortion Bomb" flyer including a
map of America's 60 largest cities.
That's the toll abortion has
already reached at the current rate of 1,250,000 abortions a
year. It’s equal to or greater than the human loss we would
have experienced from an all-out nuclear war. Yet we are told
to sit passively by and endure it by the pro-abortion
ideologues of the left who dominate our culture, our media,
our politics and our courts.
It adds up to a 31.5% loss in the younger generation under
age 40. The toll includes some 17 million African-American
babies and nearly 36 million others. That's about 11,000 times
as many African-Americans as were lynched since 1900. It
amounts to a holocaust against blacks and against the young.
It is the greatest loss ever inflicted on any generation in
history. How can anyone with a conscience stand silent in the
face of it?
Abortion has
major social and economic costs as well.
The estimated loss in U.S. GDP already exceeds $38 trillion --
more than twice our current national debt. That's why, even if
abortion ends tomorrow, it will still take more than a
generation to recover.
Nothing else
has ever had a more depressing effect on the
U.S. and the world economy. Meanwhile, it is being compounded by a dramatic
decline in births in
France, Germany, Italy, England,
Spain, Japan and even China. Only the Muslim world continues
to grow at a rapid clip. As a result, much of Europe will
become predominantly Muslim within a generation. If we want a
better world for ourselves and our children, we must raise a
great hue and cry right now.
No kids, no future. It's as simple as that.
Abortion
is also driving the greatest health care and education crisis
in history. As baby boom nurses and teachers retire, we
face a looming shortage of 1 million nurses and 2 million
teachers. We also face critical shortages in key professions
such as science, medicine, and higher education. Abortion and
more efficient birth control together have wiped out about
half of our future human resources. With a growing number of
elderly baby boomers in need of critical care, the only way to
ease this crisis is to end abortion or drastically reduce
health care for the elderly. Liberal politicians would rather
do the latter.
Politicians
promise to remedy these shortages with their usual shell
games. They promise
aggressive new training programs for nurses and teachers, but
never bother to explain where they are going to get the people
to fill them. Such programs can’t restore the vast human
resources that have been poured down the population control
rat hole over the last 35 to 40 years.
Besides, such programs have a
long history of being nothing but a sham.
When former President Carter was
Governor of Georgia, he signed a deal promising to train 2,000
workers for a new smoke detector factory as long as the
manufacturer promised to hire just half of them. In less than
three years, the company was wiped out by cheap imports and
never hired more than 800 people even at its peak. Not much
later, it sold the factory. All the promised jobs disappeared.
"Training programs" like that are
a dime a dozen, but they rarely work. Besides, you can't bring
back the millions of lives that have already been sacrificed
to the idol of abortion. The next time we see them will be at
the Last Judgment when they show up to accuse those who stood
by silently while they were slaughtered. Some folks are in for
a big surprise.
Another
consequence of abortion is a disastrous shift in the
supply-demand equation that underlies our economy.
Kids contribute to demand even before they are born, but they
don’t compete in the work force for 20 years. That’s why 52.3
million abortions represent a huge loss in consumer demand. If
those babies had been born, our fast-paced economy would still
be going strong. Those we aborted were the future consumers,
producers, parents and taxpayers we needed keep to keep our
economy growing.
The 4-2-1-0 family model is a
dead end. Four grandparents who have two children, who then
marry and have one child represent a huge loss in future
growth. That's why China is already starting relent on its 1
child per family policy. Pursued, it means the end of China
within 100 years. Russia already faces the same debacle, They
no longer have enough younger women to raise a new generation
-- and their population is forecast to decline by 33% by 2050.
If the U.S.
doesn’t change direction, we could face the same fate. Unless
we end abortion soon, the U.S. faces a long term economic
decline that could prove far worse than the Great Depression.
As early as 1994, I began
predicting the collapse of the stock market that finally came
in 2000. In 1997, we published a special report and a video
titled, “The Abortion Bomb.” In 1998, I repeated the warning
in an exchange with Gene Epstein, economics editor of
Barron's. He predicted that the rally going on then would
continue for another decade. I warned that a whole long list
of stocks would soon take a tumble. It was a collapse that was
inevitable based on the demographics. The collapse began soon
after the market top in March, 2000, and was followed by the
one of the biggest market setbacks in history.
A major factor in the 2000-2009
crisis was the inability of the Baby Bust generation to absorb
the inflated real estate and other investments of the
high-flying Baby Boomers as they approached retirement. The
decline in the rate of growth of personal incomes going on
since the ‘70’s, combined with outsourcing and the shipment of
manufacturing jobs overseas, and a 50% reduction in birth
rates since 1970 all combined to bring about the crisis.
Compounding things, of course, was everything going on in
Washington and Wall Street to keep the bubble going. In the
end, they failed.
Still another factor is the
downstream loss in future tax revenues caused by high abortion
rates and more efficient birth control. That loss already
amounts to an estimated $19 or $20 trillion. With growth in
government revenues, the ability of government to bail things
out is itself compromised. The problem with socialist
solutions is that the government itself won’t be able to
afford them.
The abortion
boom is also behind the coming crisis in Social Security and
Medicare.
In 1940, we had 145 people in the workforce for every person
on Social Security. That's when it looked like a great idea!
By 1952, the ratio had dropped to 16 to 1. It is now 3.1 to 1.
In less than 20 years, it will be only 2 to 1. That's when the
government Ponzi scheme will be all over.
To save these programs from
bankruptcy, the Congressional Budget Office has estimated that
tax rates will have to rise as high as 82%. And guess who will
pay the bill? You and your children and grandchildren, that's
who!
What can you
do to help?
The answer is not hiding from the
controversy about abortion or from the even more polarizing
political debate. This is not a Democratic or a Republican
issue. It is a profoundly moral and human issue.
The solution
is for we, the people, to speak up.
We need more honest, open
discussion in our homes, our churches, and our communities --
not continued censorship and suppression of the discussion by
the politically correct media and the courts. Churches that
remain silent will only have themselves to blame when the full
crisis hits their congregations and their collection plates.
We urgently
need to build a new pro-life majority by changing hearts and
opening minds. Unless economic and social conservatives can
unite on this common ground, chances for reversing the current
direction in Washington are dim.
That can only achieved by talking
more honestly and compassionately about the problem in our
families, our communities and in our churches, and by
educating young people about what is really at stake for their
futures. We need to tell them that there is no rosy glow at
the end of the abortion road.
Talk to your pastors and youth
ministers. Write letters to the editor. Make calls to call-in
talk shows. Send emails and write blogs. Reach out
compassionately to those whose lives have been adversely
affected by abortion. And by all means, spread the word about
our website:
http://www.movementforabetteramerica.org.
Remember, if all of those who
believe in life could help change just one other person’s mind
and heart today, we would have a pro-life majority tomorrow.
Nothing else will end abortion.
Join your voice with ours. Share your thoughts with us by
emailing us at:
info@movementforabetteramerica.org
Most
people laugh at it, make jokes about it, and treat it as if it
were great fun. What is it? It is being drunk and
acting silly. It's the stuff of countless jokes and
humorous stories. But in reality, even in a culture of
corruption, it is in point of fact, no laughing matter.
To take all of the grins and hee-haws out of it, consider the
following dose of reality.
From the National Institutes of Health:
-
Alcohol is involved in 40% of traffic deaths.
-
70% of people in crashes caused by alcohol met alcohol
dependence criteria, but most have never been arrested or
received treatment.
-
Young
people who began drinking before age 15 are seven times more
likely to report having been in a traffic crash because of
drinking during adolescence and adulthood.
Source:
http://www.nih.gov/about/researchresultsforthepublic/AlcoholRelatedTrafficDeaths.pdf
From the Centers for Disease Control:
Prevalence of Alcohol Use in 2007
-
Percent of adults who were current regular
drinkers (at least 12 drinks in the past year): 50%
-
Percent of adults who were current infrequent
drinkers (1-11 drinks in the past year): 14%
Mortality from Alcohol Use in 2007
-
Number of alcoholic liver disease deaths: 14,406
-
Number of alcohol-induced deaths, excluding
accidents and homicides: 23,199
Source:
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/alcohol.htm
Alcohol-induced mortality
In
2007, a total of 23,199 persons died of alcohol-induced causes
in the United States, 1,126 more deaths than in 2006. This
category includes not only deaths from dependent and
nondependent use of alcohol, but also accidental poisoning by
alcohol. It excludes unintentional injuries, homicides,
and other causes indirectly related to alcohol use, as well as
deaths due to fetal alcohol syndrome.
Source:
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr58/nvsr58_19.pdf
From the
National
Center for Statistics Analysis:
Total Fatalities in Motor Vehicle Traffic Crashes,
Alcohol-Related Fatalities, Fatalities in Crashes Involving at
Least One Driver/Motorcycle Operator With
BAC=.08+,
= 42,642.
Source:
http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/pubs/810821.pdf
These statistics place the
annual number of alcohol related deaths in the U.S. near
65,000, and that figure only accounts for what has been
reported.
Framed in a more shocking statistic, consider that
a
teenager is killed in an alcohol-related car accident on
weekends in the U.S. every 2 hours.
Source:
http://whynotdrink.org/dnn/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=vsMRQlor2mE%3d&tabid=156
"Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is
deceived thereby is not wise."
Proverbs 20:1 KJV
Why
do so many drink alcoholic beverages? There are many
reasons, but these three are the most common:
-
Our culture is saturated with it. It's abundance and ease of
access are powerful inducements, especially to those eager
to "fit in" with a culture of corruption.
-
To
get high, drunk, buzzed, and to feel the effects of the drug
(alcohol is the most commonly abused drug).
-
It's legal. The U.S. Government profits hugely from
the regulation and taxation of it.
The
fact that it is legal is an odd thing. Yes, taxes
bring in staggering amounts of revenue, but the destructive
cost to the nation as a whole seems a contradiction. But
is it? Not when a culture values money-kind over
mankind. Consider the following excerpt from a book
written by W.S. Harris.
|
Once
upon a time the Saloon Devil looked up into the face of
Uncle Sam and asked for employment.
"What kind of work do you want?" said Uncle Sam as
he bent his tall form to catch the answer of the low
Devil.
"To create and satisfy the appetite for strong drink."
"Very well," answered Uncle Sam, "you may go to work at
once in any manner you choose."
So the Saloon Devil went to work with high hand.
He sold to the rising generation and those of riper
years all manner of intoxicating beverages. The
result of his work was very disastrous. He made
such things as ruined souls, broken hearts, broken homes
and all manner of woe, want, wretchedness, and death, to
say nothing of the asylums and penitentiaries that he
helped to fill.
Now it happened that Uncle Sam noticed the nature of the
work done by this Saloon Devil, who in turn well knew
that Uncle Sam was watching him, but the Devil did not
know how to cover his evil work. Sometime
afterward the two met again and the following
conversations took place:
"You remember, Mr. Saloon Devil, that I gave you
permission to do a certain kind of work, but I never
dreamed that your work would be so horrible. Now
be honest and tell me what you have accomplished."
"I admit," confessed the Saloon Devil, "that my work is
looked upon as being disrespectable, and I pray that you
will this day make me appear more decent in the eyes of
the public. By reason of your great strength and
influence you have the power to place upon me a new robe
of respectability."
"And how can I do that?" asked Uncle Sam in a friendly
manner.
"You can adopt license laws to regulate the liquor
business, and by complying with these laws, I can do an
honorable business under the sanction and authority of
my great Uncle Sam."
"But that will be putting my approval upon it," said
Uncle Sam suspiciously.
"You can easily do that with profit to yourself by
charging me a nice sum for the license. The money
you get through the granting of licenses alone will be
more than sufficient to run the public schools, so if
there is a little harm done by the business on one side,
there will be untold blessings poured out upon your
children on the other side."
Uncle Sam chuckled in an odd fashion as this ingenious
scheme was unfolded to him. "You are indeed a
clever old Devil, and I have a mind to comply with your
request. If you pay the amount of money I fix, I
will protect you in your business by making it legal.
The if anyone forcibly interferes with you, I will fight
him off, even if I must use the whole army and navy of
the United States to accomplish it."
The Saloon Devil was highly elated over his fortunate
deal. He knew that he could not live long under
natural freedom unless he won some kind of public
endorsement. He was perfectly willing to pay any
price that Uncle Sam might demand, knowing that he could
produce a cheaper grade of liquor or sell it at a higher
figure, or in some way conduct the business, so that the
extra cost of license would fall upon the consumers
instead of the saloon-keepers.
A short time after this, one could see the powerful hand
of Uncle Sam placed in protection over the Saloon Devil,
and the people stood wondering at the situation.
The Saloon Devil, although robed in a respectable
garment, continued to do the same horrible and dirty
work as before. It seemed that nothing satisfied
his greed but the most terrible outrages resulting from
the use and abuse of intoxicating drinks.
He always put a screen between the outside and the
inside sign of his business. He rejoiced a the
thousands of delirium tremens patients that were carried
to hospitals, or madly tore their way through the open
door of Hell, reeking, foaming and screaming as they
went down. The Saloon Devil loved crape, and
rejoiced time after time as he saw it hanging form the
doors of homes, wherein a son lay dead who had fallen
down early under the Juggernaut wheels of Alcohol.
Whenever jails and penitentiaries were too small this
same Demon laughed in ghoulish glee, and when fresh
idiots were pushed into crowded asylums, he grinned with
a satisfaction that was sickening and revolting to
contemplate. Whenever a frenzied brain directed a
murderer's hand to plunge a fatal knife or discharge a
deadly weapon in the Saloon quarrel, this Saloon Devil
would cry out as he saw the crimson heart's blood
flowing in spurts: "That's my favorite color now,
hurrah for blood red."
Such common spectacles as suffering and starving orphans
and widows served to whet the appetite of this Demon as
seasoning does in the food of mortals. If it ever
happened that any one told him to stop his hellish
business he would point with pride to his license neatly
framed, and declare that he was doing an honorable
business under the sanction of Uncle Sam. Just as
honorable as the grocery or dry goods business.
From
Sermons by The Devil, Rev. W.S. Harris, published by
The Minter Company, Harrisburg, PA,, 1904. |
Harris wrote this 106 years ago. Doubtless, he would not
be surprised by the statistics quoted earlier. What he
would most probably point out would be the fact that
statistics can only provide the raw data; whereas the
immeasurable sorrow they represent can only be known by those
whose lives have been scared by falling victim to the liquor
lie acceptable only in a culture of corruption.
How then should a Christian deal personally with the reality
of this issue? Let the Scripture speak:
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"And
the LORD spake unto Aaron, saying, Do not drink wine nor
strong drink, thou, nor thy sons with thee, when ye go
into the tabernacle of the congregation, lest ye die: it
shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations:
And that ye may put difference between holy and unholy,
and between unclean and clean; And that ye may teach the
children of Israel all the statutes which the LORD hath
spoken unto them by the hand of Moses" (Leviticus
10:8-11 KJV).
"Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the
Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the
temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of
God is holy, which temple ye are" (I Corinthians 3:16-17
KJV).
"Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever
is deceived thereby is not wise." Proverbs 20:1
KJV |
Christianity even when watered down is hot enough
to boil all modern society to rags. - G.K. Chesterton
COMING SOON - REALITY SERIES FOCUS #5 America's
Gambling Obsession
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