Acts 17:6 tells us that there were Christians in the first century who were “turning the world upside down.” By standing for their faith and going against the culture of the day, they were making a stand for what was right.
An article recently published in our community newspaper discussed whether or not to uphold an ordinance that would prohibit “beer joints” from being within 300 feet of a church. One of the council members said she’d heard from one church and two individuals. She’d expected many more complaints.
The article stated that one reason for the lack of complaints was that it doesn’t make sense to protect churches against something they are inviting onto their property. At least two churches had requested beer permits for special events. The article also said that many “beer joints” are changing and are catering to a young and educated crowd. Those microbreweries are popular neighborhood gathering places. The article concluded saying that it seems that “the world has turned upside down when churches ask for permits and breweries are enhancing our neighborhoods.”
Isaiah 5:20 pronounces a woe to those who “call evil good, and good evil.” The view many hold with respect to alcohol would fall into this category. Proverbs 20:1 tells us that “Wine is a mocker, strong drink is a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise.” It doesn’t take long to look at the devastating effects of alcohol. To think otherwise is to be deceived by it.
Think of:
- Children and spouses who have been abused
- Broken homes from divorce
- Birth defects in babies
- Criminal activities while under the influence
- Health problems to the body
- Financial loss to families
- Psychological and emotional damage to children
- Lives lost or destroyed in automobile accidents
Does it not seem incredible to you that in light of the fruits of alcohol, churches would be the one’s petitioning for the sale of alcohol rather than warning people against it? Instead of the church turning the world upside-down, it looks like the world has turned the church upside-down. What do you think?