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January 6, 2003 Dear Gabby… Although many would disagree, including my wife, I believe drinking alcohol is acceptable to God. We are warned against drunkenness, not drinking. I personally have no desire to imbibe and am cognizant of the dangers of alcohol, but I am hesitant to criticize or condemn those who choose to do so. Recently, my wife and I attended a business dinner at a local restaurant. Some of the attendees had a beer or margarita with their meal. As we were settling the tab, one of them who had one or two drinks asked if someone would drive him home. Everyone had either driven his/her own vehicle or had consumed alcohol himself or herself, so no one volunteered. I lived somewhat near him, so I offered to drive him, in his own vehicle, to his home. My wife was upset that I did this. Her feeling is that my actions supported his wrongdoing or sin. If, for the sake of argument, we assume his actions were wrong, did I become a “partaker” in his sin? My feeling is that I did a civic duty by assuring this individual did not endanger himself or others. Unsure in Utah
Dear Unsure, Stanley’s granddaughter Sarah has always loved dominoes. You know, those little black rectangles with white dots that you play with. As far as I know though, she wasn’t as interested in playing the actual games with them as she was in setting them up side by side in interesting formations and taking pictures of the formations. Afterwards, she’d give the first one a little push and watch, entranced, as the whole pile fell over, one piece at a time. I must admit to being fairly entranced myself just watching the spectacle. Sarah owned hundreds of dominoes, and people constantly bought her more when a gift was in order. She even went to a Dominoes Toppling convention one time in Kansas City. Who ever knew such a thing existed? Now, Sarah is as levelheaded as anyone you’ll ever meet, but, if you got in her way when she was doing a Dominoes Display (as she called them), she could get pretty snippy. She focused that ill temper on me just one time, as I recall. It was a day that I’d stopped by her house to see the latest display she’d been working on. She’d set up the display on a gigantic table in her dining room, and the dominoes were arranged in the exquisite shape of a rose bush, complete with roses in different stages of blooming. It was really amazing, I remember thinking, as I leaned closer to see one particular rose. That was when my pocketbook slipped off my shoulder, bumping a couple of the standing dominoes. Sarah shrieked. I gasped. It was all over in just a few quick moments, although I have to admit that I was mesmerized by the destruction. The beautiful art lay in a heap on the table and the floor—just a pile of game pieces once again. I won’t bore you with Sarah’s reaction except to say that my apology didn’t make much difference. And, even picking up some of the pieces off the floor (with my arthritic knees) didn’t help much. The next day (just so you’ll know), Sarah did apologize for her reaction. Why do I tell you about Sarah’s dominoes displays? Because the whole subject of drinking alcohol reminds me of the fragility of her displays. One little bump and the beautiful life God has made for you falls over. Why would a Christian open himself up to the possibility of his entire life collapsing by starting something so foolish? Alcohol is the beginning of so many sins that, even if it isn’t one by itself, it’s definitely a starting point. Car accidents, date rape, lost jobs, lost families, and lost souls can all start there. If someone is foolish enough to set up his/her life as a Dominoes Display, then Satan won’t have to do much to knock him/her over. Helping to drive your friend home was probably similar to my picking up Sarah’s dropped Dominoes. It got them off the floor (and you got him home safely), but it didn’t solve the problem of ruining her beautiful art (and his life is still on its way to ruin.) The Good Book says that anyone deceived by strong drink is foolish (Proverbs 20:1). Smart Christians stay away from it! Sincerely Sincere, Gabby
ninetyandnine.com © 2003, ninetyandnine.com --------- Gabrigail VanBurden has been offering advice for longer than most of you have been alive. Email your practical Apostolic life questions to Gabby@ninetyandnine.com and be prepared for some straight answers! |
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