LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Friday, October 29, 2010 2:24 pm

In the upcoming election, there are several things for which we will be casting votes. I believe one of those things, whether or not to allow a local distillery in our county, to be a moral issue.

Morality is defined as, “1) of or relating to principles of right and wrong, 2) conforming to a standard of right behavior,”  (Merriam-Webster Dictionary).

We should understand that the standard all men must go by is God’s holy word.

Jesus said in John 12:48, “He that rejecteth  me and receiveth not my words, hath one that judges him; the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day,” (KJV).

Romans 14:11 tells us, ‘For it is written, as I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.  So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.’   When we violate the law of God, it becomes an immoral act.

The moral issue to consider is a distillery in Cannon County. It is very much a moral issue because God considers alcohol — its consumption and profits — to be immoral.

Habakkuk 2:15 says, ‘Woe unto him that giveth his neighbor drink, that putteth thy bottle to him, and makest him drunken also, that thou mayest look on their nakedness,’ (KJV). There was a ‘woe’ pronounced upon those that put the bottle forth and made one drunk.  Please explain how the distribution and sale of alcohol does not fit this verse.

In Proverbs 20:1, ‘Wine is a mocker, intoxicating drink arouses brawling, and whosoever is led astray by it is not wise,’ (NKJV).

In Hosea 4: 6-11, the people had rejected God, and in verse 11, alcohol was associated with this rejection. In Joel’s writing, the moral fabric was so bad they, “…sold a girl for wine that they might drink,” (Joel 3:3, KJV). God through his prophets berated his people for their abuse of wine and alcohol.

The use and distribution of alcohol are very much against the morality of the Bible. In Proverbs 23:19-23, there is reference to strong drink.  In verse 31, the command was not to look upon it. If one was not to look upon it, then how could one even contemplate consumming it? There is no way a Christian can partake of strong drink and be in harmony with this passage.

Ephesians 5:18 tells us that alcohol is a violation of God’s word. It tells us to ‘be not drunk.’ The word drunk in verse 18 is a very significant word.

W.E. Vine, a noted Greek scholar, comments on this word: methusko signifies ‘to make drunk’ or ‘to grow drunk,’ (Vines Compete Expository Dictionary, p 186). Christians are not to even begin the process that would lead one to drunkenness. A second reason is the command to not only ‘be not drunk’ but it is also to ‘be sober.’ I Thessalonians 5:6, ‘Therefore, let us not sleep, as do others, but let us watch and be sober.’  I Peter 1:13 says, Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober…’ I Peter 5:8 says, ‘Be sober, be vigilant…’ The word sober comes from the Greek word nepos and signifies ‘to be free from their influence of intoxicants,’ (Vines, p.583).

All of this is to show the consumption and the voting for alcohol revenue are very much a  moral issue.  This is not just a social issue; it is a Biblical issue, as well.  James 4:17 says,  ‘Therefore, to him that knoweth to do good and doeth it not, to him it is sin.’  God has always been concerned with the politics of a country, especially when it involves itself in the realm of religion and morality, for example, homosexuality, same-sex marriage, abortion, and alcohol revenue. Proverbs 14:34, ‘Righteousness exalts a nation but sin is a reproach to any people.’

Morality is the primary basis on which I make my appeal. However, there is another issue that needs to be addressed: revenue.  On the ballot we have a local man who wants to bring in revenue produced by distilled liquor. Next, we have a local businessman who advocates liquor sales because Coffee County is stealing away potential tax money. Thirdly, we have a local political leader who says Cannon County is facing tough economic times. All three advocate the answer to be found in alcohol sales. I totally disagree.

First, the city of Woodbury has existed and fared well for dozens, if not scores, of years without alcohol sales.  Woodbury made it through the tough times of the 70’s, the recession of the 80’s, and the ‘dot-com’ bust of the 90’s. Now, suddenly, we as a town and county have to have alcohol revenue, or we will have to ‘shut down the town.’ Friends, don’t believe that for a second. The people of Cannon County are hard working people.  We do not have to depend on alcohol revenue for our success.  The advocates of alcohol promise an increase in jobs, help for farmers, etc.  To hear them tell it, Cannon County will soar in prosperity.

But consider this: If alcohol is so great and provides so much, why is Warren County now faced with the moral dilemma of voting on liquor sales?  Why didn’t beer sales bring in enough money? What happens if we vote in alcohol revenue and find out it is just not enough, then what? Would it be proposed that an adult bookstore supply what is lacking?  What about prostitution? When you start down a slippery slope, you are on a downhill slide.  The best policy is not to begin the slide at all.  Proverbs 16:18, ‘Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues without right.’

In my travels around the world, I have been to countries where one could throw a rock from one liquor store to the next.  Alcohol sales didn’t make these places rich.  In fact, they are places one would not want to be after dark, some even during daylight.

I would like to end with some closing questions and comments:
    
• Will my voting for or supporting alcohol bring glory to God?  No If you are a Christian, why would you vote for or use something that is so spoken against in the Bible?

• If you are a Christian, could you put a bottle of liquor before your child and say ‘drink up.’?

• If you could not put liquor before your child, how could you vote for it to to be put before someone else’s child?

• If you are a Christian, do you realize that if you vote for alcohol, you are putting a stumbling block before others?

• If you are a Christian, why would you take a chance on a product that causes people to act, think, or speak in a manner contrary to the Bible? All the tax revenue in the world is not worth the price of one soul.

• This is not just a tax issue, a social issue, or a political issue; it is very much a moral issue. Please vote against alcohol in any form.

Bryan Pitts
Woodbury, TN