Lee Moses
There are a number of confusing messages being widely propagated through the world today. Many of these promoted by very well-meaning people who apparently have not considered the logical consequences of their messages. Let the reader consider some of these messages.
Drink Responsibly
Is this possible? One loses his sense of responsibility when he drinks. Yet, this is the message given in advertisements regularly seen on television. Recommending that one drink moderately, or responsibly, is still a recommendation for him to drink. A far wiser counsel is found in the book of Proverbs: “Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright” (Pro. 23:31). One should make every effort to avoid alcoholic beverages in any amount.
How can one be demonstrating responsibility when he is purposely consuming a beverage specifically designed to rob him of his good sense?
Don’t Drink and Drive
This is a slogan widely heard during times of pervasive imbibing, such as the holiday season and the high school prom season. However, is it acceptable for one to drink as long as he does not take the wheel of an automobile? By this slogan the idea is given that as long as someone has a “designated driver,” he then has license to designatedly drink himself into oblivion. However, drinking without driving can be just as injurious to one’s health, not to mention one’s spiritual well-being. First Corinthians 6:9-10 still teaches that drunkards shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
Don’t Drink or Smoke if you are Underage
There are activities in which adults may acceptably take part, but are unacceptable for children—for example, driving an automobile. There are activities which are particularly unsafe for children, but drinking and smoking are neither safe for children nor adults. What kind of message is an adult sending to a child when the adult who drinks or smokes tries to correct the child engaging in the same harmful activities? “Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye” (Mat. 7:5).
Practice Safe Sex
This slogan truly came into its own when AIDS first became a widespread problem in the 1980s. Parents and schools alike are teaching children to practice “safe sex.” However, the only true way to remain safe from sexually transmitted diseases is to abstain from sexual immorality. Strange, but this is exactly what God teaches mankind to do: “Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body” (1 Cor. 6:18).
One does not have to accept confusing messages as truth. If one does become distracted by these messages he can turn to God’s message of absolute truth: “For God is not the author of confusion” (1 Cor. 14:33).
