172. The Responsibility of the Church
Today’s reading: “The Ministry of Healing” pp. 340–341.
The liquor interest is a power in the world. It has on its side the combined strength of money, habit, appetite.
How true that is! The alcohol industry has a huge effect on politics and society, but also in my area of interest where moderate alcohol use is promoted as improving brain health. Less than a month ago I went to a lecture where the speaker, a dementia researcher, listed moderate alcohol use as one of the ways to prevent dementia. Thankfully, this is being refuted with recent studies.
However, Ellen is talking about the influence of the alcohol industry on the church. Today, with the decline of influence of the church, such a situation is really irrelevant. But for those of us still in the church, the principle still holds,
…those who sustain the liquor seller in his work are sharers in his guilt. To them God says, “Your hands are full of blood.”
Sobering words.
His anger is kindled against those who attempt to cover their guilt with a cloak of liberality. Their money is stained with blood. A curse is upon it.
Then, as now, the money made from degrading, robbing and impoverishing their clients was used by the alcohol industry for charitable purposes, and to gain influence. And while the church and society may applaud now, judgement day is coming where they will have to answer for their acts,
Woe unto him.
