| Remarks on Righteousness In the News |
| I could hardly believe my ears this past week as I drove to business appointments. The most popular radio station in the area was discussing a question that had been raised in the national print media, “Should parents drink with their kids?” They weren’t talking about water or lemonade (unless it is Mike’s Hard Lemonade). Evidently a “study” came out which indicated that the amount of binge drinking and problem drinking was less with children whose parents drink alcohol with their children. Comments about the lesser alcoholic statistics of European countries which introduce their children to alcohol at early ages around the family dinner table were heard. SHOULD PARENTS DRINK? This is the first question. The answer is no. Especially for Christians. “Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging, and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise” (Proverbs 20:1; see also 23:29-35) “Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God. For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles – when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries. In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them I the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you.” (1 Peter 4:1-4) The world may engage in such things, but the Christian has left them behind: whether it is drunkenness, revelries or drinking parties. The impairment which alcohol (even one drink) causes in disallowing the individual to make determinations between right and wrong, make drinking something which the Christian should abstain from. After all, temperance is a Christian virtue (2 Peter 1:5-9). THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF PARENTS Parents have the responsibility to bring their children up in the nuture and the admonition of the Lord. (Ephesians 6:4). Is the training of children to include the fulfilling of the lusts of the flesh, or the denial of them? The problem is that many are more concerned with conforming to this world than to transforming their minds by the will of God. (Romans 12:1-3) The direction of the world, and the direction of the will of God are not the same. The question is which direction will we choose? As Joshua challenged in the long ago: “Now therefore, fear the LORD, serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River and in Egypt. Serve the LORD. And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD….You cannot serve the LORD, for He is a holy God. He is a jealous God; He will not forgive your transgressions nor your sins. If you forsake the LORD and serve foreign gods, then He will turn and do you harm and consume you, after He has done you good.” (Joshua 24:14-15, 19-20). Either serve God completely, or you will not serve Him at all. |
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| Should parents drink with their kids? Is this a legitimate question? |