Covenanter Witness Vol. 86 - Rparchives.org

CHRIST'SGARDENALCOHOL. THE IGNORED'lam come into my garden, my sister, my spouse, ' — Songof Solomon 5:1The heart of the believer is Christ's garden. He boughtit with His precious blood, and He enters it and claims it asHis own.A garden implies separation. It is not the opencommon or public park; it is not a wilderness; it is walledaround, or hedged in. Would that we could see the wall ofseparation between the church and the world made broaderand stronger. It makes one sad to hear Christians saying,'Well, there is no harm in this; there is no harm in that',thus getting as near to the world as possible. Grace is at a lowebb in that soul which can even raise the question of how farit may go in worldly conformity.A garden is a place of beauty, it far surpasses the wilduncultivated lands. The genuine Christian must seek to bemore excellent in his life than the best moralist, becauseChrist's garden ought to produce the best flowers in all theworld. Even the best is poor compared with Christ'sdeservings: let us not put Him off with withering and dwarfplants. The rarest, richest, choicest lilies and roses ought tobloom in the place which Jesus calls His own.The garden is a place of growth. The saints are not toremain undeveloped, always more buds and blossoms. Weshould grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord andSaviour Jesus Christ. Growth should be rapid where Jesus isthe Husbandman, and the Holy Spirit the dew from above.A garden is a place of retirement. So the Lord JesusChrist would have us reserve our souls as a place in whichHe can manifest Himself, as He doth not unto the world. Othat Christians were more retired, that they kept their heartsmore closely shut up for Christ! We often worry and troubleourselves, like Martha, with much serving, so that we havenot the room for Christ that Mary had, and do not sit at Hisfeet as we should.The Lord grant the sweet showers of His grace towater His garden this day.C. H. SPURGEONSPIRITUAL LIFEGrowing up depends upon these four essentials—thephysical, the mental, the social, and the spiritual. Our livescan increase in these four ways, and they should be inhealthy and wholesome balance.An automobile needs all four of its wheels. Perhapsthree wheels on your car are in perfect condition; but if justone wheel is weak or badly out of line, then your automobileis in serious trouble.Isn't this what is wrong with modern life? It is badlyout of balance. People have never had better physical care,and we have the greatest school system ever known. Webelong to the most advanced social system in human history,but countless people pay little or no attention to God.Surely we realize that every man needs a faith to liveby. We must pay much attention to the spiritual training ofour young people, and we should remember to keep ongrowing spiritually ourselves. Let us ask the Lord each day tohelp us to grow spiritually. —Saint Andrew AccentDRUGWITH THE POLISHED IMAGEAmong the social reasons for ignoring the dangers ofalcohol is that many do not even classify it as drug. Themarijuana of the hippies, the heroin of the junkie, the LSD ofthe hallucinates who leap from buildings; those are thedrugs that get attention and worry "the Establishment."Many social drinkers, particularly those with asophisticated self-image, laugh off the effects of alcohol. Yeteven one mild drink hampers both intelligence and efficiency.A second social reason for ignoring the dangers ofthe alcohol drug is due to its well informed and highly shinedimage. The alcoholic beverage industry in the United Statesgrosses $12 billion a year, and spends nearly $200 millionon advertising, a figure exceeded only by car and food ads.The liquor ads unfailingly associate the consumptionof the drug with sex, success, smartness, elegance, youth,health and beauty. Shrewdly, they often stress the highintegrity of the liquor maker; occasionally this is a hoodedmonk — Brother Timothy is popular — or a Kentuckymountaineer, even though most monks and mountaineersare too busy with prayer or poverty to produce or profit byliquor.Legally, sale of the alcohol drug is more and morewidely sanctioned. The Prohibition repeal legislation thatbegan in 1933 culminated three years ago when the lastremaining statewide ban on liquor sales ended in Mississippi.Beyond this, the drug has been available over the counterwithout prescription, and despite such laws as forbiddingsales to minors and known inebriates, virtually available toanyone who is half-determined to get it.The federal government takes a $4 billion a year onliquor taxes, second only to individual and corporate incometaxes. Hence, weakly devised and lamely enforced controlsare allowed to stand, lest the golden egg-laying goose bekilled. Legislatures, particularly on the state level, are eagleeyedto the powerful liquor lobbies and seldom pass alcoholcontrol legislation without industry opposition. The realtest for legislators, state and local officials, pastors andparents will come when prevention gets in the way of profits.If so many of our leaders follow that line of so-calledreasoning in considering alcohol, gambling, etc., then itshould not surprise anyone to find some immature teens andsome "ivory-tower eggheads" using the same argument tourge legalizing marijuana, removing age limits and otherdisciplines against drinking, gambling, and pornography.Cold facts can never equal the teaching value of awarm personal example!Do Teens Have A Right To Ask Any Adult. . Willyou give up beer, if I'll give up marijuana? . Will you stoplegalizing and promoting such destructive products asliquor, if I'll be a proud and willing supporter of America'sfree enterprise democracy? Many Youth Are Saying:"The so-called Establishment is uptight about drugs thesedavs, but they're thinking of drugs that are new in ourculture — heroin, marijuana, LSD. They shouldn't forgetabout alcohol, because alcohol is the drug which should topthe nation's "most dangerous list." - Adapted from"Alert", United Christian Action of Florida.MARCH 31. 1971 9