I was asked to write about the alcohol vote and although I declined at the time, I feel called now to address this situation.I see great passion for this cause. I’ve seen churches come together to work on this where before a relationship wasn’t there. I’ve seen Christians meet early in the morning to go from home to home encouraging people to vote on their side of the issue. I’ve heard sermons on the dangers of alcohol and the destruction it can bring.
But I have to ask, where are the Christians knocking on my door telling me that Jesus is alive and offers hope?
Where are the rallys encouraging those who follow Christ to walk into the neighborhoods they usually avoid and preach a message of grace to the broken, abused and addicted?
Where are the sermons inciting radical love to their listeners?
Where are those who know that hope and salvation will never be found in a determined vote but only in the empty tomb?
Where are the glossy professional ads telling me that Jesus saves and the church will love me despite my brokenness?
Where are those who will courageously meet me where I am and tell me that I am loved with a love so extreme that only it can heal my wounds?
Where are those who will take me to the cross and tell me why it matters?
Where are those unafraid to show me, not a political party, but Jesus?
Friends, I am begging you to take the passion you have for this cause and put it into saving the lost. I know that this article won’t be very popular or win me many friends but before you write and try to explain to me what alcohol does, please know that I am very familiar with the evils of alcoholism. I lived with an alcoholic for 17 years. I know the pain of the empty chair at the dinner table. I think of it often and there isn’t a Thanksgiving or Christmas that goes by that I don’t stare at it and wish life could have been a bit different but friends I believe that we are majoring in the minors.
I am so tired of how the devil will use anything and everything to try to ruin the reputation of Christ. Christians, don’t damage your witness regardless of which way you decide to vote next week. God is more concerned with how we treat our neighbor and less concerned with the sign in our front yard.
Paula Harrington is the mother of five children and resides in Calvert City. She is compiler and editor of the books, Once Upon a Bible Class, A Common Bond and A Sunday Afternoon with the Preachers’ Wives. Her work has appeared in Christian Woman magazine, the Christian Chronicle newspaper and numerous other sites and websites. When she’s not teaching at one of Marshall County’s finest schools, she’s helping her family at the Calvert Drive-in Theater (and by helping, she means eating the cheeseburgers). She can be contacted at harringtonseven@yahoo.com