The festive season and annual holidays are behind us again; we could remember our Saviour's birth, have our New Year's celebrations and many of us were mentally and physically recharged. Words of wisdom were expressed and broadcast by some world leaders while others in leading positions would have done better to keep their thoughts to themselves.

With our open Bibles, especially in church, we could reflect on the significance of Christ's coming in the flesh, abandoning His heavenly glory to ascend into this sin-filled world to suffer and die for a people that rejected Him. With the change of 2012 into 2013 we could reflect on the past, on our blessings and trials, on the Lord's faithfulness in spite of our sins and failures and we could hear about His promises that He will not leave us or forsake us no matter what; we may place our trust in Him alone and not in 'prince or ruler'.

Focusing on God's Word this way could almost cause us to distance ourselves from our surroundings into hermit-like isolation. The gap between words heard in church and what's gleaned from local, national and international news seems to be widening year by year. Yet the Lord places us here in AD 2013, and we are to honour Him 24/7, even 24/365. Whether those living around us notice it or not, we must safeguard our God-given light and make it evident in Whom we place our trust.

Alcohol⤒🔗

This brings me to a certain area of responsibility that could well do with extra attention, i.e. our dealing with alcoholic beverages. On the one hand we may use these substances as God's gift, we may even remember our Saviour's bloodshed on the cross via wine, but on the other we are not be controlled by them.

Standard drinks and measured blood alcohol levels were unknown concepts in Bible times yet there would have been an established level of consumption at e.g. weddings beyond which the acceptable became offensive. From warnings in Scripture such as Isa 5:11; 22; Prov 20:1; 23:30 we know that alcohol fuelled violence, domestic strife and other brainless activity already took place more than two millennia ago – just like today.

Serious concern has been expressed by professionals about young people's attitude to alcohol, binge drinking, drinking with the sole aim of getting drunk and alcohol adver­tising aimed at adolescents. It is not hard to find appalling data about drinking and the harm it causes; public health sites have an abundance of facts and figures on mortality and morbidity undeniably linked to alcohol.

Now some may be inclined to argue "Onze kinderen zouden zoiets niet doen!" (Our children wouldn't do that). In response I would urge them to read a letter to the Editor in the Contender of 23 December sent in by the organisers of the Busselton Congress'. Among other things they wrote:

When a group of kids, mostly under-age, run out of alcohol on a Sunday and go out to buy more that very day it is clear how bad the problem is.

And:

Scripture teaches us to be ready at all times for the return of Christ. If you are half drunk on a Sunday afternoon – are you ready?

These are our (!) young people; future fathers and mothers, future leaders in the church (...?), brothers and sisters who by their godly walk of life are to win their neighbour for Christ (Q&A 86). While others may let their light shine showing their good works (Matthew 5:14-16) till they're blue in the face, behaviour such as the above by even one of our members provides the devil opportunity to cancel out many of those charitable deeds.

We may be glad to know that other young people were disgusted by the behaviour of their sodden peers, doing their bit to turn the tide. This brings me to what a young member did some time ago, she was amply old enough to drink nevertheless she invited birthday guests telling them that no alcohol would be served and requested that they not bring any either. The party was a great success. Police attracted by the number of cars asked some to 'blow in the bag' but to their surprise all were sober.

It is sad to say that the contrary also happens, where guests bring their own, unasked and unwanted. Where e.g. coke is imbibed topped up from a half-hidden bottle of spirits, or where individuals go for frequent trips to their car for a swig. Such behaviour amounts to saying that we can't enjoy ourselves without alcohol. Now please be clear, I'm not against people having a drink, especially if there is something to celebrate. But to drink your own while the host does not want this and wants to maintain control is really the same as bringing your own food if you're invited for a meal; it's an insult.

That those of the world behave that way is to be expected, after all we live in a country of drinkers that has few equals. But as God's covenant children we have ample reason to be different. We are to be examples. We are to show by our walk of life to Whom we belong, and we are to care for one another. We can read about this in e.g. 1 Peter 2:9-12:

But you are a chosen generation, a royal priest­hood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvellous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy. Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, having your conduct honourable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.

There is yet another angle to this. Parents may permit their son or daughter to attend a party or some other gathering after issuing strict instructions regarding alcohol. But who then is anyone to entice such a boy or girl to drink, or to drink more than what parents sanctioned, especially if they're under age? Some years ago I met a non-parent who took it on himself to 'teach some young members how to drink', meaning instruc­tion by doing, claiming that without such training they would most likely over-indulge. Such behaviour is downright sinful. Even the world recognises the error of such action. If you introduce an adolescent brain to any addictive substance, that young person is more likely to become addicted, not less likely.

On an ABC news program Professor Mike Daube, head of the McCusker Centre for Action on Alcohol and Youth at Curtin University, was quoted saying:

Buying alcohol for your under-18 child is akin to buying them cigarettes. Drinking in adolescence can be harmful to brain development with lifelong consequences for memory, personality and behaviour.¹

Furthermore parents are the ones who have made solemn promises about raising their children; they carry daily responsibility for them. Anyone who denies or ignores these parental obligations by supplying other people's children with grog or other substances is committing a shameful sin which, at the same time, may well amount to illegal action. For instance it is an offence to purchase alcohol for underage young people. (Penalty: Up to $2,000²). It makes little or no difference whether it involves beer, wine or spirits as preferred tipple; none is 'more reformed' than the others.

Alcohol consumption in Australia is a privilege with responsibilities. For good reasons our government has assigned age restrictions, forbidden drinking in public places, driving under the influence and the serving of alcohol to the already intoxicated. Those laws are valid for everybody and as responsible citizens who uphold BC Art 36 we are to be in the forefront of obedience.

As temples of the Holy Spirit we are at least one huge step ahead of the world. We have a reason for living, for looking after our bodies and the things we fill our minds with that non-believers don't. We may look ahead to Christ's return and everlasting glory. Giving expression to this reality may not always be under­stood yet it shows others, including those in our own circles that we have a hope, a purpose that goes way beyond sensual gratifications in whatever form.

Don't get me wrong, we are no less vulnerable than the next person, we're not armour plated against temptation, Satan knows where to find us and how he might lure us from our good resolutions and pledges. Many readers will know that over time we have had members in drying-out clinics and those dependent on AA meetings, resolving to never touch another drop lest they fall back into their addiction. Such brothers and sisters deserve our prayers and wholehearted support. Nevertheless these victims of addiction are not the members I have in mind for setting an example – although if willing they could issue valuable words of warning based on personal experience. No, similar to the Alcohol Advertising Review Board I'm concerned for our youth in the hedonistic world in which they mature in spite of much sound parental guidance and control.

Our nation has developed a number of paradoxes, contradiction where it concerns the consumption of alcohol. Just one example: at great expense advertisers promote their beer, wine and spirits with whole-page ads in the printed media outdoing one another with their 'specials' while news reports and opinion articles dealing with the same products almost exclusively focus on the harm attributed to it, either directly or as unplanned consequence. One could easily show more inconsistent values in our society, how grog is cherished but drunk drivers who cause casualties are loathed. Our youth grows up in this world where drinking is a rite of passage to adulthood, what are they to make of all this?

Please don't tut-tut saying things are not that bad, we were all young once and we survived – just remember the Busselton Congress! Did you know beforehand what was going to happen there, was your son/daughter perhaps legless at some stage? How do you know if you only have their say so? Did you take any action to prevent what was reported in the Contender? Therefore please permit me to quote a few experts who deal with the results of alcohol overuse on a daily basis.

Appreciating the highly successful campaign to reduce harm caused by smoking by forbidding tobacco advertising, a number of concerned health profes­sionals recently launched a new national body, the Alcohol Advertising Review Board, an initiative of the McCusker Centre for Action on Alcohol and Youth and the Cancer Council of Western Australia. This project, supported by major health groups across Australia, is to consider complaints from the community about alcohol advertising. The Board was launched by chil­dren's health advocate and former Australian of the Year Professor Fiona Stanley who will chair it. She stated:

Children and young people are being exposed to promotion of alcohol in advertising, in sport, on billboards, on buses, in bus shelters ­almost wherever they look. The community and parents in particular, are rightly concerned at the tsunami of alcohol promotion to which our children are exposed.

When we are seeing increasing numbers of children drinking to get drunk, as we are now – it is time to act. This Board is a great addition to the various activities aimed at reducing the huge trauma alcohol causes in our youths.³  

With others such as Professor Geoff Dobb, Austra­lian Medical Association Federal Vice-President, also expressing his grave concern, and with the readily available data about alcohol related deaths, injuries, illnesses, family and social trauma, this is not something we as Free Reformed may lightly push aside.

What To Do←⤒🔗

So what are we to do? In spite of stating a few things above, this old chap is not about to tell anyone how to live or how to drink. If you are capable of digesting this article you should also be bright enough to consider what action is appropriate for you. Nevertheless, if you're open to suggestions, here are a few.

First of all you might give some acknowledgement to the fact that alcohol is a social lubricant that frees otherwise tied tongues, but... it is also a dis-inhibitor promoting behaviour, especially the risky kind where it concerns cars, motorbikes, boating etc. and the romantic/sexual variety that would be out of character without alcohol, especially for some (youth) whose hormones go feral after a few drinks.

What young people observe in their parents and other adults and the way they deal with alcohol is therefore of critical importance. If drinks have always flowed freely at home, if kids have learned by observation how valuable grog is to parents they're not likely to accept dad's last minute warnings before going to a party, especially if he's already had a few. As they learn most values, they're going to act out what they've picked up by watching and listening. Such behaviour is passed on from generation to generation. You might also want to consider the following dot-pointed suggestions:

• Using a concordance check out some relevant Bible passages and promote a family discussion on God's requirements regarding substance use.
   
• Organise, facilitate or promote alcohol-free parties with plenty of things to do other than drinking.
   
• Limit the amount of alcohol parents and adults consume at home and at parties. Demonstrate that it's okay to say "No!"
   
• If alcohol is served take control of how this is done. A free-for-all the esky's over there and bottles are on the table approach is really asking for trouble.
   
• Get some leaflets in the house setting out the harm and damage that can be done by alcohol use and seriously discuss these.
   
• Refuse to serve alcohol to anyone with a known weakness for drink, even if it causes them to leave in a huff. There may well come a time when they thank you for it.
   
• If your example in drinking is in danger of leading your weaker brother or sister on the road to dependence or craving, please read what the Apostle Paul wrote in 1 Cor 8:9-13. His words there concern the eating of meat – essential food. Would abstaining from nonessential alcohol not be even more applicable for the sake of your fellow member?

Finally something on controlled drinking for young and old: if you solidly make up your mind before(!) any alcohol is consumed to limit your intake to one or at the most two drinks, you'll be able to withstand those who want to refill your glass or offer you another stubby. You can discuss your resolve with your parents/spouse/boyfriend/girlfriend if necessary, but believe me it works!

As God's own people let us continue this year with a prayerful resolve to support one another in all that is good and upright. We have so many blessings, so much to look forward to, we are rich beyond measure. Christ died for us; He is the owner of our bodies and our souls. He has promised us eternal blessings. Why would we then need a drink induced temporary anaesthetic that stupefies our brain? Proverbs 31:6-7 doesn't need a commentary to show what I mean; it says:

Give strong drink to him who is perishing, and wine to those who are bitter of heart. Let him drink and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.

We are not perishing(!) but have life everlasting as a certainty.

As for our young people trapped in company such as some attending the compress; don't be afraid to stand alone and speak your mind, forcefully, and depart from those who lack control. You won't be able to reason with them while they're under the influence. And if they drive away while you suspect they've had too much, report them to the police. You'll never forgive yourself if they cause an injury or death while you stood by and did nothing.