Friday; December 18

It was on this date in 1917 that the 18th Amendment to the United States Constitution was passed and sent to the states for ratification. For those of you who might not remember, the 18th Amendment ushered in Prohibition. For the next several years, much of the use of alcohol was regulated by the government. This created quite a stir until it was repealed by the 21st Amendment on December 5, 1933.
While you might look at the preceding paragraph and think we are going to be talking about alcohol, I want to take this in a bit of different direction and talk about influence. The Prohibition Era brought together two viable (and powerful) influences: government and social morality. The decade and a half challenged the limits of government and the power of the people. As I look back on this footnote in our nation’s history a couple of things come to mind:
First, government legislation can’t make something either “right” or “wrong”. Sure, it can make things “legal” and “illegal” (and according to Romans 13 that does have an influence on how Christians should behave), but basic righteousness is not up to the power of the State, it has been predetermined by the power of God.
Second, society can’t make something either “right” or “wrong”. In just a couple decades the perceived will of the people on alcohol use did a pendulum swing between what we should and shouldn’t do. I am sure there were a lot of influences at work in shaping opinions, which goes to show us that society is not a good judge of absolute morality. If we are looking for consistency, it is the Word of God that will keep us firmly on the straight and narrow.
The government and society both exercise influence in our lives – that is to be expected and, at times, appreciated. However, let’s never lose sight of the true guide in our lives – the will of the Lord.
Think About It!

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