Beer and Wine Sales in Mt. Pleasant

By MIKE KESSLER
Pastor, Trinity Baptist Church
I have been praying about the vote on beer and wine sales in Mt Pleasant for several months. I have approached the issue with an open mind understanding that scripture addresses the sin of  overindulging in alcohol and  does not forbid the drinking of alcohol.  I have listened to leaders in our community, as well as, the talking points at the coffee shops around town.

The only point in favor of going wet in Mt Pleasant  I have heard that seemed compelling was the fact that the occurrences of DUI/DWI has gone down in the cities around us who have become wet.  However I have not heard any stats from these cities on the impact the more available alcohol sales has had on the issues of domestic violence, broken families and broken lives as a result of alcoholism.

The argument most advertised seems to imply that there will be more tax revenue available for the city of Mt Pleasant. This argument is not compelling to me for I read in the bible that the root of ALL EVIL is the LOVE of MONEY!  I know that it could be far fetched to some for me to make this statement, but if more money is the goal what will stop us from legalizing marijuana, other drugs, gambling and prostitution all for the cause of raising more tax dollars?  This is a faulty argument from the start and should not be considered in this matter.

I believe that there are very many well meaning Christians who are naive about the struggle that many people have with alcohol. Many are able to drink beer or wine without fear of the possibility of overindulging.  However, alcoholics face the temptation every day. I am proud to be the second generation that has broken a long chain of alcoholism in my family. My mother, who is an adult child of an alcoholic, has confided in me the horrors of growing up with an alcoholic father and suffers to this day with the consequences of it.

As a Pastor I have observed the devastating affects of alcoholism in our Church family and community including divorce, suicide and abuse. I decided as a teenager to never drink alcohol l because I did not what to support something that has the power to destroy so much.  I have loved living in a city for 27 years that is dry. I believe Jesus has called us to a higher standard that includes living above approach and denying self for the sake of others. I also believe that if I had ever drank alcohol I would have struggled with the abuse of it as I have struggled with the issue of over eating.

I will be voting NO on Beer and Wine sales in Mt Pleasant.  I love and care about too many people who face daily life as an alcoholic. I cannot with a clear conscience support this possibility and would ask those who are able to drink with no consequence a question; Are you really willing to provide more temptation for those who struggle just for your own convenience?