He Refused Just One Beer

Several years ago I read an article written by Dan Jenkins that impressed me. It had to do with what some who call themselves Christians will do when put to the test, and also what one Christian refused to do, and it cost him his life. Please read the following and ask yourself, “Which of these would I be?”

• Following a recent Friday night football game many high school students were having a “victory party.” The air was full of laughter; the victory had been sweet! Some Christians were present, and when offered a beer they did not refuse.
• A bill was before the state legislature. It would allow wine to be sold at a much cheaper price, by the removal of certain taxes upon it. Another bill was also presented that would allow billboard advertising of liquor. Christians, who were members of the legislature, were asked for their support. They did not refuse. In fact, they led the fight to get both passed.
• A Christian helped his neighbor with some yard work in the hot afternoon sun. They had known each other for a long time and had often fished and golfed together. When they went into the neighbor’s house to cool off, the neighbor offered the Christian a cold beer. He did not refuse.
• A Christian businessman sat across the table from an important client. All was going well. The client offered him a drink and he knew that if he took it, the sale he had longed for would be clinched. He did not refuse.
• A report from Jim Petty, a preacher in South Africa arrived recently. It said, “One of the former graduates from Umtali Bible School, Douglas Dabangana, was killed by the terrorists where he was preaching in Southwest Rhodesia, the last part of June. A group of terrorists tried to force him to drink beer, but he refused, saying he was a Christian and couldn’t. So they shot him right then, killing him.”

One day, the Christian high school students, the Christian legislators, the Christian businessman, the Christian neighbor, and Douglas Dabangana will stand before Christ to give account for the deeds done in the body (2 Corinthians 5:10). Which of these would you want to be?

After reading the above, please give consideration to the following. If you were placed in the same or a similar situation, what would you do? Are there not times when we are prone to compromise rather than “offend” someone? Are we always willing to stand up for truth and right and let there be no doubt in anyone’s mind where we stand on every issue? In fact, at times truth is not really important to some in the Lord’s church. Are we willing to speak out, or do we just remain silent for fear that we will be embarrassed if our associates learn what we really believe and where we at least claim to stand? Please listen and heed these words of our Lord: “Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels” (Mark 8:38). Yes, we live in an “adulterous and sinful generation,” but can we afford to be ashamed of our Lord? Remember, we must be willing to confess Him before men if we expect Him to confess us before the Father (Matthew 10:32-33). We sing a song in which we say, “I’m not ashamed to own my Lord nor to defend His cause.” We must really mean it.

—Virgil L. Hale

“Strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise” —Proverbs 20:1