Bandaids On Measles Spots
17 September 2008 Hits:3753
It’s now official – the tax hike on alcopops drinks has had no affect whatsoever on the level of binge drinking in Australia! How surprising! Sure, the sale of alcopops has decreased but Mr or Ms Drinktoomuch has now switched to mix-your-own drinks buying cheap spirits and fruit juices or sodas.
I’m not sure where our Federal Government got their advice from on this issue but it seems like a no-brainer to me! The problem is not alcopops – or any other alcoholic drink, or even the availability of alcohol. This was proven in the prohibition era when the alcohol industry simply went underground and some people still drank too much because that’s what some people will do.
Hiking a tax on one brand of alcohol is like putting bandaids on measles spots. It might hide the problem for a short period of time but the real problem is still simmering beneath the surface – because the real problem is internal not external.
The problem that binge drinkers have is something within them. That’s true of all life-controlling problems and banning something or increasing its cost will only shift the problem; it will never cure it.
Jesus came not to put bandaids on our problems but rather to address the core issue – the human heart. The Bible says, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked” (Jeremiah 17:9). Jesus’ solution? To give us a new one – a heart that desires to do the right thing; to live a life of goodness, moderation and self control.
“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws” (Ezekiel 36:26-27).
Rob Buckingham
Senior Minister
3 replies on “Bandaids On Measles Spots”
Great words of wisdom Rob. Most people do not have substance abuse issues because it is just a habit or just a physical addiction. And governments raising taxes is not going to stop destructive habits in human beings. But Jesus does have the answer and the Church is His tool in delivering that answer. And how do we do it? By love. By loving and accepting people God can start to heal them. It takes time, change is generally a gradual thing, it doesn’t happen overnight. Jesus came for everyone but He knew it was the afflicted, oppressed and poor in spirit that would recognise they needed saving. Let us be a people that is compassionate to those who have substance abuse issues. And lets welcome them with open hearts and a big genuine smile!!!! 🙂 🙂 🙂
Agree. You cannot change genes but you can change attitudes with a little education and faith. Seems to me that is is just plain dangerous on the streets of Melbourne. We all have voids to fill. Let’s fill them with his love. 😉
there is a song by Mandisa called “voice of a savoiur” that is along these lines. If anyone is hungry, if anyone is thirsty, there is one that can satisfy.