LAUREL COUNTY, Ky. — Alcohol and church unity

To the Editor:

During my present retirement after 50 years of pastoring, my wife and I enjoy worshipping in the many churches of this tri-county area, experiencing the same wonderful Gospel preached in all. We are respectful of the many different ways God is worshipped: with or without a healing service, with or without an altar call, with or without a communion service. Preaching that is 10 minutes or 30 minutes, music that is Gospel, Gregorian chant or from a hymnal, accompanied by a guitar, organ, a piano or nothing.

We are respectful of Christians who seek to please the Lord by fasting or not fasting, by abstaining form meat or not, by abstaining from alcoholic drink or not. It saddens us, however, to see these, our brothers and sisters in the Lord, who abstain from alcohol, condemn all who do not abstain from the use of alcohol. Such judgment condemns most all Christians including Christ himself. Over 90 percent of the world’s Christians live in communities where a glass of wine or beer is frequently a part of their daily diet. With emphasis on and caution for sobriety, these Christians for centuries have so spent their lives in obedience to the commands of God.

I have been blessed to live in many wonderful cities in the course of my 78 years – Columbus and Cincinnati, Ohio; Philadelphia, Pa.; and Richmond, Ky. – all of which abound with churches and worshippers; all of which were and are “wet;” all of which have fewer DUI’s than this tri-county.

Visiting our tri-county community (Laurel, Knox, Whitley), fellow Christians from other communities and countries are mystified and perplexed that fellow Christians of this tri-county see a need for everyone to do and believe as they do; with the rationale that communities which permit alcoholic sales and drink are sullied with sin and satanic control.

The present stream of letters to the editor condemning all alcoholic use appears to openly contradict and violate our Christian duty of love and unity.

Further I have to confess that I am personally dismayed and appalled that so much time, energy and money is locally spent to abate the sale of alcohol while our social service agencies (including CCC, Corbin United Effort and the Back Pack Programs) are overwhelmed with more people in dire poverty than they have finances to rescue. Coupling this to our ongoing crises of drug abuse, it is evident we have grave moral concerns rampant in our community. Might we be blind to and distracted from the real needs of our community?

Rev. John Burkhart

 Corbin, Ky.

Concerned about alcohol sales in London

To the Editor:

I have great concerns about the upcoming alcohol vote in March.

Do we need to fuel the fire, since we already allow alcohol sales in restaurants? Even though we may have only three or four liquor stores in the city (if the vote passes), the way I understand it, if someone who is a business owner passes a background check and gets a license, they can sell beer. Do we really want beer and eventually liquor in our stores where families shop?  We don’t want to promote underage drinking, do we, especially since our law enforcement is trying to eliminate the drug problem in and around Laurel County?  Don’t burden them and their limited budget.

We really don’t know how much revenue this will bring into the city.  Is the trade off going to be worth it or, in the future, will the taxpayer be liable for the extra funding for more law officers and equipment?

We read in the paper every week the list of alcohol-related offenses.

We also continually hear about overcrowding in the jails and understaffing.  Will we build a new jail after this vote? Will there be more policemen hired to protect our residential areas while other officers are dealing with the alcohol-related issues?

We’ve just had an incident where a school official supposedly was supplying alcohol to underage people.  Will this vote make it easier for this sort of thing to continue?

A person from a neighboring county made the statement on TV that he would rather have his children buy from a liquor store rather than a bootlegger, but the only difference is one is licensed and the other is not.

In Ecclesiastes, Chapter 3, it states that there is a time for every purpose under heaven.  It is the time now for the good citizens of London to vote NO to alcohol sales in the city. I want to know exactly what benefit this will be to the people in the city of London.

Respectfully,

Frank Allen

London, Ky.

Alcohol sales will keep profits here at home

To the Editor:

I have read several opinions regarding the upcoming election for packaged alcohol sales in London.  I wondered if those objecting have considered that regardless of whether it passes or not, people that have been purchasing and/or consuming packaged liquors will continue to do so as they have been.  The more driving involved in obtaining liquor, the larger the risk of accidents and DUIs.   I do not believe that the number of alcohol consumers or arrests for DUIs would increase simply because it could be obtained locally.  Let’s stop supporting liquor sales in OTHER counties and keep the profits here at home!

Susan Dezarn

 London, Ky.

Church asks for prayer against alcohol sales

To the Editor:

It has come to our attention that a vote for the sale of alcoholic beverages in the city of London will be coming up in March.  We as a church do not agree with this and the fact it is not being offered for the county to vote on. The cost of this election will be shared by all of Laurel County.  We are asking for this to be fair and be for all to vote on.  We are also asking for all churches to put this on the prayer list.  We do not need to make alcohol easier for people to get a hold of.  Not long ago, London was on television for the meth problem that we already have; Law enforcement already have enough to do.  Please everyone take a stand against the sale of alcoholic beverages in London.  Together, we can do it.

Edna Woods, and members of

Riverhill Holiness Church

East Bernstadt, Ky.