“The prestige of government has undoubtedly been lowered considerably by the prohibition law. For nothing is more destructive of respect for the government and the law of the land than passing laws which cannot be enforced. It is an open secret that the dangerous increase of crime in the United States is closely connected with this.” Albert Einstein
They tried it – tried to ‘shut down sin’ by prohibiting the sale and consumption of alcohol.
It didn’t work.
On a recent weekend in San Antonio, we learned that a place called the Esquire Tavern opened the day after Prohibition was repealed. How could that be? How could it be up-and-running the day after Prohibition? Because, according to the riverboat operator, it was running all along. Ah! It went from a secret bar to an open bar. Of course.
Prohibition did not end alcohol sale or consumption. It only proved that government is not capable of enforcing such a sweeping law, any more than it could stop gay marriage, or help “turn gays straight” with so-called “therapy.”
Meanwhile, the cost of Prohibition, was exorbitant, as it paved the way for organized crime. It decimated the winemaking industry, taking down family farms and livelihoods in the process.
It also increased alcohol consumption! Of course it did: that’s what spurious laws produce.
“Ingenious California grape growers introduced a product they named Vine-Glo. While they weren’t permitted to make wine, the growers could still make grape juice. They sold their juice with instructional material telling consumers what not to do, lest their juice turn to wine in sixty days.” Wink. Wink.
Or, to use Paul’s words: “You have died with Christ, and he has set you free from the spiritual powers of this world. So why do you keep on following the rules of the world, such as, “Don’t handle! Don’t taste! Don’t touch!”? Such rules are mere human teachings about things that deteriorate as we use them.
Just so you know, Marriage Equality is coming. It’s only a matter of time, and not much time.
It’s the right thing. It is in line with the truth and the heart of God.
But the cost of fighting against it is exorbitant. The cost to the legal system is huge, but it’s pennies next to the cost to people — who’ve been led to believe God hates them (God does NOT hate them), who’ve been led to believe they are going to hell (no), and who are cast out of churches and families and communities for just wanting to live and love as they were created to do (in God’s name? — unfathomable).
Marriage Equality will soon be here.
Let’s not destroy each other in the meantime.
[To read more from Susan Cottrell, visit www.FreedHearts.org]
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SUSAN COTTRELL is a national speaker, teacher, and counselor with years of Biblical study and discipleship experience. Her books include: Mom, I’m Gay – Loving Your LGBTQ Child Without Sacrificing Your Faith
She is the Vice-President of PFLAG Austin, and her “Mom, I’m Gay” book has been endorsed by The Human Rights Campaign and others. Sharon Groves, PhD, HRC’s Religion & Faith Program Director says, “I often get asked by parents for resources that can address the struggles of raising LGBT sons and daughters without having to leave faith behind. Susan Cottrell’s book, Mom, I’m Gay, does just that. This is the kind of book that parents will love.”
She and her husband have been married more than 25 years and have five children – one of whom is in the LGBTQ community. She lives in Austin, Texas, and blogs at FreedHearts.org and here in IMPACT Magazine’s FreedHearts and Jesus Blog columns.
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