Alcohol Harm & Social Justice

Alcohol harm is spread right across all communities in Australia, with no exception. However this type of harm falls mostly on those who The Salvation Army aims to serve - those who lack power and are disadvantaged. You might have heard this in the Army when we talk about 'the least, the lowest and the lost'. For example,

Harm to Youth:
That's you guys. Did you know that recent research shows that there is much greater risks to brain development from underage drinking than we previously thought? In fact, for young people under 18 there is no 'safe' level of alcohol consumption because your brain is still forming and any exposure to alcohol can stop this formation from occurring properly. This is especially the case when it comes to 'binge' drinking. Binge drinking has grown in popularity amongst young people even though we now know more than ever before that it can occur the MOST harm.

Harm to Indigenous Communities:
All forms of disadvantage that Indigenous communities suffer - poverty, unemployment, family breakdown, various forms of abuse - are made worse by alcohol. Some communities have even voluntary adopted a 'dry' status (no alcohol allowed) to try to lessen the harm - this has apparently been quite successful. (If you want more info about this check out a bunch of research done here.)

Addiction:
When you look at alcohol harm from a human perspective it is a huge tragedy. Addiction is a vicious master. (Like in the Black Cat Films) But we rejoice that addiction can be overcome, and The Salvation Army works daily to help with this. People who are addicted are in a vulnerable situation when the substance that they are addicted to is available easily (and often cheaply) at pretty much any time of the day or night, and its promotion is in your face everywhere you go.

Alcohol Harm and Social Justice...

http://www.phoenixhouse.org/our-perspectives/prohibition-not-repeatable-but-not-a-failure/

Have you ever thought about the fact that alcohol abuse and harm could be just as much a social justice issue as Fair Trade Chocolate, Stop the Traffick or feeding the hungry in Africa like on the 40 Hour Famine?

The alcohol industry is an enormous rich and wide-spreading international mega-power. It can convince governments to let them do things they otherwise wouldn't be able to do such as advertising during sporting broadcasts watched by children and receiving financial benefit from the addicted, indigenous communities and young people. It is clear who are the winners and losers in the alcohol industry.

There are other aspects of alcohol harm that affect a lot of people such as:
* Harm on the roads
* Violent harm, in 'domestics' and on city streets

The main problem with alcohol harm is that it has so many forms, it is everywhere, yet it is mostly seen as inevitable (bound to happen, part of life), and even acceptable. Alcoholic products are involved in so many different kinds of problems, even beyond all the personal health consequences that a lot of people face. Even though these harms are seen as 'inevitable' and 'acceptable', no government is prepared to tackle these issues in a way that will minimise the harm. It is up to communities across Australia to demand that governments, organisations, groups and individuals all start to challenge this easy but deadly issue. Salvationists have a key role in demanding this action.

What do you think you could do???

Think about it, pray about it...***

(Information sourced for this post is sourced from The Salvation Army Alcohol Culture Initiative Learning Module)

What is Evangelism?

Evangelism comes from the Greek word 'evangelion'. The New Testament was originally written in Greek so this word was originally found there. The word roughly means to 'tell good news'. So, as a christian, evangelism is when we tell others the good news about God's love and what Jesus has done.

The reason it is so important is because people can't follow Jesus or be in a relationship with God unless someone tell them about it. Therefore we have to become messengers for this good news; evangelists.

Matthew 13:3-9 says;

³ Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. ⁴ As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. ⁵ Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. ⁶ But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. ⁷ Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. ⁸ Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. ⁹ Whoever has ears, let them hear.”

and further on Matthew 13:18-23 says;

 ¹⁸ “Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: ¹⁹ When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. ²⁰ The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. ²¹ But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. ²² The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. ²³ But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”

Think about this;
What does the seed represent? What about the ground?
 In the story where does the farmer put the seed? Does he sow it anywhere in particular or everywhere?
Does the seed always take root and grow? Do people always believe the good news when they hear it?

Feel free to share your thoughts but bring these questions before God in prayer, he might have something to say to you about them...