Beech Tree News Network

Dear Editor,

On December 15, 1791, as one of the ten amendments that constitute the Bill of Rights, in its original context, insured that the U.S. would not have an official “state Church” like England.  Later Supreme Court identifies potential “religious” activities in which the government might interfere: things like human sacrifice, bigamy or polygamy, the advocating of immorality or licentiousness, etc. If any of these activities were to occur in the name of “religion”, then the government would interfere, for these were activities which threaten public peace and safety; but with orthodox religious practices the government would not interfere.  The English government officially supported the Church of England, using taxes to support Anglicanism.  The founding fathers, who promoted the Revolutionary War, did not want the same kind of church.  There is nowhere in the Constitution that forbids individuals from mixing faith and politics or from sharing their faith in a state-related function or location.  When we don’t it only because we choose not to.
A few people petitioned in Butler County for government redress of grievances regarding the sale of alcohol in Butler County.  On January 26, 2016, the PEOPLE, not the yes group or no group, but the PEOPLE of this county will decide the outcome.  Not the churches, not the local businesses, not city hall, or the court house but the PEOPLE, which is made up of all the above.
As a minster in this county it is not my desire or ambition to in anyway take away the rights of others.  I understand that not everyone practices the same religious views or share the same ideas or for that matter even acknowledge the Bible as the inspired word of God.  It is also m belief that neither should the rights of the Christians in this county be taken away nor accused of “mixing of church and state” as many has claimed it to be.  It seems that a Christian today who holds to the sound doctrine of the Bible, who stands up for what the Bible teaches, what the Bible says is best for society; well they are told they have no rights.  They should sit down and be quite.  Stay out of it like we’re troubling America.  Many today share the same view as did Ahab in biblical times: 1Kings 18:17 And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto him, Art thou he that troubleth Israel?  One man, Elijah stood up for God against 850 that ate at Jezebel’s table.
I’m very thankful and glad to see how the people both in and out of the church have untied against this movement in our county. This is not a republican or democrat issue.  It is an issue for every person to look at and ask themselves, is the selling of alcohol really the answer to what some claim are the problems in our community? Is selling alcohol what it’s going to take to ensure our children’s future? Is it possible to drink ourselves to prosperity? The facts will show that the economics of our county based on the working population isn’t good.  There is a need right now in the factories we have, but not enough people want a job (our federal government rewards laziness) or they can’t pass the drug screenings to fill these jobs.
Three truths about alcohol that most people ignore; (1) Wine is a mockery of those who use it.  Alcohol never changed by the one who drinks it, but the one who drinks it is changed by it. (2) “Raging” alters human behavior causing a person to act without control, saying or doing things at times without even remembering. (3)”Deceitful” strong drink will promise one thing but actually deliver something else.  Individual lives are ruined, homes torn apart.  Years ago one of the slogans for a well-known brewery said, “The drink that gives you life” The truth is it should say, “The drink that gives you death” If you don’t believe it just look around, I promise you won’t need to look long before finding someone who has experienced just that.
God bless Butler County, and please VOTE NO,
Jim McIntosh