Liquor & Church

Have you ever wondered why you don’t see abortion clinics next to Catholic church’s, or a pig slaughter house near an Islamic mosque? Liquor stores seem as they are synonymous with churches in poverty stricken and lower income communities.

Since we live in a capitalist society, and a government that claims to separate church from state then of course a liquor store has every right to be placed within proximity to any place of worship, wealthy community, or those on the cliff of poverty. Now do a quick field study on your way to a white church and a black church. How many liquor stores do you pass before you pull in your traditional (non mega-church) black church parking lot, now think about how many liquor stores you’ll find on your way to a predominantly white church? According to the US Census Bureau blacks on average spend .66% of their income on alcoholic beverages compared to whites who spend .86 of theirs on alcoholic beverages, so why such the discrepancy in liquor store placement? Why do we have this correlation between God and alcohol?

Is it because in the “hood,” church and liquor are usually associated with those who have lost hope and looking for anything that can temporarily mask their pain, despair, and worries? We always hear that whenever you’re going through adversity that God is the only one strong enough, and weathered enough to turn a mess into a message, turmoil into a testimony, and trials into a triumph, but how many times do we turn from those sitting on those corners in front of liquor stores attributing their wino behavior to simply being their fault? How many times do Pastors travel to those holding that 40oz and offer to open the doors of the church? Majority of the time those people's problems are deeper than the last drop at the end of their bottle.

Circumstances like this where individuals can see a direct correlation between the number of liquor stores and churches should induce church leaders to bring their ministry from outside the confines of the church and minister to the streets and help save souls and help carry out the mission of the God they serve. Lately church has taken on many roles such as fashion show, political campaign site, music ministry, but has taken a step back in saving and ministering to souls outsides of the walls. Have we as Christians forgot what God has placed us on this earth for?

Too many times we go to the altar and just pray for the less fortunate. Prayer does change, but alone it does nothing, unless action is accompanied by it. As children of God first, Christians second, and members of the church third we need to take immediate action and help those on the curb of the liquor store looking at the Church.