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Dear Father Paul

Dear Brad: I can find no place in the Bible that specifically forbids the use of alcohol. Jesus' first miracle was turning water into wine at a wedding banquet in Cana...see John 2:1-11.

Why don't you read it, it's really interesting.The banquet master was amazed at the quality of the wine that Jesus made, so we know that the wine was not simple grape juice. It's hard to imagine that Jesus (as a guest) didn't consume some of the wine himself. We know also that the Jewish people have for many years since before Jesus came consumed wine at the Passover meal so there is a very strong likelihood that Jesus himself drank wine at least once a year. Still, people of good will can and do honestly disagree on this question, and many Christians do not consume alcohol at all. My beloved father was one of these. People on both sides of this issue should respect each others views.

The Bible does strongly condemn the misuse and abuse of alcohol, however, especially drinking to excess (drunkenness). See Galatians 5:19-21. The truth is, for one reason or the other, some people cannot consume alcohol in moderation. These people should avoid alcohol all together.

Dear Father Paul: You talk a lot about forgiveness. Why is forgiveness so important?— Ruth Ann, Tyrone.

Dear Ruth Ann: Lots of reasons. The most important is that God will not forgive your own sins if you have unforgiveness in your heart. How's that for important!

Jesus himself said in Mark 11:25, "And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins." The first time I saw this passsage, I said, "Wow! I'd better learn how to forgive, and fast."

Our relationship with God depends to a great extent upon our willingness to forgive. It really is just that simple. Jesus himself sets the example for us when he said while being unjustly tortured on the Cross, "Father forgive them." I constantly tell myself that if he can forgive his executioners, then I can (and will) forgive anyone of the (in comparison) small slights and wrongs they might do to me.

Dear Father Paul: My husband spends all of his days off deer hunting every fall. I hardly see him at all during deer season. It's not like we need the meat, he gives it all away. — Dot, Tyrone.

Dear Dot: If hunting for a few days every fall is the worst thing he does and he is otherwise a good husband, I'd suggest you extend him some grace and allow him to enjoy something he obviously loves. I assume that he is in church on Sundays (just kidding). You don't mention any things that you love to do that might take you away from him at other times of the year.

Hunting isn't my thing and it may not be yours, but why don't you get him to take you with him sometime ... after you've had some training in firearms and how to hunt. You just might enjoy it. Judy and I know a couple who have hunted deer together for years and she holds the current family record in number of kills and the biggest rack! Besides that, she talked him into buying a really nice camper (for deer hunting) which they also use for trips to the beach ... something she really enjoys.

Father Massey will answer your questions. Write him at paulmassey@earthlink.net or P.O. Box 510, Fayetteville, Georgia 30214.