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CHAPTER TEN

  The Lesson

  Martin doesn’t hide his surprise when Max asks him the next morning if his invitation to Bible study still stands.

  “Really?” he asks with raised eyebrows.

  “Yeah,” Max places his hands in his pockets. “My dad skipped out on us last night, and my mom’s taking it pretty hard.

  Martin nods and they stand in silence for a moment. “So I’ll pick you up tonight at about 6:30?”

  “Sure,” Max agrees.

  •••

  After school, Max comes home to find his mother asleep on the couch. Her face is a mural of dried tears. The telephone is by her ear, and her bible is on the coffee table. Mr. Shaw never called, and he still hasn’t come home. She stayed up the night before, frantic with worry.

  He keeps doing this, Max thinks to himself. His mother is clueless. She doesn’t know what Max knows. His father isn’t coming back. He packed his clothes and drove off shortly after Max accused him of being a deadbeat.

  Good riddance! Max scowls as he grabs the phone from his mother. He studies her a while; at least she cares. His father doesn’t care about anyone but himself.

  “Arthur?” his mother stirs.

  “No, it’s only me, Mom,” Max replies. “Dad isn’t here.”

  “Oh,” she replies, despondent. “I thought I heard him come in.” Max can’t bear the look on her face and he turns away.

  “Hey,” Max tries to cheer her up. “I’m going to bible study tonight, remember? Would you like me to stay home with you?”

  His mother shakes her head emphatically. “No you go on,” she waves him off. “I’m sure Martin will be here any minute anyways, right?”

  “Yeah,” Max says softly. On cue, the doorbell rings, and Max lets Martin in.

  “Hey Mrs. Shaw,” Martin greets her with a wave.

  “Hello, Martin,” she replies as cheerfully as she can muster. “Are you driving tonight?”

  “No, ma’am, my Dad’s going to take us,” he answers.

  The word “dad” chokes off the noise in the room, and after a long silence, Mrs. Shaw asks them to excuse her. Max signals for Martin to head towards the door.

  Once they are outside, Martin comments, “Your mom looks like a wreck, Max.” He shakes his head and looks at him. “How are you doing?”

  “I’m fine, Martin,” Max responds shortly. “Let me clarify one thing, okay? I’m only going tonight because right now my mom doesn’t need to be under a whole lot of stress. This is the only way I know how to make her feel better. I figure if she thinks I’m at bible study, she won’t spend all night wondering where I am.”

  “I’m not complaining,” Martin replies. “I’m glad you’re coming, whatever your reasons are.”

  Max shrugs and gets into the car with Martin and his father. The drive isn’t long. It takes about fifteen minutes to get to the church. When they arrive, Martin shows Max the way to the youth room, pointing out the bathroom and the recreation area along the way.

  “The rec room is new,” Martin states. “We sometimes hang out there until service starts, but I want to introduce you to everyone.”

  Max shrugs and follows Martin to the youth room. A dark figure in the doorway stops him in his tracks.

  “Hey Mr. Rick!” Martin smiles. “This is my friend, Max.”

  Mr. Rick is talking to another youth leader and turns when he hears Martin. He looks at Max and smiles. “Good to see you here, Max,” he nods in his direction. Max only blinks in reply. Mr. Rick continues his conversation with the person in front of him.

  “I already know him, Martin,” Max whispers to him. “He’s my probation officer.”

  Martin looks at Max sheepishly. Max swallows hard in an attempt to remove the lump forming in his throat. He and Martin find a seat in the middle row while the rest of the youth group trickles in. Jennifer is the first person they see, and she plants herself right next to Martin. Max scowls and crosses his arms, glaring at her with contempt.

  Martin points out the other members of his youth group. First Tammie, then Rachel and Charlie, Angela, Ronald, and several others whose names Max can’t keep up with. Ronald immediately begins talking to Max. They talk about school for a minute, then the football season, and by the end of the conversation, Max is loosening up. Everyone eventually finds their way to their seats and Mr. Rick opens them up with a quick word of prayer.

  “Lord, we thank you for this evening, and for us being able to come together in your name. We’ve all gone through some things today, and we need your Spirit to help us. Give us practical wisdom tonight, Lord Jesus, that we may live life victoriously, and walk in Your ways. Give us peace, God, so that we may hear you clearly, and understand our purpose in life, and our destiny. Let what we learn this evening remain in our hearts, that we may grow, that we may prosper, and that we may bring You glory. In Jesus name we pray, Amen.”

  Amens resound around the room and Mr. Rick opens his bible.

  “I’d like everyone to turn to Proverbs 30, starting at verse 4. Martin, will you read it for us?”

  Martin flips the pages of his bible until he reaches the desired text. He begins, “’It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink.’” He pauses.

  “Continue through to verse seven please, Martin,” Mr. Rick instructs him.

  Martin continues, “’Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted. Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts.’”

  Max shifts as the collar of his shirt becomes unusually tight.

  Martin continues to read, “’Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.’”

  Why is the message on drinking? Max wonders. Of all the bad habits to pick on, why did Officer Rick pick his? Max sinks lower in his seat and covers his face with his hat. Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea after all. Besides, Officer Rick makes his skin crawl.

  “Thank you, Martin,” Mr. Rick nods in satisfaction. “I want us to continue where we left off on our discussion last week. Let’s take a look at verse four again for context. This is a woman instructing her son on how to rule properly. She tells him basically that those in leadership shouldn’t drink. In Revelations 1:6 and 1 Peter 2:9, the apostles describe us as a nation of kings and priests. In essence, we are rulers and spiritual guides in this world. What we do directly affects the people around us. We have a responsibility as Christians to lead the world to Christ. There is a certain degree of self-denial that comes along with that. We can’t be common, ordinary, or average. We have to set a standard of excellence. Tonight I want to give you some information about the use, misuse, and abuse of alcohol. Some of it you may already know, some of it you may not. Let me start off by saying that the bible does not condemn drinking.” Some of the youth look at each other with raised eyebrows.

  “I know this may come as a shock to some of you, especially those of you whose parents have told you that it is a sin. But let me share with you what the bible does say about drinking, particularly overindulgence. Ronald if you will, read for me Psalm 104:1, 14-15.

  Ronald quickly flips through the pages of his bible, clears his throat and reads. “’Bless the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honour and majesty.’”

  He pauses to find verse 14. “’He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth;’”

  “’And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengtheneth man’s heart.’”

  Mr. Rick thanks Ronald and continues his lesson. “Did you catch that? He causes the grass to grow and the herb to grow and oil and bread…and wine. We see here that wine can make the heart glad. Pleasure isn’t something that God’s against, but when you overindulge in certain kinds of pleasure, or take things out of God’s conte
xt and intent, it brings forth destruction. We touched this verse at the last meeting, but let me read it to you. Go with me to 1 Timothy 5:23.”

  He waits for a moment for them to turn and begins to read.

  “’Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach’s sake and thine often infirmities.’ We can see here that Paul instructs Timothy to drink wine for medicinal purposes. Now, I want you to go with me to Isaiah 28:7. Travis, will you read that for me?”

  Travis stands up nervously and reads. “’But they also have erred through wine, and through strong drink are out of the way; the priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink, they are swallowed up of wine, they are out of the way through strong drink; they err in vision, they stumble in judgment.’”

  “Here we see where wine caused the priests and prophets of God to lose vision. You can lose sight of the assignment God has called you to perform by indulging yourself. Something that God intends to be a good thing can be perverted and mishandled until it becomes destructive and actually turns you away from God. Tammie, read Luke 21:34 please.”

  Tammie stands up and reads the verse. “’And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.’”

  Mr. Rick thanks Tammie. “Now we’re getting into the verses concerning drunkenness. It is without question that God does condemn drunkenness in His word. Could I get someone else to read Galatians 5:19-21 for me?”

  Jennifer raises her hand. Mr. Rick nods in her direction and she recites the verses. She barely glances at her bible as she speaks. “’Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.’”

  “Thank you Jennifer,” Mr. Rick nods. “As you can see, this is referred to as one of the works of the flesh. The flesh is an enemy of God. If you cooperate with your flesh, you’re making yourself an enemy of God.”

  Mr. Rick continues passionately, “Now this is where we come into the scene as Christians. Our assignment requires that we be alert and focused. Read 1 Thessalonians 5:6-8 for me,” he scans the room for someone he hasn’t called, “Charlie.”

  A groan is heard from somewhere in the room. Charlie gets up and turns to the scripture to read. He looks again at Mr. Rick, his expression questioning. Mr. Rick nods in affirmation, and Charlie very timidly begins. “T-therefore l-let usss not s-s-sleep, as do o-others; but l-let us w-watch and b-b-be sob-sober.’” Charlie pauses in frustration as one of the youth snickers.

  “Take your time, Charlie,” Mr. Rick reassures him.

  Charlie reluctantly continues. “’F-f-for th-they that s-sl-sleep sl-sleep in the n-n-n-night; and t-t-th-they that b-be d-dr-dru-dru-drunken are d-d-dr-drunken in the n-night. B-b-bu-but l-le-let us, wh-wh-who are of the d-d-day, be s-s-s-s-so-sob-sober, p-p-p-put-t-ting on t-the b-breas-breastplate of f-f-f-faith and l-l-love; and f-for an h-he-hel-m-met, the ho-hope of s-s-salva-sal-salva-t-t-salvation.’” Charlie sits down quickly and Mr. Rick continues.

  “Let me read a few other verses to you. Romans 13:13 says ‘Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.’ 1 Corinthians 5:11 says ‘But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.’ This is referring to how Christians ought to walk, and who not to walk with who claims to be a believer of Christ.”

  “Now I’m going to read 1 Peter 4:3. ‘For the times past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries.’ These are things that we are supposed to leave behind us, because they are part of our old man. If you’re a new creation, the old things you used to do have to be let go of. You’ve got to embrace your new life in Christ.”

  Max squirms in his seat and tries to tune out Mr. Rick.

  You don’t need to hear this, Max.

  Max blocks out the rest of Mr. Rick’s message, until it’s near the end.

  “Now I know I’ve given you guys a lot of scriptures tonight, and it’s getting late, but there’s one more scripture I’d like for us to read. Max, will you read for us Proverbs 23:29-35?”

  Max looks around the room, as if Mr. Rick called on someone else. Finally, he responds.

  “I didn’t bring a bible,” he confesses.

  “You can read out of mine,” Mr. Rick offers.

  Max accepts the bible unenthusiastically and asks, “Verses 29-35?” Mr. Rick nods and Max sighs aloud.

  He reads the first verse monotone and droll. “Who hath woe? Who hath sorrow? Who hath contentions? Who hath babbling? Who hath wounds without cause? Who hath redness of eyes? They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine.” Max stops.

  “Please, keep going,” Mr. Rick instructs.

  Max rolls his eyes, but reluctantly complies, this time less monotone. “Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright.” Max twirls his finger, gesturing the motions described in the verse. One of the girls giggles and Max smiles.

  He continues reading with mock gusto. “At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder.” Max hisses, instigating an assortment of chuckles throughout the room. He forgets himself and becomes very theatrical as he reads the rest of the verses, impersonating a Shakespearean actor. “Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things. Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast.”

  Max whimpers like a dog as he continues. “They have stricken me, shalt thou say, and I was not sick; they have beaten me, and I felt it not: when shall I awake? I will seek it yet again.’” Max returns the bible to Mr. Rick and bows to the applauding youth before he sits down.

  “Thank you, Max for that…energetic recital,” Mr. Rick chuckles.

  “I’m going to read that same passage in the New King James version of the bible, in case you missed it the first time.” Mr. Rick reads each verse slowly and deliberately.

  “’Who has woe?

  Who has sorrow?

  Who has contentions?

  Who has complaints?

  Who has wounds without cause?

  Who has redness of eyes?

  Those who linger long at the wine,

  Those who go in search of mixed wine.

  Do not look on the wine when it is red,

  When it sparkles in the cup,

  When it swirls around smoothly;

  At the last it bites like a serpent,

  And stings like a viper.

  Your eyes will see strange things,

  And your heart will utter perverse things.

  Yes, you will be like one who lies down in the midst of the sea,

  Or like one who lies at the top of the mast, saying:

  ‘They have struck me, but I was not hurt;

  They have beaten me, but I did not feel it.

  When shall I awake, that I may seek another drink?’”

  Mr. Rick looks at all the young people in the room. “The issue I really want to drive home tonight is not just about drinking. It’s using drinking as a cure for your problems. When you put yourself in a state of drunkenness, you cloud your vision, you ignore your problems, and you can cause harm to yourself and others. When you’re in a place where you feel alone, God wants you to turn to him; but when you decide that the solution to your problem is in a drink, you communicate to God that you don�
�t trust Him to be your source of strength.”

  Mr. Rick looks around the room at the face of each youth present, his expression intense. “You won’t solve your problems by forgetting them, avoiding them, or pretending they don’t exist.” He places his hand on his abdomen.

  “The emptiness and depression you feel inside isn’t going to go away unless you give it to God. Christ loves you and died for you so that you could come to the Father and boldly ask Him for the grace you need to get through the tough times in your life.”

  Mr. Rick closes his bible and asks all the youth to stand. “Thank you all for allowing me to talk to you these last two weeks. Know that God loves you, and he wants you to not just endure life, but enjoy it. God’s best for you can’t be found in a bottle. It isn’t found in any drug, any food, any person, or any possession.” He holds up his bible.

  “The answer is written here; God’s gift to us his peace, and His peace can only be found in His presence. Let us pray.”