Vice - Does it Have You in its Grip

When I was a kid I used to love using my dad's tools. I loved to build things. I had very grandiose plans, like the time I was building a functional, talking robot out of a tape recorder and a refrigerator box or the super computer with real, flashing lights or the hovercraft I tried to construct from an old vacuum cleaner. I probably needed serious counseling but that's the topic of another post.

Anyway, there were two tools that I found particularly manly because they seemingly gave me superhuman strength; the bench vice and the vice grips. I could squeeze a piece of wood between the metal jaws and nothing known to man could pull it out. A scrawny ten year old kid had the strength of superman. Both tools contain the same main word "vice". I'd like for a second to share a few meanings of the word "vice".

1) Noun - Various devices, usually having two jaws that may be brought together or separated by means of a screw, used to hold an object firmly in its grip.

2) Verb - to hold, press, or squeeze

3) Noun - an immoral or evil practice or habit

I don't know which meaning came to the English language first but I find it interesting that someone chose to give those practices and habits that are evil or destructive, the same name as the devices that hold, squeeze, press and grab onto things. But, we know from experience that whoever did this knew what they were talking about!

Most of us (even those of you who don't yet believe in God as the moral law giver) would agree that there are things which are clearly evil or wrong: murder, rape, stealing, torture (OK, at least people can agree on three of the four). But some things are MUCH less clear both in society and in the scriptures. I was asked by someone to address these things and I think it was a very good idea.

I want to address two topics because I have been asked about them in particular: gambling and drinking (alcohol that is).

I could write a book on this but I will try to give the Readers Digest version here. I'd like to share two things from scripture: 1 Corinthians 10:23, "Everything is permissible" - but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible" - but not everything is constructive. Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others. And from Proverbs 21:2, "All a man's ways seem right to him, but the Lord weighs the heart."

There aren't any particular verses condemning gambling but I think Paul would put it in the category of "not everything is beneficial". God has made each of us differently and each of us has different strengths and weaknesses. Some of us could buy a lottery ticket once a year and go on our merry way. Others may be caught in gambling like a piece of soft wood trapped between the jaws of a table vice. I don't think that the act of gambling is, in and of itself, wrong but there are two things that might make it wrong. Motive. God tests the heart and if the motive is to gain wealth without work or without earning it fairly, then the motive is impure. Proverbs 13:11 says "Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished; but he that gathers by labor shall increase." The second issue is how it affects others. Is it hurting someone else? Your wife, your kids, your friends? Look, if you're spending your paycheck at the casino and borrowing money from your home equity line of credit to pay the bills then you're hurting yourself and your family. I think Paul would go so far to ask, "Is there any real, honest reason to gamble?" Answer, "Probably not." I think when we're honest with ourselves and with God, the Holy Spirit uses our conscience to let us know what honors God and what harms us and others. Look if you've played the slots, played bingo, or spun the wheel at your CHURCH festival I don't think you need to feel bad or run to confession but examine your heart because God does. Maybe though, the $5 could have bought someone a meal they couldn't afford. Hmmm. Yeah, maybe. (I guess that goes for the latte I have next to me as well. My bad.)

OK, on to alcohol. I won't get long winded here but there are many scriptures that point out the potential destructive nature of "too much wine" but wine isn't itself evil. Jesus turned water into wine and used wine as the symbol of his blood but it's fairly obvious that for some, drinking is a huge stumbling block. I'll ask the same questions I did with gambling, "What is your motive and how is it affecting you and those around you?" Are you held in its jaws and can't get loose? Look, all things considered, if you never drink you'll never have to worry but If you have a glass of Merlot with your T-bone and can go a week or a month without another then I think it is not a sin or a vice. I know many people will disagree with me but the Jews condemned the Gentiles for eating this, drinking that, and touching this and that. It's not the stuff that is the problem. It's our heart. Examine your heart. Listen to those around you. If your spouse or your friends have shared concern over a particular vice then I would recommend you LISTEN. Likely they see something that might be hurting you.

Lastly,, I want to say that there are many Christians who use the "Law" as a hammer and have become self-righteous. They have done what the Pharisees (religious leaders at the time of Jesus) did. They point out other's faults and fail to see their own. Jesus reprimanded them with this statement, "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye." Let's first go to the mirror and look at our own planks and ask God to help us pluck them from our own eyes first. And, if you care about someone who may be held in the jaws of sin or the vice grip of addiction, love them first, pray for them second, and get them help from someone who knows the ultimate healer of the heart, Jesus Christ.

Remember this, "While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." He showed us grace, we should do the same.

In Christ,

David