Christians and Social Responsibility

In the past, and particularly during the industrial revolution, alcohol did so much harm in destroying people, families and children.

Christians knew they had a social responsibility to help the vulnerable children and to show the care and compassion of the Lord Jesus Christ to these desperately needy people.

Before the First World War there were estimated to be 1 drinking establishment for every 150 of the population in towns and cities. These places were selling alcohol mostly for 24 hours a day. The strong drink for the ordinary people and children then was gin.

As alcohol was doing so much harm it was seen as an evil, and Christians wanted to show that the new life they had in Jesus was very different to what was in the society around them. So they would not take part in anything that did so much harm, and wanted to set an example that people could live a better life without these substances.

Alcohol was the only drug available to the ordinary people until more recent times. All the principles relating to alcohol apply to cigarettes and drugs as well.