A reader writes: "How can a Christian music video show alcohol? I just saw Back Home's video for "Whiskey Stained Glass" and don't understand how they can show a man chugging down liquor and call it a Christian video. Alcoholism is bad and shouldn't be presented as OK."
Answer:
Husband and wife duo, Jimmy and Jennifer Layne, aka Back Home, don't paint themselves as perfect. Instead, they share a picture of redemption. First-hand recipients of God's grace, they have survived life's ups, downs and tragedies with wrong turns along the way. Together, they faced down Jimmy's major drug and alcoholism problems, several miscarriages (one to a set of twins) and losing both of their jobs within days of each other. Through it all, God remained faithful and He has given them a ministry that will help others facing some of the same trials.
Hope - that is what Back Home shares. Hope, love and redemption are rare commodities in our world and it's rare to find artists (or others in ministry) who are willing to share their personal struggles in order to show people (who may be exactly where they were) that there is a way out, that God still loves them despite their sin and that Jesus died on the Cross for them.
Alcoholism is an ugly thing. The National Institute of Health reports that 15% of the people living in the United States are considered "problem drinkers." Another study found that approximately 30% of people in the U.S. have reported experiencing an alcohol disorder at one point in their lifetimes and the World Heath Organization reports that the harmful use of alcohol results in 2.5 million deaths each year. 320,000 of those deaths are young people between the age of 15 and 29, resulting in 9% of all deaths in that age group. It's out there and the Christian community can't ignore it and hope it will go away.
The story presented in "Whiskey Stained Glass" is reminiscent of the story of the thief at the Cross. (Luke 23:39-43) It is reminder that as long as we are breathing, we have a chance at redemption. If you've never had a problem with alcohol, the video may not resonate with you. However, for someone who is seeking answers at the bottom of a bottle, it may absolutely hit home before it's too late.
