When I was young drinking was a “no-no”. Not only when I was underage(of course) but also amongst family and peers as I grew. It was the one thing that set me and my friends apart from “them”. This is in reference to non-christians at my school that drank. No doubt that is not a healthy way of looking at people, but unintentionally thats what I was taught. Even today there is a slight seperation between me and people I work with regarding the issue. And although I know its not really important either way I like knowing that on my next holiday or weekend I won’t be spending the whole day working on my beer gut(its growing enough as is :0). I think its safe to say that many Christians of my generation were raised similar to me. Fortunately there has been a realignment in culture. Another round anyone?….
A few years ago a book came out saying that men will gain masculinity they crave and thereby give more of their heart to God by partaking in adventures in the mountains and drinking with a friend. This struck me odd when I read the book but thats just me so I leave the critiques to myself. Now days its a huge gossip point when a pastor drinks with some of his congregation and “Beer Evangelism” using the “social lubricant” is on the rise. Some churches even meet at a pub for discussion on current events as they relate to spirituality. I’m not going to lie, that idea is extremely attractive to me. I like the idea of exchanging opinions over cold ones in a pub.(Even though I probably wouldn’t be drinking.)
While I dream of attending Flogging Molly concerts with a pint of Guinness in my fist raised high and singing along to Drunken Lullabies… or being in the middle of a pub chanting along with the GSE firm before a football game…I can’t say thats me. So when I say these things that sound critical I admit that I grew up perhaps a little sheltered in this area.
Most of my friends abstained from alcohol in high school. This was a commonality I had with them but now many not only consume alcohol but do so for getting drunk. For me abstaining from alcohol wasn’t just because I was underage, or even to avoid getting drunk. I wasn’t really counting down the days till I was 21 so that I could drink without becoming a “bad Christian”. I just didn’t do it. I can’t imagine teaching Jet “drinking is ok and even fun but you can’t do it till your 21″. That just sets the wrong mentality about the issue. To me its just another way to wet your whistle or fill your tank.
As for myself I have tried to become a lush several times. Playing in a band for nearly a decade I came across an ale or two. Every time I tried I always felt the same way I did when I first tasted beer. Imagine the face you made when you were a 12 year old drinking cough syrup. Thats me in my 20′s trying to not stick out in bar. Yeah I’m 27 years old with a wife, two kids, and a mortgage and I can’t hardly hold down my liquor… Anyways when you play at these venues you typically get free beer tabs. Usually anywhere from 4 to bottomless mugs. So if your really nice you can have mine.
I can’t say I understand this issue totally and I have not drawn any concrete opinions regarding the culture at large. I drink less than maybe a few times a year and I don’t go to a church that pursues people at bars or has church in a bar. With that said here are some questions I feel are valid and often overlooked. When we drink: Are we thinking of our uncles that have hung themselves while unable to escape from a pit of alcolholism and depression? Are we thinking of a co-worker that cheats on his wife with the bottle? Are we thinking of our Grandfathers that abused our Grandmothers and their children in such a way that it possibly caused a speech pediment that is passed on for generations?
See if I was to use those questions for the sake of my argument only I admit I would feel a little guilty. But thats not why I ask. I ask because those examples come from my life. I wouldn’t expect that to influence you and your choices but its just another side of what is happening everyday.
We try so hard to live “missionaly” serving the poor/homeless and we have churches consuming the very thing that some poor/homeless are dependent on. Just something to think about. I’m sure this comes off like I’m trying to be persuasive, but that is not my intention. Maybe I’ll see you at The Elders concert with a green beer in my hand. Kiwi flavored Kool Aid of course.
Just a dude with a blog that probably shouldn't have one.
I believe all of this is very valid and the idea of alcoholism can render its consequences such as those things mentioned. But where I believe so many Christians fail at on this issue is how we present it to our children. I have seen time and time again so many children (adults now) who were taught alcohol was/is a sin if even consumed. With this type of mentality many of these children (adults now) that I refer to turned to the taste of alcohol just to spite what their parents preached about alcohol being a sin. When we push children hard enough away from something based on un-biblical or based on our perception of things, we know that more times than not because of sin nature we actually push our children into doing the things we so preached to them not to do. I’m not saying alcohol is a good thing either because it certainly has it’s fall outs. But what I would hope more parents would do is to teach their children to respect the effect of over consuming it, and when these things happen it leads to such things as cheating spouses, broken marriages, spouse abuse, etc. See the bible doesn’t say that having a taste of alcohol for purposes of drinking it casual or for the flavor is a sin. The bible lays specific principles down as to what sin is from consuming it, which is becoming a drunkard. With this in mind we have to keep in mind that although we like to point to alcohol as the problem when in reality the real problem lies within the person who abuses the substance. Guns do not kill people, people kill people. Pencils do not right for themselves, people write with pencils. The Bible clearly states that gluttony is a sin yet we never talk about the generational effects of such. We can now see in this country that because gluttony has went so unrecognized that we have country of children who are eating themselves death based on the sin set habits of their parents. In the end we need to teach our children the promises of the bible and lay the down the existence of sin when these types of things are abused, but only when they are abused. Other wise we take a real risk in push our children into something that we stand strongly against!!! Just some food for thought!
Your first point is interesting to me. Particularly because your a teacher…and because you have more than your share of experience with it. One problem I’m seeing is that Christians are so uncultured that it hurts. Maybe if we are a little more familiar with these things it wouldn’t be such a big issue. We have our denominations labeling people sinners as soon as they sip on a brew which doesn’t help either.
There is something to be said about training a child in the way he should go as opposed to “forcing” a child in the way…
I don’t know why but I feel like that is related to how you always talk about teachers aren’t the problem parents are the problem. Is there something we can do about that?
The only way to change someone else’s behavior is to be self-reflective people and to help them be self-reflective. Once a person begins to self-reflect they begin to see that what they originally believed may not be what they really believed at all. By having open dialogue like we are having now speaks volumes. So many times people try to debate, when that happens people are again forcing their beliefs while degrading the value of others opinions. If one could understand the importance of dialogue then the art of persuasion becomes much easier and tramsformation can occur on both ends.
Talking about the choice and the consequence of choice is also very powerful. For example in my class I will always explain to my students that I have no power over you, you can make any choice you want: for example you can choose to blurt out in my class, but if you choose so you must understand that there is a consequence from such behavior and that consequence stems from the decision I make as your teacher. Sometimes the consequence will be community service that I provide or it will be more time spent with me to dialogue about the choices we have and how to make better more educated choices, based upon what the student knows already, but being guided by me. This gives them buy in to the future decisions that they make. Much like life people always have the freedom to act but must understand that each action has a consequence whether positive or negative. Surprisingly this understanding is not something that we are naturally born with it is something that we learn over time, through experience, and from teachers/parents. But even more surprising is the fact that more than a quarter of adults can not process this whole concept and that is why we have prisons. I’m rambling now so I’m finished!!! LOL
Both of you make very good points. I think what you are saying is that the key is moderation, and I would agree. Taking a “Holier Than Thou” approach could potentially be just as damaging as taking the “life is short, drink up” approach. I could go on all day about my experiences in college since it seemed like every social situation revolved around alcohol, but I digress. With the Holy Spirit’s conviction I can now see my past mistakes involving alcohol, and I can attest to the fact that there are so many more negatives than positives when it comes to consuming alcohol. I can come up with a litany of negatives, some of which you both have already mentioned: abusive/aggressive behavior, acts of foolishness that you later regret, hangovers, drinking and driving, alcohol addiction, separation from God, detriment to your liver, detriment to your brain, etc. The positive list is much shorter: ??????I can’t think of any other than a glass of beer or wine may help you wash down your food or help you bond with a friend. I believe as Christians, rather than scoff and judge someone who is relying heavily on alcohol as a source of happiness, we should have compassion for them, pray for them, and show them that there is a better way…The Way. (As the apostle Paul states in Romans, we all fall short right? Who are we to judge?) I can testify that knowing Christ brings infinitely more joy than dousing your liver with a bottle of vodka…and without the hangovers of course.
Adam-very well stated!
Yeah I agree. Its such a blessing to have friends with sound minds on the issue. Who wants to meet at The Peanut tonight for wings and a brewsky?
…..what?
Peanut what, hook it up what, alright what! I’ll Bark at you later DOG!!!