Getting Drunk
Some, in fact most of you may disagree with what I have to say, but I urge you to read on anyway.
Alcohol is not a bad substance. It is enormously used in a variety of ways in health care; in cough syrup, as a sterilizing agent, etc. I've also seen the disastrous effect of alcohol on the body, mostly to the liver and the GI system. Therefore, as are most things in life; its not an absolutely good or bad thing. It exists in the grey area where we constantly hear our mothers voice saying: "too much of a good thing is a bad thing!"
I'm writing this article at the moment because I've been recently riled up by the amount of people and friends that have let alcohol take the better of them. As far as my opinion goes in this matter, I would take my reference from the bible which has given me a clear understanding of ethics in the past. You may throw at me several counter verses ("a little alcohol is good for the stomach...") but one of the basic verses which will hold true is simply: 1 Corinthians 6:19 "Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the holy spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own."
Now i'm not against people drinking occasionally (I do it myself), nor is the bible. Because a small amount of the substance is not enough to harm the body or the mind, so you are not fouling the sacredness of your body. But more than that, especially when people drink not for taste but to get the inebrient (high) effects of it; it changes the mental and physical states of the person, for the worse.
You may justify it by saying you're a binge drinker, which means it can't possibly cause any long term effect if you do it once a month.. Putting aside the fact that addiction of the substance can creep into a person at any time, let me take you through what happens at the moment you cross the limit into that inebrient state.
Most people describe it as loosing all inhibitions and letting loose, free to finally share what sorrows or joy you've been holding inside, to open up to your friends like never before. Some, i'm afraid do it because everyone else is drinking and the discomfort and inability to understand "the fun" makes them fall to the temptation. A feeling of belonging if you will.
This is what I've realized. A person who is drunk is not loosing themselves to all inhibitions. Rather they are being taken over, like slaves by the substance. Making them do and say things they normally wouldn't. And being taken over by something is dangerous because it means the holy spirit inside is being quenched. You may say 'Its ok, what's the difference. If that's so we're just moving from spirit to spirit.' But you're not! The holy spirit thankfully is one that gives us the free will to do anything. It never possess us to do something we don't want to. Alcohol however makes you do things you will regret.
A more personal outlook is this: that people think they need the substance to express themselves, when in actuality they loose themselves and decide that this is the only way they can have fun. A far worse thought is that I think they know that, and they do it anyway because they feel that being themselves without any influence is never going to match up to their standard of 'fun'.
For me that's a very upsetting thought, which brings two points in my mind:
One, that I have failed my friends in not providing the right opportunity/ attitude/ environment/ concern for them to share with me whatever they feel they want to when they are high. Nor have I portrayed the beauty and joy of being in the lord and how exciting a life of righteousness can actually be. We as Christians have not provided a proper alternative. One look at us, living a life unworthy of the joy that actually comes with it and who would not prefer to look in the other direction which makes more noise and has countless ad campaigns, doing a brilliant job of publicizing more than what it has to offer; while we sit idle and give a preview of hardly 10% of what life in the kingdom of God is like (supposed to be).
Two, that people think they; being the people God made them to be and being loved as they are by close friends and family, are not good enough. And that drinking would add a more fun version of themselves that they believe would satiate the relentless insatiable social structure. This is inspite of the fact that God made them and said 'it was good' and the countless friends and family that have loved them altruistically.
To them I have to say: you're better than this. You're better and are invited to a life of freedom with God. You're better than to let yourself be captive by a substance such as this. Sober up and start having genuine conversations with the people you know and love instead of trying to satiate those who don't. Your body is not your own so don't spoil it. If you didn't understand that last statement, it implies you should start looking for a purpose.
Eric
Some, in fact most of you may disagree with what I have to say, but I urge you to read on anyway.
Alcohol is not a bad substance. It is enormously used in a variety of ways in health care; in cough syrup, as a sterilizing agent, etc. I've also seen the disastrous effect of alcohol on the body, mostly to the liver and the GI system. Therefore, as are most things in life; its not an absolutely good or bad thing. It exists in the grey area where we constantly hear our mothers voice saying: "too much of a good thing is a bad thing!"
I'm writing this article at the moment because I've been recently riled up by the amount of people and friends that have let alcohol take the better of them. As far as my opinion goes in this matter, I would take my reference from the bible which has given me a clear understanding of ethics in the past. You may throw at me several counter verses ("a little alcohol is good for the stomach...") but one of the basic verses which will hold true is simply: 1 Corinthians 6:19 "Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the holy spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own."
Now i'm not against people drinking occasionally (I do it myself), nor is the bible. Because a small amount of the substance is not enough to harm the body or the mind, so you are not fouling the sacredness of your body. But more than that, especially when people drink not for taste but to get the inebrient (high) effects of it; it changes the mental and physical states of the person, for the worse.
You may justify it by saying you're a binge drinker, which means it can't possibly cause any long term effect if you do it once a month.. Putting aside the fact that addiction of the substance can creep into a person at any time, let me take you through what happens at the moment you cross the limit into that inebrient state.
Most people describe it as loosing all inhibitions and letting loose, free to finally share what sorrows or joy you've been holding inside, to open up to your friends like never before. Some, i'm afraid do it because everyone else is drinking and the discomfort and inability to understand "the fun" makes them fall to the temptation. A feeling of belonging if you will.
This is what I've realized. A person who is drunk is not loosing themselves to all inhibitions. Rather they are being taken over, like slaves by the substance. Making them do and say things they normally wouldn't. And being taken over by something is dangerous because it means the holy spirit inside is being quenched. You may say 'Its ok, what's the difference. If that's so we're just moving from spirit to spirit.' But you're not! The holy spirit thankfully is one that gives us the free will to do anything. It never possess us to do something we don't want to. Alcohol however makes you do things you will regret.
A more personal outlook is this: that people think they need the substance to express themselves, when in actuality they loose themselves and decide that this is the only way they can have fun. A far worse thought is that I think they know that, and they do it anyway because they feel that being themselves without any influence is never going to match up to their standard of 'fun'.
For me that's a very upsetting thought, which brings two points in my mind:
One, that I have failed my friends in not providing the right opportunity/ attitude/ environment/ concern for them to share with me whatever they feel they want to when they are high. Nor have I portrayed the beauty and joy of being in the lord and how exciting a life of righteousness can actually be. We as Christians have not provided a proper alternative. One look at us, living a life unworthy of the joy that actually comes with it and who would not prefer to look in the other direction which makes more noise and has countless ad campaigns, doing a brilliant job of publicizing more than what it has to offer; while we sit idle and give a preview of hardly 10% of what life in the kingdom of God is like (supposed to be).
Two, that people think they; being the people God made them to be and being loved as they are by close friends and family, are not good enough. And that drinking would add a more fun version of themselves that they believe would satiate the relentless insatiable social structure. This is inspite of the fact that God made them and said 'it was good' and the countless friends and family that have loved them altruistically.
To them I have to say: you're better than this. You're better and are invited to a life of freedom with God. You're better than to let yourself be captive by a substance such as this. Sober up and start having genuine conversations with the people you know and love instead of trying to satiate those who don't. Your body is not your own so don't spoil it. If you didn't understand that last statement, it implies you should start looking for a purpose.
Eric
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