I Agree

This is another blog installment that was inspired by a blog I ran across on CNN.com. I am posting a link that I hope you will take a moment to to this article and read. http://www.cnn.com/2010/LIVING/09/07/tf.quit.drinking.friends/index.html?hpt=C2

Understand that I am not endorsing this person's lifestyle or language but I recommend reading this article to point out the fact that it is logical to come to this conclusion even if you are not a Christian. Drinking and Evangelical Christianity were once largely mutually exclusive terms. Growing up in church I was taught that drinking alcohol was simply not part of a Christian's life. As far as I am concerned, that teaching has kept me in good stead for 51 years. Not one dui, under age drinking citation, or alcohol related offense has ever been perpetrated by me. Not a single cent has gone to purchase any alcoholic beverages saving me untold thousands of dollars not only in the non-purchase of such beverages but related costs such as accident damages, taxi fares, jail bail, and the like. To me, I think it is smart to not drink all the way around. The upside of drinking? Can't think of anything worth the risk. There simply is no compelling argument to drink. Any pleasure I might get from an alcoholic beverage I can certainly get from something without alcohol. I have NEVER heard anyone say, "I make my best decisions after I have had a few drinks." Why is that?

All of the logic aside, which by the way is plenty enough for me, the Christian testimony aspect of the argument to not drink is also very important to me. I feel drinking alcohol lessens the effectiveness of my Christian testimony. Let's say, I drink a few drinks and despite my attempts to be disciplined about it, I get a little tipsy, or a lot tipsy or just plain drunk. Seeing I have a history of a lack of discipline around food this is not unimaginable. Is this a great way to represent Christ? What difference am I demonstrating that Christ makes in my life? Even not being "tipsy" am I giving Jesus the advantage by holding an alcoholic drink in my hand? I don't think so. By the way, it isn't good to abuse food either, it also lessens my testimony but let's not get sidetracked.

The odd thing? I have been in this person's shoes (the person who wrote the article) many times, most of those times it was a Christian person questioning why I do not drink. Who cares? Why does it bother anyone else? Why is this strange? Is drinking alcohol the admission to a secret society that I don't belong to? The situation is really odd to me.

Does not drinking make me a better person than someone else? Not in God's eyes. It might make me a more productive person or a more responsible person, or less likely to commit an alcohol related crime or stupid decision, but not of more worth to God than the skid row bum. Simply, not drinking alcohol makes me a better me. It makes me closer to the person I want to be. I am not perfect, most likely won't ever completely be perfect but one less area to screw up in is a good idea for me.

So, to those who can live without alcohol, I applaud you. I know there seems to be some leeway in this area as a Christian, but there being so little benefit and so much risk, why? Keep an open mind and heart to the possibility. I think it is a better way.