Why I don't Drink
- notpopular110
- Jan 17, 2018
- 6 min read
I turned 21 recently, and for some people they have been looking forward to this for years and years. However, for me it was just another birthday. I NEVER would have imagined how many times people would ask me why I don't drink alcohol. I don't think drinking is wrong, for the most part. I do think its wrong to drink underage because God says to obey the government. Romans 13:1 "Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God." I try not to hang out with people if they are drinking underage because I believe that I would be condoning it if I did. I do think its wrong to get drunk. Ephesians 5:18 "And don’t get drunk with wine; because that will ruin your life. Rather, be filled with the spirit!" I have plenty of reasons why I don't drink. I'm not saying I'll never have a alcoholic drink in my life either, but I'll explain why I'll be choosing water and milk, a large majority of the time. I'm not here to criticize anyone for drinking or try to persuade you differently, and I'm not saying its an horrible, awful sin, Jesus did drink after all. But, because so many people ask me, and it's very easy for me to answer with a short sentence about why I don't drink; I think it would be a benefit to explain more in depth why I have decided not to drink.
One of the reasons I don't drink is because I have seen the negative affects it has. I know plenty of people who have become addicted to alcohol, some have recovered remarkably from it and others haven't. I have seen not only the sad affects it has on the person but I've seen the affects it has on EVERYONE around them. I know what you'll say, "I won't get addicted. It won't be me." But that is what EVERYONE says. No one wants to get addicted and no one thinks they'll get addicted. But, once you get addicted it is VERY hard to overcome that. And the negative affects of alcohol don't only happen when someone is addicted. People get killed by others deciding to drink and drive one time. In excess, it can ruin different parts of your body and mind. So while I have personally seen dozens of negatives, I haven't seen any positives of drinking alcohol that I believe out way the negatives. So based on that alone, I don't drink.
1 Corinthians 10:23
Everything is lawful’, but not everything is helpful. ‘Everything is lawful’, but not everything builds you up.
Another reason I don't drink is because drinking; honestly, has never been something that I desired. I never really thought about it. My parents don't drink and most of our family and friends don't drink that much if at all, at least when I've seen them. I got invited to maybe two parties when I was in high school, and I'm pretty sure both invitations were sarcastic because they knew I wouldn't come. I had plenty of friends who didn't drink and I had the BEST time in high school. I kinda see alcohol as an insult to myself, like why would I want to act differently than how God made me. He made me fun, he made me happy, he made me weird and I don't need anything to change or alter that. People label others as weird if they dance like fools completely sober but if they do the same thing with alcohol they are perfectly normal. I have had so much fun in my life... all without alcohol. Also, since I didn't grow up around alcohol, the atmosphere of people drinking makes me uncomfortable. When I came to college, drinking was normal, and I had to get used to the fact that a majority of people drank, period. Which may seem normal to you, but it was completely new to me. I also had to ask myself what role I wanted alcohol to play in my life. And because of this, I realized that I had gone places where people were drinking with people just to have friends and do something, even if I was uncomfortable with it. This was big for me because I decided my sophomore year of college, that I would not participate, as best I could, in anything that made me uncomfortable. No matter if other people were comfortable with it. Because when I did something that was uncomfortable with me, I was not happy, I was not having fun, I was not my wonderful self that God made me.
Psalm 139:14
I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it full well.
Yet another reason I don't drink is because in my opinion in our society drinking leads to idolatry. We think drinking is so important. It brings out a wild side, it helps you bond with friends, it becomes the favorite past time. You can't do anything without having alcohol involved. . It becomes a normal occurrence to not remember what you did last night. You spend more time partying and drinking than studying God's word and worshiping Him. It suddenly become okay to go to church hungover or skip it all together to recover from a wild night. And honestly I already have enough idols without drinking. I fail daily at overcoming idolatry with netflix, social media, friends, school, etc. I try daily to put God first but I fail daily as well. So if I can prevent myself from having another thing that gets in the way of my pursuit to Christ why wouldn't I? Just like anything, if you put too much energy or time into it it can become an idol. It can distract you from the path God has for you. It can come in between you and Christ. So why would I want to partake in something that is not beneficial.
2 Corinthians 4:18
So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
Those are the main three reasons I don't drink. I've seen the negative affects, I want to actively embrace the person God made me to be, and I am trying my hardest to put God first in everything I do. By using our time wisely we are able to learn more, experience more, and live life better by dedicating time to God. It's not only important to share God's love with our words but also with our actions. So I try to partake in things that will lead me closer to Christ. And for me drinking is not one of those things. And through my faith journey I have learned that not drinking not only brings me closer to God, but it gives me an avenue to share my faith. I haven't always used that avenue in the way that I think the Holy Spirit has wanted me to but I will try my best now.
On earth we have two jobs. To know Christ and to help others know Christ. We need to spread the word that drinking, drugs, money, power, or anything else on this earth will not make us happy, not permanently. We have to let others know that what we do on this earth does not matter as much as what we believe on this earth and what we do to help others know that truth about Christ. That when our life is done, our actions could have been the difference between eternal life and eternal death for someone else. So what are you setting your mind on? How are you spending your time? Is it glorifying God or idols. Is it teaching you more about God's grace? Is it preparing you to be a better witness for Christ's church?
Colossians 3:1-4
If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
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