So, about drinking...

Drinking: a social activity and a controversial issue. Growing up, I was taught to view drinking as a negative activity. Something that self-controlled, religious people were safer not doing. I never saw alcohol in my house, and I never saw any of my parents or grandparents drink any. A big reason for this [the lack of drinking alcohol and the negative attitude towards it] was that both sides of my family had a history of people with serious alcohol problems. And this resulted in parts of the next generation choosing to abstain from it altogether. As I grew older [high school and college], I didn't drink because I wasn't old enough, and I didn't want to break the law just so I could drink. When I did turn 21, I was involved in youth ministry at my local church, and our pastor asked us to abstain from drinking publicly in our town [where the youth and their parents would see us]. Part of me did bristle at the thought of someone telling me what I could or couldn't do in my free time, but I accepted the fact that with a leadership role came certain sacrifices of personal rights for the better of everyone else. My kids were more important to me than being able to drink whenever and wherever I wanted to. Post-involvement in youth ministry, I drank occasionally, usually on special occasions or at nicer restaurants. For the most part, my habits are still the same. I'm an occasional drinker. I drink when I want to, but I don't feel like I have to drink all the time or at every social activity. This is just what I'm comfortable with. Sometimes, it seems like other people aren't. For several years now, I have become accustomed to getting the question, "Do you drink?" My customary answer is, "Yes, occasionally, I do." However, the typical response is, "Oh, so you don't drink then." [puzzled face by me] To which I reply, "Actually, I do sometimes, just not all the time, if that's what you mean." Here I might even talk about some of my favorite types of drinks to further illustrate that I do, in fact, drink. [Just a sidenote: I do know that I don't owe this explanation to anyone]. Somehow, I almost always end up labeled as the "one who doesn't drink." It's as if I have a sign on my forehead and no matter what I say to the contrary, I'm stuck with it. Sometimes the conversation ends after the initial one, but many times it doesn't, instead coming up repeatedly. People are just fascinated that I "don't drink." Even if I happen to drink with them chances are I will still get labeled as the person who doesn't drink. This label doesn't matter to me. Clearly, whether or not I drink alcohol has little to no bearing on how I think of myself or who I am as a person. But at times I am curious why other people label my drinking habits the way that they do. I wonder if they really understand how I feel about drinking and why I make the choices that I do?

What is true is that my faith shapes my drinking habits, but it doesn't mean that I think all drinking is wrong. I feel a desire to explain how my faith shapes my drinking habits not because I want to come across as "preachy" or judgmental in any way, but because I want people to understand where I'm coming from - in hope that it will clear up misconceptions and false ideas. I try my best to live by this verse:

Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.

~Ephesians 5:18

In other words, it's not drinking alcohol that is sinful, it's drunkenness and losing self-control that is. Another verse that shapes my life in this area:

Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;²⁰you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.

~1 Corinthians 6:19-20

If my body is not my own but is meant to honor God, I'm more careful about what I do with it. One of the things I'm less likely to do is get drunk because if I lose self-control, I also lose control over my ability to honor God.

Sometimes I'm around other people who are offended by alcohol for various reasons. They might have a problem history with it, painful memories associated with it, or personally believe it's wrong/offensive. Do I still have a right to drink alcohol in these situations? Of course. But I try to use this verse to guide my choices:

²³"Everything is permissible"—but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible"—but not everything is constructive.²⁴Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others.

~I Corinthians 10: 23-24

In other words, even though it's my right to drink alcohol when I want to, if it's going to cause someone else pain or upset, I usually try to step back and examine my priorities. What's more important, my relationship with that person and their feelings, or my rights? The Bible is pretty clear that the other person trumps my individual rights in this area.

On a practical, non-religious note, drinking is expensive. I don't drink a lot because it costs a lot of money. Also, it's fattening. I'm honestly trying to be healthier and watch my calories, and having multiple glasses of alcohol is a sure way to blow my goal of limiting calories! All that said, I love to have FUN! It can involve alcohol, but it doesn't have to. Either way, I'm game. The bottom line for me is:

³¹So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

~I Corinthians 10:31