Mad for God or Drunk for the World?

In the 19 years I have lived, it is not that long ago that I struggled with the morality of drinking myself, and seeing my friends waste away. At an early age, growing up as a child of Teen Challenge employees, I learned that drugs and alcohol can lead you down a dangerous and potentially deadly path. The many students of the program, made sure that I saw the importance of keeping away from drugs and alcohol during my teen years. They educated me on the various drugs and their effects, what paraphernalia looks like (so that if I saw it, I wouldn’t pick it up), and the of course, the destruction they has experienced because of drugs and alcohol. For the most part, I have never really seen the attraction to drugs (especially) and alcohol. As for all young teens, a rebellious attitude is common. Thoughts of being invincible from responsibility were also common in my mind. When the accountability I had was removed in my life, some lure to alcohol began to stir.

During my first trip overseas to Europe, in the summer of grade 10, I was surrounded by opportunities to drink. I was so curious about the “cool factor” behind it. On the last evening of our 10-day tour of Germany, Austria, and Czech Republic, we settled into a little Bohemian restaurant for a nice celebration. There before me on the table was a wide spread of pure whiskey, hard vodka, wine, and other hard alcohol. It wasn’t long before the chaperones were incoherent and the students weren’t far behind. Of course, in the Czech it’s not illegal for a 15-year-old, like myself at the time, to drink. So, while the chaperones were incoherent and my parents were on another continent, I mixed my way to a BAD hangover. The worse part was that Czech’s can hold their alcohol well, so the waiter’s kept on refilling the glasses when you weren’t looking. You never knew how much you had drunk. As well, me not being a regular drinker AT ALL, I did not know that you should not mix alcohol. This experience threw me off that path SO FAST! It scared the desire to drink out of me so much that I have not drunken the equivalent of a tall glass of alcohol in approx. 5 years. Even when I have had the chance to drink, I have turned it down. The taste of alcohol sends me into gagging spasms.

The next hurdle I came upon was, “how do I deal with my friends drinking?” My friends hadn’t cared much for alcohol in the earlier grades, but as they got older, that began to change. I didn’t know how to cope with being one of the only ones among them who didn’t drink, who didn’t want to waste away a night or weekend with alcohol. I saw friends in their drunken foolishness give over their sexual purity so easily; let their moral standards slide, and their inhibitions. Everyone began to show differences in their character. Their behaviour when they were incoherent began to show in their coherent state. “Exceptions” began to be made in their lives, which they would have never considered before being in regular habit of practicing their “innocent” past time with alcohol. People became sloppy in their morals, in respect for themselves, and in their behaviour towards others. This was all due to the abusive and sinful culture tied in with alcohol and drugs. Looking back, being with my friends was like sitting in a suss pool of iniquity. I hated every minute of it. Why did I stay? Perhaps I wanted to show them that there was another answer to their unfulfillment; God? Also, I didn’t want to be left all alone. For a time, I had been part of that culture to an extent, but God removed me from being a participant to an onlooker. I had gotten over trying to find a release from my problems in alcohol and drugs (Yes, I was at a time addicted to pharmaceuticals). I was searching for the truth in other things. I have been a Christian for some time, but I had not yet fully found God in His truest sense.

Once I got my head somewhat on my shoulders and my G2 license, I always offered my services to be a designated driver. I would say to everyone, “here’s my mobile number. Ring me whenever you need help, no matter what the time of night.” No one ever called. Even when they knew I would keep my promise, they also knew that I didn’t agree with what they were doing. The very first call I had, hit close to home with my younger brother, less than a year ago. He was going to ride his bike into Byron, down snake hill (we all know how dangerous that is at night) to a party and ride back up the hill drunk. Although my parents would disagree with his attendance, I knew that he would end up drunk and if he hurt himself, or had a fatal accident while riding up snake hill back home, I would not be able to live with myself. I made the difficult decision of driving him to the party, asking him to ring me, and returning to pick him up to go back home. He did ring, and I picked him and three other boys up, who were stoned out of their mind on shrooms. The whole experience blew my mind. How could anyone do that to themselves? When I asked my brother why he gets drunk he replied, “I just want to let everything else melt away and become numb. It’s like a higher state of being that allows me to think of nothing or of things I would not otherwise think about. Reality is too scary.” This spoke to me about the hopelessness in the many young generation. I pleaded with God saying, “is this what I am part of? Please blind my eyes away from this! It causes me so much grief!”

Most recently, I struggled with going into bars with friends, even just to protect them if they were the only female in the group. I felt so uncomfortable, suffocated, by the environment. I wanted to get out even more when a man (approx. 14 yrs older) that was socializing with the group leaned over and kissed me, in the spirit of St. Patty’s day, just missing my lips. When I objected to reciprocating, I was called a tense party pooper. Well, if a strange man kissed you, and wanted one back, wouldn’t you too, refuse? I took a DEEP breath when I got out of there. I fought with my friend’s rationality of being in that environment as a Christian. Yes, one drink is okay, but what kind of display of Christianity are you making in that in environment? What kind of perceptions are you leading on to non-believers about Christians and their lifestyle? What is there in your lifestyle/behaviour that would be so compelling to them to change their lifestyle when they see you socialize in the same manner? This bothered me quite a bit. It was on my mind constantly. I asked myself, “do Christians really rationalize their behaviour like this, in order to push aside their conscience to fulfill their selfish ambitions and desires?

After much moral dilemma and meditation on God’s Word I came to a conclusion with the help of 1 Corinthians 8 (you should read it). You see, the act of walking into a bar is not a sin BUT participating in the culture IS, because those with a weaker conscience (ex. New Christian or unbeliever) will be violated in their ignorance of Christianity. Even if you do not drink, your presence in a place of sin may still tempt you and cause others to stumble. Christ tells us that we are to remove temptations from our lives, not deliberately put ourselves in them! Better yet of all choices, stay clear from the bars and parties! Paul in 1 Corinthians 8, tells us to stay away from entering into grey areas which, can be VERY damaging to not only ourselves, but to those around us as well. Do not go to a party just to stand idly by, while watching the sin go on. You will soon become numb to it too and start to become sloppy in your walk with God. If you volunteer to be a D’nD, wait for your friend/sibling to call you to come for them, or wait outside and pray! Don’t become a part of that culture. Christ was in the world but He was not of it. He was like an objective observer, giving truth to his people. We are too called to be in the world, not of it.

Now, when it come to drinking a glass of wine with dinner or at a special event, make sure that there is no one around you that has a weaker conscience than you will not be led astray. If you violate a weaker conscience, you have sinned against Christ who saved them. God calls us to be wise, not on our own strength, but with the help of the Holy Spirit. The bottom line is, God only offers a black or white choice. We must make our choice, but still act in love toward those who are not living for God’s purpose. We can stand on our principles but we must be careful not to walk in judgement. God has already judged those who have rejected Christ and live in unrighteousness. The trick is finding God’s balance. It is a lesson we have all struggled with at one point.

I believe that God is leading me to ask (even myself), are there any grey areas in your life that you need to confess and get right with Him? Is the path that you are taking influencing others to pursue righteousness or to stray? God says to lay it all down at the foot of the cross to be crucified with Christ. Doesn’t it feel good to choose HIS way? You will always know that you have made the right choice when you experience this awesome joy. Glory be to God! May God richly bless you and keep you as you walk in obedience!


Love In Christ,

Natalie M. Steele

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