Keep Your Chains to Yourself Part 2: Consumption of Alcohol

That title caught your opinion... you either got really excited about it or you were very repulsed by it. Stay with me on this...

Have you ever noticed that a chain is not a chain without many "links"... one builds off the other until you find yourself weighted down. Over the last 8 years I've had many students ask me about alcohol and what I think about it. Usually because they either want to be corrected or vindicated for their choices.

Well, here you go... I believe that alcohol consumption varies based on where you live. Italians in Italy or Germans in Germany are going to be different than say America. Some children are raised their entire lives with wine on the dining room table and certain wines go with certain meals. Who am I to tell them that is not of God?

In America, expecially with the 17-26 crowd, we see university students "binge" drinking. Meaning that they drink as much as they possibly can.

I think that the real issue isn't the alcohol... the alcohol is simply a vessel being used as a release.

What you should really ask yourself is why do I drink? The honest answers that I usually get revolve around two areas.

1) Rebellion
2) Escapism

Rebellion, is where someone told them that they couldn't drink so they're going to show them. Even if it was a parent years and years before. It's usually birthed out of anger. The second is escapism. Escapism is a tougher category. Maybe they feel like they've had a rough day and "deserve" it... maybe they are lonely, frustrated, angry, questioning the hand they've been dealt, etc.

Every person needs to make their own decisions when it comes to this issue. Some regard it as gray area. The Bible may not address whether or not to drink specifically but it does give us a little information on how to navigate this area...

1 Cor 6:19: "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; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body."

Speaking against "drunkeness":
Eph 5:18
Proverbs 23:21
1 Cor 6:10
Luke 21:34
Romans 13:13
Galations 5:21
I Peter 4:3

Some things to think about, not just with Alcohol but anything is:
Will this in any way harm my body?
Will this put me in a position or state to not be able to make decisions that would honor God?
Is there any reason, rebellion or desire to escape that may be leading my choices right now?
If Jesus were physically standing right in front of me right now would I still be doing this?

Personally, I choose not to consume. I want to be built up in the Lord, not the world. But, that's my personal conviction, not a universal command. Don't get them confused.