Alcohol
"shudder moments"
50 Reasons Why I Don’t Drink
By Jamie Morgan
I am a Christian and I don't drink. I am also a
pastor and ex-alcoholic. I need to make that disclaimer right up front.
Although it makes me biased, it also makes me an expert on this hotly debated
issue.
Some of the worst "shudder moments"
of my life have been under the influence, and as a pastor, some of the worst "shudder
moments" I have witnessed in the lives of others have been because
of alcohol. You have come too late to tell me it's God's best for a Christian
to drink.
We are living in a church age where drinking
has become "hipster" for some. Christian young adults post pictures
of their signature drink on Facebook.
Middle-aged Christian women name-drop their
favorite brand of Pinot Grigio to impress their wine snob friends. Churches
send direct-mail postcards that read, "Give our church a shot!"
featuring an edgy shot glass graphic. Even some pastors drink. Not this
one.
I stopped drinking when I became a Christian 26
years ago. No one told me to abstain. I just knew it would be contradictory and
self-defeating to my relationship with Christ. I had given my life to follow
Jesus and nothing was going to hinder my walk. For me, it was a
no-brainer.
This article is not a theological defense on
the topic of Christians and alcohol (another article for another time), but it
is a heartfelt plea. I humbly ask you to table any knee jerk, pro-alcohol,
fight-for-my-right-to-drink arguments that you have ever heard, or made, and
prayerfully consider this list.
Here are the 50 reasons
why I don't drink:
1. I can't be sober-minded if I'm not
sober.
2. Alcohol has an assignment: destruction.
3. Alcohol is a depressant. Anything that
depresses should be avoided at all costs.
4. I don't want to make my brother or sister
stumble in the name of exercising my "Christian liberties." My choice to drink could lead to someone's
demise.
5. Alcohol skews my judgment.
6. Alcohol leaves me worse, not better.
7. What I do in moderation, my children will do
in excess.
8. Even the unsaved know I shouldn't drink.
Bible in one hand, beer in the other — any lost person could point this out as
a confusing contradiction.
9. Alcohol doesn't
bring others closer to the Lord when they see me drinking, but
further away.
10. Alcohol doesn't bring me closer
to the Lord when I drink, but further away.
11. I want to be fully awake and ready for the
return of Christ, not drowsy, sluggish, or hung over.
12. Show me a family for whom alcohol has made
a positive difference in their lives. You won't be able to.
13. I have never heard anyone say, "Wow,
that gin and tonic made me feel so Christlike!"
14. I want to avoid all appearances of
evil.
15. Alcohol makes it much harder for me to
practice the fruit of self-control.
16. Alcohol causes me to lose my filter.
17. Alcohol is a legal mind-altering
drug.
18. Alcohol is addictive.
19. Alcohol is a numbing agent for pain and
sorrow only Jesus can heal.
20. Many regrets are associated with alcohol. (I
can give you a whole bunch!)
21. No one has ever said, "If only I had
taken a drink, things wouldn't have gotten out of control."
22. Alcohol causes me to act in ways I normally
wouldn't.
23. Alcohol kills brain cells.
24. Alcohol is a counterfeit and provides a
false peace.
25. The Bible says that no drunkards will enter
the kingdom of God. Being drunk starts with one drink. I don't want to see how
far outside the lines I can color when eternity is at stake.
26. Alcohol is a waster — money, gifts and
talents, destinies, and so on.
27. Alcohol leads to really bad behavior. It is
a factor in 50 percent of violent crimes.
28. Alcohol distracts and derails you from
living the victorious life for which Christ died.
29. Wisdom is the principle thing that I need
to pursue at all cost; alcohol makes me stupid.
30. Alcohol has ruined many, many
marriages.
31. The only influence I should be
"under" is God's.
32. The Bible tells me to be alert; alcohol
delays my reaction time.
33. If I don't start drinking, I'll never have
to stop.
34. Alcohol severely tarnishes my
testimony.
35. Don't want your teenagers to drink? Yep,
same reasons apply to you.
36. God is holy; alcohol is not.
37. Alcohol and prayer don't mix.
38. Alcohol and Bible study don't mix.
39. Alcohol lowers my resolve to resist
temptation.
40. Alcohol = Brokenness (broken lives, health,
dreams, and so on)
41. When the world sees us drinking, it sends
the message that Jesus isn't enough.
42. Moderate drinking? How about moderate pornography
or moderate heroin use or moderate lying or moderate adultery?
43. Christians are called to live a life of
total surrender and separation from the world.
44. Alcohol makes me forget. It can make me
forget that I am married, that I am saved, and so on.
45. "I don't get drunk. I only have one or
two drinks." If they didn't affect you, you would drink soda.
46. I should never look to the glass or bottle
for joy, which can only be found in the Lord Jesus Christ.
47. Alcohol fills my mind with impure
thoughts.
48. If it could hinder my faith walk or love
walk or dishonor the lordship of Jesus Christ, I need to forsake it.
49. Alcohol doesn't help me run the race that
Jesus has marked before me to finish with more accuracy. It does the polar opposite.
50. For any argument that tries to justify
Christian drinking, there are at least 50 other reasons not to. The writing is
on the wall. It's not God's best for Christians to drink.
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http://penews.org/features/50-reasons-why-i-dont-drink
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