I wonder: Are parties bad?
In answering this type of question, it’s tough not to sound heavy handed. After all, teenage parties do not exactly have a great reputation. The key word to remember is not yes or no, but why—your motive is the key. If you were honest, you’d have to agree that many of the reasons people party are pretty selfish. Most parties cater to the notion that it’s a person’s right to have good time, especially if it’s not hurting anyone.
It someone is living apart from God, why would he or she think anything different? The Bible agrees that if this life doesn’t matter, then “let’s feast and get drunk, for tomorrow we die!” (1 Corinthians 15:32) The motive behind going to parties is what God is most concerned about. If it’s to get drunk, take drugs, pick up the opposite sex, then God wouldn’t want you at parties. The motive might be to be seen with the “cool” people. Being with certain people sometimes may help you feel accepted and even popular, but God accepts you as you are—and His acceptance is more important than anyone else’s.
Jesus isn’t against parties. He went to parties, and was, in fact, the life of the party! But His motives were entirely different from the selfish ones described above. He went to show that He accepted them, to communicate truth about the character of God, and to celebrate life (see Mark 2:13-17)
Should you do the same? Perhaps, but there are a few questions to consider:
· Have you grown sufficiently in your faith that you will not be tempted if there is pressure to drink (or whatever)?
· Do you know someone who will go with you, so you can encourage each other to stay clean?
· Are you going as a light or as a hammer? That is, do you genuinely want to help those in darkness, or do you want to pound on them to feel good about your “moral” lifestyle?
· Is there a chance that you could be found “guilty by association”? When others hear you were at the party, how will they know you didn’t drink? Is it worth the hassle it may cause in making sure your reputation stay intact?
· What do you parents think about attending that party? Would you have to not tell them in order to go?
Remember, motive is the key. But even with good motives, be cautious. The results of such activities, even with the best of motives, may be more than you can handle
In answering this type of question, it’s tough not to sound heavy handed. After all, teenage parties do not exactly have a great reputation. The key word to remember is not yes or no, but why—your motive is the key. If you were honest, you’d have to agree that many of the reasons people party are pretty selfish. Most parties cater to the notion that it’s a person’s right to have good time, especially if it’s not hurting anyone.
It someone is living apart from God, why would he or she think anything different? The Bible agrees that if this life doesn’t matter, then “let’s feast and get drunk, for tomorrow we die!” (1 Corinthians 15:32) The motive behind going to parties is what God is most concerned about. If it’s to get drunk, take drugs, pick up the opposite sex, then God wouldn’t want you at parties. The motive might be to be seen with the “cool” people. Being with certain people sometimes may help you feel accepted and even popular, but God accepts you as you are—and His acceptance is more important than anyone else’s.
Jesus isn’t against parties. He went to parties, and was, in fact, the life of the party! But His motives were entirely different from the selfish ones described above. He went to show that He accepted them, to communicate truth about the character of God, and to celebrate life (see Mark 2:13-17)
Should you do the same? Perhaps, but there are a few questions to consider:
· Have you grown sufficiently in your faith that you will not be tempted if there is pressure to drink (or whatever)?
· Do you know someone who will go with you, so you can encourage each other to stay clean?
· Are you going as a light or as a hammer? That is, do you genuinely want to help those in darkness, or do you want to pound on them to feel good about your “moral” lifestyle?
· Is there a chance that you could be found “guilty by association”? When others hear you were at the party, how will they know you didn’t drink? Is it worth the hassle it may cause in making sure your reputation stay intact?
· What do you parents think about attending that party? Would you have to not tell them in order to go?
Remember, motive is the key. But even with good motives, be cautious. The results of such activities, even with the best of motives, may be more than you can handle
in "Student's life application Bible"
No comments:
Post a Comment