Drinking and Social Partying

[Troubled]

Hi to everyone here. I am fellow end time message believer and as my first post, I'll be asking you about an issue that's been troubling me all throughout my young life: what do I say to my friends outside of church when it comes to me not drinking alcohol?

I am a youth and everytime I got to this situation I am a bit embarassed and I feel like I have to explain things to them that they would not even hear or even consider because to them drinking in public places is normal. I've done my own research and found out that it is not really a sin to drink wine, but the sin comes from the person itself when he had too much and he's doing things that are annoying people (if I'm not wrong its what we call the spirit of wine and the like). Even our Lord Jesus Christ turned water into wine in a wedding.

This situation makes me feel like im socially disabled/incapacitated since entering highschool up to now that I'm starting my first job because I know that they're good people, they can be good friends but everytime they do things that are not in line with I believe, I feel like I have to avoid them and I always feel uncomfortable being with them.

What do I do when I enter into situations like this?

[April Joy Culong]

God bless you brother for sharing you concern here.
Know what, di lang ikaw ang dumaranas ng ganyan, halos lahat ng kapatiran dumaan jan pero lahat naman naging matagumpay na nalagpasan ang ganyang issue. I'm also 1 of the youth na ganyan din ang problem before. Thanks God I'm through with it. What i did kasi inspite of embarrassment na di maki-join sa kanila, pinakikita ko lang na kahit anung sabihin nila ok lang saken. Be extra nice to them. Add more patience and temperance...ganun. Magsasawa rin naman sila kakapuna eh. It's right to share the message pero kung ayaw nila pakinggan, auz lang din. PRAY 4 THEM nalang. Di naman kasi lahat kayang tanggapin ang message eh. Basta do your part. DISPLAY YOUR LIFE AS A LIVING TESTIMONY.

Hope this simple share will help you.

Again...Godbless You!

[Jonathan Togonon]

When I was your age I used to feel the same way. Peer pressure always got me. I wanted to serve God but I cannot let go of my friends in the world. Sure they're nice to people too. But one thing was sure, we lived in two different worlds: I live in a world where God is King, Lord and Supreme, while they live in this world where Satan is god.

I realized one day that I cannot live in both worlds and expect to make it to the Rapture. I decided to completely live for God and give up trying to please my friends in order to be accepted. I accepted my God-designed destiny and I was set free!

So here's my 0.2 cents:

First, acknowledge that you are God's child, and therefore you live for Him alone. You live to please God, and you can only do that by believing and abiding in His Word.

Second, stop trying to please your friends. If they cannot accept you for what you are and what you believe, I must say they are not your "true" friends. Your real friends are those who not only respect your faith but also believe the same as you do.

Third, don't try to explain everything to everyone. You don't have to. Do this only if you're asked, and you can do it straightforward and as plainly as you can, in love. If they cannot agree with you, let them be and don't fret about it.

Fourth, live the normal Christian life and be consistent with it.

Paul says in Romans 12.2 - And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Remember Daniel and the 3 Hebrews who left a powerful testimony by living out their faith in God.

Be blessed!

[soong.see.choo]

My parents did not hold a tight rein on the children’s social life. They trusted their children to exercise wisdom, such as in the type of company we kept. I was an easy-going jovial guy, proud to always claim "I am a free-thinker", not really knowing what it meant, anyway.

Just following the trend

In 1982, at the age 19, I was offered an apprenticeship scheme in aircraft maintenance in Singapore. During my first year, my eldest paternal uncle accommodated me in his family's 3-rooms apartment flat. He worked as a taxi driver. Life styles and social interactions here (in Singapore) were entirely different from my hometown. Every one seemed very busy with personal careers and lives. For family members to have dinner together was a rare thing except during the Chinese Lunar New Year. During such festivities all my cousins, nephews and nieces will meet for re-union meals to catch-up and to update each other on our "well-being", progress or achievements in life, etc.

Living in the atmosphere of an affluent and prospering society, I was caught up with many ideas and aspirations to get rich quick (monetary wise). The salary as an aircraft maintenance technician did not look attractive to me any more. Through a colleague, I joined a social "jog-cum-drinking" club (called Seletar Hash House Harriers). Here, I befriended a wide spectrum of people. There were those with professional status: doctors, bankers, musicians, engineers, lawyers, teachers besides soldiers, salesmen, drunkards and the unemployed. Such club is found all around the world. Once a week, the members would rendezvous at a place to play games and have some fun. Almost always there was a van around with a free flow of beer and other drinks. Fun was always song-singing mixed with vulgarity and drunken shouting. Such a stupored state would continue till the wee hours of the morning. Here, I experienced the "Lifestyle of the (frustrated) Rich and Not-So-Famous" people.

A year after I moved to share a one-room apartment flat with two colleagues. I was free from cares to enjoy the "bachelors' club" independent lifestyle, or so I thought. I never give much thought to wisdom, virtues or the things of God. I just follow the trends. I took up body building, aspired to be the Asian "Mr. World" some day. I even trained to be Mr. Ironman (Triathlon) of Singapore. Triathlon is a sports competition in which competitors swim 2.5km, cycle 10km, and run 5km. I joined the Youth Adventurer group and canoed around Singapore Island. Scaling the highest peak in West Malaysia, "Gunung Tahan" (Mountain Tahan), I was stung by hornets and nearly died there.

But life went on just the same. On every Chinese festive day, I would help my second uncle, a Taoist priest, at a temple. Devotees would offer chickens, goats or pigs as their worship sacrifices of thanksgivings. The blood of the slaughtered animals was offered on the altar, while their carcasses were cooked and served to worshippers. My parents, aunts and uncles considered me to be a faithful and filial son.

Conversion
(go to My Testimony post for details...)

[Maria Carla B. Pozon]

That is just normal brod. We believers will never be equally yoke with unbelievers. But it doesn't mean we have to neglect and judge them. Just continue living the Word of God. Just continue your life living and showing examples to your friends about the Word of God. Just share them the Word of God and pray for them. Do not be so much affected by thier reactions. To unbelievers that is normal to them and we should know that and understand that that will always be their reaction coz they don't have revealiton from The Lord about His Word. God bless you bro.

[soong.see.choo]

THE PERILS OF ALCOHOL

There is a part somewhere in the book of Proverbs which tell the woes and conditon of a person given in by wine/alcohol.

Take good courage dear beloved believers who are called to live the rest of this life just to glorify Christ Jesus, your Lord and my Lord.

Just share with your friends, If the advertisements are to be believed, alcohol can give you access to a jovial group of back-slapping contemporaries, make you irresistible to the most attractive members of the opposite gender , confer upon you elevated social status, and empower you to cope psychologically with the angst of modern existence.

Of course, advertisements are not to be believed.

Be sober friend and let your blessed life be a real lifesize "billboard" for Christ. That the soul of human is supposed to get high on the Holy Spirit. Right?

[Minister: Bro John Imperiale Jr]

Greetings in the Name of the Lord,
The word of God always has our answer to any questions we have. First I would like to say if these so called friends are making you stubble or backslide it is best to find new friends. The word states to abstain from the very appearance of evil. I THESSALONIANS 5:21-23 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil. And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and [I pray God] your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

There are many good people in the world, yet many good people will wind up in hell. It is best to move on with your life, that is what being born again is about, to be a new creature in Christ, put on the mind of Chirst. Many of us had to leave our old aquaintances, we had to forget those things that are behind and to press on to mark of the high calling in christ.

God may not be calling your friends to be a part of the endtime message or the Bride. It is best to find some new friends
PROVERBS 20:1
1 ¶ Wine [is] a mocker, strong drink [is] raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.
So a wise man will not be decieved by this.

Have you ever noticed the local bars? or taverns? or night clubs? many say on the window FOOD & SPIRITS the spirits represent alchohal. When a person starts to drink they get a SPIRIT ON THEM! most crimes and most things mans does is motivated by a spirit, and the only way to stop doing thoses things is to be delivered from that spirit.

I would suggest to not hang out with people who stubble you or effect your walk with the Lord. Bro John