I was invited to a high school party where there would be underage drinking taking place. As a Christian, I felt that it would be wrong to go to this party despite the fact that everyone there are my good friends. I know that it is not a sin to drink but a sin to be drunk. It is also sinful to break the law. Did I make the right decision?Great Question! Let me try to answer your questions with three points …
1. Parties can be fun opportunities to get together with friends, meet new people, and to relax and enjoy one another’s company. As human beings, God designed us to be social creatures. We live in groups, work in groups, and socialize in groups. So when we desire to party, we are responding to the need for human interaction, fun, and relaxation. The desire for Christian ‘’fellowship” is normal and natural (1 John 1:7). The problem is almost always in regards to parties that involve alcohol, drugs, and/or other illegal activities. Certainly there are non-Christians who can party innocently, but a party that involves things that are illegal and against God’s plan for us must be avoided. As believers, we are to guard ourselves against temptation, remembering that “bad company corrupts good character” (1 Corinthians 15:33). Also, attending parties where sinful or illegal activities occur—even if we don’t participate in them—weakens our witness and brings shame on the name of Christ (Romans 2:24). "Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness" (2 Timothy 2:19).
2. There are those who might see going to parties as an opportunity to share Christ with unbelievers, and while we are to be ready with an answer for the hope within us at all times, that presupposes unbelievers at a party may be interested in the Gospel. Such an opportunity may not arise at a party where drinking, drug use, and illegal activity are occurring. Therefore, while Christians should take every opportunity to fellowship with other believers, we must be discerning about opening ourselves up to temptation or anything that would compromise our life in Christ and our witness to a watching world. At times, silence and being part of the party scene may mean that others hear and believe that we agree and support all the activities at that party by just being there. Remember that there will be other opportunities to share Christ with your friends when they will have a clearer and more sober temperament to consider claims of Christ and what you have to say.
3. The legal drinking age in Ontario is 19 years of age. In other parts of the world it can be as low as 16 years of age and in some countries there is no age limit. In some countries it’s illegal to drink at all! So drinking laws are what we would consider a social law and not a moral law. Scripture does not forbid Christians from drinking beer, wine, or any other drink containing alcohol. Alcohol is not, in and of itself, tainted by sin. It is drunkenness and addiction to alcohol that a Christian must refrain from (Ephesians 5:18; 1 Corinthians 6:12). Based on the laws of Ontario then, Romans 13:1-7 provides guidance: “Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established." The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against authority and the laws of the land is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. This passage makes it clear that we are to obey the government and laws God places over us. God created government to establish order, punish evil, and promote justice (Genesis 9:6; 1 Corinthians 14:33; Romans 12:8).
So based on your question, the points that you made and the discussion above: Great call!
[Answered by Ray Lee, Summer Intern]
