Why I Don't Drink Alcohol

I'm reading "Discerning the Voice of God" by Priscilla Shirer, who, as I've mentioned previously, expresses concepts in a way that just makes sense. In this book, she's encouraging me to listen more and to discern whether what I hear/feel is from God. In a chapter about peace, she addresses the same problem Paul does in Romans 14: embracing our freedom in Christ, but not allowing those freedoms to cause stumbling blocks to other believers. 

"The Holy Spirit will not lead us to do anything that in any way hinders the peace and unity in the body," Priscilla says. She quickly points out that this does not mean waiting for everyone else's approval before doing something. That won't happen. Instead, we should prayerfully refrain from activities that hinder our believing family - those people who are moving forward in their relationships with God (because if they aren't moving, they can't stumble, as Priscilla points out). We need the discernment of God to see when our actions will harm others. 

This brings us back to the title of my post - Why I Don't Drink Alcohol. Alcoholic drinks are not inherently evil. Jesus turned water into wine at a wedding, for example. The Bible tells us to avoid drunkenness, but otherwise we are given the freedom to drink responsibly. But that's a freedom I've been called to pass up. 

You see, I have family history of trouble with alcohol. My parents, praise God, modeled conservative alcohol habits - my mom never drank, and my dad only had a glass of wine here and there. But going back in my family tree there's some history of trouble with alcohol. Even more so on my husband's side. One of the things I admire most about my father-in-law is that he, with a lot of help with God, stopped that dangerous pattern and overcame that addiction. I strongly believe that will positively affect all the generations that come after him. I want to continue in that legacy of freedom from alcoholism. 

So my husband and I have made the decision to abstain from alcohol. The most I've ever had are sips of someone else's drink. I buy cooking wine and occasionally I buy beer to put in my vegetable garden as slug bait. And because that's the way we've always lived, it's not difficult. I don't feel like I'm missing out on anything. I recently heard someone say that something was as inconceivable as "a holiday party without booze", implying that's what makes a party fun. But most of the parties/gatherings I attend either have no or very little alcohol, and I have a great time. It's limiting to think we can only have a good time if certain beverages are present. There's still chocolate and laughter, right? God's placed too many good things in our lives to be "deprived" by abstaining from one of them.

I have freedom in Christ. In this case, I've made a choice. Just because I can do something, doesn't mean I should or have to do it. But that doesn't mean my way is the right way for everyone. Many of my friends drink alcohol in moderation. I have no problem with them drinking in my company. It would be a stumbling block, however, if they drank around people struggling with alcoholism. Or if they drank to a point that it is no longer within the boundaries God has lovingly set for us. 

Discernment is listening for God's voice to tell us which actions, out of many acceptable possibilities, are God's desire for us personally. It's also wisdom in knowing when our actions will negatively affect those around us.