by Trisha Bridges Smith
It’s Friday night. Everyone has been talking about THE party in the hills ALL week long. Your friends are all going and want you to go, too. YOu know what kind of party it is going to be and you know how much trouble you would get in if you went…. But something deep inside of your wants to go….
So what do you do?
Christian students face this question a lot. We long to join the fun, to be part of that “in” crowd that labels you the Christian goody- goody. You know if you do go your witness may be ruined… yet by choosing not to participate in the drinking and such you COULD be awintess in and of itself. Or you could be labeled a priggish goody two shoes party pooper.
Let’s examine the choice and possible outcomes. Then you can weigh the options and decide for yourself what you would do.
Option 1: Go to the Party
You decide to go. You get all gussied up, you smell great, you have looked better. You arrive at the party. Someone passes you a beer…. Do you take it?
*Yes – You take it and gag it down. Icky stuff ain’t it? People slap you on the back and encourage you to have more. You smile weakly, knowing that what you are oding is NOT what Jesus would do. You have made the friends you longed for, you have removed that “Christian kid” label though, and no one will listen to you when you talk to them about becoming a Christian, because face it, why should they listen to YOU talk about life changing when you party just the same as they do?
*No – You say “No thanks” with a smile, or “Nah, Jesus wouldn’t do that” or maybe even joke about “I don’t want to ruin my girlish figure” and then joke about forgetting your puke covering breath mints at home and go on your way. You continue to do your own thing, showing them all that Christians CAN and DO have a good time without alcohol. (It is fun to mess with drunk people too! Oh wait, scratch that. That is not being very Christlike [But it IS still fun]) Thus the ball is in their court now. Either they laugh at you and call you the party pooping prude or they accept it and see that you ARE cool. No matter what they say outloud they WILL be thinking “Wow, something is different about that person…. I wonder what….”
Think about it. Words sometimes fall on deaf ears but how we live can speak volumes. How YOU live your life CAN and DOES affect the lives of others. How many people are you leading AWAY from Jesus by your lifestyle? And how many people are coming to know Him becuase they see you living for Him?
Option 2: Do Something Else
You opt to find something else to do. You call up some friends, grab a bunch of movies, pop tons of popcorn, and flake on the couch. Or you go out and play pool, go bowling, hit the arcades, cruise around, etc.
Your choice to stay away from teh party protects you from getting hurt. AND you don’t jeopardize your witness. True you don’t make points for joining their “fun” (but seriously, how much fun is losing control of yourself and puking your insides out?), but you also don’t risk getting into trouble.
Ultimately YOU must decide. What will you do? Go and party, go and witness, or find something else to do? The choice is yours. But remember…. God IS watching, no matter what you do. He lives within you. Let your light shine before all men. Don’t hide it away.
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