I like to party, drink and have a good time

I like to party, drink and have a good time. Does this sound weird coming from a youth minister, from someone who disagrees with drunkenness and underage drinking? It shouldn’t sound weird at all; it only does because the evil one is cunning. He has stolen words and ideas from the Creator of pleasure and all good things. He is a thief – plain and simple. He didn’t create good times, fun or parties; but he often perverts them for his destructive purposes. The devil wants to convince us that real fun and joy only come from walking away from God (sin); he wants us to view God and pleasures as polar opposites. In my opinion, he’s done a darn good job.

On retreats, we often ask the question in small groups with high school students, “What obstacles keep young people from making good choices and staying close to Christ.” Teens almost always refer to being influenced by friends and media. They are being told, “The real fun is in sin; the only fun is in sin! God is boring. You’ll have to sit at home or in a church all day if you stay close to God or do the ‘right thing.’” I cannot tell teens I like to drink and party because their minds immediately go to sin. They’ve believed the lie and so do most of us adults. This is all part of our sinful nature – not our redeemed nature.

But, Satan doesn’t stop his perversions with the way we recreate. The evil one continues to attack all that is inherently good in and of itself. “Give me some lovin’” We all need lovin’ – real love. “I’m a great lover.” Jesus was the best lover but he never had sex. “I’m pro-choice.” Me too – it’s called “free will” – an awesome gift from God. “When life becomes a burden, it should end.” Let’s all die, then, because who isn’t a burden to someone else at numerous times throughout life!?!

How did the words “pro-choice” become associated with killing innocent life? How did the word “love” become the title for sex whether it’s in a loving, marital relationship or not? How did “life becoming a burden” become synonymous with the idea of terminating life? He’s sneaky, isn’t he? Because almost all of us accept the evil one’s connotations without question. We need to stop accepting lies! Isn’t the beauty of LIFE about CHOOSING to carry each other’s BURDENS? Isn’t this where real LOVE resides?

And, aren’t the best parties and celebrations in cooperation with a noble task – two lives giving of themselves for the other (marriage), victory after a challenging, burdensome situation, honoring the life of a dear loved one. Although I’m not married, I’m willing to bet the best sex comes after a married couple chooses to work through a difficult time. I know my dear friend Nikki and even her family experienced some of the strongest love of their lives in the months preceding her slow death to cancer. Even my best times out “partying and drinking” were with friends who were of legal age and kept the alcohol consumption (but not the fun) in moderation. In fact, at some of the best parties I’ve been to people weren’t drinking at all.

So, as Christians, we should be mindful of the deceitful tactics of the evil one and work as citizens of the Kingdom of God to reclaim what has been stolen. Instead of merely focusing on why sin is bad – shutting the door to the only fun many friends and family members may know – let’s also open wide the door of pleasure, fun and fulfillment God had originally planned for our lives. We all walk back into sin when they’re only told, “don’t do it.” Yet, we don’t have the time to walk back into sin when we’re busy embracing real life, as it was meant to be! Through the redemption of Christ, this is not only possible, it’s our path to eternal bliss in Heaven. Remember what God says, “Behold, I make all things new.” Rev. 21:5