A long time ago, I would say around 15 years ago, my sister-in-law Carol asked me a question about my faith in Jesus Christ. She was pretty direct with her questioning as she was spewing some unknown alcoholic beverage all over herself. She asked me why I would want to be a Christian because they are boring and don’t have any fun. As she was vomiting and spitting all over the place, I asked her what was it about what she was doing was fun? I was waiting for her head to start spinning around like in the movie “The Exorcist.” She didn’t make it that far though since she passed out while laying in her own bodily fluids.
I have had other non-Christian friends make similar comments , but not as they are about to pass out. A long time friend of mind has it in their head that people who are Christians doesn’t get to have fun. I have tried to debate friends and strangers, but it stuck with me and there were times I would wonder if there was some awesome fun activity I was missing out on. I know there are a lot of things I don’t like to do, but was there something wonderful waiting for me as I went to church and studied the Word of God?
Not only did Jesus attend the wedding celebration, when they ran out of wine, he made more wine (John 2:3-10). The problem is not with attending an occasional party, the problem is with centering your life around attending parties. The problem is going to a party that results in our losing control and doing things we would not normally do.
- “We should be decent and true in everything we do, so that everyone can approve of our behavior. Don’t participate in wild parties and getting drunk, or in adultery and immoral living, or in fighting and jealousy.” (Romans 13:13 NLT)
- Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.” (Timothy 6:17).
As I reeled over this whole notion that my life must be boring and I was destined to live my life in a way where I wouldn’t be able to enjoy life, I had to laugh about that, lol. At-least to them I was living a life that seemed boring. If we are honest about things, sin can look fun at times. But! looks are deceiving. My sister-in-law Carol has been gone for a number of years. I think around 10 yrs or so. She and I are very different because of our lifestyle choices and faith wise. We are worlds apart.
We had many conversations about my seemingly lack of fun in my life. One night while I was on the phone to her, which was rare since we didn’t have any common ground besides my husband Chuck is her husband’s brother. I figured this night I would humor her and ask her to point out to me what it was that I was missing in my life because I am a Christian. So, here is her list of things in a nut shell.
- I can’t go to the bars and hang out with friends while drinking. If I got to drunk the taxi cabs will give me a free ride home. OK
- There are all of these casinos and if you are playing the games they will give you free drinks. OK
- Strip Poker is a ton of fun and the more friends you can find to play, the more fun we could have. OK
- She says that it is fun to be able to have sex with those that was at the strip poker game. Nobody looses, well, except the clothes and then we all win. OK
- I wouldn’t be able to wear cute cloths since I must have certain parts of my body covered. OK
- Drugs, Sandie, Drugs. You can’t even get high with us because you don’t want to have fun. Pot doesn’t hurt anyone and here are some shrooms. Yep, she told me that. OK
- You can’t even smoke? Why? Why can’t you smoke? She said this as she was smoking a joint. OK
The above list is things she actually told me. Some things I left off the list because she was throwing a lot of bad language into the conversations. Eventually her need for me to take on a more fun lifestyle ended on a sour note since she passed out and eventually died.
When I was able to answer her questions or questions that other non-Christians had about my beliefs, I would pretty much tell them that we obviously have different priorities and standards. There are many things that people do that may look like fun, but they aren’t necessarily fun or right for us to do. There are consequences for everything. Some of the consequences in the name of so-called fun can end up causing more problems and even cost us or someone else their lives.
I can’t say there wasn’t times when I wanted to do certain things. When I did do things that I knew were wrong, I usually have had to pay the price for it. It is tempting to want to do things that God says we shouldn’t be doing. Time and time again I haven’t regretted doing what God has instructed me to do. I don’t think that God “tells” us what to do anyhow since we have free will. God is helping me to live my life the best I can. He knows that there are going to be things I want to do. The things I enjoy doing obviously are different from what others do.
I will have an alcoholic beverage from time to time. I just don’t get drunk. When I think about how Carol would comment about the fun I am missing as she is downing the last of a 18 pack of beer, I don’t see that I am missing out on anything. I prefer to remember things in the morning. I prefer to be talking to God, not the porcelain god.
The more I hear from others that Christians have no fun, I basically feel that Christians do have fun-the difference is they have fun without the things that some non-Christians find fun. I have chosen to live my life in a way that is pleasing to God and by a different standard. When people say they are living the “good life”, I don’t buy into that.
There are many who will debate and argue with you no matter what. It doesn’t do any good to argue with anyone since they can’t really understand where I am coming from. Many will say, “eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow you will die.” Or, you will hear some say, “you only live life once, so make it good. When you hear someone say this it usually means: eat to excess; get drunk; and do stupid things you’d never do if you were not drunk. It also refers to the belief that life based on doing whatever makes you feel good, without regard to anything else.” My sister-in-law would say these things also. I found it incredibly sad that she thought she was happy and having fun as she was checking out of reality because of the drug induced haze that was going on in her mind and life.
God is the center of my life and when we allow things that are so-called fun, we are allowing those things to pull us away from Christ and that hurts us. There are many things like that may give us pleasure and we have short-lived fun, but it isn’t going to last forever. Eventually you are going to crash and burn. During some of my conversations with Carol when she wasn’t plastered, which wasn’t often, she had a hard time being happy in her own skin and life. She was unhappy and unfulfilled.
I have no problem honoring God, even if that means I can’t do certain things. I mean, I could do whatever, but they wouldn’t be fun for me. I prefer to please God. I try not to become judgmental or condescending of my non-Christian friends. Sometimes it may come off that way, but it isn’t intended. I guess I just don’t get what is fun about partying and playing games that could cost you your life.
- 1 Corinthians 10:31 reads, “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” In other words we can glorify God by enjoying the meal I am about to sit down and eat. I can glorify God by simply appreciating His blessings and being human.
In closing, For some like my sister-in-law Carol fun means drugs, premarital sex and gambling and so on — Since these were the things she was concerned about I would telling her that if you aren’t happy and having to do the things she is doing to be happy, then her true result is that she wasn’t happy. She felt good when she was high, but empty when it comes to her life. I do hope she found a true sense of peace before her passing.. This is not the way God intended us to live. God has a better plan for my life and our life.
Senseless Ramblings of the Mindless 