Drinking on the weekend at Mizzou is just about as common as coming outside to that bright orange package from the Parking Division under your windshield wiper. And it’s not just Mizzou, it’s a college rite of passage. We do it, our parents did it, and so has probably every generation prior to that. The drinking is not the issue – heck, after finals week, Thirsty Thursday is often the solution!
But that, that right there is the issue. It’s not the drinking itself that God has a problem with, it’s what the drinking becomes. The Bible doesn’t explicitly state any rules against drinking alcohol. In all actuality, Jesus and his disciples drank wine in plenty of biblical stories. The problem is the lack of control we exhibit when drinking. As college students, we don’t have a couple of drinks to really get in a good mood and feel the music – we drink until we black out. During this, we begin to make decisions and engage in self-destructive behaviors that we probably wouldn’t otherwise do. Some of us become angry and engage in fights, or a select few of our daring brothers and sisters make the executive decision, while under the influence, to snatch their clothes off and run from the bars to the Columns, praying they don’t get caught and taken in for indecent exposure. Ephesians 5:18 (NIV) states, “Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery (excessive indulgence in sensual pleasures), but instead be filled with the spirit.”
Worse than the temporary but potentially detrimental decisions we make, some of us form an addictive habit that we lose control of. This is so dangerous, because addictions grow in power each time you indulge in them, eventually getting to a point where they are calling the shots and you are no longer in control of your life. Drinking in excess for the wrong reasons (using alcohol as an escape or source of comfort) can quickly spiral out of control. If you or anyone you know is struggling with alcohol addiction, do not be ashamed to reach out for help. The [Wellness Resource Center](http://wellness.missouri.edu/), in the basement of the Student Center, has an abundance of resources to aid you in your journey to break that addiction.
Remember, you are never alone. God sends words of encouragement in 1 Corinthians 10:13. It reads “No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.”
Praying blessings your way!
