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Soberly Spiritual – How a Substanceless Life Can Play Into Faith

 
Spirituality through history has never been completely free of substances, and that includes Christianity. Despite the Moral Majority’s efforts to demonize all drug use outside of prescription medication, and some religions’ desire to prohibit different kinds of medical care, it’s hard to get away from the use of alcohol in the Bible. Those of us raised in modern-day churches most likely know the story of Christ turning water into wine, as well as his benediction at the last supper in which he used wine as a metaphor. The Apostle Paul even tells his student Timothy to drink some wine for his stomach, using it as medicine.
 
However, with all of that said, alcohol and substance use should never be expected of a Christian. Some believers, upon reaching the “aha” moment of understanding alcohol isn’t sinful, have a tendency to become pushers on those who don’t want to partake, or even worse, they become irresponsible in their usage.
 
Friends, this is unbiblical. Some people are simply uninterested in drinking. Some simply follow the wisdom in Peter’s words to be “of a sober mind” and enact that mindset in a very literal, teetotaler way of life. They find their lives as Christians are best enhanced when they are substance free!
 
This article is for those in the sober category, no matter the reason. The world — and that includes a wide majority of Christians — tends to look unfavorably upon those who choose to be sober. There’s a variety of reasons for this, but as a Christian who does enjoy alcohol, I’ve seen “hip” Christians look down their nose at fellow believers for not wanting to drink. There’s nothing wrong with your choice, and in fact it can be great for your Christian walk.
 

Self-Control

Modern-day Christians often debate on how much alcohol is too much alcohol. However, seeing as self-control is without a doubt a fruit of the Spirit, and a good way to model your life after Jesus, sobriety seems like a good way to stay there. A sober person simply doesn’t have to worry about losing their control to alcohol, because it’s never in their bodies.
 
Now of course, there’s nothing wrong with moderation, as they say. However, some people can’t drink in moderation — they have a chemically addicted habit of losing control. In that case, the only way is out! Alcoholics Anonymous programs around the world find a sense of spirituality and prayer to a higher power to be psychologically good. Thankfully, we can rest assured that in Jesus, such a faith is founded in truth and not just psychological guessing.

Clear Minded

To be clear minded is similar to self-control but different. To me, a sober mind as it says in the Bible means living a life of thinking clearly. Uninhibited by drugs that remove you from yourself, you never have the option of making a mistake from any kind of inebriation. You can think through situations completely and decide how to handle them best without a foreign chemical’s influence.
 
Now, what about the concept of “liquid courage,” some may ask? What about getting over anxiety by having a couple drinks to calm your nerves? I don’t find this to be a very valid argument. While I don’t personally see anything necessarily wrong with having a beer to calm your nerves or relax, the idea that you need alcohol in any shape or form is silly and dangerous.
 
It’s healthier to remove your overall anxiety by un-chemically inhibited means — working out, sleeping the proper amount, seeking wise counsel, and eating right. Even with prescription medication that helps you function, you need to be careful to know what you’re putting in your body. Seeking out proper mental healthcare, however, will do more for you than a beer ever did.

Different Opportunities

It’s not that being completely sober is better than being someone who enjoys alcohol in moderation, but it can bring you different opportunities to act Christ-like in the world. Maybe due to you not drinking, you don’t spend much time at bars, and your time is spent elsewhere. Look at this as an opportunity to make new hobbies and spend your time in other places.
 
Being sober, however, you also have the opportunity to potentially stop bad things from happening in alcohol- and drug-fueled environments. Not that being a drinker completely stops this from happening, but staying dry in these substances may increase your chances of noticing or catching something sketchy in your environment. For instance, in dingy bars drunkenness and debauchery can potentially lead to fights, sexual assault, or drunk driving. You may have an opportunity as a sober person to put a stop to those things before they happen, as you may be more aware than your friends who have a few in them.
 
The bottom line is that being sober isn’t something to define yourself by, but it can be something good for your life in multiple ways, one of them being your spiritual life. What’s your experience with sobriety as a Christian? Let me know at Twitter @Robolitious.

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