I think one reason people feel that way is because they focus on all the things a Christian can't do; like, getting drunk, doing drugs, partying like there's no tomorrow ... well, we could go on and on ...
Instead of telling you all the things I shouldn't participate in, let me tell you what I CAN do.
I can party. I can. I can hang out with the most interesting people I know. I can fellowship with the saints. Oh, the stories they have to tell! How they made the wrong choice but God delivered them. How they begged God for protection and He worked it all out for them. How they prayed for His will and a way opened up where there seemed to be no way. How they might still be going through a struggle but they can see how God is leading and providing every step of the way.
Yes, we party. We call it fellowship. There is always good food, - church ladies know how to cook better than anyone!-good conversation, and fun. I've never been to a fellowship yet where there wasn't any laughs. We have merry hearts which leads to fun.I can have meaning to my life. I'm not here just to consume but I'm here to make a difference. A follower of Christ will be like Christ, and He served while here on earth. We are here to serve as well, some in ministry and also some in the secular workplace. We might have a "worldly" job or occupation but we can model Christ in the way we work and interact with each other.
We are also called to be fruity. What's that? We are to have the fruit of the Spirit evident in our lives. In fact, it is said we are to be known that we are Christians by the fruit in our lives.
What is this fruit? Love, joy, peace, long-suffering (in other words, patience), gentleness, goodness, faith - these are the by-products of hanging with Christ.
The closer I get to Christ, the more these fruits show up in my life. The people I hang with have these same fruits as well, so they're pretty good buds to journey with on this road Home. Oh, we're not perfect by any means. We are just forgiven of our pasts traveling towards our future together.
Jesus once said this:
"I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance [to the full, till it overflows]." John 10:10 AMP
Now, does that sound like someone who wants you to have a boring life?
This post was written in response to Writer's Workshop prompt 5. Write a blog post inspired by the word: full. Because my life is FULL, and I think you need to know all about it. :)
You can read other amazing posts if you visit Kat's blog, Mama's Losin' It.
People get weird about Christians. We like a good time as much as the next guy, maybe even more. So we don't hang out in bars or watch porn; are those really all that much fun?
ReplyDeleteHey, I hope you'll be doing the A to Z Challenge again this year. I'm one of the cohosts...
Ha...full and fruity, I like that.
ReplyDeleteAnd I'm convinced that the food at fellowships never have any calories :)
ReplyDeletebetty
What a fun post, Jerralea. The fun that Christians have has no hang-overs, unintended consequences, or bail money associated with it!! I done it both ways and I much prefer Christian fun!
ReplyDeletegreat post.
ReplyDeleteYou don't need booze and drugs to have fun, for sure. Although...I do like my wine. But a heart full of belief and faith and love comes out in personality and makes for a happy person who is fun to be around. Get a lot of those kind of people together and it's always a good time.
ReplyDeleteI agree with what Lori says. You don't need to drink or do drugs to have a good time. Just being with people you enjoy the company of should be more than enough to have a good time. Chatter with good friends is what makes a good time.
ReplyDeleteChristians sure get a bad rep! I never met one that didn't know how to have a good time. :)
ReplyDelete