So it's grad season. And that means one thing to many different people. For parents it means their kids are finally leaving home, off to college, summer jobs and backpacking trips. For teachers it means seeing all your hard work and homework walk out the schools for quite possibly the last time.
But for youth, it means a party!
I'm sure that college prep, your own apartment, summer family vacations and jobs at bible camp all thrill you beyond any conceivable notion. Which is why there are fun loving adults ready and willing to get your under aged grad party the most important part of the night.
The hooch!
You know who I mean, held back grad who can buy and supply, funny right?
Alcohol is a funny thing, not because of the dumb things you do while under its influence. But because of its wonderful relationship with our savior. We know Jesus drank, we know he even produced drinks, but what did teach us about our brews and vintages and shrewdly marketed koolaid and vodka's in the underage market.
Well.
He taught us about who he was a savior, a king, and God. And you wouldn't think that words like worship would enter into this post. But as humans we are built to worship, the question is what we will settle for.
You see I've never had a problem with teens drinking. I know that it's not the liquor that kills in drunk driving, not the booze that put's condoms on in back seats and bush parties, not hooch that throws wild hay-makers at other drunk peers in misunderstanding and drunken courage.
It's worship.
I don't condone these things but I know these are just results of a previous and existing condition. And that condition is worship.
On grad night you're finally you, you're an adult, you're a graduate, a soon to be member of society (productive or otherwise). But you have been since before the foundation of the world a being who was made for God's own worship. So on grad night at the parties and dances, your eyes will be dangerously focused on you!
You and me and us and we are terrible worshipers, because we turn to such puny saviors like beer, sex and fun. None of these things will bring us what we ask of it without giving us what would never ask of it as well. Getting really drunk will always be fun, until your hungover, injured, pregnant or dead, then it sucks, for you and everyone around you. And why did you turn to that beer in the first place?
Because tonight was about your good time, and beer helps.
Because tonight was about your achievements, and beer helps
Because tonight you we're the most important thing you could boast about. You earned the right to let loose and help yourself to some beer... Right?
"though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead."
Philippians 3:4-11 (ESV)
The honest truth about your parties is that they can easily become worship services, at most you'll be sacrificing your modesty, tolerance and stomach contents, or at the very least tithing to a god that is always empty at the end of its church.
Do you want to celebrate where God has taken you?
Buy good alcohol which isn't necessarily strong alcohol. (John 2:6-10)
Surround yourself with family and friends (Matt 26:27-28)
And remember all the blessing Jesus has is and will give you. Celebrate Jesus in your graduation, not the things that He created, celebrate what Jesus did this year, not what you can do without him.
Celebrate Jesus, because beer makes a terrible savior.