I'm Confused...Is The Message Don't Get Drunk, or...?

I have shared with you my humble upbringing in an evangelistic church. This church taught me a lot of what not to do. Don't go to the movies, don't dance with girls, don't drink alcohol, don't think bad thoughts. All of these don'ts were taught to us on the premise that Jesus would return to earth while I was doing these things and therefore I would be caught sinning and not be taken up in the "rapture" (should that have been capitalized?).

When I became of age - 11 or 12 years old - I began to question some of these rules. Okay, not the rules themselves but the intent behind the rules. I remember thinking, "But if I don't dance with girls, how am I to find a girlfriend?" I remember being witness to contradictions as my family had alcoholic beverages at gatherings. The scariest, though, was having "bad thoughts", just as any healthy 12-year old would, and thinking it was all over, I am definitely going to hell.

Now that I am older, and hopefully a little wiser, I am understanding what God's intent for us really is. Our journey through Ephesians is certainly helping me get my thoughts into writing as well. Let's look at 5:15-20. This was often used in the church I grew up in as a "quote" instructing us not to drink. Do you see it. Right there in verses 18. Well, not quite the whole verse, but those first four words were enough to teach us teenagers what the bible is telling us not to do.

The funny thing is that in the entire passage there are 7 "dos" and 2 "do nots"; and one of those do nots is "do not be foolish". The rest of the passage asks us to make the most with the time we're given and to try and discern how God wants us to live our life and to live that life in constant thanks to God; singing and praising God as much as we can.

I ask you which message you want our youth and children to learn - don't get drunk or else...or love God, love others and love yourself and when things go bad remember there are those who will never give up on you, including Jesus.

It's so good to not be confused anymore.