We talk about substances on the podcast quite a lot. Alcohol, drunkenness, nicotine, smoking,

vaping, chewing tobacco, the abuse of caffeine, painkillers, morphine, and of course, marijuana.

You'll see my digest of all those episodes in the Aspester

John book on pages 269 to 276. We're back talking about alcohol today because one of the most

important texts on alcohol is in our Bible reading tomorrow, Ephesians 518, a timely text for us

in the advent of this question from a Christian teenage boy who seeking to grow closer

to God and facing temptations to drink, obviously. It's illegal for a teen to drink in the U.S.

So that's one angle we need to just state here from the outset. But here's the question,

Pastor John, hello, I'm a Christian teenager trying to get closer to God. And I've been wondering

if getting a little drunk every so

often for fun or to help with some pain is sinful. When I've been drunk, I've stayed in control

and haven't done anything bad. I even pray for God's help in making good decisions. I've never

been so drunk. I forget things or act crazy, and I don't intend to. Is it still sinful to do this even

if I don't do anything wrong or out of hand? Pastor John, beyond the legal question here,

what would you say to a Christian teenager asking this question? The most encouraging thing about

this question is that this young man says, I am a Christian teenager trying to get closer to God.

That's encouraging because the Bible says, draw near to God and he will draw near to you.

And for God to draw near to us, that's just glorious, right?

I mean, when it says draw near to us, that's just glorious, right? Yeah, yeah.

I mean, when it says draw near to us, it doesn't mean in judgment.

It means in fellowship, in blessing.

In your presence, his fullness of joy at your right hand are pleasures forevermore,

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