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Writer's pictureAllen Rodriguez

Can (or should) christians go party?

Updated: Apr 9, 2021


"Can christians go party?... Should christians go party?... Will God be upset if I go party?... I'm just going to hang out with my friends, is it ok to go party?... Are christians boring because they don't party?... ..." I can't even begin to number the amount of times I've heard questions like the ones above throughout my life. People in general, and young people specially, enjoy the company and 'fun-ness' that parties offer, but for some reason the christian population seems to be reluctant to the idea of having fun in such settings. Why? Well, having been raised in a christian home, having been involved in all sorts of church activities, having assisted to public schools and public colleges, and having been heavily exposed to the "party" life, I believe I found the answer to those questions a while back. In this post I will aim to answer these questions on biblical grounds with a little bit of personal experience/belief. Deal? Let's do this.


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Elephant in the room... Can christians party or not?


"Can christians party?" The flat-out, simplest answer to that question is: YES! So, as christians, let's just make a party to celebrate that WE CAN party. There are several definitions to the word 'party', but within the context we're discussing I really liked how the Free Dictionary defined the word [1]: "a social gathering especially for pleasure or amusement". This doesn't sound like nothing out of place, does it? Is funny to me because usually in christian settings, using the word "party" is as awkward and that much of a taboo as using the word "sex". As I discussed in my post about 'things not to do when raising kids in church', there are Godly laws/rules, and then straight-up man-made rules. Knowing the difference between these is crucial to live a healthy and fulfilled life. See, God's laws are aimed to help us live and be better, to make us feel good about ourselves and in harmony with Him. Man-made rules (in religious settings), more often than not, create a burden for one that is hard to be released off. Just like the natural human desire for sex, the desire and need to be amongst people and have a good time together ("party"), are natural desires that God instituted in us. God did say: "is not good for man to be alone"; Jesus Himself was always surrounded by people and having a good time with them.


You know... I'm going to let you in a little secret. There are recorded instances of "parties" in the Bible (!!!). Yup, you heard me right. God's people knew how to hang out together and, even more than that, some times God's people 'partied' in God's honor!!! I'm serious, let's take a look at the Bible and read together some of these verses.

"Praise the Lord! Praise God in His sanctuary; Praise Him in His mighty firmament! Praise Him for His mighty acts; Praise Him according to His excellent greatness! Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet; Praise Him with the lute and harp! Praise Him with the timbrel and dance; Praise Him with stringed instruments and flutes! Praise Him with loud cymbals; Praise Him with clashing cymbals! Let everything that has breath praise the Lord." - Psalms 150:1-6

Before looking at other instances, I just had to put the word "dance" in red and bold because I know for a fact that there are many conservative christians who consider 'dancing' a "sinful act" or something that christians don't do. Well, they are wrong. The people of Israel danced for God and in God. In 2 Samuel 6:14-22 we see King David dancing before the Lord and as such there are other examples in the Bible. Obviously, dancing is NOT a "sin" or a "thing christians don't do", ok?


Having noted that, also note the exclamations and encouragement that the text has regarding praising God. I mean, to praise Him in such ways is, in its own way, a call to enjoy as a group the Lord and what it is to have Him around. Is virtually a celebration, a 'party', to praise God. Let's keep reading verses:

"Then Levi gave Him a great feast in his own house. And there were a great number of tax collectors and others who sat down with them. And their scribes and the Pharisees complained against His disciples, saying, 'Why do You eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?' Jesus answered and said to them, 'Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.'” - Luke 5:29-32

Note that Jesus was in the feast, in the party, and obviously having a good time with the people. Also note who were the "sour people" and the feast... the religious leaders!


"...Then it shall be the prince’s part to give burnt offerings, grain offerings, and drink offerings, at the feasts, the New Moons, the Sabbaths, and at all the appointed seasons of the house of Israel. He shall prepare the sin offering, the grain offering, the burnt offering, and the peace offerings to make atonement for the house of Israel.” - Ezekiel 45:17

Indeed there are so many verses in the Bible alluding to feasts and celebrations amongst people that I simply don't have the space to list them all. I invite you to search for them using a Biblical concordance. If you read through the Old Testament you'll come to see that the people of Israel celebrated many feasts and had many celebrations as a group and for God. We have recorded celebrations in the New Testament as well and, as seen, Jesus Himself attended some of these events. So you see? There's absolutely nothing wrong with gathering with fellow friends and/or family members to celebrate together, to have a "party". We were created not to be alone, but to enjoy life with others and hey... a "party" is a need; celebrating and having fun times with others is definitely encouraged. The question is... why, then, christians and religious people in general have a problem with 'partying' overall? Why parents teach their kids that 'partying' is wrong?


The problems are... mis-information and stereotypes...


Generalizations are quite frequently a problem, and if left unchecked, can lead to huge interpersonal problems. Let's look at some generalization examples that you probably have experienced, heard, or used... bets are that when you've come into contact with these, it has lead to bad situations:

  • "You 'always' forget to do __________."

  • "You 'never' do ____________."

  • "I'm 'always' doing ___________ for you and you can never do ____________ for me."

  • "I'm tired of ___________ being the same 'all the time'. "

  • ...etc.

Have you heard or experienced these before? Well, in a very similar and real way, teaching or conveying, as christians, to our children and youth that "all parties are bad", is not good... because it's not true. Instead of forbidding or generalizing that "all parties" are bad, it would be more appropriate to say: "Listen, is not bad to go to a party. Parties are not bad, however, there might be some that it would be best not to attend given the environment." Wouldn't this be a much better statement? I completely and 100% understand from where parents and christians in general are coming from when forbidding someone or suggesting that all parties are bad. I get it, the problem is, it is a dangerous stereotype.


I will show you right away the problem with stereotypes. I will make two statements and you tell me which one makes you feel more at ease with yourself and God. Deal? Check it out... You have a friend, and he's inviting you to an event:

  1. Scenario #1: "What's up?! Hey, do you feel like partying with our friends tonight?"

  2. Scenario #2: "What's up?! Hey, do you wanna meet with our friends tonight?"

Ok, which one sounded less exotic... #1 or #2? Bet that #2, right? Here's the thing... per the definition of "party", both scenarios are virtually suggesting the same thing! The problem, then, is not with partying but with the idea behind the word "party".


Nowadays when the word "party" is brought up, chances are that some of the things that come to mind are: alcohol, sex, smoking/drugs, and bad influences... am I right? Society in general, media, movies, TV have led us all to believe that in order to have a "party", we need to get 'wasted'. There must be alcohol, must be some smoking, sensual dancing and... perhaps even sex. It is in this context, of course, that christians should absolutely refrain from exposing him/herself to this environment; not because 'partying is bad', but because certain behaviors and practices definitely are. Yet, again, we must emphasize that the concept of a "party" nowadays is tainted with society misconceptions. As mentors, as christians, as parents, as guardians, we need to learn not to teach generalizations, but the word of God.


When we teach or suggest to others, as christians, to refrain themselves from 'partying', we can't do it from a position of absolutes: "you can't go cause' that's bad". This does more damage than good. What we should do instead, is teach what the Bible says about certain behaviors...


  • What does the Bible says about alcohol?

Well, it directly says that we should not drink alcohol in general. As we'll see in the next question, God tells us that our bodies are to be taken care of. It is a known fact that alcohol does damage to the body, hence we should abstain from consuming it.

"...and do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit," - Ephesians 5:18
  • What does the Bible says about smoking and drug use in general?

Although there are more specifics, there is a general guideline and it is that we need to take care of our bodies for they are the Holy Spirit's temple. Let's read:

"Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s..." - 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

...hence, christians (and people in general for their's health sake!!) should definitely refrain from smoking, drinking, using drugs and, anything in general that can damage our systems.

  • What does it say about fornication?

The Bible is clear... engaging in extramarital relations is a sin. Sexual relationships should be left for married people; I know in the society and century we live in this is something people mock and don't really care about... but the Bible is clear.

"Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God." - Galatians 5:19-21

... and don't let anyone be deceived. It is clear in the Bible and per Jesus' words that one does not need to physically engage in the intimacy act for one to sin as one that actually entered into the act.

"You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart..." - Matthew 5:27-28

This I say because nowadays is normal for people to dress in very... exposed ways and dance in very intimate ways which puts them just but a few steps behind from actually engaging in intimate relations. Be careful!


Ok, so at this point we're definitely getting a clearer picture as to why often times is best to refrain from attending 'parties'; especially if we know ahead that these mentioned things will/can be practiced. Now and with this information, we can better teach others why is best not to go to certain parties as opposed to just saying "don't go cause' it's bad". It is also a good moment to re-emphasize that a "party" per the official definition has no connection whatsoever with alcohol, drugs or sex; society conceptions in general have wrongly linked these terms together. Now there's one question left that needs to be answered and it is a question that I've heard many many times...


So if I go to a party where all these things are present, but I abstain myself from 'bad behaviors' when the opportunity presents? Will I be 'good to go'?


Hmmmm... very dangerous grounds. Have you ever heard that "bad habits/conducts are more easily adopted than good ones"? Or perhaps something called "peer-pressure"? In the Bible we see a different term... "temptation". Going to a place, to a feast where there is alcohol, and sensualism, and sex, and drugs, and smoking... etc., it is very likely that the environment would cause such pressure on yourself, that you'll end up being enticed by one or more of those things. There's this phrase in Spanish that says: "more knows the devil from being old, than from being the devil"; which can be easily translated in that you should not play with him - he knows more than you. Playing with temptation is literally playing with fire, and whoever plays too much with fire is destined to be burned.

"Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death." - James 1:12-15
"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour." - 1 Peter 5:8

Notice that from the verse in James we learn that (1) God does not tempt us, and (2) we often times put ourselves in position to be tempted. From the verse in Peter, and as discussed, we learn that the devil is constantly preying on opportunities to make us sin and fail. Don't give that chance to him. Assisting to an event, a "party", where you know you'll be exposed to all these things we should not be mingling with, is not the right thing to do.

"Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation.The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” - Matthew 26:41

"The flesh is weak"... be careful.


Conclusion


I hope that by now it is clear that there's nothing wrong with "partying"; per the official definition of the word "party", it means nothing more than gathering with people and having fun together. Nothing wrong with that; we all have a natural need to gather with others and create good memories. There is something wrong, however, with how society picture 'parties' should be and with some of the conducts practiced in general social gatherings (parties). It is our duty as christians to discern these differences and make a rational decision on whether assisting to a "party" event is the right thing to do. We should never put ourselves in a position where we tempt and pressure ourselves into doing something that we deep down know is not right. That's exactly what the devil wants... and we should never give him the opportunity.


Party, celebrate, and meet people! God wants you to do that. Do it, though, by always honoring God above all. I've had great memories built with friends and colleagues in gatherings where there was no alcohol, sex, smoking, drugs, sensualism... the idea that in order to have "fun" some or all of these things must be present, is entirely wrong. We live in a society where 'bad things' are called good, and 'good things' bad; never mix the two. Ask God for strength and He will ALWAYS come rescue you from the devil; also understand, that being different is not a bad thing. In a world where many believe drinking alcohol is "cool", it doesn't hurt to have a few of us who think water is "cooler". 😁


"Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you..." - James 4:7

God Bless You! Until next one...




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