Once a week, a good mate (who is also a Christian) and I go for lunch, since it's the only day we are both at work together. It's a tradition which goes way back. Originally, the marketing guy from work would also join us, and we'd talk about the footy and get a counter meal at the pub and exchange jovial banter. Sadly he left for another job a few months ago, and was replaced by a female. We kept the lunches happening though, and the newbie chick (let's call her Kim) has joined us on a semi-regular basis since.
This week, the three of us took ourselves to Hungry Jacks for some hearty grub (a side note: they couldn't possibly get more red colouring in red Fanta if they tried). It was a fun time chatting, gorging on food, swatting flies with the newspapers provided, and analyzing the nutritional content of our meal. On the way back to work in the car, we got onto the topic of drinking, then to my recent soldiership recommitment, and finally onto the Articles of War, which happened to be sitting on the rear seat next to Kim. Halfway through reading the document, partly astounded, partly amused, she exclaimed, "You can't drink, or use porn?! What's with that?". I was caught off guard a bit, and I'm pretty sure my answer was pathetic. I was a bit annoyed at myself. If I signed the thing, surely I should be able to explain explicitly why soldiers abstain from drink and porn.
The conversation ended and we got back to our jobs. Of course, five minutes later, all the things I should have said before flooded my mind! I decided in order to be better prepared for next time, I better do some research and list my ideas on why soldiers avoid:-
Alcohol:
- we agree in our covenant to not drink. It's only one of many points in the soldier's promise and abstaining for life is a low cost considering the potential cost of not signing up at all
- It dulls the mind and spirit and reduces our ability to communicate with God
- It reduces inhibitions, potentially resulting in anti-social, uncharacteristic and regrettable behaviours
- Many alcoholic drinks are high in energy content and can cause weight gain
- Hangovers cause nasty symptoms like nausea, headaches, and light sensitivity
- Once under the influence, driving is out of the question, transport becomes difficult/become relient on others to drive
- Time is wasted sobering up, lack of sleep after a big night out reduces productivity the next day at work, or can affect relationships
- Our organisation rehabilitates people recovering from alcohol addiction. To drink would be hypocritical, and may cause such people to be tempted to drink again
- To drink would be to support an industry that cares little about the people affected by adverse effects of its product
- My body is God's/not mine/I was bought at a price therefore I am to honor God with it
- It is expensive - the money would be better spent supporting a cause
- Tolerance develops, more drink is needed to achieve the same effect, due to proliferation of alcohol dehydrogenase enzymes in the liver (which metabolise it), thus exacerbating many of the above reasons
- The above apply to mild-moderate drinkers; heavy drinkers can become addicted, and the effects are potentially catastrophic, to the individual, their relationships, employment and society as a whole
Porn:
- ditto many of the above eg: addictive, wasted time, financial cost, enslaved soul, tolerance develops, it's in the covenant, honour God with your body
- It demeans women, treating them as objects, altering one's view of women - focus is on the image, not the woman as a unique and emotional/spiritual being loved by God
- The women depicted may be under oppression
- Inflames lust and sexual feelings, which result in the sin of adultery and separation from God
- progresses from soft to hardcore, mild to obscene
- It is tacky, and lacks class
- Images can be difficult to erase from memory, providing Satan with grounds for accusation
- It causes shame and hiding the sin becomes a preoccupation
- Damage caused to relationships and marriages
- As morality in society has deteriorated, availability/accessibility of porn has increased
- Extreme cases lead to more extreme and often illegal perversions and paraphillias, such as child pornography, violence, and others that are less mentionable
I'm sure there are plenty of other reasons I've left out (and gentler ways of communicating them to non-believers). But these ones would have been a good start, had I been able to think quickly enough! Seriously, hang out with non-Christian folk more and have these conversations. They will challenge you and cause you to grow!
Cheers - Nath
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