You definitely have described the perception that many people have of the One God Christians worship. But, I would challenge you to actually read those primary sources (the Old and New Testaments). They paint a very different picture of God. For example, the people God deals with in the Old Testament stories are disobedient and rebellious time and time again. Yet, their God, Yahweh, forgives and restores them over and over. After studying other ancient civilizations in graduate school, I found that the Hebrews’ God was actually much more lenient and less capricious than other Gods in the Mediterranean world at the time.

As for the New Testament, again, I challenge you to read at least the four Gospels (accounts of Jesus’ life). This vision of God is often loving and gentle to poor people who followed him, but not so gentle to the religious and powerful of his day. I have yet to hear about a “kind hippie” dying a brutal, undeserved death for the sake of someone who had wronged him/her.

Perhaps, your REAL question is your final one. “How can I believe in a God who . . . ” If you can open yourself up to the question in a different way, it may help you decide. Can you ask, “Do I believe in the God of the Old and New Testament, or not?” The idea “GOD,” precludes any “made up” human standards for what God can and cannot be. Are you brave enough to open yourself up to God (if He is there) without your own conditions?

Well, I think that a life lived “doing nothing but praying, day and night, waiting for God to do something” might be quite an exciting adventure of a life! Imagine what new thoughts God would grant to you, and what insight you would have! I believe that this may be the call for many of the cloistered brothers and sisters, who spend their lives waiting in prayer before God. Have you had any experiences where you prayed, waited on God, and found that He answered you? It is very humbling. Paul (one of the New Testament writers) says that when you pray, “. . . the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus.” and, ” . . . God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” Peace, and all needs met. Not too bad! (from Philippians 4, NIV).

Perhaps, you are really posing the question, “What is my responsibility for action?” If this is the case, I believe that God gives us lots of simple instructions for action, even as we “wait” on Him to guide us regarding specific situations. The Ten Commandments, for example. The “Sermon on the Mount” (a lesson about motives). “Love your enemies, pray for those who misuse you.” “Turn the other cheek.” “Loan, without asking for anything to be returned.” “Love God with all of your heart, and soul, and mind, and strength.” “Sell all you have, and give it to the poor.” There are many life-changing actions to be working on as believers wait for answers about particular prayers. In fact, following the tasks set before us in Scripture often tunes our hearts to hear what God is trying to tell us.

Waiting on God reminds us—we serve a God who is active, not passive.

Well, I guess the question “why do we need God” supersedes the first presumption (“If we have morals . . . “). My question back to you is, “What do you want out of life?” If you are satisfied with whatever “morals and good life” that you can imagine, and then act them out TOTALLY, then, perhaps you don’t “need” God. But, I have yet to meet someone who sticks totally to his or her own sense of morality and “good.” Even an anarchist might make an “organized” step by mistake. If you find that you have everything all sorted out, and that you can live by your own standards, then you might not (in your own mind) need God.

My second question, then, would be “Are your own, self-imposed ‘morals and good life’ GOOD, or are they simply “GOOD FOR YOU?” Are they good for everyone around you as well? Are they faultless? It is a heavy burden to “be” God. Have you considered all of the ramifications of all of your actions and choices? How do you “make amends” when you fail?

In his book Life Together, Dietrich Bonhoeffer describes the Christian community as a “hospital for the lame,” not a place for window-dressed mannequins. A person needs God when they realize that they are inadequate at knowing how to “do good” and “be God.” Those of us who love Jesus as savior have realized our personal need for a savior. . . that we are lost without the help of the God who helps.

A New York pastor, Timothy Keller, has a great book on this topic: The Reason for God.

Jesus said, “Be hot or cold, not lukewarm.”* (paraphrase mine). If you really love Christ as the king of your life, you’ll want to please Him in whatever you do.

Are your roommates believers? Then, you already have a bond with them. If not, then you will eventually come to a drastic “break” in perspective, choice, and ethics. The “bond” built up at parties and drinking bouts will pull you into a world where Christ, and New Testament teachings aren’t considered valid, or even plausible.

There’s no “yes” or “no” to your actual question. Your choice is much harder—Do I love Christ with my whole heart . . . or do I love the idea of the “world” more right now.

If you love Christ with a whole heart, you are always free to do what He directs you to do.

*Revelation 3:16

Often, when we feel a sense of frustration at our “fellow believers,” and what they are (or are not) doing, it can be God’s message to us to do something about it. I feel certain that there are other Christians who feel this same way, and your leadership could change the whole campus atmosphere.

Nothing is more boring than “religious activity” that does not proceed from a relationship with God. I would challenge you to re-assess your own love and allegiance to Christ. Have you made a “grown up” decision to follow what the New Testament teaches? Have you felt the impact of the sacrifice on the cross? Of the resurrection? I believe that if you seek out the God who loves you (Jeremiah 29:12-14), you will be amazed at the energy and input He will bring to your life.

If you then study the history of Christianity, you will find that there are lots of mystics (many Eastern!) and people of prayer. The difference is that Christian prayer and meditation has an object—God. It is not an “end in itself.” For the believer, “all thoughts are captive to Christ,” and your purpose (“end”) is good works. (2 Timothy 3:17). I think if you adore Jesus, the Lord, other practices will seem somewhat empty.

I think you are probably the only person who can answer this question for you. But, I can give you some possible answers. I hope that you will pray honestly about which one applies to you (if any). I applaud your desire to seek out the answer. Guilt (like anger) can often be a “barometer” to helping us find out some deeper issue that we need to deal with.

The cultural context of your own upbringing discouraged drinking by believers as a sign of a “new life” in Christ. There may be historical reasons for this that have not occurred to you. You may feel a sense of guilt because of the teachings of your own family or “home church” that you have chosen to go against.

The choice you have made to drink might be a sign (for you) of an “acceptable” rebellion against the perception of Christians as “straight laced” or “uptight.” Are you choosing to drink to “prove something,” to yourself or others? The guilt may be a challenge from your own “inner self” that you haven’t really made your own choice. You have made an “image” choice.

Guilt could come from the Holy Spirit, who has made you “tender” toward your Christian friends. Paul deals with this, as he tries to teach the early Christians about caring about other believers: “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit… It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother to fall.” (Romans 14:17, 21)

I firmly believe that if you honestly place this issue before God in your prayer times, God will give you what his answer is. If you are confident you are acting within the desire of God for your life, the guilt should disappear, because you are acting on God’s behalf, and with God’s approval.

This is difficult to answer in your particular case, since I don’t know the process for your decision. Is this a vocational kind of calling (like a Priest or Brother or Sister) would have? Or is it simply a decision you have come to, in consideration of your own strengths and weaknesses?

In the first case, the choice is between you and God. It would probably not be a decision that you imagined for yourself, and would take lots of prayer and surrender. If you are choosing God’s will in this decision, there will be struggles against the choice (besides with your friends). Paul, in the book of 1 Corinthians, admires this choice for a believer who desires to serve God.

But, Paul also warns about the hasty making of such a decision, and the rarity of it (chapter 7, verses 1 and following). Sexuality, he admits, is a powerful thing, and is better contained within marriage than unsuccessfully repressed. If you are simply making this choice on the basis of your own feelings (albeit noble), then I believe that your friends are correct–not about the “unfulfilled life,” but about defying God’s will. God says (through Paul), “I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.” (Galatians 2:20a). Your choice to marry or not now belongs in Christ’s hands. In fact, all of your choices are now subject to Christ’s control. And far from being “bad news,” you have the fantastic promise that “all things [in your life will] work together for good.” (Romans 8:28, brackets mine).

I don’t know of a passage which states we should “love ourselves just as we are,” although there are quite a few that proclaim that God loves us in that way. I believe there is a world of difference between the two concepts. As for “appearance enhancements,” I believe that it is, in large part, a heart and faith issue, and needs to be approached with lots of prayer and listening to God.

In Matthew 6, Jesus says, “…don’t worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than clothes?” As the passage continues, he reminds his hearers that they are MORE valuable than the beautiful birds or flowers, and that God will provide for them.

The Apostle Paul writes to Timothy to instruct his church that “women should dress modestly, with decency and propriety, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God.” (1 Timothy 2:9-10) [Italics mine]

So, from my reading of these verses, there are at least two “test questions” when someone is considering any kind of extra external procedures or “enhancements.”

1. Are you responding to some kind of fear or worry (social, physical, material)? Is taking the contemplated action an act of FAITH, or an act of FEAR? Does the action require you to rely more on God, or less? Is it giving the superficial, external parts of you more importance than your (potentially) beautiful, admirable character?
2. Is the enhancement you are choosing done with a mind toward comparison or competition with other people? Is it immodest (meaning are you seeking the attention of the opposite sex?)? Is it done with an eye toward impressing others–male or female? Does it take away from resources and time that you could offer to God to help Him take care of others who are hungry and hurting?

If you are a lover of Christ, the question will not be “What do I want,” but “what does Christ want for me.” I think there are a variety of answers, just as there are a variety of believers.

A. Voting, especially for President, is always difficult. The only way to get guidance is by doing your own research. Find issues that you feel represent what the Scripture would speak to. Seek out Scripture to find what God’s thrust (overall) is, as you read the way God has worked. Never settle for “proof texting,” or random Scripture citing. Almost anyone can prove his or her “claim” with some Scripture from somewhere! With prayer and a desire to hear from God, search out which candidate can come alongside your own belief in what God desires the most (NONE will prove satisfying on every issue!). Choose and support and vote prayerfully. And, pray for anyone who ultimately wins.