More wine Vicar?: ABSOLUTELY
If I ever get asked in the future, "Can I offer you more tea vicar" I will be tempted to asked for a double scotch instead and see how they react.
Since training to be a vicar I have been very
aware of the misconception that vicars and Christians cannot have fun. That
somehow believing in an everlasting God that has created all these 'rules' for
us to live by means you cannot enjoy life. I disagree as would many of my
Christians friends.
I have a wonderful friend who has an illness a lot like M.E, because of this she had two choices; give up, or enjoy life. She chooses to enjoy life as she believes God would want her to get the most out of her life. I agree, Ecclesiastes 8:15 tells us; "So I commend the enjoyment of life, because there is nothing better for a person under the sun than to eat and drink and be glad. Then joy will accompany them in their toil all the days of the life God has given them under the sun". This verse reminds us of this too, thus I am going to enjoy life whilst serving God. Recently I went away with the college I train at and whilst I was there I drank, I danced (as part of a ceilidh), went on a crazy run through a lot of mud and all in all had an enjoyable week. It was great fun! Nevertheless, people seem to think I cannot have fun and have a glass of wine. Instead an opinion that has been made known to me is that I should be some kind of recluse that doesn't know how to enjoy herself.
I do and I do not know one Christian who doesn't.
I love God and all that the Christian faith stands for which means how I have fun maybe different from someone else. As a university fresher, I went out, drank and still made it to my lecture the next day I tried to keep my feet in both the Christian and the secular world. I however, felt that this was not appropriate to continue as my faith developed. This is not to say I do not enjoy a good night out, but instead make sure I am in control of myself. Thus, I found a way to engage in a student culture but also not do something I may regret.
It is hard to be a Christian in today's world; it is even harder to admit you are a trainee vicar at the age of 22. I was once told by someone that I was throwing my life away by doing 'this job'. When in reality I am happy, I enjoy (most days) and am very excited for what God has in store for me. Becoming a Christian is one of the most life giving things I have done that gives me amazing opportunities to experience the world, to serve people through God and genuinely have a good time.
And if you still think being a Christian is boring why not visit a night club church, a forest church or take a look at this website http://www.4muk.com. Then maybe you'll rethink how you view that 'weird' Christian you work with.
I have a wonderful friend who has an illness a lot like M.E, because of this she had two choices; give up, or enjoy life. She chooses to enjoy life as she believes God would want her to get the most out of her life. I agree, Ecclesiastes 8:15 tells us; "So I commend the enjoyment of life, because there is nothing better for a person under the sun than to eat and drink and be glad. Then joy will accompany them in their toil all the days of the life God has given them under the sun". This verse reminds us of this too, thus I am going to enjoy life whilst serving God. Recently I went away with the college I train at and whilst I was there I drank, I danced (as part of a ceilidh), went on a crazy run through a lot of mud and all in all had an enjoyable week. It was great fun! Nevertheless, people seem to think I cannot have fun and have a glass of wine. Instead an opinion that has been made known to me is that I should be some kind of recluse that doesn't know how to enjoy herself.
I do and I do not know one Christian who doesn't.
I love God and all that the Christian faith stands for which means how I have fun maybe different from someone else. As a university fresher, I went out, drank and still made it to my lecture the next day I tried to keep my feet in both the Christian and the secular world. I however, felt that this was not appropriate to continue as my faith developed. This is not to say I do not enjoy a good night out, but instead make sure I am in control of myself. Thus, I found a way to engage in a student culture but also not do something I may regret.
It is hard to be a Christian in today's world; it is even harder to admit you are a trainee vicar at the age of 22. I was once told by someone that I was throwing my life away by doing 'this job'. When in reality I am happy, I enjoy (most days) and am very excited for what God has in store for me. Becoming a Christian is one of the most life giving things I have done that gives me amazing opportunities to experience the world, to serve people through God and genuinely have a good time.
And if you still think being a Christian is boring why not visit a night club church, a forest church or take a look at this website http://www.4muk.com. Then maybe you'll rethink how you view that 'weird' Christian you work with.
Be Blessed,
Steph xoxo
