Is it wrong to attend football games where alcohol is served?
Question:
I have a question about whether I should give up on something.
Over the last 20 years or so, I've gone to college football games about once a year. A lot of nonsense takes place at those events (I’m sure you know). My primary concern has become all the alcohol consumption that is taking place.
Of course, I don’t go to people's tailgate parties and mingle with them doing those things. I just keep to myself and my group. We go in, watch the game, and leave. I never really considered that this might be wrong since I don’t partake in what people are doing, and I'm not there with them.
However, this summer I've been thinking that those games are about one big drunken revelry. Do you think it might be wrong for us to attend the game?
I’ve never thought before that I was doing wrong. But honestly, when I'm around people doing that, it makes me uncomfortable.
Answer:
"I wrote you in my letter not to associate with immoral people; I did not at all mean with the immoral people of this world, or with the covetous and swindlers, or with idolaters, for then you would have to go out of the world" (I Corinthians 5:9-10).
I agree with you that being around drunks makes me uncomfortable. I don't like the smell of beer. I don't like hearing people curse. Thus, I avoid those situations as much as I can. However, it would be incorrect to conclude that being there means you've sinned.
You and your friends don't participate in the sinful activities. So it becomes a personal choice whether you tolerate being in an uncomfortable situation to watch a game in person or watch it from home.
