Schoolies is a celebration of finishing school which often involves excessive drinking and has been known to result in violent brawls, vandalism, lost possessions, and general bad behaviour.
In my opinion, the answer is no. It is too risky. Even if you are young or and an old Christian, God clearly states clubbing and excess drinking is unacceptable in His Kingdom. In short - we should not follow the crowd. We that claim the faith are of Israel weather we like it or not. We are not like the rest of the world we speak differently, act differently compared to the common man. Things like schoolies and and other things of the world should not excite us at all. Those that are Christians SHOULD be striving to let the spirit lead will not be drawn to the filth that the world peddles because we offer ourselves as a living sacrifice to Elohim - holy and acceptable unto service. We live to bring Him glory and we are live to be the moral compass for this lost culture. We should be compelled to follow YHWH's ways and His Word and walk in them. Being lead by the spirit is not doing your own thing, what you feel is right, and then attaching some spiritual significance to it and telling yourself that sin is okay because God loves you and He does not care. It will be very possible to say that any type behaviour done at schoolies will contradict Torah prescribed standards. And it is not a matter of “if” they will. They certainly will. Be wise and do not take chances if you desire to be accounted righteous or great in the Kingdom.
"If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are." 1 Corinthians 3:17
"30 “But the person who sins defiantly, whether native or outsider, reviles Adonai and that person is to be cut off from his people. 31 Because he has despised the word of Adonai and has broken His commandment, that person will certainly be cut off—his guilt will remain on him.” Numbers 15:30-32
"23 And a fire will go forth from his wrath, and will consume the foundations of the earth, and the sinners, like straw that is kindled. 24 “Woe to those who sin and do not observe my commandments,” says the Lord; 25 “I will not spare them. Depart, you faithless children! Do not pollute my sanctuary.” 2 Esdras 15:23-25
"21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord!’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in Your name, and drive out demons in Your name, and perform many miracles in Your name?’ 23 Then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you. Get away from Me, you workers of lawlessness!’” Matthew 7:21-23
"If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are." 1 Corinthians 3:17
"30 “But the person who sins defiantly, whether native or outsider, reviles Adonai and that person is to be cut off from his people. 31 Because he has despised the word of Adonai and has broken His commandment, that person will certainly be cut off—his guilt will remain on him.” Numbers 15:30-32
"23 And a fire will go forth from his wrath, and will consume the foundations of the earth, and the sinners, like straw that is kindled. 24 “Woe to those who sin and do not observe my commandments,” says the Lord; 25 “I will not spare them. Depart, you faithless children! Do not pollute my sanctuary.” 2 Esdras 15:23-25
"21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord!’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in Your name, and drive out demons in Your name, and perform many miracles in Your name?’ 23 Then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you. Get away from Me, you workers of lawlessness!’” Matthew 7:21-23
There is no debate that this celebration offers young people freedom from the constraints of school and a way to let off steam after all their hard work. I understand the pressure, and it is tempting and satisfying to go crazy and run a muck after year 12. But we must have control, because we are still young and we have a whole life ahead of us.
"38 Keep watching and praying, so that you do not enter into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Mark 14:38
Those in support of schoolies would argue that it is a special time in young people’s lives when all their friends may be in the same place for the last time before parting in their separate ways when going to University. It is not the need to celebrate that is up for debate, it is the way that the celebration takes place.
"38 Keep watching and praying, so that you do not enter into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Mark 14:38
Those in support of schoolies would argue that it is a special time in young people’s lives when all their friends may be in the same place for the last time before parting in their separate ways when going to University. It is not the need to celebrate that is up for debate, it is the way that the celebration takes place.
We do not need to waste money travelling all the way to the Gold Coast, Bali, Byron Bay or any of the other schoolies hot spots to put ourselves and our friends at risk. Instead we should consider safer alternatives to the traditional ‘schoolies celebration’. Away from the wild crowd and the sins.
What about the locals? How would they feel if teens are distributing and vandalising their property? What about the rowdy and inappropriate and vulgar things they might say? In fact, few years ago those celebrating on the Gold Coast were referred to as “Schoolie Savages”. Approximately 25,000 people attended the event in 2017 and, while only 41 were arrested (mostly for drug possession or being a public nuisance), many were injured and across just one weekend 155 schools needed paramedic assistance. Is this something you want to be guilty for supporting righteous brother or sister?
It would also be very expensive on the schoolies week can be once you add flights, accommodation costs at venues which have risen up the prices because of the time of year, food, drinks, venue entry and getting around. There’s really not many positives! It is utter chaos! Because the world i chaos for rejecting Elohim.
Throughout all our schooling we have been taught important lessons and key values to guide us as young people. Once school finishes it seems that all of this is thrown out the window and forgotten about.
All of the schoolies who have come before us have no doubt learned similar lessons about Ethics, Morality and Conscience and even Biblical teachings. Though, many have different morality standards, mine are entirely based on the Scriptures. You do notice that Religion, or Ethics is not on the VCE curriculum anymore? This is due to the fact that our society is slowly but surely becoming more secular and godless and more and more people are not taking literally the Words of the Most High Yah. This is the cause of all this mess. Our culture is accepting sin and rejecting the truth! As we speak, more and more people are being convinced that that God of the Bible either does not exist, very distant, dead or is Satan himself (if you are a New Age practitioner, a Witch or Kabbalist) and it does not take much research to see why that is true. Due to this apostasy, our future leaders will have very shallow morals and will find it very difficult to root themselves inside something truly special that they trust, when the Tribulation occurs. We should be building our lives on His word and not according to the world.
"24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house; and yet it did not fall, for its foundation had been built on the rock. 26 Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house; and it fell—and great was its fall.” Matthew 7:24-26
"24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house; and yet it did not fall, for its foundation had been built on the rock. 26 Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house; and it fell—and great was its fall.” Matthew 7:24-26
Where are these learnings that warn us in the mainstream that schoolies will very likely consist of hedonistic indulgence and nihilism where people drunkenly vandalising buildings or putting their friends at risk? Not so. Most of the time it casts a very good light on schoolies making young teens get sucked into the false facade that deceives the true and horrible nature behind it.
If you have followed my Sabbath Torah Portions this year, we have spent a lot of time discussing what is good or bad, right or wrong. But what does the Creator say about all this? It seems that we lose our ability to make careful decisions when in the heat of the moment at schoolies. I know this feeling. It happens at night. Even at socials at times this feeling rises, fogging my heart's desire to serve Him, but it takes sanctification from the living God to be able to fully resist this. Unfortunately, some do not have this ability. Our prayers should go out to those in our generation that are in the world.
If you have followed my Sabbath Torah Portions this year, we have spent a lot of time discussing what is good or bad, right or wrong. But what does the Creator say about all this? It seems that we lose our ability to make careful decisions when in the heat of the moment at schoolies. I know this feeling. It happens at night. Even at socials at times this feeling rises, fogging my heart's desire to serve Him, but it takes sanctification from the living God to be able to fully resist this. Unfortunately, some do not have this ability. Our prayers should go out to those in our generation that are in the world.
It’s not just school that’s taught us so much, the Bible covers this issue and offers valuable lessons which have implications for Schoolies that schools will never tell you theses days.
For example, 1 Corinthians 15:33, “Do not be misled. Bad company corrupts good character”. We know that sometimes our friends may not always be the best influences, we call this peer pressure. The Australian Institute of Criminology has warned, “when young people get together there can be an atmosphere of spontaneity and reckless behaviour”. This is one hundred percent true. You can only imagine the utter chaos. I believe that there would always be an element of peer pressure at schoolies, even if it is just the things you do. If everybody else is drinking it would be hard for someone to make the choice to be different. Another thing we need to keep in mind is that not everyone is 18 yet. Some people allow their friends to help them illegally drink or get injured.
“18 And do not get drunk on wine, for that is recklessness.[c] Instead, be filled with the Ruach, 19 speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making music in your heart to the Lord— 20 always giving thanks for everything to God the Father, in the name of the Lord Yeshua the Messiah.” Ephesians 5:18 -20
Titus 2.12 teaches that to deny “ungodliness and lusts of the flesh”, stating that “we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world”. This is further supported by 1 Peter 4:2-4 which draws attention to not drinking excess of wine and Isaiah 5:11 which strongly argues that those who drink strong drinks into the evening will find themselves in deep sin. In Leviticus 10, we see that God has to leave you if you become a drunkard. This is also what happened Aaron’s sons Nabab and Abihu, who had been guilty for over drinking and due to the uncleanliness, they came into the presence of God and were killed like going to close to the sun.
Verse 9 reveals to us why Nadab and Abihu died. They got drunk. This is why YHWH just randomly commanded them to not drink wine and alcohol before going before Him because this is what just happened to Aaron's sons and they died. This also makes sense how we saw how strange fire means fortification and adultery. They were drinking too much wine. Drinking wine disordinates you. It also relaxes you. You are not sharp on your feet. So what in our lives is preventing us from literally seeing the glory of the father and to being able to truly engage with him on His lap in the Holy of holies? What is clouding our sense from doing this? Yeshua must go first with us or we will die. We need to stop doing things that are are unclean.
Ephesians 5 gives us good advice:
"Ephesians 5 World English Bible (WEB)
5 Be therefore imitators of God, as beloved children. 2 Walk in love, even as Christ also loved you, and gave himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling fragrance. 3 But sexual immorality, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not even be mentioned among you, as becomes saints; 4 nor filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not appropriate; but rather giving of thanks.
5 Know this for sure, that no sexually immoral person, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the Kingdom of Christ and God.
6 Let no one deceive you with empty words. For because of these things, the wrath of God comes on the children of disobedience. 7 Therefore don’t be partakers with them. 8 For you were once darkness, but are now light in the Lord. Walk as children of light, 9 for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth, 10 proving what is well pleasing to the Lord. 11 Have no fellowship with the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but rather even reprove them. 12 For the things which are done by them in secret, it is a shame even to speak of. 13 But all things, when they are reproved, are revealed by the light, for everything that reveals is light. 14 Therefore he says, “Awake, you who sleep, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”
15 Therefore watch carefully how you walk, not as unwise, but as wise; 16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore don’t be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 Don’t be drunken with wine, in which is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs; singing, and making melody in your heart to the Lord; 20 giving thanks always concerning all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to God, even the Father; 21 subjecting yourselves to one another in the fear of Christ.
22 Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife, and Christ also is the head of the assembly, being himself the savior of the body. 24 But as the assembly is subject to Christ, so let the wives also be to their own husbands in everything.
25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the assembly, and gave himself up for it; 26 that he might sanctify it, having cleansed it by the washing of water with the word, 27 that he might present the assembly to himself gloriously, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without defect. 28 Even so husbands also ought to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself. 29 For no man ever hated his own flesh; but nourishes and cherishes it, even as the Lord also does the assembly; 30 because we are members of his body, of his flesh and bones. 31 “For this cause a man will leave his father and mother, and will be joined to his wife. The two will become one flesh.”[a] 32 This mystery is great, but I speak concerning Christ and of the assembly. 33 Nevertheless each of you must also love his own wife even as himself; and let the wife see that she respects her husband."
So, it doesn’t cut if you are a constant drinker, claiming to believe in Jesus, who doesn’t desire the waters of the Living Word, dreaming to stay in the world partying while also putting on a mask of piety and going to church on the pagan Sun God worshipping day taking “holy” communion thinking that God has forgiven you but you haven’t repented of sins? You are the temple of YHWH. The Ruach haKodesh dwells within you. You are a child of the living God, the Creator of all things watches over you. You are compelled to live a holy life, you are compelled to speak of YHWH's greatness, His wonders and His marvellous ways. His Ruach dwells within you and causes you to delight in His Torah. You are of the light and every kind of fibre of your being desires to serve you King and to be with Him.
You were unworthy, you were filthy, you had a heart full of idols, a mind full of wickedness, you were defiled, you were separated from YHWH. But He loved you, how He loves you. He died that you might be clean, He redeemed you. You are the temple of El Shaddai, the Almighty, YHWH Melek ha Olam. He has chosen you to dwell within you. That is how much He loves you. Naturally, we would love Him back, by listening to Him.
But wait a minute? Did Jesus Christ also drink wine at the Passover (last supper?) And did He attend a wedding feats to turn the water into wine? Now this is an issue of excess drinking verses sensible drinking. Here is a great video by brother James DiNonno from Philia Ministries clarifying the confusion:
You were unworthy, you were filthy, you had a heart full of idols, a mind full of wickedness, you were defiled, you were separated from YHWH. But He loved you, how He loves you. He died that you might be clean, He redeemed you. You are the temple of El Shaddai, the Almighty, YHWH Melek ha Olam. He has chosen you to dwell within you. That is how much He loves you. Naturally, we would love Him back, by listening to Him.
But wait a minute? Did Jesus Christ also drink wine at the Passover (last supper?) And did He attend a wedding feats to turn the water into wine? Now this is an issue of excess drinking verses sensible drinking. Here is a great video by brother James DiNonno from Philia Ministries clarifying the confusion:
So next time someone offers you to drink of the whore's wine (spiritually talking about flesh pleasing spirituality that is a lie) say, "no thank-you. Its water time!" The scriptures are described as the living waters!
“I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were cold or hot. 16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will vomit you out of my mouth. 17 Because you say, ‘I am rich, and have gotten riches, and have need of nothing;’ and don’t know that you are the wretched one, miserable, poor, blind, and naked; 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, that you may become rich; and white garments, that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes, that you may see. 19 As many as I love, I reprove and chasten. Be zealous therefore, and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, then I will come in to him, and will dine with him, and he with me. 21 He who overcomes, I will give to him to sit down with me on my throne, as I also overcame, and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies.” Revelation 3
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| The Feast of Sukkot is the greatest celebration of all time! We are suggested in the Torah to bring strong drink to the feast. |
In Deuteronomy Chapter 28 goes into lengthy about how these curses will manifest themselves (verse 15-68) and its is not pleasant. It personally was not a good read reading through them all. The curses come as a result for not serving YHWH will joy and gladness in heart. We are commanded to have fun and party and even bring strong drink. But, we do not party like the world. We party to worship Him. We can does this every Feats of Tabernacles. We cannot fail to be grateful, and be selfish. I am only passing school because of Him. If you refuse to rejoice at what you have, you become jealous, you covet, and you steal other people's things and become selfish.
Be the farmer who can look his good fortune in the eye and say thank you from the bottom of his heart and can share what he has. It's a recipe for how happiness can be persevered. Thank YHWH and share your bounty with those less fortune.
Rejoice and share - it is the key to happiness. Give tithes and offerings with gladness and give them whole heatedly, not half heatedly and sly with tendencies towards the sneaky, towards secret sins. If your mantra is it is all mine - you will end up miserable.
So do not rob from YHWH! It is cool to serve YHWH with gladness in heart.
"1 Thessalonians 5:16-19 King James Version (KJV)
16 Rejoice evermore.
17 Pray without ceasing.
18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
19 Quench not the Spirit."
Come to the party and acknowledge that:
"James 1:17 King James Version (KJV)
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| Should have shared your abundance and been more grateful old sport. It an't about you. |
17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning."
Instead of attending schoolies to celebrate the end of school, there are many other ways to mark the occasion! We first and foremost, we need to celebrate for Him and not for ourselves.
You can invest in an amazing holiday to places to go travelling, stay with only your best friends who you can trust to behave with the same principles and values that you share yourself, or simply spend time with your family especially after the intense studies of VCE.
For me, spending the time with my family, and my one true Abba in Heaven that has been so gracious giving me all the abundance of opportunities I could ever have, is enough for me. I personally believe that it is okay to have a little bit of wine. I am not into beer or anything i with a lot alcohol. However, clearly Yeshua had wine on special occasions like on Passover and when i do have wine, i drink small amounts with caution. I only drink on rare occasions like for example: the Valedictory dinner for graduation, Passover and Sukkot and i do not feel like drinking. I also only drink wine whenever wine is available and my default is obviously water. I would never drink a lot of wine and i am not fussed if somehow i end up stopping. I am also not much of a fan of soft drink sense it i am now more careful of my health since it is full of sugar.
As James said, for different people, wine can be a stumbling block. I have discovered that this is not an issue, but it may be for you. I suggest you think about it, pray about it. Remember, it is okay if you decide to stop.
YHWH deserves so much more. Be brave and make a stand for His truth. If you are with YHWH no one can be against you.
"Deal generously with your servant;
then I will live and observe your word.
18 Open my eyes, so that I will see wonders from your Torah." Psalm 119:17-18
"Deal generously with your servant;
then I will live and observe your word.
18 Open my eyes, so that I will see wonders from your Torah." Psalm 119:17-18
Let that be our prayer. Let us separate ourselves from all that seeks to destroy us spiritually and let us not accept that which seeks to denigrate the name of our Saviour. Let us be like David and mediate in YHWH's word daily that we might go on to enjoy the victory over His demonic enemies that are leading many young people astray!
"6. And he said unto me: 'This place which thou seest--here are cast the spirits of sinners and blasphemers, and of those who work wickedness, and of those who pervert everything that the Lord hath spoken through the mouth of the prophets--(even) the things that shall be. 7. For some of them are written and inscribed above in the heaven, in order that the angels may read them and know that which shall befall the sinners, and the spirits of the humble, and of those who have afflicted their bodies, and been recompensed by God; and of those who have been put to shame by wicked men: 8. Who love God and loved neither gold nor silver nor any of the good things which are in the world, but gave over their bodies to torture. 9. Who, since they came into being, longed not after earthly food, but regarded everything as a passing breath, and lived accordingly, and the Lord tried them much, and their spirits were found pure so that they should bless His name. 10. And all the blessings destined for them I have recounted in the books. And he hath assigned them their recompense, because they have been found to be such as loved heaven more than their life in the world, and though they were trodden under foot of wicked men, and experienced abuse and reviling from them and were put to shame, yet they blessed Me. 11. And now I will summon the spirits of the good who belong to the generation of light, and I will transform those who were born in darkness, who in the flesh were not recompensed with such honour as their faithfulness deserved. 12. And I will bring forth in shining light those who have loved My holy name, and I will seat each on the throne of his honour. 13. And they shall be resplendent for times without number; for righteousness is the judgement of God; for to the faithful He will give faithfulness in the habitation of upright paths. 14. And they shall see those who were, born in darkness led into darkness, while the righteous shall be resplendent. 15. And the sinners shall cry aloud and see them resplendent, and they indeed will go where days and seasons are prescribed for them.' Enoch 108: 6-15
Overall, if anyone tells you it is not big deal to sin, please tell them that you are the temple of El Shaddai, the Almighty, YHWH Melek ha Olam. NOT profane. NOT like the world, NOT like everybody else. Set part unto to YHWH, while the world bombards you with the lie that it is okay, normal, reasonable, acceptable to be defiled. We are a sh'ma people - people of the entire Word of YHWH - washed with the water of His Word. We are to follow YHWH's ways. His Word is the only truth.
"1 Peter 2:9 King James Version (KJV)
9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;"
"6. And he said unto me: 'This place which thou seest--here are cast the spirits of sinners and blasphemers, and of those who work wickedness, and of those who pervert everything that the Lord hath spoken through the mouth of the prophets--(even) the things that shall be. 7. For some of them are written and inscribed above in the heaven, in order that the angels may read them and know that which shall befall the sinners, and the spirits of the humble, and of those who have afflicted their bodies, and been recompensed by God; and of those who have been put to shame by wicked men: 8. Who love God and loved neither gold nor silver nor any of the good things which are in the world, but gave over their bodies to torture. 9. Who, since they came into being, longed not after earthly food, but regarded everything as a passing breath, and lived accordingly, and the Lord tried them much, and their spirits were found pure so that they should bless His name. 10. And all the blessings destined for them I have recounted in the books. And he hath assigned them their recompense, because they have been found to be such as loved heaven more than their life in the world, and though they were trodden under foot of wicked men, and experienced abuse and reviling from them and were put to shame, yet they blessed Me. 11. And now I will summon the spirits of the good who belong to the generation of light, and I will transform those who were born in darkness, who in the flesh were not recompensed with such honour as their faithfulness deserved. 12. And I will bring forth in shining light those who have loved My holy name, and I will seat each on the throne of his honour. 13. And they shall be resplendent for times without number; for righteousness is the judgement of God; for to the faithful He will give faithfulness in the habitation of upright paths. 14. And they shall see those who were, born in darkness led into darkness, while the righteous shall be resplendent. 15. And the sinners shall cry aloud and see them resplendent, and they indeed will go where days and seasons are prescribed for them.' Enoch 108: 6-15
Overall, if anyone tells you it is not big deal to sin, please tell them that you are the temple of El Shaddai, the Almighty, YHWH Melek ha Olam. NOT profane. NOT like the world, NOT like everybody else. Set part unto to YHWH, while the world bombards you with the lie that it is okay, normal, reasonable, acceptable to be defiled. We are a sh'ma people - people of the entire Word of YHWH - washed with the water of His Word. We are to follow YHWH's ways. His Word is the only truth.
"1 Peter 2:9 King James Version (KJV)
9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;"
Shalom
Jonathon Karagiannis
Jonathon Karagiannis
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