Why Can’t I Have a Good Time Once in a While?

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A Christian Young Person’s Guide to True Joy, Discernment, and Living Without Regret

You’ve probably heard it before—or maybe you’ve said it yourself:
“Why can’t I just have a good time once in a while?”
The tone might be casual, defensive, or frustrated. It usually comes up when someone’s challenged about going to wild parties, watching something inappropriate, drinking, flirting, or joining in with what “everyone else” is doing. The question seems simple—what’s wrong with having a little fun?

Here’s the truth: It depends on what you mean by “a good time.”
That’s where we need to stop, step back, and evaluate everything through a higher lens. You’re not just a teenager, student, or young adult looking to survive life. If you belong to Christ, you are an ambassador of heaven (2 Corinthians 5:20). Your life is sacred. That includes your joy, your laughter, and yes—even your fun.

So let’s get real. What’s wrong with “just having a good time once in a while?” Is God against fun? Are Christians supposed to be boring, stone-faced rule-followers who sit in silence while the rest of the world parties?

Absolutely not.

The problem is never having fun. The problem is what kind of fun you’re chasing, and what it’s costing you.

God Invented Joy—and He Wants You to Have It

Let’s be clear: God is not anti-joy. He is the inventor of it. Psalm 16:11 says, “You make known to me the path of life; in Your presence there is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”

Real joy, real celebration, and real laughter are not worldly ideas that Christians are just barely allowed to touch. They are gifts from the Creator. You were made to experience deep happiness—not shallow distraction. You were made for clean fun that doesn’t lead to shame the next morning. You were made to be filled, not used up.

So no, Christianity is not about being miserable. It’s about trading temporary thrills for lasting joy—the kind that doesn’t leave your soul aching afterward.

What Kind of “Good Time” Are You Talking About?

Here’s where we get to the heart of the matter: not all “good times” are good. Proverbs 14:12 warns, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.” Just because something feels exciting, freeing, or fun in the moment doesn’t mean it’s good for your heart, mind, body, or soul.

Is the “good time” you’re after a wild party, getting drunk or high, sneaking out, watching sexually explicit shows, dirty joking, or flirting with sin? Then no, that is not a harmless break—that is a doorway to damage. The Bible calls those works of the flesh (Galatians 5:19-21). They promise pleasure and deliver bondage.

The devil doesn’t show up in a red costume with horns. He shows up at parties where sin is dressed up as fun. He lures people with laughter and excitement—but always hides the consequences.

Romans 6:23 reminds us, “The wages of sin is death.” Not always physical death—but the slow death of innocence, peace, purity, and purpose.

So ask yourself: what is the price tag attached to that “good time?” Is it a guilty conscience? A damaged reputation? A regret you’ll carry for years? Is it a weakened testimony? A grieving of the Holy Spirit?

If your fun leads to sin, regret, temptation, or dishonor to God—it’s not worth it.

The World’s Fun Always Comes with a Hook

You’ve seen it. Maybe you’ve lived it.

The first time you compromise, it feels thrilling. You feel accepted, admired, maybe even bold. But then comes the spiral. Shame. Guilt. Fear of being found out. Confusion. Addiction. Distance from God. Broken trust with others.

That’s the trap. Satan never advertises the pain—only the pleasure. But the world’s version of fun is a hook hidden in bait. Proverbs 5 talks about the immoral woman, but the principle applies to all kinds of sin: “Her lips drip honey… but in the end she is bitter as gall, sharp as a double-edged sword” (vv. 3–4).

If the party, movie, app, music, or experience draws you away from Christ or dulls your spiritual hunger, it’s not a blessing—it’s bait.

And that “once in a while” quickly becomes once a week… then once a day… until you’re living a double life. That’s not freedom. That’s bondage.

There Is a Better Kind of Fun

So what should you do—sit alone in a dark room reading the dictionary while the rest of your generation dances in the flames?

Not at all.

The Christian life is filled with real joy, real friends, real laughter, and real adventure—but with no regret attached. Here’s what that looks like:

1. Fellowship with real friends who love God and love you enough to challenge you. That’s joy.

2. Worship, prayer nights, youth retreats, serving others. Yes, those things can be fun—and incredibly fulfilling. Laughter with godly friends is cleaner, deeper, and freer.

3. Sports, music, hiking, travel, art, reading, cooking, building things, creating beauty—all these are gifts from God. Enjoy them! But enjoy them with holiness and purpose.

4. Clean fun—movies that don’t dishonor your convictions, games that don’t promote evil, humor that doesn’t mock purity. It exists. And when you find it, you don’t have to carry guilt.

Ecclesiastes 11:9 says, “Rejoice, young person, while you are young, and let your heart be glad in the days of your youth. Follow the ways of your heart… but know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment.”

Have fun. Just don’t lose your soul doing it.

The Real Question Is: Who Are You Living For?

When someone says, “Why can’t I just have a good time once in a while?”—what they often mean is: “Why can’t I have what I want, even if I know it’s wrong?”

This isn’t about God being unfair. This is about the lordship of Christ in your life. Who is your King—Jesus or your cravings?

Luke 9:23 says, “If anyone wants to follow Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me.” That doesn’t mean God wants you to suffer endlessly—but it means you can’t follow Jesus and follow your flesh at the same time.

The moment you gave your life to Christ, you gave Him authority over your time, your body, your desires, and yes—even your entertainment.

So next time you’re tempted to excuse a sinful choice by calling it a “good time,” ask yourself:
Would Jesus be welcomed at this event, in this room, watching this show, listening to this song, laughing at this joke?

If not, why are you?

Final Thoughts: Joy Without Guilt Is Possible

God is not trying to ruin your youth—He’s trying to protect it.

He doesn’t want to take away your good times. He wants to redefine them into something better. Real joy. Real fun. Real memories that don’t come with regret, stains, or secrets.

The world’s parties may be louder, but they’re emptier. God’s joy may seem quiet at first—but it lasts forever.

Psalm 84:10 says, “Better is one day in Your courts than a thousand elsewhere.” That includes the wild parties, the reckless weekends, the vulgar comedy, and the popular trends.

So yes, go have a good time. Just make sure it’s the kind God can smile over—and the kind that won’t cost you more than it gives.

Are you choosing pleasure that honors Christ—or entertainment that empties your soul?

You weren’t made for temporary thrills. You were made for eternal joy. Choose wisely.

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About the Author

EDWARD D. ANDREWS (AS in Criminal Justice, BS in Religion, MA in Biblical Studies, and MDiv in Theology) is CEO and President of Christian Publishing House. He has authored over 220+ books. In addition, Andrews is the Chief Translator of the Updated American Standard Version (UASV).