Would Jesus have a trenta coffee?

Why is it that most spiritually related retreats, workshops and the like usually recommend or require their participants to avoid the use of sugar, alcohol, caffeine, tobacco and the like?

It would be easy to say, “for your health” as we all know, for the most part, these substances aren’t the healthiest of choices.

The real reason though and the most fundamental is that these stimulants (and there others) cause you to loose control of your self.

What does that mean?

All create a high of sorts. In a sense, it’s an unnatural high because the feeling was not there before and was after the use of the substance—the feeling is sourcing from something external and eventually passes.
From this place, your behavior alters. Maybe you start talking more. Start reaching out more. Have more fun.

Is that your true behavior?

Or is that the stimulant’s behavior?

Could you imagine Jesus Christ having a Coke or a venti (trenta?) coffee before going out and doing his work? 

That would be a little strange, no?

For most people, this doesn’t matter. “Don’t be so serious.” 

For the Servant of Truth, it does, as integrity within and without is of the utmost importance.

The problem with stimulants is that they feed a faux self that walks and talks differently than your authentic self. You may seem to have more fun or function better with them but you are essentially out of control and thus not able to perform life’s higher functions in a state of integrity.