The Wine that Mocks: One Christian’s Take on Alchohol Part II

In Part I, I discussed one view of alcohol that the Bible proposes, and far from the shouts of sin and debauchery that certain factions within the church suppose, there is clear evidence that wine is viewed in positive light.  I’m also fairly convinced, as I indicated in my last post, that this wine did indeed contain alcohol.   

However, the Bible also presents a number of instances where followers of God are warned about the dangers of abusing wine and “strong drink” and while these instances are much less than the positive affirmations of wine, they are strong warnings indeed– ones that every believer should heed.

In the Old Testament, we find the strongest warnings against the immoderate use of alcohol in Proverbs and Isaiah:

“Wine is a mocker, beer is a brawler, and whoever staggers because of them is not wise” (Proverbs 20: 1-3)

“Who has woe? Who has sorrow?  Who has conflicts? Who has complaints? Who has wounds for no reason?
  Who has red eyes? Those who linger over wine, those who go looking for mixed wine” (Proverbs 23:29-30)

In Isaiah, God pronounces woe [a warning of judgment] on those who “chase wine”:

“Woe to those who rise early in the morning in pursuit of beer, who linger into the evening, inflamed by wine.  At their feasts they have lyre, harp, tambourine, flute, and wine.  They do not perceive the LORD’s actions, and they do not see the work of His hands” (Isaiah 5:  11-12).

To summarize, in Proverbs, the writer calls those who ”stagger” from the mocking wine and brawling beer unwise.  The words mocking and brawling are descriptive adjectives that accurately (I think) describe the effects of over indulgence.  Have you ever heard of people who drink too much Tequila and get ticked off and want to fight?  Well I hear it’s a psychological thing, but I find it interesting that Proverbs cites similar effects.  Can too much alcohol blur reality for us?  I know that it has in my life.

Proverbs also states that those who go “looking” for wine (I hope you’re seeing how even the negative warnings only condemn the abuse) will find sorrow, conflict, wounds, and woe.  I find this too to be frightingly true.

In Isaiah, God pronounces judgment on those that pursue drinking all day.  This is not your game of poker with a few beers type drinking.  This is taking it to the limit,  And God hates it…but why?  Well the answer is clear in the last  part of the verse:  they forget Him.  Now, these are people who are already believers (supposedly), but when they drink in this way, they are casting off restraint and alienating themselves from the voice/presence of God.

In the New Testament, Paul and the other writers warn repeatedly against the sin of drunkenness.  Rather than list the many warnings (I Corinthians 5:11; 6:9-11; Galatians 5; etc.), I will mention the one that gives us the clearest expression of why I think God hates drunkenness so much.

“Do not be drunk with wine, which leads to reckless actions, but be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18 )

Do you ever ask yourself why God determines certain things to be sinful?  I think most of them are pretty clear, but there are those few grey areas, and I think drunkenness may be one of these.  So I like to ask why with God and I think that is okay.

I don’t think God declares something sinful out of preference.  Sometimes humans make rules just to have them.  I make some rules in my classroom as a teacher, simply because I prefer a certain way of doing things.  I’m not so sure God is like that.  It seems that God has good reasons for doing what he does, and they usually involve protecting us!

So what’s the deal with drunkenness?  Paul answers that pretty clearly his Ephesians reference and it parallels the Isaiah reference.  Drunkenness is a counterfeit for the presence of the Holy Spirit in a believer’s life.  The single greatest thing God wants to do in our life is fill us to overflowing.  He wants our lives to be intoxicated with his presence.  This reference in Ephesians is staggering when you think about it.

When a person gets drunk, they “loosen up.”  They are not inhibited by fears or concerns.  They sometimes get “jolly.”  They laugh.  They will talk to anyone.  They express themselves truly and honestly.  A person who has had too much to drink will have no problem telling you what he/she thinks of you.  Problems go away– a peace of sorts.

But, it’s all temporary.  It vanishes in the morning.  The fears return.  The problems return.  The fun ends.  But on top of that, other problems occur.  Losing inhibitions can mean temporarily severing your conscience.  It could mean ending up in places you wouldn’t want to end up normally. 

So Paul says, don’t choose this!  Instead, be filled with the Spirit:  Too tight?  Loosen up by the aid of the Holy Spirit. Let fears and doubts vanish because the faithfulness of the Holy Spirit.  Be filled with TRUE joy (eternally).  Express the truth in love and with gentleness.  Have peace that doesn’t go away when you wake up in the morning.

In other words, the Holy Spirit wants to do in you what alcohol can only pretend to do temporarily.  And your life will be connected with God and in touch with His presence so that you won’t “forget the Lord’s actions, and not see the work of His hands.”

So why does God call drunkenness sin?  Because it temporarily cuts us off (from our end) from the presence of the Lord, and at that point we are living contrary for the very reason God created us– to live intimately in His presence and take part in His divine love!

As this post has also become lengthy, let me end with this:  It’s obvious that the Bible has strong warnings concerning the abuse of alcohol, and that the Holy Spirit wants to fill us in such a way that the effects of alcohol would pale in comparison to the effects of His indwelling presence.

HOWEVER, does that mean we should ignore the other motif in scripture concerning the blessing that alcohol can be?  I don’t think this would be a more “Christian” decision.  And yes, I really believe that in certain contexts, it can be a blessing.  I think what we need is a perspective of balance.  In part III, I will discuss this and some of my personal decisions, reflections, and choices.

Drink deeply…of the presence of God.