Skip to main content

Don't Get Drunk


           Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 5:18-20)

          Let’s start with terminology. The NIV uses the term debauchery, which means excessive indulgence in sensual pleasures. The New American Standard edition uses the term dissipation, which means the squandering of money, energy, or resources. I don’t have my Greek resources available, so I can’t go farther than that at the moment. But suffice to say that if you are doing something in excess, you are likely squandering money, energy, or resources that could have been better used to care for (love) others. In fact, if you are deliberately squandering the money as an alternative to caring for others, you are hating them. About 40% of criminals claim that they were under the influence when they committed their crimes. Clearly, drunkenness tends to lead to evil. The verse doesn’t say not to drink any wine (or alcoholic beverages), but not to get drunk. It is the getting drunk part that is prohibited.
          So, why do people get drunk? According to The Motivational Model of Alcohol Use,[1] there are four basic reasons:
1) Enhancement (because it’s exciting.),
2) Coping (to forget about my worries),
3) Social (to celebrate), and
4) Conformity (to fit in).
          In other words, people drink to feel good or to stop feeling bad in some way.
Paul’s alternative to getting drunk is to be filled with the Holy Spirit, and as a result, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs. We’re to sing and give thanks. So, what are the benefits of singing?
1) Strengthens immune system
2) Is exercise (therefore it strengthens the body)
3) Improves posture (if done right, which strengthens the body)
4) Helps with sleep
5) It’s a natural anti-depressant
6) Lowers stress levels
7) Improves mental alertness
8) Can widen your circle of friends
9) Boosts self-confidence
10) Broadens communication skills
11) Builds appreciation of other singers.
          In other words, singing and worshipping enhances our lives, helps us cope, provides connection to others and celebration, and lets us fit in.  And it does it all without the hangover, with little to no damage to relationships or finances. Whether Paul recognized the power of singing and worship or was inspired by God to offer it as a better alternative to drunkenness, it seems that modern science agrees with him that it is a better alternative.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The List

              Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,   through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;   perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. (Romans 5:1-5)           Think about it. We have been justified. At least, we could be justified if we stopped insisting that our justification be based on our merits. We have peace with God, or could have peace if we stopped throwing temper tantrums. We have gained access into grace i...
Post a Comment
Read more

Listen!

  While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!” (Matthew 17:5)            Do you like roller coasters? I don't. You spend forever climbing a hill. You get to the top and have half a second, then you race down to a low point. Sometimes the racing down involves tying your insides into knots. At the bottom, you either have to be dragged up another hill or you get off the ride. Peter's life was a roller coaster from the time he met Jesus. There would be miracles, and then Jesus would teach things that didn't always make sense, and then they'd go out and perform miracles, and return to be taught. Peter was praised for giving the right answer to "Who do you say that I am?" Jesus said that said answer came from God. Peter was at the top of the hill.            ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Prayer Lists

                 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good. (I Peter 2:2-3)   In connection with what I wrote yesterday about the possibility that I’m wrong, I’m feeling the need to go back to basics - craving spiritual milk because somehow, I missed something. It’s a little embarrassing, craving milk like a newborn, but the truth probably is that we are newborns many times in many ways in our lives. From God’s perspective, we may never be anything more than newborns, forever needing that milk. On the other hand, being a newborn can also be exciting because so much is new. My mind is playing pinball - ricocheting from one idea to the next and through six more before it happens to hit the third again. The main topic is prayer. I have at least seven organizing structures all somewhat influenced by the movie War Room , which I’v...
Post a Comment
Read more