Read
–18–
29Who is always in trouble?
Who argues and fights?
Who has cuts and bruises?
Whose eyes are red?
30Everyone who stays up late,
having just one more drink.
31Don't even look
at that colorful stuff
bubbling up in the glass!
It goes down so easily,
32but later it bites
like a poisonous snake.
33You will see weird things,
and your mind
will play tricks on you.
34You will feel tossed about
like someone trying to sleep
on a ship in a storm.
35You will be bruised all over,
without even remembering
how it all happened.
And you will lie awake asking,
“When will morning come,
so I can drink some more?”
Reflect
Today’s verses do not address occasional and responsible alcohol use. They address its misuse and the consequences. The description of binge drinking here is humorous. Barroom brawls, cuts, bruises, reddened eyes, imagined sights, dizziness, passing out, only to start again next morning bring a momentary smile, but their consequences are serious indeed.
Nearly a century ago prohibition was briefly tried in Canada. It legally banned the sale of all alcohol in a zealous attempt to limit the social damage caused by its abuse. It both worked and backfired. Despite some improved social indicators, over-eager law enforcement soon produced a backlash and discredited the whole movement of temperance. We still live under the long shadow of prohibition as people are suspicious of moralizing Christians. Many believe it is civilized to make alcohol more and more available. Yet evidence shows that increased availability leads to increased incivility and distress. Domestic violence through alcohol is a serious problem again, deaths from drunk driving are a social trauma, medical issues deriving from excess alcohol multiply, wrecked friendships and families are too common, binge drinking robs young lives of their potential. Perhaps Christians can find a voice, not only to warn against misuse of alcohol, but to point people to a better way to live. We can model gracious lives where we either use alcohol moderately or abstain. We can grow in our faith so that others see we derive more satisfaction from being filled with the Holy Spirit than we could ever get from alcohol (Ephesians 5:18). Joy is much more attractive than either moralizing or the poisonous snakebite of alcohol abuse.
Respond
Ever-loving God, you chose bread and wine to represent the redemption won for us on the Cross. Fill us with your Holy Spirit that we may grow in love, joy and peace and so commend you to others for freedom from unhealthy dependencies, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Axel Schoeber
Axel Schoeber has been an elementary teacher; a Baptist pastor for 27 years in Jasper, Calgary, Penticton and Victoria; and is now Associate Professor of Supervised Ministry at Carey Theological College in Vancouver. He supervisors the field education of pastors and others preparing for ministries and teaches Reimagining the Educational Mission of the Church and Baptist Identity. He directs the Mentored Ministry program for the Canadian Baptists of Western Canada, and loves his family. Publications: ‘“Christian Society”: A More Influential Concept Than Often Understood?’ http://www.csrs.uvic.ca ‘John Calvin and the “Still-born” Third Option in the French Reformation’ in Calvin@500: Theology, History, and Practice, Richard R. Topping and John A. Vissers, ed. (Eugene, Oregon: Pickwick, 2011)