Not Just a Simple Command

Not Just a Simple Command

There are a lot of things in the Bible that seem like simple “rules”. Our human nature is to buck the system. To buck the rules. To fight against authority and “do what I want, cause I can!!” We call it the freedom to choose. That freedom is indeed completely ours. At the base level we can say yes or no to nearly everything. We can even choose to stop living if we want to.

Regardless of your individual level of relationship or belief in God it is easy to accept that the Bible holds a lot of great advice and a good framework for living. Love others, be honest, don’t murder, don’t lie, etc. Some things maybe you don’t like or agree with but for the most part I think most people can nod their heads, “Yeah, living a life loving others, being honest, not murdering people, not lying, etc. yeah, that’s a good plan.” So, now that we have that established I will continue with the heart of this.

In Ephesians 5:18 (NASB) it says, “And do not get drunk with wine, in which there is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit.” There are numerous verses that address being drunk. The simple command in Ephesians is what most know and remember. “Do not become drunk with wine.” I know that and it’s great advice, but I do what I want. Christians and people who are not Christians alike get drunk. Despite the great advice the bible and history/experiences have taught us we still do.

I believe the motivation behind what we see as “rules” in the Bible go much deeper than just some rule a parent or authority figure put over our lives for no reason. Sometimes as employees we don’t see what is behind the rules imposed by our bosses. Similarly we don’t see at first what is behind the reason God says what He says.

I used to think that not becoming drunk was just face value. Those reasons should be enough. It makes you a jerk sometimes, makes for embarrassing stories, hangovers, detracts from your testimony, you lose respect of others, do dangerous things like drive, etc. But there are so many things in the Bible that are not limited to just face value. There are deeper reasons, more long term reasons, that these things are there.

For a long time I drank, only seeing the face value level consequences. Nothing deeper, not what was going on under the surface. Not becoming drunk with wine isn’t about just that single point in my life. It’s about all the points. Its about the addiction that spawns from the drinking. That addiction slowly starts to disrupt the “sound waves” of our connection to God and to others. The ripples are small at first, barely even noticeable. Most people wouldn’t notice it at all. The straight and strong connection to God and others around me starts to develop microscopic ripples in the connection. Slowly, over time, with the growth of the addiction the ripples become bigger. They begin to echo and bounce off the relationships in our lives. The relationship with God. The relationship with our spouse, family, friends, co-workers, and others we come in contact with.

Some of those relationships are weak and immediately destroyed by the waves bouncing around from our behavior and the addiction. Some of the relationships are stronger, harder. Some of them are hard as any rock on this earth so they remain, despite the echoing ripples. But what we don’t see is the cracks that are forming inside the rock. The cracks formed deep under the surface. The connection with God and others, starting to crack where we can’t see it.

Soon the ripples are big, arching waves. They increase in speed but also strength. This is when the medium level relationships start to fail. The cracks under the surface of this level of our relationships start to reach the surface and the consequences grow. Again, we don’t see the damage deep inside the hardest and strongest of our relationships.

The addiction and disruption to our Creator and our deepest relationships then becomes a violent storm. The speed of the arcs in the connection start to become a blur. The strength and violence of each wave becomes a thunderous roar echoing off even the strongest of relationships and connections. The weaker of the rocks have been completely turned to dust by now. The cracks in the hardest and toughest relationships are no longer hidden inside. The damage is spidering across their entire surface. Tiny cracks becoming massive fissures as the thunder claps of the disturbed waves crash powerfully against them and they finally break and chunks fly everywhere. Ripping through everything in their path. Tearing through your soul and emotions. Shredding you and everything around you with such ferocity there’s not a movie or computer generated image that could accurately describe the violence and carnage. It leaves only destruction and death.

Ephesians 5:18 warns us against becoming drunk with wine, not just because of the individual events, the individual things we do when drunk, but because the long term ripples in the connection with God and with those around us. The addiction that slowly grows and intensifies. That starts to create the tiniest of ripples and cracks that we don’t see for months, years, or decades. The ripples that slowly pull us out of sync with the will of God. Out of sync with our spouses and families. That pull us out of sync with our life’s purpose and who we are meant to be. That pull us out of sync with our mental health, physical health, spiritual health and starts to create deep, deep damage.

Maybe you do not have an issue with alcoholism. Maybe you are not an alcoholic and alcohol does not cause any ripples in your connection to God or others. But if God meant for you to read this because of something else in your life that is becoming or already is an addiction and behavior that needs to be addressed… You know exactly what that is and reading this has made you uncomfortable and squirm and your heart beat faster. Deal with it, reach out for help, be willing to put in the work, accept and embrace the pain, be honest with yourself and others. Don’t wait, do it NOW! The ripples in the connection with God and others in your life are growing. The waves are increasing and the cracks under the surface of even the strongest rock around you are forming and growing.

I guarantee you God does not warn us of behavior just because He wants to impose rules.

And with that, I will take another 24