Alcohol abuse is a real problem in our
world. According to a recent Australian
Bureau of Statistics National Health Survey, “One in six (16.1%) persons
aged 18 years and over consumed more than two standard drinks per day on
average”, thus exceeding the guidelines for lifetime risks associated with
illness and injury. Furthermore, “just over two in five (42.1%) adults aged 18
years and over” had “consumed more than four standard drinks on one occasion in
the past year,” again exceeding health and safety guidelines. The general
community is well aware that excessive alcohol consumption is linked to all
sorts of serious health problems. And of course, the negative effects of
alcohol abuse go beyond issues of personal health and safety for the individual
consumer. Drunkenness can lead, for example, to violence, neglect and damage of
children, and when combined with driving, injury or death to self and/or others.

(If you’ve been affected either
directly or indirectly by the abuse of alcohol or other mood-altering substances,
help is available. See the resources and links at overcomersoutreach.net).

The problem of alcohol abuse in our society isn’t simple to solve. As countless politicians have discovered, simply creating and enforcing tougher rules often backfires. Prohibition and regulation in extreme measures tend to drive the problem underground, often leading to more crime and further misery for those affected. That’s why, when we approach the question of drunkenness, we need more than just rules and regulations. We need to know: What’s actually wrong with drunkenness? In answering this question, statistics can only take us so far. Yes, it’s true that on average, alcohol abuse tends to lead to negative health and wellbeing consequences. But that argument by itself is not enough of a reason to change our behaviour, deep down. After all, why can’t we just have a bit of fun and see how far we can outrun the health and safety risks? And what about those who struggle with addiction? In the end, we as Christians need a deeper reason to avoid drunkenness.

Christians do have a profound reason to
avoid drunkenness—a reason that goes beyond statistics and simple consequences.
This reason comes out in the apostle Paul’s letter to the Ephesians:

And do not get drunk with wine, which is debauchery, but be fulfilled by the SpiritEphesians 5:18

Do not get drunk (18a)

If you’ve been reading through Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, you might be slightly surprised by his mention of drunkenness at this point. In the previous verses, Paul hasn’t been listing a series of other vices to avoid. Rather, Paul has been talking about how to live wisely and carefully in light of the time that we live in: “Watch carefully, then, how you walk, not as unwise but as wise people, reclaiming the time, because the days are evil. So don’t be foolish, but grasp what the Lord’s will is” (Ephesians 5:15–17). So why does he go straight on from this talk about wisdom to mention drunkenness? What’s the connection between living wisely and carefully in light of these “evil” days, and avoiding drunkenness?

The key is to see that drunkenness is, in fact, an abandonment of wisdom. According to Ephesians, wisdom involves understanding the shape of the world, and living appropriately. The wise person understands that