Ephesians 5:15–21 (ESV)
“Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, 19 addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, 20 giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.”
Lately, I’ve been thinking about alcohol. Not that I’m obsessed with it or loathe it. I don’t mind enjoying a cordial now and then, especially in the company of a good friend. But I do think that a Christian’s consumption of alcohol must be different than that of the world’s or by worldly standards.
I remember attending a large university in the fall of 1988. I was a pledge in a fraternity. I treasure the friendships I made while there. But looking back, I remember that the alcohol flowed freely. It was nothing for underage college kids to drink several nights per week.
I also witnessed how alcohol and the treatment of young ladies went. More than once did I observe girls making poor decisions or being taken advantage of by male counterparts while under the influence of alcohol. Not too long ago, I read a statistic that 25% of all ladies suffer sexual assault on our college campuses. I wonder how much alcohol plays a part in such occurrences.
In student orientation, I recall the speaker saying: “Half of you will not be here for the second semester.” Again, I wonder how many had to drop out or decided to attend other schools because their partying got out of hand.
As Christians, we must be reminded of one of the golden fruits of the Spirit, as Paul presents them in Galatians 5. Self-control is a precious characteristic of personal practice in a world that often lives in excess. I recently reminded a young person attending a university to focus on their studies and, “…remember, you are not getting your degree in alcoholism.”
May God give us grace to live with more self-control, as well as teach temperance to a younger generation. Amen.
Central to Life 