Been Intoxicated Lately?

If a=b you can plug either into an equation and reach the same conclusion. That is one of only three things I remember from my nine years of algebra (three of my own and two for each of my kids). This algebraic concept came wafting up recently while I was wandering through the book of Proverbs.

Wine is a mocker and strong drink is raging; whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise. Proverbs 20:1

There I was, minding my own business when I heard the question, “If wine is a mocker, what is mockery?”

“Um...wine?”

“Yes! What about rage?”

“I'm gonna go with strong drink?”

“Exactly! And what are both wine and strong drink known to produce?”

“Intoxication.”

Oh boy. Since the hard fought efforts of the prohibitionists, of the previous century, expounders of Biblical truth have focused solely on the a=b equation. I’ve yet to hear anyone chime in on the b=a side of that verse. So, here goes.

The verse doesn’t say wine makes you a mockery (although it can) nor does it say strong drink makes you rage (again, it might). The proverb uses the word “is”. Mockery is a wine and rage is a strong drink. The issue is about intoxication and not necessarily the alcohol induced kind.

I’m going out on a limb here and say if given the choice between a room full of Merlot sippers or folks overdoing it at the annual Christmas party, and a single, stone-cold sober mocker or person in a rage, I’ll take my chances with the party folks. I am not saying there are not dangers or that there are not those who get violent when they are intoxicated with alcohol. But I do think it’s time to shed some light on the intoxicating effects of our own emotions and the dangers of group think. 

A quick look at the 2016 presidential campaign protester’s use of mockery, and the post-election protesters use of rage provides a case in point.

Mockery feeds off of the pain, chaos, and confusion it inflicts on others. Those who employ this tactic are doing so from a place of weakness, ignorance, and insecurity, (think grade-school bully) but that doesn’t diminish the destruction a mocker is capable of inflicting while imbibing on this powerful, self-perpetuating, intoxicating, drug of choice.

Rule #5 of Saul Alinsky's Rules for Radicals (a book and ideology lauded by some of the highest political players in our land) says it this way: 

     “Ridicule is man’s most potent weapon. There is no defense. It’s irrational. It’s infuriating. It also works as a key pressure point to force the enemy into concessions.” 

And, according to the Word of God, it is intoxicating and deceptive to those who engage in its practice.

Rage is different. Rage feeds on the fear it produces in others.   Collateral damage is of little or no consequence when one is in the intoxicating throes of rage. It was the raging crowd that demanded Christ's crucifixion, and a raging Hitler who exterminated millions.  Rage sees others as enemies blocking the desired objective and believes destroying anyone or anything that stands between them and their fixation is justified.  

To be wise, one must abstain from mockery and rage so as never to be deceived by their intoxicating effects. Mocking is wine, raging is strong drink; whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.