PRÉCIS ON BOOZE: PRACTICUM ON BEING AT THE READY 24/7 (WITH VIDEO)

“I have to be Vigilant, especially now. There’s a War on, you know.” – DEREK LANDY, Skulduggery Pleasant: Last Stand of Dead Men, 2013; edited

“Wine is a mocker, strong drink a riotous brawler; and whoever is intoxicated by it is NOT WISE ... [therefore] BE SOBER [néphó-unintoxicated, abstaining from wine; well balanced, and self-disciplined], BE ALERT AND CAUTIOUS AT ALL TIMES. That enemy of yours, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion [fiercely hungry], seeking someone to devour.” – PROVERBS 20:1; 1 PETER 5:8, AMP

KEY TERM. “BE ALERT!” ‘Grégoreó’ [γρηγορήσατε]: “To keep awake, watch, remain vigilant! To be [completely aware at all times].” NOTE: “Strong’s Greek 1127 expresses an alert, wakeful attentiveness to unfolding events, whether Physical or Spiritual. ‘In Scripture it consistently calls God’s people to Stay Awake, remain Spiritually Alive, and Be On Guard against danger or surprise.’”

QUOTATION. “‘Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving.’ Despite the fact that it’s illegal to drive drunk, one person was killed every 42 minutes in a drunk driving crash on our nation’s roads in 2023. That’s a total of 12,429 people who died in alcohol-impaired driving crashes in one year. ‘Even a SMALL AMOUNT of alcohol can affect driving [or decision-making] ability.’ In 2023, there were 2,117 people killed in alcohol-related crashes where a driver had a BAC of .01 to .07.’” – National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), “Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving,” ret. Mar. 22, 2026; edited

COMMENTARY. “‘Lions attack sick, young, or straggling animals; they choose victims who are alone or not alert.’ Peter warns us to watch out for Satan when we are suffering or being persecuted. When you are feeling alone, weak, helpless, and cut off from other [true] believers, or when you are so focused on your troubles that you forget to watch for danger, you are especially vulnerable to Satan’s attacks. During Times of Suffering, see other [sober-minded] Christians for support. ‘Keep your eyes [and attention] on Christ and Resist the Devil.’ Then, says James, ‘He will flee from you’ (4:7).” – RONALD A. BEERS, Gen. Editor, Life Application Study Bible, 2022, pp. 2865-2866; edited  

LINDA’S STORY. Sometime around 1980, a few months after I had given my life ‘somewhat’ to Christ, I was relaxing at my sister’s home in North Stockton, California. As part of my ‘Unwinding Time,’ I was knocking back a few glasses of red wine, when I got a phone call from a friend named, “Linda.”

Also a new convert, she had struggled for years with Bulimia and was asking for prayer. I didn’t hesitate to say, “Of course. Come right over.” As she drove up to the curb outside the house in her little blue VW Bug, I was standing there waiting for her.

As she opened the driver side door so that I could lean in and say a prayer over her, I had just placed my right hand on her shoulder when she blurted out, “No way!’ Followed by a mighty thrust from both her hands as she literally threw me to the curb with the following refrain:

“I don’t need some Wino to pray for me, Cliff! I’d rather do it myself!”

As she ‘sped’ off with that 48 hp engine whining, I was left there to contemplate the GREAT LESSON that I had just been taught:

‘Believers are to be fully Alert and Vigilant at all times, ready to answer God’s Call!

DK’S STORY. Without all the gory details, I started drinking alcohol at age 11, when in El Paso, Texas, my uncles had given me my first pint of Cream of Kentucky whiskey for some reason. Drank the whole pint over a 2-3 hour period and was hooked instantly, since both sides of my family had a history of alcohol addiction.

By the time I met Christ at the age of 35 I was a full-blown alcoholic, having gotten “buzzed” or high every single day from about the age of 18 for the following 17 years. I literally didn’t know how to “feel good” without my hooch, and had it stashed everywhere at home, in my car, or anywhere I was about to travel for any reason.

On reflection, a sexual assault by a 13-year-old babysitter when I was just 5 years old likely fit into this years-long habit of drinking when I was older. But the point of my story is that even as a young believer, I still needed a substance to help me feel well, feel happiness, and relaxed in social situations.

FREEDOM! As I just recounted in my last Commentary on “The Wisdom and Courage of Daniel” (Sat. Mar. 21, 2026), God drew me to a ‘POINT OF DECISION’ once and for all around early March 1982.

As some of you already know the Story, my wife and I were was on our way to have dinner with a Saudi student of mine when I was teaching at University of the Pacific there in Stockton CA. As it turned out, the Lord asked me if I would “Step over the Line” He had drawn for me, amounting to trusting Him to remove alcohol from my life.

I did, and He did! I do not have the words to describe the ‘Superhuman’ heady exhilaration I have experienced ever since, as I was radically liberated from chains that were formed by Satan when I was just a boy.

And that freed God’s Hands to lead me toward a nearly 50-year career as a Christian teacher, author, and influencer for Jesus Christ that -wait for it – ‘Would not have been possible had I refused to SURRENDER the one thing that I held higher than my Commitment to Christ.’

FREE WILL. Think of this process as a ‘Spiritual Dance’ between the Benevolent Forces from a Sovereign God toward your Best Life, against Satan’s Destructive Forces that pull you toward Self Worship and Death.

Consider SHIA LABEOUF, who after a recent Mardi Gras bar brawl said that if he saw Jesus, he wouldn’t say anything but would simply “Kiss Jesus’ feet.” LaBeouf, who got emotional during those remarks, made his comments in a profanity-laced interview in which he addressed his recent arrest and misdemeanor charges, at times taking ownership of his behavior and at times minimizing it.

LaBeouf, like so very many others, is in that sometimes agonizing ‘Labyrinth of Decision’ that every human being will face about WHO shall be our Master before Humanity’s Great Night falls.

SOBERING SECULARS & SIPPING SAINTS. There is a growing trend among young American adults to ‘Go Sober,’ according to several recent studies. Here is a Summary of one such study reported by the NY Post: “Gen Z’s Less Interested in Alcohol than Other Generations” (Jan. 13, 2026; edited).

“Six in 10 Americans have become less interested in alcohol since first trying it — a transition that starts, on average, at age 32. A survey of 2,000 American adults, aged 21 and older, revealed that 61% of those surveyed have experienced a decreased interest in consuming alcohol since first trying it — especially Gen Z (63%).

Consuming alcohol is less of an interest for these younger respondents, who are also the likeliest to pave the way by deviating from social norms (28%) and setting new trends (31%). This might explain why Gen Z respondents are moving away from alcohol at an earlier age than other generations: By 23, they’re already experiencing a decline in wanting to drink, compared to Baby Boomers, who said their disinterest didn’t start until they hit 44, on average.”

Strangely, and tragically in my view, these data do not hold solid for those young people identifying themselves as “Christian.” Despite these studies including young followers of Christ in their surveys, my own discernment and direct experience with many young believers over the years up to this very day contradicts those findings.

One insightful report from Focus on the Family by LISA ANDERSON, Director of Boundless, FOF’s outreach to young Christian adults accurately describes what I see every day among our young people. Here is what she writes in her review titled, ““The Latest Buzz Around Christians and Alcohol” (Apr. 5, 2023; edited).

Recently my church started serving wine during communion. Apparently, it was a Decision at least a couple years in the making, and it sparked a smidge of controversy within the congregation. My Pastor explained the decision from the Pulpit, and anyone with questions or concerns was encouraged to share them with the church elders.

After the switch, I jokingly told my Pastor that it’s a good thing my Mom went to Heaven last year, because for her sake she and I would’ve probably had to change churches over this. Never mind that grape juice is still offered for those with personal reasons or convictions around alcohol consumption. ‘It was Mom’s opinion that Christians shouldn’t drink alcohol — ever. My dad believed the same.

I disagree with my parents, believing that a correct interpretation of Scripture prohibits drunkenness, not drinking.’ Jesus-loving, committed Christians will forever disagree on this issue. I grew up in a teetotaling (alcohol-free) home, and it was just fine. I respected my parents. I didn’t feel I was missing out. I didn’t go off the rails in college, partying at every turn. In fact, I don’t think I tried alcohol until well into adulthood. I’m still kinda ‘MEH’ [‘indifference, boredom, unimpressiveness, or lack of enthusiasm,’ as is the case with most Pastors] about it for the most part. But Jesus turned water into wine, and I’ve never had grape juice gladden my heart, so there’s that.

‘But here’s what I think is weird. Lately, I’ve seen a lot of Christians get super pumped about alcohol.’ I’m hearing more people talk about it, and I’m seeing more people drink it more often and in greater amounts. ‘It’s not that alcohol is in their lives, it’s that it’s become more central to their lives; it’s a focus of many of the things they do …

Alcohol is being used more and more as a Coping Mechanism.’ It’s becoming more acceptable to ‘need’ to go out for margaritas after a long week at work, or have a glass (or bottle) of wine because I got dumped, have a tough conversation or task coming up (‘Liquid Courage,’ right?) or am lonely or bored. A fellow believer told me he always drinks at least a little bit at parties because he ‘likes himself better that way.’”

CHRISTIANITY FOR GROWNUPS. During that formative year of 1980 when I was still somewhere between The World and The Kingdom of God, my beloved Pastor Eugene Kraft who had led me to the Lord the year before somewhat sheepishly gave me a book to read.

It was written by DAVID WILKERSON, Sipping Saints (1978). I vaguely recall skim reading it before conveniently and smugly dismissing it as ‘uninformed,’ and continued to sip away as my decades-long desire for Wine would have it.

Here is a SUMMARY of his book from a recently republished condensation from Mr. Wilkerson on March 27, 2025 (edited).

“‘Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging; and whosoever is deceived thereby is NOT WISE’ (Proverbs 20:1).

This Nation is fast becoming a sodden society of too many intoxicated citizens. ‘Alcohol is now the modern Golden Calf, and millions of people, young and old, male and female, have been seduced by it.’

The Teetotaler, the Prohibitionists, and all the others who have for years fought against this flood of booze have been laughed out of existence. We laugh to scorn those old-fashioned little ladies who went around smashing barrels of whiskey and shutting down bars and honky-tonks, and taking Pledges of Abstinence. We Liberated Moderns have made it fashionable to drink. ‘It is now considered sophisticated, urbane, cool – to drink socially …

It’s time Judgment was called for! It’s time all drinking Christians were challenged! It’s time for the Holy Spirit to expose the looseness, the slaphappy “Anything Goes” attitude.’ If it’s wrong for my dear converted alcoholics and addicts and prostitutes to drink, even moderately, then it is deadly wrong for ‘MATURE CHRISTIANS’ to drink and set a poor example for them …

Even if you don’t ‘feel convicted’ – ‘ABSTAIN for the simple but powerful reason of setting an EXAMPLE for the youth!’

‘Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes? They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine. Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his color in the cup, when it moveth itself aright. At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder. Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things’ (PROVERBS 23:29-33).”

BOTTOM LINE. ‘Beloved, we all well know by now that that “Perilous Times” lie just ahead.’ PAUL WROTE:

“But understand this, that in the last days DANGEROUS TIMES [of great stress and trouble] will come [difficult days that will be hard to bear]. 

For people will be LOVERS OF SELF [narcissistic, self-focused], lovers of money [impelled by greed], boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy and profane,  and they will be] unloving [devoid of natural human affection, calloused and inhumane], irreconcilable, malicious gossips, devoid of self-control [intemperate, immoral], brutal, haters of good, traitors, reckless, conceited, lovers of [sensual] pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of [outward] godliness (religion), although they have denied its power [for their conduct nullifies their claim of faith].

AVOID such people and keep far away from them!” – 2 TIMOTHY 3:1-5, AMP

CODA. For all the obvious reasons – the ‘Integrity of our Witness,’ the desperate need to ‘Remain Alert’ at all times, being ‘At the Ready’ to serve others in distress, and most fundamentally – to be Maximally Pleasing to our King, A QUESTION:

Apart from any legitimate Medical or Spiritual Reason for drinking alcohol (cf. Proverbs 31:6 for great pain; 1 Timothy 5:23 for stomach distress) – ‘Can anyone here give me ONE SINGLE WAY that drinking alcohol improves a Christian Life?’

I fully believe that the Silent Nays have it, all coming under the sacred heading of what it is to: “LOVE JESUS with ALL your heart, with ALL your soul, and with ALL your mind” (Matthew 22:35).

For me at least, beloved, it is that simple. We shall love Him quite enough and more, to “Surrender our Little Toys” [‘binky pacifiers, emotional crutches’]for the One who Sets us Free in the very first place.

And forthe Days Ahead …

“We must work the works of Him Who sent Me and be busy with His business while it is Daylight; Night is coming on, when no man can work.” – JOHN 9:4, AMPC

Selah.

MEDIA

YOUTUBE: https://youtu.be/BT6nDryAt5Q