Friday, September 21, 2012

Christian Intoxication Part II

"I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing."  Jesus to His disciples, John 15:5

If you read last week's post, you know that I have been hit squarely in the face by a video sermon we watched at our church two weeks ago by a man named Pete Briscoe.  Pete quoted a commentary writer as referring to the Apostle Paul as a "Christ-intoxicated man."  That phrase continues to haunt and challenge me, and as I ruminate on it, I am finding more and more ways in which devotion to Christ parallels alcohol or drug intoxication.  However, let's all agree first that just as parallel lines never meet, Christ-intoxication and alcohol-intoxication never meet, i.e. they are unrelated and independent of one another. 

As a quick review, last week I made three comparisons.

One, Christ-intoxication is a choice.  It does not happen by accident.

Two, Christ-intoxication begins with something small, just as alcohol-intoxication begins with that first drink.

And three, Christ-intoxication requires replenishment.  One does not stay drunk on anything forever unless they continue to "drink" of it.

Now, moving on to more comparisons, I note number four: Christ-intoxication makes us do things we would not normally do if not Christ-intoxicated.  Story after story could be told about someone who did or said something totally out of character during a wild night of boozing.  In the light of day, when sober, that person or his friends excuse it under the umbrella of alcoholic impairment.  Similarly, the Christ-intoxicated man or woman does and says things that they would never do apart from Christ.  As the verse above teaches, apart from Jesus Christ we can do nothing ministry related.  It takes Him, ingested and filling us, to accomplish anything fruitful.  And the "drunker" we are, the more out of character we will be, until just like Otis from the old "Andy Griffith Show", our Christ-intoxication indeed becomes our character.  It becomes who we are!

Five, the Christ-intoxicated man or woman craves only more Christ.  Those who have been inebriated know that at some point during the evening, the drink becomes the major focus.  We believe that we feel better and better with each drink until, as alcohol will do, our bodies are shut down and we can drink no more.  The Christ-intoxicated person craves more Christ and more Christ, until HE shuts our bodies down in death, and welcomes us to our eternal home with the words "well done good and faithful servant."

Six, and last (for today anyway), Christ-intoxication is much more fun with other "drunks."  People have noted forever that it is unhealthy to drink alone.  Indeed, some see that as the first sign of a problem.  In much the same way, the Lone Ranger Christian who never wants to be around other Christians has a problem.  And it's just as dangerous if not more dangerous than the alcoholic's issue.  True Christ-intoxication feeds off of others' Christ-intoxication, and the Christ-intoxicated person not only wants to be around others, she LONGS for it.

Those are today's thoughts.  There may or may not be more coming.  In the meantime, do you have any thoughts about this??

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