Editor’s Observe: Our September 2025 mini-series on the BCC Grace and Fact weblog addresses the subject of escapism. On this second article, Kyle Johnston explores the intersection of escapism and dependancy, drawing insights from the e-book of Proverbs. In different contributions to the sequence, Robert Cale presents biblical knowledge for how one can transfer from numbing distractions to Spirit-filled engagement with God, and Lucy Ann Moll shares a case examine and scriptural recommendation for combating well being nervousness and avoidance.
The ideas of dependancy and escapism overlap in very fascinating methods. Whereas this text presents solely a short reflection on this complicated problem, I’ll attempt to cowl two details: the intersection of escapism and dependancy, and a few insights supplied by a passage from Proverbs.
Evaluating and Contrasting Habit and Escapism
Let’s begin by defining our phrases. I’m going to start out by utilizing definitions most acquainted to our mainstream tradition, so beneath are barely summarized definitions from Merriam-Webster:
- Escapism is a ordinary diversion of the thoughts to purely imaginative exercise or leisure as an escape from actuality.[1]
- Habit is a compulsive and persistent want for a substance, habits, or exercise having dangerous bodily, psychological, or social results.[2]
By contemplating these two definitions, we will already see some overlap and variations. The massive distinction lies in the truth that dependancy is compulsive and dangerous. What maybe started as a innocent (and even useful) diversion has morphed into one thing darker and extra damaging. Whereas escapism is often thought-about below the management of the person (and subsequently might be stopped when it turns into maladaptive), dependancy signifies a lack of management. Given these variations, we typically think about escapism as one thing much less detrimental. Escapism is about discovering reduction from stress or boredom and will even have some helpful parts to it. Habit, alternatively, has develop into one thing compulsive, persistent, and damaging. An instance of the distinction could be the distinction between changing into engrossed in a very good novel (escapism) and changing into compulsively depending on a dangerous habits (dependancy).
Whereas we don’t have the house to replicate additional on how these ideas overlap, I encourage you to learn an incisive article by David Powlison known as Harmless Pleasures (JBC 23:4). It’s a remarkably insightful reflection on human restlessness, on the various totally different patterns of habits and want that replicate a “mishandling of duty and/or misseeking of delight.” As a result of each escapism and dependancy search a type of engagement with altered actuality, Powlison’s article has knowledge to supply us. As a substitute of operating away from actuality, think about this touch upon how we must always deal with life’s pleasures and ache from a biblical perspective:
“We are supposed to look ache within the eye, to know the expertise, to convey it in hand to our God, to cry out for assist, to seek out refuge, after which to do what might be executed constructively, nevertheless seemingly small our powers. Operating to your pleasures isn’t the best way to face ache. Pleasures which are utilized in that approach are misused, they usually inevitably darken.”[3]
Knowledge from Proverbs
Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaints? Who has useless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes?
Those that linger over wine, who go to pattern bowls of blended wine.
Don’t stare upon wine when it’s purple, when it sparkles within the cup, when it goes down easily!
Ultimately it bites like a snake and poisons like a viper. Your eyes will see unusual sights, and your thoughts will think about complicated issues. You may be like one sleeping on the excessive seas, mendacity on high of the rigging. ‘They hit me,’ you’ll say, ‘however I’m not damage! They beat me, however I don’t really feel it! When will I get up so I can discover one other drink?’ (Prov. 23:29-35, NIVUK)
Whereas written 1000’s of years in the past within the Historic Close to East, this passage from Proverbs has timeless knowledge. Let’s think about the riddle it asks and the exhortation it supplies.
The Riddle of a Ruined Life
Verse 29 comprises a six-question riddle. It primarily asks us: whose life is completely ruined?
Utter break is the phrase to remember, as a result of the six questions cowl all of life’s dimensions. Discover the break in these totally different areas:
- Emotionally: Phrases like “woe” and “sorrow” replicate emotional misery.
- Relationally: The phrases “strife” and “complaints” reveal difficulties in relationships.
- Physiologically: References to “bruises” and “bloodshot eyes” describe the damaging bodily results typically related to dependancy.
This can be a riddle designed to get our consideration. The six-question opening is supposed to spark curiosity about what could possibly be so dangerous as to destroy an individual’s life. Verse 30 comprises the reply.
The Reason behind a Ruined Life
Who’s the person who has ruined their life? The one that lingers over wine. The concept right here is that this particular person takes their time with their favourite substance; they keep up late. It’s getting at the concept that the particular person nurses their drink. They linger over it.
However they don’t simply linger over it, they search to accentuate it. Thus, the ESV captures the second a part of verse 30 vividly: “those that go to strive blended wine.” Mixing wine with spices was executed to boost each style and efficiency, ramping it as much as make the expertise extra pleasurable and intoxicating.
It’s value pausing right here and reflecting on the varied cultural equivalents to blended wine. Within the historical world, wine was probably the most simply accessible substance to induce an altered actuality or to vow non permanent reduction from life’s pressures. In at the moment’s world, choices have solely elevated.
Sensible Knowledge for Avoiding Smash
Helpfully, this passage not solely diagnoses the issue but in addition supplies sensible knowledge to keep away from it. Discover the command in verse 31: Don’t take a look at it! Don’t even make eye contact—keep away from the temptation altogether.
Why mustn’t we gaze on the stunning, glowing wine? As a result of it seems to be so good. And it tastes even higher. Discover the enchantment the substance makes to the senses—the way it seems to be and the way it tastes. It’s visually alluring and bodily seductive. Wine will seduce you, identical to the adulterous girl within the earlier proverb (Prov. 23:26-28). When life feels arduous, wine guarantees relaxation.
However though it seems to be stunning, it has ugly penalties. We see these penalties spelled out in verses 31-35. In these verses, we get a graphic image of the nightmarish results of intoxication. Removed from delivering relaxation, this dangerous substance delivers break:
- Verse 33 speaks about hallucinations, perversions, and an upside-down world with an upside-down ethical order.
- Verse 34 exhibits us that the intoxicated particular person turns into oblivious to actuality, unaware of hazard after they most must be vigilant.
- Verse 35 comprises a concluding boast made by the addict. Claiming that ache doesn’t damage, the drunkard exhibits us that he has discovered nothing from his self-inflicted struggling. “He’s so addicted, that even earlier than he wakes up he craves extra stupefying poison, no matter the price.”[4]
Though initially centered on wine, alcohol is what the Bible makes use of as a prototypical instance of dependancy typically. And the warning couldn’t be clearer: addictions to harmful substances will destroy us. Knowledge means fleeing temptation.
A lot extra could possibly be stated. Let’s conclude by remembering that our life with God permits us to face actuality, not flee from it. Tragically, makes an attempt to flee actuality solely make life tougher and trigger extra misery. How great that we’ve a Savior who describes Himself as our Rock and our Redeemer. And so within the midst of strain, stress, and ache, we will say with the Psalmist:
The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer, my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my defend and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I known as to the LORD, who’s worthy of reward, and I’ve been saved from my enemies (Ps. 18:2-3).
Solely in Christ can we actually discover refuge and therapeutic in a damaged world.
Questions for Reflection
- How would you summarize the similarities and variations between escapism and dependancy?
- How does this passage from Proverbs reframe the best way you consider dependancy?
- What substances—along with wine—do you assume you can apply this warning to?
[1] Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, s.v. “escapism,” accessed August 22, 2025, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/escapism.
[2] Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, s.v. “dependancy,” accessed August 22, 2025, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dependancy.
[3] David Powlison, “Harmless Pleasures,” Journal of Biblical Counseling (23:4), accessed August 22, 2025, https://www.ccef.org/jbc-article/innocent-pleasures/.
[4] Bruce Waltke, Proverbs Vol. 2, p267, NICOT.
