The Spirit Shop

The debates over drinking have lasted for decades, perhaps centuries. Questions have been asked and answered, though the answers have been inconsistent. Through it all the abuse of intoxicating drinks remains.

Wine and strong drink have been around at least since the time of Noah (after the flood). See Genesis 9:20-21 for the first biblical reference to wine, strong drink and a vineyard.

It is clear from scripture that drunkenness is a moral issue. Drunkenness is sin. Many people justify drinking by simply asserting that the Bible does not condemn drinking, only drunkenness. Even so, let’s step back from all the ‘nit-picking’ arguments and take a look at something God revealed.

Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler,
And whoever is intoxicated by it is not wise. 

 —Proverbs 20:1

Wine and strong drink are personified. We understand this kind of figure of speech. However, we must not overlook the reality presented by this poetic picture: Wine and strong drink have an effect on the personality of the one drinking.

Intoxicating drink changes a person. We could talk about physiological changes. However, the changes are not purely physical. If the effects were, for example, a weakened body, or baldness, or decaying teeth, then we could reason that the effect was purely physical.

However, intoxicating drink changes one’s personality, disposition, and the ability to think. A person becomes a mocker and a brawler (fighter). Once the intoxicating drink gets into the blood stream, the change is beyond a person's control. Mints might mask one’s breath, but they won't magically remove the alcohol from one's body. (Hollywood often presents a false view of recovery from drunkenness.)

There are changes that occur as intoxicating drink affect the mind and emotions of a person. In Scripture the spirit of man is intimately connected to the human intellect, emotion and the human will. Physically, the human brain is the point of connection to the human spirit. From the body to the brain to the human spirit, intoxicating drink changes a person without asking permission.

In simple terms, intoxicating drink causes a person to temporarily lose control of his/her thinking, emotions and will.

Drink deeply from the words of the Apostle Paul:

And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit.

--Ephesians 5:18

Do you see the contrast?

Being filled with the Spirit of God stands in stark contrast to drunkenness, that is, being filled with intoxicating drink.

The Bible teaches that the Spirit of God dwells within each Christian to enable and assist. The Spirit of God cannot enable you in your pursuit of godliness, cannot assist you to do God's will, cannot bring comfort into your life when He is forced out of your being by intoxicating drink.

Drinking wine and intoxicating drinks is no laughing matter. Nor is it merely a moral issue, as if a mere religious rule. Your spiritual well-being is at stake.

Will you choose to be filled with the Spirit of God or the spirits of mockery and brawling from the local ‘spirit shop’?


Mark Stinnett

April 2, 2023

What is the Opposite of Drunkenness?

It was time for our drink order. We could have water, soft drinks, tea, coffee, milk, juice, beer, or wine—some with or without lemon; many different flavors and different prices.

Those who drink soft drinks usually have their favorite blend and brand. There is an entire sub-culture of people who drink coffee, and some of us just don’t understand. Perhaps elsewhere, but certainly in Great Britain, tea has rules. (And yes, there are books to guide you.) Yet, with all these peculiarities and strong opinions about drink, none bleed over into the area of morality until alcohol is introduced.

Numerous Scriptures provide instruction about the consumption of alcoholic drinks. Many folks who enter into the discussion see things from a legal point of view. Biblical examples involving alcoholic beverages become case law. Conclusions drawn dictate the consumption of drinks with alcohol, their use in cooking, and even the consumption of alcohol for medicinal purposes.

In my lifetime I have known a few teetotalers, a nickname given to those who abstain completely from alcoholic beverages. Some will even refuse to use cooking wine even though the alcohol dissipates during the cooking process. Their arguments for total abstinence are strong and passionate, and most often misguided.

I have known others who were just as passionate about their liberty to drink alcoholic beverages. With only a biblical prohibition of drunkenness, they become adamant about their liberty and quite agitated with anyone who would threaten it. Their passion and reasoning are also most often misguided.

Still others, drink as they wish, avoiding arguments and extreme positions, yet also avoiding understanding.

I don’t think the biblical instruction on drunkenness is there as a mere legal restriction. Neither Noah’s drunkenness nor Lot’s drunkenness should be used as case law to argue that a man can become drunken and still be righteous. We must, with clarity of mind, think! God meant for us to understand something.

And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit.

—Ephesians 5:18

Do we see that the opposite of drunkenness is being filled with the Spirit of God?

The Apostle Paul wrote that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19). The Spirit of God dwells in each of us (Romans 8:9). In whatever way you may interpret these statements there is an intimate relationship between the Christian and the Holy Spirit.

Paul also wrote that the spirit of a man knows the thoughts of a man, just like the Spirit of God who knows the thoughts of God. He went on to say that we have received the Spirit of God (1 Corinthians 2:11-16). It is of greatest importance to recognize that the mind is a part of the human spirit.

Applying these things, the reason we must guard ourselves from drunkenness is because intoxication effectively pushes the Holy Spirit away. There is a vital and necessary link between my mind and my God through the Holy Spirit. This is more than a moral issue or a legal point, it is about my relationship with my God.

There are multiple dimensions regarding the question of alcohol. Yet, each person must step away from the swinging pendulum of legalism and liberty and soberly consider the importance of his relationship with God.

Mark Stinnett

December 4, 2022