Looks More Like a Puma

Do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord;

-Ephesians 5:18-19

It should be noted that pretty much all the credit for this post goes to my friends Kevin, who had  the original idea, and Daniel, who brilliantly pushed the analogy to its breaking point.

Who would think to associate being filled with the Holy Spirit and drunkeness so closely as to mention them in the same breath? I certainly thought it was weird until I remembered that the two have been confused since Pentecost when some folks thought the Spirit-filled apostles were drunk (at which point Peter opened his first great evangelistic sermon by saying “We’re not drunk, it’s only 9 in the morning!”).

But what could we spiritual Christians possibly learn from drunkards? Consider this: Suppose I wake up in the  morning and it is my intention to spend to the entire day drunk. So naturally, I take a sip of a beer, say to myself, “that outta do it,” and go about my day. You can clearly see the result: mission failure! In order to get and stay plastered, I’m going to need to continuously consume a great quantity of alcohol. So how can I expect to be filled with the Spirit with only a minimal time investment?

So, if Christianity is like getting drunk; what does that make the church, a bar? Perhaps - there are certain similarities:

• Note that in bars, there are two kinds of people: committed drunkards and (shudder) social drinkers. These people have missed the point! They’re in an establishment dedicated to the consumption of alcohol and they come for the atmosphere. Or the food. Or to  meet their friends. What a waste of bar stools.
• Another consideration: snooty drinkers. All drinks are useful for the purposes of getting drunk, but these people obnoxiously insists on one particular drink. They’re more concerned about flavor than substance!
• And never forget that serious drinking is best done in groups so you can be continuously encouraging eachother and sharing the joy of your experiences.

Finally, a toast: To my Christian brothers and sisters - may you be filled with the Holy Spirit, even to (apparent) drunkeness!

Fine print: OBVIOUSLY this post is not intended condone being drunk. Neither is it intended to condemn drinking, incidentally.