Drunk in the spirit

Would God want us to be "drunk in the spirit?"

First of all, I find it disheartening that when this is written about spirit has a little s rather than a big S.  It is a spirit indeed that has this drunken effect on people, but I would say it is not God's Holy Spirit that is manifesting itself in this way.  God calls us as Christians to be alert and sober-minded.  Therefore God would not cause erratic, drunken behavior in us, ever. 

Also, has it ever struck you that alcohol is called "spirits?"  That is because in drinking, especially in excess, you are actually inviting evil spirits to influence you.  It is the same way with those who want to get "drunk in the spirit," only somehow they are able to bypass the actual drinking of alcohol and have the effects and influence of these evil spirits without drinking. 

Bottom line, drunkenness is of Satan, not God.

At Pentecost people were saying that the apostles seemed drunk with they were speaking in tongues.  But they most likely just said they seemed drunk because they were acting very boldly, and alcohol makes people more bold.  The apostles were speaking out randomly and preaching the gospel with no fear and holding nothing back. I don't think they were actually stumbling around or laughing etc.

The main verse that people use to back up the "drunk in the spirit" concept is "Do not get drunk with wine but instead be filled with the Spirit" as if being filled with the spirit is like being drunk with wine. :)  But that is a huge stretch and making Scripture say what you want it to say. 

Here are the many verses insisting that we be sober as Christians in every way, physically and spiritually:

1 Peter 5:8         
"Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour."  

1 Peter 1:13         
Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
      
Galatians 5:21         
"Envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God."   

Proverbs 20:1         
Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise.

1 Peter 4:7
The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers.

1 Timothy 3:2         
"Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach."  

Titus 2:2         
Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness.            

1 Thessalonians 5:6         
"So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober."

Proverbs 23:29-35         
"Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaining? Who has wounds without cause? Who has redness of eyes? Those who tarry long over wine; those who go to try mixed wine. Do not look at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup and goes down smoothly. In the end it bites like a serpent and stings like an adder. Your eyes will see strange things, and your heart utter perverse things."    

2 Timothy 4:5         
As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.             

1 Peter 4:3         
For the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry.                

1 John 4:1         
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.             

Romans 13:13         
Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy.            

1 John 2:15         
Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

(Drunken-ness, in any form, is of this world.)             

John 8:44         
You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

Hosea 4:11         
Whoredom, wine, and new wine, which take away the understanding.

(Meaning any state of drunken-ness is not good.)

Isaiah 28:7         
These also reel with wine and stagger with strong drink; the priest and the prophet reel with strong drink, they are swallowed by wine, they stagger with strong drink, they reel in vision, they stumble in giving judgment.

Leviticus 10:9         
“Drink no wine or strong drink, you or your sons with you, when you go into the tent of meeting, lest you die. It shall be a statute forever throughout your generations."

God is anti-alcohol and anti- any effects of alcohol, period.