A common idea spreading across popular Christianity today is being "drunk in the Spirit." In this supposed phenomenon, people begin acting as if they are drunk, but instead of the cause being too much alcohol, it is the result of the Holy Spirit filling them. This is rather common today, especially in Charismatic/Pentecostal churches. Some people view it as a great thing of revival, while others contend it is the work of demons. Since there exist very few, if any, records of this from before the past century or so, it is important to analyze the Bible and find out the truth: is it real or not?
There is only one verse of which I know that is used to support this phenomenon. This verse is Ephesians 5:18. People usually say it like this, "Do not be drunk with wine, but with [sometimes they say 'filled with'] the Spirit." They claim that this is proof in the Bible for the idea. Instead of being drunk from alcohol, they say you should be drunk with the Holy Spirit.
The first thing to note here is the incorrect quoting of the verse (which I admit not all proponents use). The verse actually says, "Do not be drunk with wine, which causes reckless living, but be filled with the Spirit." As it turns out, this phrase destroys the supposed foundation for being drunk in the Spirit.
The first thing to note is the reason we should not be drunk with wine: like the Bible says, it causes reckless living. The Greek word here is asotia. It is defined as "an abandoned, dissolute life," "profligacy," and "prodigality." It is used three times in the New Testament. The first is here. It is used in Titus 1:6 as a characteristic that disqualifies someone from being a pastor. In 1 Peter 4:4, it sums up the evil doings of unbelievers from the previous verse. See 1 Peter 4:3 to get an idea of the stuff included in New Testament use of asotia. "The old times in our life were enough to satisfy the works of the will of heathens: when we walked in depravity, lust, drunkenness, riots, drinking parties, and terrible idolatry." When Paul tells us not to get drunk in Ephesians 5:18, it is because getting drunk with wine causes this kind of behavior. This is explicitly told to us by the Bible. Drunkenness creates behavior that is displeasing to God.
You may be wondering what my point is. After all, I was talking about being drunk with wine. Yet, if you can be "drunk in the Spirit" and be the same as if you were drunk with wine, then what makes one better or worse? "Well," you may say, "being drunk in the Spirit is different." However, this is not necessarily so. My Pentecostal friend told me about a youth event she went to where some of her friends were acting totally wasted. Some people thought they were actually drunk; in fact, a rumor get spread around that they sneaked beer into the place. She said they were acting like idiots: disoriented, obnoxious, and showing poor judgment (she didn't call it that, but that applies to texting someone saying, "I'm drunk!").
Does this glorify God? The Holy Spirit glorifies God in everything: He points people to the Savior who can rescue them and the Father who will forgive them. When people are influenced by the Holy Spirit, it is in the direction of godliness – acting like God. Now, let me say something: our God is nothing like a drunken teenager. Our God is not an idiot, but infinitely wise. Our God is never disoriented, but sees with completely clarity. Our God is never obnoxious, but shows love and kindness. Our God never shows poor judgment, but executes a perfect and righteous plan. The Holy Spirit always makes people more like God, so it is unreasonable to think that He would do the opposite in some circumstance. First Corinthians 14:33 says, "God is not a god of confusion, but of peace, just like in every church of the saints." The Greek word for confusion here is akatastasia, which means "confusion," "disorder," or "commotion." When people are supposedly drunk in the Spirit, they usually (such as the aforementioned examples) experience all three of those things. Such is never from God.
This begs the question, of course, as to from where being "drunk in the Spirit" actually comes. After all, if God is not the one causing it, then someone is. Most of the time, I believe it is simply the result of overhyped emotion and the previously established desire to be drunk in the Spirit. When they hear about it, they want it. When they get really emotional at some event, they work themselves up so much that their desire fulfills itself. Another cause is actual intoxication. Some people are not interested in the Holy Spirit at all, but bring alcohol to events where they expect people to be drunk in the Spirit. That way, they can get drunk themselves and no one will notice. A final, but less common, cause is demonic possession. Note first that I do not believe a majority or even large minority of the times people are "drunk in the Spirit" is rooted in demonic activity, but it is the final source. The fact is that all human activity comes from God, man, or Satan. When sometime does not come from God, it comes from either man or Satan. So while demons are certainly not always involved in such events, they are sometimes. Demons love to divert people from truth and make false ideas about God. Making people think that they can get drunk off of our holy and orderly God does both. It makes people want an experience itself as opposed to the God they should be experiencing.
I would like to end this on a more positive note, though. Most people who claim to get "drunk in the Spirit" are not bad people. Many of them are committed Christians who really love Jesus and are trying to live for Him. Really, this post is more for them than for the others. While it is always great to try to experience God, you cannot be spiritually edified by your own emotions or actions. If you want to mature more in the Lord, you need to know that "God is not a god of confusion," or else you will be sustained by emotions, and once the emotions disappear, you will find yourself back where you were before. Instead, seek God's will and live in a way that is pleasing to Him. When you worship, don't expect God to stir your heart, but instead give Him everything in it. Worship comes from the heart: it doesn't happen in the heart. You may not get drunk in the Spirit, but what you will find in the Spirit is far better.