STRESS: Climbing Out of the Pits with God

STRESS

Climbing Out of the Pits with God

by

Dr. Steven Haymon, Ed.D

Copyright © 2011 by Steven Haymon

Smashwords Edition

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"An outstanding book expressing God-given truths for mental health. The dynamic concepts of this book epitomize the highest principles of scientific and social research as classical methods (scripture and psychology) are used to define, understand, and overcome problems that cause human stress. It also provides counselors, and pastors, with effective analytical tools. What better way to climb out of the pits of stress with a God-design and God-given tool that really works! This book has had a great influence on my pastoral counseling and teaching. It is a powerful resource for those experiencing stress in their lives and complex life situations that seem impossible to overcome. I highly recommend Stress: Climbing Out of the Pits with God for pastors and laypersons working with parishnories in pastoral counseling and spiritual direction."

Bishop Everett H. Jefferson, Sr.

Emmanuel Temple Church of the Apostolic Faith, Inc.

God has inspired Dr. Steven Haymon to strike the unique blend of clinical ailments and personal tragedies with spiritual solutions. This book holds the key for those seeking a way to escape the many masks that stress uses to keep them bound. Dr. Haymon will never know the number of those that find freedom by using these insightful pages. Only God knows.

Willie R. McMiller, Sr.

Pastor of Brotherly Love West Christian Assembly

"Stress: Climbing Out of the Pits with God is the perfect companion when you realize you’re over your head in burdens. In a conversational manner, yet God-inspired approach, Dr. Haymon allows you to identify the culprits that have caused your spiral downward. The good news is his use of scriptures as a source of strength to cling to until you’ve completely climbed to safety…"

Pat Simmons, award-winning and bestselling author the Christian romance novels: the Guilty series

Are you looking to find your way out of stress? Dr. Haymon dissects stress with precise detail using the Word of God. The use of scripture, real-life examples and parables along with plain language definitions uncover what stress really is. I found that his use of the parable of talents from the Bible illustrates why we should use our gifts to better the world and not totally for financial gain. He also gives direct biblical reference to the idea of what God has for you is for you — reinforcing that no man can take away what God has given to you. There are several ideas given to reduce stress such as: creating your personal plan; minimizing your distractions; communicating your issues; taking vacations; regular exercise; and forgiveness. Dr. Haymon has clearly recognized his gift from God — communication of the Word. His straightforward explanations of stress and its effects should be applauded…. The stories, examples and use of scripture will capture your attention, stir your spirit, and turn your heart. The conclusion offers an excellent summary.

M. Bruener, Deltareviewer

Foreword

Stress has rapidly become one of the more frequently heard, frequently uttered buzz-words of our times. It is a condition that seemingly has pervaded every major system in society — home, church, work, school, family, etc. As a minister, counselor, teacher and educator, I have witnessed a rapid surge of stress-plagued people from various and sundry walks of life. The accounts from other professionals seem to concur with my observations that we are brazenly being bombarded with clients who struggle with issues related to some form of stress.

The frequency with which health care, ministerial and other professional members are treating clients who struggle with stress has become so paramount that it is deemed an extremely serious issue in the world today. Stress, with the unbiased selection of its victims, has invaded the lives of a plethora of people without regard to race, creed, color, age or gender. It appears to be a universal dilemma, undaunted even by regional or national boundaries.

When a person experiences emotional, physical and/or psychological strain caused by his/her responses to external pressures, it is labeled as stress. S/he sometimes will experience reactions such as irritability, sleeplessness, anger and inability to concentrate. These can often be accompanied by somatic symptoms such as breathing problems, nervous stomach, overeating, muscle tension and fatigue. Many times these issues go undetected and untreated, consequently leading to serious illness and sometimes even death.

Stress is no respecter of persons or systems. In many instances, individuals are plagued with stress issues at home. Family structures can undergo radical changes which can initiate stress. For example, when a spouse loses a job, thereby eliminating an income that was once heavily depended upon, this can produce tension on the home budget system, and thereby produce stress in one or both of the spouses. Eventually, it may even trickle down to the children. As has often been seen, the resulting domino effect can lead to alcoholism, illegal drug-use and other undesirable behaviors in some or all of the family members.

Church stress is rampant everywhere. More and more, parishioners are experiencing great disillusionment with present-day ecclesiastical structures, especially with those in the upper-level of church hierarchies, who are falling from grace at the speed of light. Hope in ecumenical leadership is rapidly waning. When trust and faith in leadership abates, church members find fewer and fewer reasons to remain committed to their religious organizations and the associated tenets of their faith. Oftentimes, this results in church-hopping, increased church absenteeism, and sometimes eschewing church completely.

Stress and work seem to be tandem concepts. Given today’s gloomy economic picture, many people are finding themselves struggling with a newly-realized disenchantment with their jobs. People are forcing themselves to stay on jobs that do not meet their financial needs, jobs with which they are extremely unhappy, and jobs where the possibilities for achieving their personal employment goals and/or satisfaction are out of the question. As a result, workers are experiencing unparalleled levels of stress.

Through the annals of time, Christian faith-based systems have subscribed to the belief that God is the spiritual antidote for all of the prevailing ailments of the world. In his book, Stress: Climbing Out of the Pits with God, Dr. Steven Haymon attests to this fact. He thoroughly explores the subject of how to overcome stress using the benefits of the power of God. He aptly defines stress and its factors in a way that gives the reader lucid insight into this pervasive problem. He addresses many of the causes of stress, its effects, and healthy, godly ways to respond to it. Dr. Haymon gingerly leads the reader down the path of healing potential and possibilities, using apposite scriptural references and biblical inferences. He constantly reminds the reader of the saving grace of God, and keeps in the fore of his ideology that through the power of God, stress and all of its diabolical innuendos can be alleviated.

Dr. Haymon provides a well-written resource on the topic of stress. Members of professional communities, as well as the laity, can utilize the information that is presented in this book with the confidence that it will answer even the most difficult questions. He covers a myriad of topics which address things such as sin being a cause of stress, warning signs of stress, love and stress, and most importantly, dealing with stress through the love, grace and mercy of Jesus Christ. He assures the reader that even though stress is a prevalent disease that can hurl its victim into a downward spiral to despair, there remains a hope for the world. Anyone can climb out of the pits of stress with God! This book is a must read!

Sharon L. Johnson, Ph.D

Singer & Evangelist

President/CEO, Healing Waters Ministries, Inc.

Dedication

This book is dedicated with gratitude and love to the memories of my mother, Wilberdean Anderson Haymon, who loved me unconditionally although I was a person with special needs. She modeled for me how to work with my limitations and pursue and achieve my life’s dreams. She also helped me to understand what love was by sharing her love with every person she encountered throughout her short life.

My grandmother and friend, Odessa McGill Gosey, who demonstrated kindness and acceptance, giving her substance and love to me during a period when I needed it the most.

My second mom, Ms. Cora Jones, who was the neighborhood’s mom for a gang of us during our early teen years. She, however, spent precious time counseling and coaching me, which I believe contributed greatly to the person I am currently. She stopped me from taking the life of someone who had been a constant nemesis in my mid-teens. No doubt if she hadn’t stopped me, my life would not be what it has become.

Dr. Ricky George, the dean of Graduate Education/University Missouri-St. Louis and chairman of my doctoral program, who believed I had the ability and tenacity to not just complete my program, but make a difference in many people’s lives throughout the world. He listened and attempted to help me during my sickness; although, during the same period, he was near death himself.

My friend, supervisor, employee and colleague, Mr. Charles Watts, MA, LPC, who was consistently in my life for more than thirty-five years. He was always there for me no matter what my needs were.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments

1 Coping with Stress

The Breaking Point

The Many Faces of Stress

The Mind

Is Stress Free?

2 Alcohol

Under the Influence

Wine Fooler

Noah

How Do You Spell Relief?

3 Religion

Affirmation Confirmation

Make Yourself at Home

Comfort Zone

Is There No Hiding Place?

Mini-Me

Looking for Love in All the Wrong Places

Who’s Calling?

Do You Have an Appointment?

Do You Feel Out of Place?

Green with Envy

Real Love

Jesus Who?

Wonderful Counselor

Mighty God

Everlasting Father

Prince of Peace

Ring Out the Old

Eternally Yours

When in Rome. . .

Still Hungry?

Now That’s Entertainment

Instant Gratification

Continuous Feed

Knowledge is Power

Few are Chosen

Religiousity

4 Blaming

Leggo My Ego

I’m Okay . . . You’re Okay

Steal Away

What Do You Think?

The Lord Giveth . . .

Just Like Twins

The Man in the Mirror

What’s it Worth to You?

My, How Time Flies

The Ability to Choose

Carpe Diem

Stunted Growth

Do the Right Thing

Do Not Enter

My Sense of Self

Whodunit?

Survival of the Fittest

Growing Pains

The Success of Failure

5 Drugs — The Illusion of the Plant

6 Pornography — The Perfect Illusion

What’s a Little Innocent Fun?

The Dark Side

Acceptance

Is That in the Bible?

What is Pornography?

One and the Same

Repeat Performance

The Power of the Pen

I Need a Change

It’s Only Me

The Alluring Effect

Intimacy Versus Dependency

Another Word About Stress

Effects of Stress on Others

God Versus Stress

Oneness with God

Suppression or Repression

7 Sin

8 Solving Stress

Personal Plan Development

Distractions

Communication Instead of Isolation

9 Responding to Stress

The Mind

The Body

The Soul

Gifts from God

10 Envy — Imitation Limitation

In the Beginning

11 Powerfully Fragile

Vacation Time

12 It is Better to (For)give

So, So Sorry

Running Away

Why Change?

Only on One Condition

Added Costs

What About Me? Am I Forgivable?

13 The Danger of Anger

Childhood Memories

At What Cost?

The Ladder to Success

Spontaneous Combustion

Damaged Goods

The Inner Man

The Better Half

Handle with Care

Remember, Words are Powerful

Reaching the Boiling Point

Etc. . . .

The Mask

Under the Influence

Long, Long Ago

The Present

The Future

14 What's Love Got to Do With It?

The Origin of Our Love

At What Price, Love?

Stepfather + Alcoholism = Victim

The Encompassing Power of Sex

Age Appropriate

Parent to Parent

Back to the Story

Impressibility?

Ahh, to be Grown

Becoming One

My Favorite Aunt

Growth

Withdrawal

A Time To . . .

Back to the Future

What is the Right Price for Love?

Love

The Question Is . . .

God’s Love Feels so Right

Relationships Equal Relationships

15 Fear — Who's Afraid of the Big, Bad…

Jail Time

Which One Do I Choose?

Get the Picture

Do I Really Need You?

Right or Wrong?

You Had Better Watch Your Back

Am I in Control?

Which One Do I Choose?

A Final Thought

16 And the Solution is…

Clinically Speaking

Creating a Diversion

The Great Distraction

Oh, Discordia

God’s Gift

I Give Up

Healthy People = Healthy Relationships

God’s People

The Walk of God

The Eyes of God

The Power of God

God’s Love

Peace Be Still . . .

The Walk of Peace

Temperance = Self Control = Maturity

Sugar Babies

Facing Maturity

Fear No Evil . . .

Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled

Change is Good?

People . . . Ordinary People

Back to Manipulation

Many Face(ts) of Maturity

And What About Immaturity?

Appreciation . . . What’s That?

Share? Who, Me?

Hey, Do You See Me?

Discovering Me

Our Treasures

Do I Think Like a Child?

Be Infants

Fatal Attraction

Mature Thinking

Loving God

Reaching Goals = Growth

Levels of Maturity

What You See is What You Get

Parent Trap

Back to God’s People

Real Love

Conclusion

Acknowledgments

Stress: Climbing Out of the Pits with God, wouldn’t be available to you if God hadn’t put various people in my life to complete and help me put it in your hands. I am deeply grateful for everyone God touched to help me in a multiplicity of ways, and I am extremely pleased to acknowledge them and their invaluable contributions.

To Bishop James A. Johnson, pastor of Bethesda Temple Church of the Apostolic Faith, St. Louis, Missouri—my pastor, mentor, teacher, spiritual father and friend, thank you for your spiritual guidance.

To Kathy P. Williams, thank you, for without your help, this project wouldn’t have been completed.

To Clarence Woodruff, aka Woody, my friend, and whose financial support allowed this project to be completed.

To John P. Calandrella, and Isadore Barton, my best friends, who supported this project in various ways, which allowed me to complete this book.

To Gwen Cozart, Tierrus Nance, Beniquita Brown, Brittney Brown, and Candance Fitzpatrick, my staff, whose contributions are immeasurable as it relates to completing this project.

To Felton Bush, who helped me visualize the artistic concept for the cover.

To Kensella Berry, whose financial contributions helped conclude this book.

To David Meyers, Freda Fletcher-Pruitt, Sandra Burton, Linda Bixter-Irwin: thank you for all of your contributions.

To Pat Simmons, your insight has been invaluable.

To Otis Haymon Sr., Carolyn, Mellisa, Otis Jr., Dr. Glenn Haymon—my family of origin: thank you, for all of your support and love.

To Sheila, Steven II, Spencer, Stewart, Haymon, and Lakisha Hayes: thank you greatly. Without your love, this book could not have been written.

To Dakeylo, Sheena, and Serena Haymon, my grandchildren, whose love helped propelled me to finish this project.

To Mark and Christina Haymon, my niece and nephew, your successes have helped me to grow and achieve more.

To Alva Dwellingham, my very good friend, thank you for all of your guidance.

To Chandra Sparks Taylor, editor and Stacy Luecker, Essex Graphix, thank you both for all of your contributions to this project.

To Natalie Starr, thank you for being obedient to God and coming back to get me from the Pits.

Kudos to every relative, client, and friend—old and new—who contributed to my life and input. I value you greatly.

Chapter 1

Coping with Stress

Stress is a condition that most people take lightly. Most believe it isn’t especially serious and they can handle it well. We use phrases like stressed out, but what we are inferring is that we have met some resistance to goals we are attempting to accomplish. Stress is indeed resistance, but it is much more than that. It is a force or pressure that causes deleterious reactions to us in every aspect of our being. In other words, it causes behaviors, harm and disturbances in our minds, feelings, bodies and, most of all, our spiritual selves.

Most employers treat stress irreverently. When they hear someone has taken off because of it, they order the person to get back to work immediately since, in their minds, it is not a serious condition. Some of us believe that if we experience any form of depression because of stress, we are weak-minded. We believe that overcoming it is simply mind over matter or that we have to be strong-minded in order to eradicate our pain. The problem is that instead of handling our difficulties, they tend to control us in that we react to them consciously, subconsciously, mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually.

Let’s examine our different reactions to stress:

Conscious: our overt awareness and effort to handle stress. This can take the forms of eating, smoking, exercising, etc.

Subconscious: operates in the mind beneath or beyond our consciousness or our mental way of handling our stress. This can take the forms of avoidance, defensiveness, withdrawal, aggression, displaced anger or depression.

Mental: our intellectual activities, our rationalizing or rational-lying.

Emotional: an affective state of consciousness in which joy, sorrow, fear, etc., are experienced. Here we attempt to override our stress with people, places or things in hopes of reducing our reactions to our perceived stressors. In other words, we attempt to cover the emotions we don’t like to be subjected to with the feelings we hope people, places or things can manufacture within us. If we experience the feelings we hoped to obtain from our poison of choice, we use them to mask the emotions we want to avoid.

Physical: the biological manifestation of stress. Most of us are familiar with tension or stress headaches, backaches, upset stomachs, etc.

Spiritual: refers to the essence of who we are. Stress can make us change our mood, personality, coping skills and temperament. Our reactions to it can be as simple as overeating, violently acting out, experiencing suicidal ideations and a host of other activities that we employ as a result of stressful situations.

The Breaking Point

Stress is intense pressure that, if not relieved appropriately, can be the source of extreme destruction. Although we can’t specifically define or explain it, a visual analogy is appropriate.

Imagine two pencils tightly held together with a rubber band. Picture twisting the pencils and feeling the tension; if the twisting continues, the rubber band will eventually break. With this image in mind, we can formulate some idea of what stress does to us holistically.

The rubber band represents what eventually happens to us as stress is applied. We think we are functioning normally, but pressure (twisting) is still being applied without resolution. We can feel the resistance, and sooner or later, just like the rubber band, we break. Depression results when stress breaks us.

Essentially, this is what happens to us if we don’t relieve or resolve the stress in our lives. It does not just disappear. It has a hypertrophy or swelling nature in that the tension it causes constantly intensifies. Another analogy can be used here to further explain this swelling effect. Picture a person blowing up a balloon. The more air the balloon receives, the more it expands. Because the balloon is made only to withstand a certain amount of pressure, at some point it will burst; its integrity is surpassed.

This scenario illustrates what happens to us as we deal with our day-to-day stressors. If our pressures build beyond our ability to handle them, eventually we pop or experience depression. No one knows what our breaking points are, but if stress isn’t resolved, it will cause us to exhibit signs and symptoms that we have been broken by its weight.

The Many Faces of Stress

Stress can manifest itself in many ways: insomnia, low energy, anger, crying spells, hopelessness, poor concentration, depressed mood, helplessness, self-defeating behaviors, worry, fear, compulsions (drug addiction, alcoholism, food addiction, compulsive sex, etc.) and aggression.

Stress does not discriminate. It attacks all races, creeds and colors, males, females, adults and children. Even the youngest of young and the oldest of old experience its effects. Whether religious or not, people can be swallowed up. Even the amount of money people have or the lack of it does not make any of us immune to its consequences.

Academic achievement seems to increase the vulnerabilities of stress, because we equate education with the mastering of our lives. Unfortunately, we rarely learn how to control our stressors. Those of us who are educated attempt to master it by intellectualizing, but unless we are taught how to resolve stress, at best, we only suppress or repress it. Eventually, stress takes its toll on us. Its effects on a person can range from experiencing headaches to going into a depressive state with psychoses (inability to differentiate between fantasy and reality) and hallucinations. The intensity of stress can become so overwhelming that it can make the strongest person weep like a weaning child.

Stress is everywhere. It is in relationships, on jobs, when we play or when we exercise. We can find it when we are studying or doing research. If we were to inherit millions of dollars, along with it would come plenty of pressure. We even feel or experience it when we are in church. (Actually, due to the dynamics and expectations of church, stress is very prevalent.) We can watch television and experience it, particularly when we are viewing things that evoke feelings such as sporting events, sexual situations, love stories and certain types of dramas. Observing our children compete in sports carries with it a ton of pressure. Sexual interludes or dating, as well as births, deaths, marriages, anniversaries and graduations can all be very stressful. As stated before, it is everywhere whether we recognize it or not.

The Mind

Stress is internalized through the mind. It is more important what the mind sees than what is perceived by the eyes. Our emotions and bodies react to what our intellect tells them. That is why two people can view the same situation and react differently. Stress also has a cumulative effect. As we mentally perceive threatening situations, the emotions and body react exponentially. In other words, reactions to the stressors increase related to the perceived intensity of the stress.

To expound further, there could be stressful situations that could keep a person from sleeping; if there is not a resolution and more threatening situations are added, the person’s reaction to the stressors would increase. As a result, the person could experience other symptoms, such as internal organ malfunctions (gastritis, increased blood pressure, heart attacks, strokes and increased blood sugar levels), various types of body pain (headaches, backaches and arthritic flare-ups) and even psychomotor agitation (psychic and muscular movements such as spasms, twitches and heart palpitations). The important point is that the reaction to stress will increase if the issues causing it are not resolved. No matter how insignificant stress appears, it has to be dealt with appropriately; otherwise it can be extremely debilitating.

Is Stress Free?

Stress is all around us. No one can totally escape it. Even newborns experience it as soon as they enter the world. How we learn to handle stress can determine how successful we will become. If we learn the skills necessary for resolving situations that cause us stress, we develop coping skills that can determine the levels of success we experience. If we don’t learn to handle those stressors early on, they can lock us in a time warp of regression, possibly until our deaths. Avoidance doesn’t allow us the privilege of learning how to work through our stressful issues. As time progresses, we should develop age-appropriate knowledge that helps us mature. If we don’t learn the necessary skills at strategic periods in our lives, we become stuck mentally and emotionally. Therefore, we may reach twenty-five years old, but mentally and emotionally we may only be eleven or twelve. We have all met these types of people—they are controlling, judgmental, small-minded, etc. Unfortunately, many of us have learned to avoid stress rather than confront it.

People essentially try to steer clear of the emotions attached to their issues of stress. No one likes the feelings of loneliness, insecurity or failure. When we experience situations that evoke these types of feelings, we attempt to rid ourselves of them by some coping mechanism we have learned to employ. Most of these skills are derived from what we saw our parents do when they were challenged with issues that evoked feelings they had to learn how to—or not to—handle. When situations propelled our parents into the aforementioned feelings, we watched them either attempt to confront them for resolution or avoid them through the usage of devices (such as alcohol, sex, drugs, religion, blaming, cigarettes or other fanaticisms).

Chapter 2

Alcohol

Alcohol is a beverage that society has stated we can’t do without. It has been used as a social tool. We use it to christen our new toys, babies, marriages and anniversaries. We serve it for special occasions in our lives (birthdays, holidays and graduations). We loosen up, relax, celebrate and cook with it. We serve alcohol for dinner, sporting events and even Holy Communion. Liquor has become part of our lives. We can’t imagine functioning without it because we need spirits if we are going to have fun or party. We use it to help us sleep and to cope with the stressors of our day. The insidious depression compels us to seek to relieve the pain of its symptoms by medicating ourselves with our good friend, alcohol. Some of us use it to enhance sexual performance. When we are overtaken with a cold, we use alcohol to make toddies to relieve our symptoms.

Why is the use of liquor so prevalent now? What magical power does it possess that we feel it has to be part of our lives? In fact, some of us cherish its usage to the point of not wanting to associate with people who don’t drink. We ask what’s wrong with the person because he doesn’t indulge. We figure the person is sick or that he is a holy roller.

In our minds, everyone drinks. Until recently, if we perused a magazine, newspaper or any type of media tool, advertisements promoting alcohol were prevalent. We couldn’t watch television or listen to the radio without seeing or hearing advertisements promoting alcoholic beverages. Why are we so much in need of this product that is produced from the plants of the earth?

Under the Influence

Then God said, Let the land produce vegetations: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds.

Genesis 1:11

Then God said, Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.

Genesis 1:26

It was never God’s intention for man to be ruled by vegetation. Man was to have dominion over everything, including all vegetation. Unfortunately, that is not true today because drugs and alcohol are wreaking havoc upon us and our families. Alcohol and drugs are derived from plants, and according to God, we are to have dominion over them.

Alcohol, for some of us, dictates when we go to bed, when we get up, with whom we associate, how we feel, our motivational level and what we aspire to do. It can affect how much wisdom and knowledge we acquire and our status of health, and it can even have influence on our births and deaths. Alcohol can have overwhelming control over us, which is completely contrary to what God intended.

We say that we indulge because we love the taste of it, but if we think back to our first sip, we would remember that we had to acquire the taste for alcohol. Some of our experiences from the time we began drinking frightened us to death; thus, we stated that we would never do it again. One or both of our parents drank heavily, and we watched them argue and fight as we grew up. That experience made us vow we would have no part of alcohol. We watched people die from automobile accidents because one of the drivers was under the influence. We have seen families destroyed, marriages broken and multitalented people flounder because of booze, our pernicious friend.

Why then does alcohol have such an alluring effect on us? Why are we so spellbound by it? If we have seen its influence, what keeps us going back?

From the beginning of time, when man found that drinking fermented grapes changed the way he felt, he has seen alcohol as a magic elixir. Early on, it was seen as a panacea, or a cure-all used by the doctors of old as a cleanser and an anesthetic before they performed surgery.

Alcohol in the blood of humans does what thinner does to paint as it breaks down the properties of the blood; therefore, changing our chemical composition. This change causes us to feel differently, which we interpret as feeling better. Our minds remember what to do to feel better; therefore, we keep going back to alcohol because we think we feel good after drinking it.

God constructed us to internalize or input into our minds everything we have ever experienced. We can never forget what we have gone through; therefore, if we perceive that something feels good, then that information is logged into our minds. When we have feelings we don’t like, we draw from our minds how to change those feelings. If alcohol is a method we think will do this, then we drink.

Wine Fooler

Is alcohol God sent or not? We all remember Jesus Christ’s first miracle was changing water into wine. (See John 2:1–11.) If Jesus is our window to salvation, and He made wine, then alcohol has to be okay.

Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler; whoever is led astray by them is not wise.

Proverbs 20:1

King Solomon, in this verse, elucidates that people who are led by the effects of alcohol are not wise. Solomon is the king upon whom God bestowed the gift of wisdom; therefore, are his words those of God?

Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.

Ephesians 5:18

Apostle Paul’s usage of the word debauchery means that the use of alcohol can lead to corruption, sexual immorality, self-centeredness and a host of other situations that are not good for us or those connected to us.

Is Paul advocating in this scripture that we should refrain from partaking of alcohol? Is Paul from the New Testament corroborating with Solomon of the Old Testament? Are they both stating that the usage of alcohol can lead to making unwise decisions? Are both of these biblical standouts negating what Jesus felt, that it was okay to drink alcohol? Is there really a contradiction between Jesus, Paul and Solomon? Did America know something in the 1920’s, when we established prohibition laws that we have forgotten today?

Noah

In the days after the vast flood, we know that Noah, after getting drunk, lay uncovered inside his tent.

Ham, the father of Canaan, saw his father’s nakedness and told his two brothers outside.

Genesis 9:22

When Noah awoke from his wine