There are many aspects of scripture that are hidden because of translation. One very important one is the greak subjunctive used with the imperative mood. In many cases in scripture, the translation comes accross a don't do something. This can be interpreted 2 ways:
The prohibition to engage in an act, or
The command to stop engaging in an act.
The is important, because some brothers that I've known in the past use verses as:
EPH 5:18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit,
to say that a Christian will not drink since he is born again, and the Holy Spirit forbids it.
This verse actuall says "stop getting drunk with wine", which means some of the Ephesians were "getting drunk with wine".
This is the case for many New Testament verses, e.g.
ROM 6:13 and do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.
ROM 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
1CO 10:7 And do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written, "The people sat down to eat and drink, and stood up to play."
EPH 4:30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
EPH 5:11 And do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them;
3JO 1:11 Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. The one who does good is of God; the one who does evil has not seen God.
All of these verses are actually saying "stop", not "don't ever"
In Christ,
Terry