Why is weed a sin

[bsd13]

Well that hasn't worked on my cousin...and all you have to do is look around to all those who are living in the 'lifestyle' to see our addictive it actually is. They HAVE to have their weed....they GOTTA have it and they will move mountains to buy the stuff so they can be stoned and forget about their problems again and again!

That's not addiction. That's a personal choice. Trust me if they wanted to stop they easily could. The simple fact is they don't want to stop. I know I've been there. Also quit cigarettes and THAT was an addiction from hell. Smoking pot just took about 6 hours of adjustment.

 

[Cassidy]

Cannabis isnt physically addictive, but it often turns out to be very psychologically addictive. I know from both first- and secondhand experience. In any case, it's not the physical addictions that are hard to break, not even with opiates (the movies tend to exaggerate the withdrawal symptoms).

Alcohol, too, can be extremely addictive, though it would probably take you at least six months of heavy drinking to begin getting physically addicted to it.

psychologically addictive is probably more like it. The whole lifestyle is an addictive one...the blotting and escaping the real world...and the pain associated with it...is addictive.

Both Cannibis and alchohol probably both start out being psychologically addictive.

 

[mr.bubbles]

why should smoking weed be a sin and drinking alcohol not be? jesus did drink wine, but he probably doesn't get drunk. like what kelly said, its getting drunk whats the sin not drinking the wine. so shouldn't it be he same for marijuana? i think that its not sinfull to smoke marijuana, but its sinfull to mis use it or to use it for sinful things, just as it is with alcohol. so really, people should stop arguing about it, realize that it really isn't such a big deal, and start focusing on the good of life or what we can make better. people who smoke weed are'nt all bad, there's a church in l.a. that openly has marijuana in the church, it works for them and they seem like happy people and good hearted. i just think the whole thing is pointless and i wish we could grow up.

 

[Almighty's humble servant]

Peace and ALmighty's warmest blessings upon all,

Anything that is abused is a sin, harming the temple of ALmighty God by whom we are created.

But His word is very clear that EVERYTHING He has created, from the dusts of the earth,(used to make brick, grow crops etc) to the air we breathe is GOOD!
And NOTHING is to be rejected when recieved with thanksgiving!

Abuse sugar and you will die, alcohol(you will die), eat to much beef, you will die, smoke to many mariwanna you will die. Anything abused by man of Almighty's PERFECT creation and will kill him. So abuse is gluttony and therefore sin. Your punishment will be diabetes, hypertension, brain damage, lung cancer etc etc etc.

Do not judge the dopers though, because you will recieve their punishment as well!

Praise and exalt Him above all forever!

 

[chrisnu]

Smoking weed is a sin because it's illegal.

On the other hand, if it wasn't illegal, I wouldn't necessarily say that it was.

 

[Almighty's humble servant]

Smoking weed is a sin because it's illegal.

On the other hand, if it wasn't illegal, I wouldn't necessarily say that it was.

Peace and blessings to you,
It is illegal in america for a teacher to lead willing students in prayer to ALmighty.!

Soon we will be required to take a chip in our right hands or in our skull, if we dig the chip out of our skin on our hands.
It will be illegal to buy or sell, without it. Illegal to own property, illegal to exist.
Can the same be said for breaking these laws?
Remember brothers Daniel, Hannaniah, Mishael, and Azariah.
They were also persecuted for non adherance to the LAW of MAN!


Praise and exalt Him above all forever!

 

[royaltybyadoption]

Wow! I've been going through this long thread and without doubt there is a lot of misinformation and stubbornness.

The original topic is whether marijuana is a sin to use.
One accepted argument against it is the single-word reference in the bible -- "Pharmakeia (from where we get the word Pharmacy), from Textus Receptus Greek text, meaning ‘drug use/drug dealing’ of which it and derivatives translated into the English as sorcery or witchcraft. Rev 9:21; Rev 18:23; Rev 22:15; Gal 5:20." as pointed out by member Psalms34 from a year and a half ago.

The problem with that argument is there is no way to equate marijuana directly with the word, "Pharmakeia" and not include socially (and church) accepted drugs such as caffeine, ibuprofen, acetaminophen and other non-prescription ingredients.
Last time I heard, most churches don't condemn using Tylenol as being witchcraft and sorcery. Sorry, but your argument is moot.

Another person will say, "It's against the law and the bible says to uphold the laws of the land."
So, like the poster above said, that means Christians are to NEVER challenge the laws of the land? Including abortion and prayer in school? That argument is also void.

Another argument against marijuana says that drunkenness is a sin, and because "people who smoke pot only want to get wasted" they are sinning. That is a straw-man argument and is also not applicable. Not everyone who uses marijuana is trying to reach a state of severe intoxication. Even Jesus was accused of being an alcoholic.
"For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and
you say, 'He has a demon.' The Son of Man came eating and drinking,
and you say, 'Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax
collectors and "sinners."'" (Luke 7:33-34)

Jesus drank alcohol-- I doubt he drank to the state of drunkenness the Pharisees were claiming.

I know many people who control how much marijuana they injest. Just like many followers of Christ stop at one or two glasses of wine.

 

[royaltybyadoption]

nope, its not addictive and it doesn't cause mental disorders. They can exaggerate existing mental conditions, just like alcohol. Studies have disproven the claims made by politicians back in the 30's and again in the 60's 70's and 90's. people CAN become dependant on anything however, such as addictions to gambling, eating, or world of warcraft *snerk* but that doesn't mean they in themselves are addictive like tobacco and alcohol.

It was originally made illegal in the 30's to harass the mexicans who smoked it, and again in the 60's when the government thought it was making the youth rebelous.

And I don't actually smoke it, I'm more or less annoyed by false claims about its dangers and history, and feel it should be legalized and regulated like the other plant byproducts because non-violent drug offenders are needlessly clogging up the justice system. If it really was as bad as everyone says, Canada and The Netherlands would have collapsed a long time ago

Quoted because you speak the truth. It is not even as addictive as alcohol. Studies have proven that fact over and over again.

 

[stelow]

Digging up some old threads about cannabis, this thread is from a year ago. I don't understand why people insist on saying, Jesus drank alcohol. Cannabis can ruin your life just like alcohol can, it probably will just take a little longer.

 

[royaltybyadoption]

I don't understand why people insist on saying, Jesus drank alcohol.

Because He did, and that is relevant to this topic.

 

[stelow]

The title of the thread is, why is weed a sin; not, did Jesus drink some watered down wine. Smoking cannabis or drinking alcohol can most certainly be a sin, especially if you're a Christian, and your conscience is convicting you of doing so. I'm not out to condemn anyone for doing either; but there are plenty of scriptures that warn us that getting drunk (intoxicated) is most definitely a sin, and some people shouldn't drink at all, because they can't control the amount they use.

2 Corinthians 7:1

1Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.

 

[royaltybyadoption]

I appreciate your effort not to condemn anyone for drinking alcohol or using cannabis. In this generation, that says a lot about your high level of maturity/growth in the Lord.

If you re-read my previous post, you will see why I brought up Jesus' alcohol use. It is very relevant to this topic, because it shows the folly of the argument that all people who use marijuana want to become severely intoxicated. It is a false statement. Jesus was accused of the very same thing.

I think people often have a hard time seeing the forest through the trees with scripture. What I mean is -- Jesus was pointing to something beyond and above food and drink: a relationship with the Father.

Sure, intoxication is a sin. So is unforgiveness and pride (among a whole host of other sins I see Christians exuding on a daily basis.) Let's keep things in balance and not come off sounding like the Pharisees of biblical times.

 

[royaltybyadoption]

I'd also like to address the English word "intoxication." So many posters in this thread have used it as an argument to condemn using cannabis.

First, the medical community uses the word 'intoxication' as a means of gauging the physical effect of a substance. It does not necessarily mean 'rip-roaring-drunk,' although it can mean that. It is a side-effect like 'nausea' or 'fever.' Modern usage of the word "intoxication" can be slight or heavy --- barely perceptible all the way to incapacitating. It is used with a quantifier to guage the level of intoxication.

For example, you would find it used in a sentence like, "Nicotine is highly addictive like cocaine and heroin, but the level of intoxication is low."

"Do not get drunk with wine, which will ruin you; instead, be filled with the Spirit." Eph 5:18
​

The Greek word for 'drunk/intoxicated' in Ephesians 5:18 is "methuskesthe." What did that word mean to people of biblical times? We don't know. We can speculate, but the truth of it is: nobody knows for sure.

The only thing we can do is review secular historical documents and other texts in the Bible.
In the same passage of text (Eph. 5:18) it says "be filled with the spirit." The word filled is "plērousthe" in Greek. It is another form of intoxication, but obviously an acceptable level of intoxication because Paul recommends it.
With this contrast we can assume that one form is excessive and the other is not.

Conclusions -- let's not be hasty to say all use of drugs/alcohol is excessive intoxication. We know that severe intoxication is a sin. However, let's be sure to read all the passages in Ephesians to keep our doctrine straight. Paul is talking about plenty of other issues in the same light -- greed, harsh language, pride, and ignorance.

Let's keep an open mind and not subject ourselves to ignorance regarding drug use. Nothing worse than some church elder who is addicted to pain-killers, internet and coffee pointing fingers at the guy in the back who smokes cannabis.

 

[Lemmiwinks]

I posted this somewhere else but I realized I would get alot more responses if it was in here. I posted it in somewhere else I found first.

Hello. I am talking to a guy who smokes weed etc. I told him that it was a sin. He shrugged and said um why. I said that God does not like it when people get high and smoke weed. He said how you know. I said the bible. He said the Bible never actually speaks about Marijuana itself. But I explained there was bible verses that said stuff that made you realize it was indeed a sin. He said he tell me a example then. I thought and thought and searched my mind, then I said, "Though shalt not be drunk with whine." he said he doesnt drink whine and thats not marijuanna.

So why is it a sin? What are the reasons and what are the bible verses. He is still awaiting my awnser and still smoking weed etc. I am having trouble trying to explain to him so I need help, and posts in here i can read and then repeat them to him.

Why did you tell him it was sin when you don't even know for yourself why it is a sin?

For me it is a sin because it encouragages sloth and lust, but that's just me.

 

[peanutbutterjelly]

the bible doesn't mention weed, but it does say this "ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought(anything) from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you" -Deuteronomy 4:2. Saying that weed is a sin even though its not in the bible is adding to God's laws which the bible says not to do. Also the bible doesn't say you can't ever get drunk it condemns drunkards, which is a term used to refer to people who stay drunk all the time. Also, don't post about weed if you've never tried it because, as someone who's smoked weed and drank alcohol before, and who has a lot of both in his family, I can tell you for a fact that smoking weed is nothing like drinking alcohol. It's been scientifically proven that the impairment you get from weed is less than having a .08 BAC which is the driving limit. Weed doesn't cause domestic violence, rape, murder, or any of the stunts people will pull when theyre drunk. I had a grandpa who drank alot and abused my mom, and I have a dad who smoked a lot of weed and I have never felt that I've been abused.
Just because our government and society have decided somethings bad doesnt make it bad. Human logic is corrupted. As the wisest man in the world, King Solomon, stated "trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding" If God had a problem with all mind-altering drugs he would've mentioned it. Smoking weed has been around for thousands of years and God created weed, so I'm pretty sure he knew about it. Also, if you weren't aware that drugs were being used by Jesus's time then you need a history lesson. God was constantly telling Israel about the future, and giving them instructions for future events, and God knew about weed and that in the future it would be smoked a lot.
By saying weed is wrong just because some man said so shows that you trust man's logic more than God's. Also, to all of you who are using the"obey the laws of the land" argument, I've read the bible and that quote isn't there. The apostle Paul instructs us to "submit to governing authorities"-Romans 13:1 because they were placed in authority by God. That means not to violently overthrow governments and to accept thir authority because it was given to them by God, it doesn't mean that you have to obey every single law perfectly. Are you going to try and say that going 71 on the interstate is a sin? God doesn't want you overthrowing governments because he put them there, but there are obviously laws that are corrupt.
Anyways people need to quit assuming that because society thinks something is bad, doesn't make it bad. Human logic is flawed, and man isn't God to decide whats right and whats wrong. The pharisees condemned Jesus all the time, but I'm about 100% sure that Jesus didn't do anything wrong, and they even called him out because he drank wine. The bible is the divinely inspired word of God, and I'm pretty sure he knew what he was doing when it was written. He mentions every wrong thing from murder to eating unclean foods but he didn't mention weed, which tells me that he has no opinion on it either way. However don't let it get do out of hand, because just anything becomes sinful if you put it before god. Drunkard are condemned throughout the bible, but Jesus drank wine. Weed won't hurt in moderation but remember God said "thou shalt have no other gods before me" Exodus 20:3.

 

[ebedmelech]

Though I respect those gentlemen, I find their position untenable. There was no drug culture of the type we see today, and no evidence of drug abuse as one views it today.Acknowledged.

You are sorely mistaken. As Ecclesiates says "there is nothing new under the sun", and drug culture is nothing new. The difference would be the knowledge we have today because knowledge has increased, Drugs have been use in many ancient cultures. Look into that, because many ancient religions encourage drug use.

But as the link I provided earlier today states, "drug use" in the Greek and Roman empires from the 3rd century BC to the 1st century AD was limited to herbs, potions of the type prepared by those who claimed to be witches (hence the preferred translation of pharmakeia as "sorcery" or "witchcraft") or poisons as used in the accepted practice of euthanasia, and in the administration of capitol punishment among the elite and privileged (e.g., Socrates). I respect the men you named, but I respectfully disagree and am certain they would have a difficult time supporting that view historically.From a modern perspective, absolutely. But the Greek and Roman societies did not know such drug use or abuse as we now know. There was no equivalent of "getting high" in those eras.

This is basically skirting the issue. You don't have to look far to know this is quite erroneous.

I say again "there is nothing new under the sun"

The History Of Drugs

Follow up that with medicine, as many drugs had medicinal purposes.

Then you have sorcery which is accomplished with drugs.

If you want a true answer, you'll find it.

 

[Almighty's humble servant]

I'd also like to address the English word "intoxication." So many posters in this thread have used it as an argument to condemn using cannabis.

First, the medical community uses the word 'intoxication' as a means of gauging the physical effect of a substance. It does not necessarily mean 'rip-roaring-drunk,' although it can mean that. It is a side-effect like 'nausea' or 'fever.' Modern usage of the word "intoxication" can be slight or heavy --- barely perceptible all the way to incapacitating. It is used with a quantifier to guage the level of intoxication.

For example, you would find it used in a sentence like, "Nicotine is highly addictive like cocaine and heroin, but the level of intoxication is low."

"Do not get drunk with wine, which will ruin you; instead, be filled with the Spirit." Eph 5:18
​

The Greek word for 'drunk/intoxicated' in Ephesians 5:18 is "methuskesthe." What did that word mean to people of biblical times? We don't know. We can speculate, but the truth of it is: nobody knows for sure.

The only thing we can do is review secular historical documents and other texts in the Bible.
In the same passage of text (Eph. 5:18) it says "be filled with the spirit." The word filled is "plērousthe" in Greek. It is another form of intoxication, but obviously an acceptable level of intoxication because Paul recommends it.
With this contrast we can assume that one form is excessive and the other is not.

Conclusions -- let's not be hasty to say all use of drugs/alcohol is excessive intoxication. We know that severe intoxication is a sin. However, let's be sure to read all the passages in Ephesians to keep our doctrine straight. Paul is talking about plenty of other issues in the same light -- greed, harsh language, pride, and ignorance.

Let's keep an open mind and not subject ourselves to ignorance regarding drug use. Nothing worse than some church elder who is addicted to pain-killers, internet and coffee pointing fingers at the guy in the back who smokes cannabis.

Very well said brother.

Abuse of alcohol will kill us and end our witness. Abuse of beef or pork or coffee or sugar will do the same, just as quickly.
Marijuana is no different. In that abuse of a plant could end our witness or take it away b/c of our hypocrisy.
Like you said, the Word is far more illusrtated than simply condemning the drunkard. A liar, a thief, a greedy man. All equal in their iniquity.

 

[ebedmelech]

Let's keep it real. The bible doesn't condemn "a drink", it condemns being deceived by drinking.

There's the use of wine and "strong drink" all through the scriptures, and the scriptures describe the sin as "dissipation" or overdoing it. I've heard pastors contort the scriptures when clearly the wine contained alcohol...trying to say it was not wine that contained alcohol when it clearly was. I believe when your body tells you you're overdoing it and you keep drinking...you cross the line into sin.

When it comes to marijuana I never had a friend or acquaintance that smoked marijuana for any reason other than to "get high". That's a sin.

Medical marijuana I leave to the medical field but no Christian should be trying to legitimize the use of marijuana because the use is clearly to get high, and that is a sin.

 

[Almighty's humble servant]

When it comes to marijuana I never had a friend or acquaintance that smoked marijuana for any reason other than to "get high". That's a sin.

I've never met anyone who drank wine, whiskey or beer because they wanted to quench their thirst.

Alcohol can level a head and relax a body just as good as it can change a levelheaded person into a raging maniac and break a person's body down.

Marijauna, if used in moderation, without getting STONED, is no different than having 2-3 glasses of wine for a relaxing evening talking with a friend or loved one, or even just sitting back relaxing after a long hard day.

 

[stelow]

I've never met anyone who drank wine, whiskey or beer because they wanted to quench their thirst.

Alcohol can level a head and relax a body just as good as it can change a levelheaded person into a raging maniac and break a person's body down.

Marijauna, if used in moderation, without getting STONED, is no different than having 2-3 glasses of wine for a relaxing evening talking with a friend or loved one, or even just sitting back relaxing after a long hard day.

It's not like everyone who smokes pot is a stoner, but that's the stigma some try to attach to it.