Biblical sufficiency vs Modern Questions?

[CharismaticLady]

I cant speak for God so this is my personal opinion. Some people totally dont drink and other drinks moderately. But when it comes to marijuana. The bigger question is did they prescribe it to themself? Did they ask the doctor for it or did the doctor come up with the idea? It's kind of a rough one to be honest. But marijuana is a gateway drug. So you must ask yourself if meth and etc was legalized should that not be against Gods will aswell since it would be legal?

This is what I believe. There is a time and a place for everything. Here is medicine vs. recreational. God allows medicine. What some of you believe is take away the medicine because of the wicked who use it recreationally. We must be gentle as a dove, but wise as a serpent.

Proverbs 31:6
Give strong drink to him who is perishing, And wine to those who are bitter of heart.

Isaiah 24:9
They shall not drink wine with a song; Strong drink is bitter to those who drink it.

 

[jannikitty]

I agree with others here in that the bible must be read "in context" that is, in understanding of the setting of the times in which it was written. The truths there, however, are still sufficient. The bible is the inspired Word of God no matter what.

However, that being so, it is still important to seek tools in understanding how the stories, laws, etc. apply to all of us in the here and now. My way to do so is to read it in context that is getting the whole picture and not trying to separate out some to meet a popular concept. e.g. The old testament commandment is "Thou shall not commit adultery." Today adultery is not only legal (hasn't always been) but in some cases condoned. No one is throwing stones (thank God) or imprisoning people for committing adultery. The bible also teaches forgiveness as Jesus taught us to forgive many times even saying "Father, forgive them" from the cross.
Does this, then, mean we have permission to commit adultery because like the woman who was stoned..Jesus will protect and forgive us. (remember Jesus not only used this as an example of admonition to those who threw stones to have mercy and examine their own hearts, but also he said to the woman. "Go, and sin no more." Bottom line is that we must read the entire bible accordingly and let one thing balance out another.

The message is there ... a message which is life giving and eternal if we get the whole picture and the whole story. That is, I believe, sufficient. It takes work to get it understood, sometimes good teaching in classes and from committed leaders..who understand and have studied it better than we have, and, of course, with the intent in applying it personally. It takes trying to live out a Godly life so that the Holy Spirit can enlighten us from the scriptures. It takes commitment. I started and got down to business with the Lord about this in 1974..and I am still learning more from the scriptures and all they mean..every single day. Never ending..sufficient for a lifetime.

 

[Jamdoc]

I guess the main concern can come down to something like, if you are going to find a new church, for some of these situations not directly addressed in the bible it's going to come down to the Pastor's opinion instead of being able to have the authority of scripture on your side.
Some pastors will be okay with medical use, others will not.

 

[Thomas White]

Ok, thank you to everyone who replied to me with scripture. Inebriation is a problem, yes, but I'm not sure that weed rises to that level. Weed can help with concentration, anxiety, depression, pain, and a plethora of other issues. There's got to be a line drawn somewhere and that line will naturally be relative. Each person will be different. In such a case, there is no absolute in scriptures. In such a case we must seek guidance from the Lord outside of scripture, which goes back to the original post. The Bible, alone, cannot answer everything.

 

[Hazelelponi]

Ok, thank you to everyone who replied to me with scripture. Inebriation is a problem, yes, but I'm not sure that weed rises to that level. Weed can help with concentration, anxiety, depression, pain, and a plethora of other issues. There's got to be a line drawn somewhere and that line will naturally be relative. Each person will be different. In such a case, there is no absolute in scriptures. In such a case we must seek guidance from the Lord outside of scripture, which goes back to the original post. The Bible, alone, cannot answer everything.

God isn't a dictator. He does expect His people to use rational judgment. He does expect His people to ask Him in prayer when things arise that we are unsure of. He does expect His people will pray for one another.

We have a relationship with Him as Christians, individually as well as corporately. We have His Holy Spirit to help guide us, we can pray and ask what is right in our circumstances when we don't know.

The problem with drugs to get high, or drugs that get us high, is that we can't hear Him when drugs are involved as they alter our consciousness.

I have a chronic pain disease that is rated the highest on the pain index than any other. It tops the charts - and I have one of the more drastic forms of it.

But I try from day to day to stay away from opiods or any pain medicine that is mind altering.. there are days I cant, days I need something strong but you'd be amazed at how resilient the mind is and what it can actually get accustomed to..

I think the U.S has a drug culture that is very negative, and it seems to rise in tandum with the decrease of church attendance..

are there people who are in chronic medical conditions that medication helps? Of course, and the fact we have access to these medicines can be utterly lifesaving.

But I think caution should always be used, and we shouldn't neglect the relationship we have with God and His people in seeking what is right for our circumstances..

We have written scripture, and we have a living God who speaks with and guides His people - we should always use both, and do everything we can to be able to have access to both.

 

[Redwingfan9]

A lot of pastors and Christians believe in the doctrine of biblical sufficiency, but often times they get asked questions that the bible just does not directly address and the best they can do is to go on a general principle.
One that comes up a lot is should a Christian use Medical Marijuana, or even should a Christian use Marijuana recreationally. While when the law in the US was that it was strictly illegal, that was an easy question to answer because Romans 13 teaches us to abide by the laws of the land, even the secular ones, because God put that authority in place. But now states and even some countries like Canada are legalizing it even for recreational use. Then it becomes more of a stretch and many cite scripture about sorcery and justify that the word for sorcery is the same as pharmacy, but isn't directly related, or scripture referring to alcohol and making a stretch to make it cover all intoxicants, or just the commands to be sober minded in general.
Now as far as recreational goes, they're probably right along the lines of needing to be sober minded. But when it comes to medical use it becomes murky, because a person might be using opioid pain relievers truly just to alleviate severe pain, not to get intoxicated but intoxication is a side effect. They may have use of marijuana when other pharmaceutical agents have failed for various conditions, chronic pain and inflammation, seizure disorders, as an adjunct to chemotherapy in cancer, etc.
so as a Christian you're in a bind. Do you use the medication that helps with medical symptoms that your doctor has prescribed for you, or do you obey the command to be sober minded even if you're in so much pain that it distracts you from all other things (which is in a way, also not being sober minded, you can't focus on God when your focus is pretty much railroaded on pleasure that does not come from God, OR on pain). The bible doesn't really address it, and faith leaders and pastors you may ask, can only give their opinions based on leaps of logic from scripture about other topics.

That is just one example but there are others that in modern life, the bible just doesn't seem to address.
It's hard to me to adhere to biblical sufficiency when I come to a situation and think "what does the bible say about (x)?" and the answer is nothing, it says nothing, so it doesn't help as a guide there and all I can go with are human opinions and leaps of logic which are never consistent.

There is nothing in the modern world that did not exist in the Biblical world. While we may be communicating in a modern way, the sins we may be committing aren't new at all. We can always look to scripture on these matters and we see alcohol consumed in moderation and we see those in severe pain or dying told to drink hard liquor. We can easily apply that to modern society and modern drugs.

We also see scripture talk about liberty, which in the Biblical sense means that those in Christ are free to do as they please so long as they aren't violating God's law. I find the concept of liberty is lacking in many evangelical circles in the US. It's one thing when scripture is abundantly clear to say we can't do something. It's another thing when scripture is silent.

 

[Jamdoc]

God isn't a dictator. He does expect His people to use rational judgment. He does expect His people to ask Him in prayer when things arise that we are unsure of. He does expect His people will pray for one another.

We have a relationship with Him as Christians, individually as well as corporately. We have His Holy Spirit to help guide us, we can pray and ask what is right in our circumstances when we don't know.

The problem with drugs to get high, or drugs that get us high, is that we can't hear Him when drugs are involved as they alter our consciousness.

I have a chronic pain disease that is rated the highest on the pain index than any other. It tops the charts - and I have one of the more drastic forms of it.

But I try from day to day to stay away from opiods or any pain medicine that is mind altering.. there are days I cant, days I need something strong but you'd be amazed at how resilient the mind is and what it can actually get accustomed to..

I think the U.S has a drug culture that is very negative, and it seems to rise in tandum with the decrease of church attendance..

are there people who are in chronic medical conditions that medication helps? Of course, and the fact we have access to these medicines can be utterly lifesaving.

But I think caution should always be used, and we shouldn't neglect the relationship we have with God and His people in seeking what is right for our circumstances..

We have written scripture, and we have a living God who speaks with and guides His people - we should always use both, and do everything we can to be able to have access to both.

Having experience with both opioids and cannabis for pain management with my autoimmune disease I can say that the opioids definitely like alcohol, dulled senses and diminished reason and you definitely never thought about God or anything good.
Cannabis, at least in the doses I'm using doesn't have that same impact, or at least not as detrimental of an effect. I do think about God when I use marijuana, sometimes I read scripture, or just meditate on God. I think it's not quite as sedating for one, especially not in the doses I tend to use it at (although I have had higher doses when I have been trying to find the right balance or testing different strains, I still feel that I have been way more messed up on alcohol than anything else, you start losing control over your entire body on liquor, less so on Marijuana).. the other thing is.. Alcohol is generally an artifice of man, same thing with opioid pills, most of them are not products directly of God. Cannabis is. so if it makes you feel good, it's apparent to you that this is a creation of God that has made you feel joy, and that God created it for a purpose, a good purpose, and it leads to the thought of how Good is God that created a Good thing for a Good purpose, and thanksgiving.
I guess in that way it can be for the glory of God if that is where your mind goes.
But it still does alter judgement and can make you more easily tempted to sin, or do dangerous things.

I have also not touched an opioid in years, when it was nearly a daily thing before my doctor wanted me to switch.

 

[JacksBratt]

A lot of pastors and Christians believe in the doctrine of biblical sufficiency, but often times they get asked questions that the bible just does not directly address and the best they can do is to go on a general principle.
One that comes up a lot is should a Christian use Medical Marijuana, or even should a Christian use Marijuana recreationally. While when the law in the US was that it was strictly illegal, that was an easy question to answer because Romans 13 teaches us to abide by the laws of the land, even the secular ones, because God put that authority in place. But now states and even some countries like Canada are legalizing it even for recreational use. Then it becomes more of a stretch and many cite scripture about sorcery and justify that the word for sorcery is the same as pharmacy, but isn't directly related, or scripture referring to alcohol and making a stretch to make it cover all intoxicants, or just the commands to be sober minded in general.
Now as far as recreational goes, they're probably right along the lines of needing to be sober minded. But when it comes to medical use it becomes murky, because a person might be using opioid pain relievers truly just to alleviate severe pain, not to get intoxicated but intoxication is a side effect. They may have use of marijuana when other pharmaceutical agents have failed for various conditions, chronic pain and inflammation, seizure disorders, as an adjunct to chemotherapy in cancer, etc.
so as a Christian you're in a bind. Do you use the medication that helps with medical symptoms that your doctor has prescribed for you, or do you obey the command to be sober minded even if you're in so much pain that it distracts you from all other things (which is in a way, also not being sober minded, you can't focus on God when your focus is pretty much railroaded on pleasure that does not come from God, OR on pain). The bible doesn't really address it, and faith leaders and pastors you may ask, can only give their opinions based on leaps of logic from scripture about other topics.

That is just one example but there are others that in modern life, the bible just doesn't seem to address.
It's hard to me to adhere to biblical sufficiency when I come to a situation and think "what does the bible say about (x)?" and the answer is nothing, it says nothing, so it doesn't help as a guide there and all I can go with are human opinions and leaps of logic which are never consistent.

Do you drink coffee? Take aspirin, Tylenol, antibiotics?

I believe that there are many plants that are here on this earth that contain things for healing.
We have a book called "Healing Secrets of the Bible" and it is full of scripture, that is easily missed, where the bible mentions herbal and plant remedies.


I think that Cannabis has received a stigma that associates it with "Stoners" and "Druggies". People of questionable character... But, I know many people that use it for their pain and it is the only thing that works for them.

I think it should be treated like any other medicine for treatment of ailments... I think it should be treated like alcohol as far as use for recreation.

As with alcohol and anything else for that matter.... moderation is key and drunkenness is the result of gluttony and use to excess.

 

[DNB]

I don't think we can tax adultery and fornication.

Double shame, ...your response was solely based on exploiting a sinful commodity? I may have slightly tolerated your response, considering it as an attempt to somehow resolve a plague that couldn't be stopped. But instead, because you saw a monetary gain in it, you felt we should look the other way and benefit from this hedonistic sickness & people's addictions?
Triple shame!

BTW, prostitution can be taxed, you sound simple.

 

[Bible Highlighter]

A lot of pastors and Christians believe in the doctrine of biblical sufficiency, but often times they get asked questions that the bible just does not directly address and the best they can do is to go on a general principle.
One that comes up a lot is should a Christian use Medical Marijuana, or even should a Christian use Marijuana recreationally. While when the law in the US was that it was strictly illegal, that was an easy question to answer because Romans 13 teaches us to abide by the laws of the land, even the secular ones, because God put that authority in place. But now states and even some countries like Canada are legalizing it even for recreational use. Then it becomes more of a stretch and many cite scripture about sorcery and justify that the word for sorcery is the same as pharmacy, but isn't directly related, or scripture referring to alcohol and making a stretch to make it cover all intoxicants, or just the commands to be sober minded in general.
Now as far as recreational goes, they're probably right along the lines of needing to be sober minded. But when it comes to medical use it becomes murky, because a person might be using opioid pain relievers truly just to alleviate severe pain, not to get intoxicated but intoxication is a side effect. They may have use of marijuana when other pharmaceutical agents have failed for various conditions, chronic pain and inflammation, seizure disorders, as an adjunct to chemotherapy in cancer, etc.
so as a Christian you're in a bind. Do you use the medication that helps with medical symptoms that your doctor has prescribed for you, or do you obey the command to be sober minded even if you're in so much pain that it distracts you from all other things (which is in a way, also not being sober minded, you can't focus on God when your focus is pretty much railroaded on pleasure that does not come from God, OR on pain). The bible doesn't really address it, and faith leaders and pastors you may ask, can only give their opinions based on leaps of logic from scripture about other topics.

That is just one example but there are others that in modern life, the bible just doesn't seem to address.
It's hard to me to adhere to biblical sufficiency when I come to a situation and think "what does the bible say about (x)?" and the answer is nothing, it says nothing, so it doesn't help as a guide there and all I can go with are human opinions and leaps of logic which are never consistent.

#1. My prayers and sympathies go out to you.

You have my sympathies. In reading this thread, if I understood you correctly, you are going through a lot of pain that needs to be managed. My prayers are with you so as to manage this pain so that you can focus on Christ and Him alone in all things. For I am sure you would like to follow Jesus in everything according to His Word and give Him the glory by the good work He does in you (When you surrender more to His inner working).

#2. The Bible is sufficient for all matters of our walk with the Lord in this life.

The Bible is sufficient for all matters of our walk with the Lord in this life. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 says, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works." There are many evidences that back up the Bible that tell us that it is divinely inspired and perfect. I would encourage you to check out my Blogger article here for the many evidences that prove God's Word is trustworthy, and sufficient.

Love Branch: Evidences for the Word of God

#3. God's grace and His following instructions on righteous living.

We know that from Genesis to Revelation, it is filled with instructions on how we need to be reconciled with God and then we need to live righteously in order to have fellowship and salvation in Him. As you know (being a New Covenant believer), this begins by believing in His Son Jesus Christ and what He has done for us (for salvation), and in seeking forgiveness with Him, and in believing in His death, burial, and resurrection on our behalf, and inviting Christ into our life by way of prayer. This is God's grace and it involves receiving a new heart with new desires. Without truly experiencing His grace, we know, no man will seek Jesus, and or desire to follow Him and or uplift His Word or trust in it. After being saved by His grace, we will naturally want to enter the Sanctification Process (if we decide we want to continue to make Him our Lord and Savior). For we have the power to live righteously by the working of His grace and Spirit. So we should strive by His power, and being and not our own to follow the Lord's commands that come from Jesus and His followers (Note: This would not be going back to the 613 Laws of Moses (as a whole or contract); For example: We do seek to obey things like circumcision, the Saturday Sabbath, and the dietary laws, etc.). However, God's moral laws (that came into existence for mankind after the Fall of Adam when they received the knowledge of good and evil) should be obeyed (i.e. like: Do not murder, do not steal, do not covet, etc.). This is the kind of Law that Gentiles were able to keep without having the Law of Moses (See: Romans 2:14). The Moral Laws have continued on into the New Testament (or New Covenant). 2 Timothy 3:16-17 says that all Scripture is profitable for righteous instruction. Righteous instruction is in how to live right or righteously. So there must be some kind of righteous instruction when it comes to the topic of medical marijuana (even though it may not be clear to an individual at first glance). The truth on this matter may not be apparent to us at first because we seek to justify our own way (that is sinful), but the Bible is clear on how to conduct ourselves in this life (if one is truly seeking the truth of it in His Word with God's help and they are not seeking their own path or way). There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death. (Proverbs 14:12). Time does not change God when it comes to the core of certain good things. For the Lord our God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.

#4. We need guidance from God, and we need to study His Word.

The Spirit will guide a believer into all truth (John 16:13). This is not always an overnight process. 2 Timothy 2:15 KJV says we are to study God's Word to show ourselves approved of unto God.

"Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." (2 Timothy 2:15 KJV).

In other words, if we study God's Word and ask God to send His Spirit to help us to understand His Word, then we will be truly seeking after what God thinks His Word says (if we truly want to follow Him).

#5. Explaining why Pastors differ in opinion on this topic.

Pastors will differ on this topic because some are aligning with what God has talked to their heart on what is good and right, and others simply want to do the wrong thing (Although it is not obvious at first). Many appear to put on a sheep's covering when they are actually ravening wolves. But narrow is the way that leads unto life, and few be there that find it. Most want to justify sin and wrongdoing these days. Surely, it would be a waste of our time to serve two masters. One is either in total commitment to following the Lord, or they are only pretending to be His master. If wants to play games with their soul and take the wide gate path everyone is on, they by all means, they will justify just about anything these days in the name of the Lord.

#6. Abstain from all appearance of evil.

I think it is important not to have an appearance of evil.

1 Thessalonians 5:22 KJV says,

"Abstain from all appearance of evil." ​

If you tell people of this world or believers that you take medical marijuana, the picture they conjure up in their minds is that you are a pothead whose car and apartment is filled with a thick fog of smoke with them coughing and repeatedly saying things like, "Hey dude," "That so cool," "That's radical, man," in a surfer kind of voice. They will think you hang with people who worship a plant instead of the one and true living God. They worship it because they wear a picture of this plant on their clothes, and have it displayed in their homes, and they talk about it all the time. Marijuana is their god. Does such medical prescriptions leave your home smelling like your a pothead in your car and home? 1 Thessalonians 5:22 says avoid having any appearance of evil. So if a Christian posted on this forum and they declared that they take medical marijuana, I would encourage them to edit all their posts in this thread (and other ones) so as not to give people the impression that they take medical marijuana in any form so as not to make people think the wrong thing of them (Thereby ruining their testimony or witness for Christ).

#7. No excuse or allowance for smoking or vaping.

Cigarettes and vaping in general can lead to coughing (chronic coughing for some), and lung disease. So a doctor who prescribes these versions of marijuana is not really a doctor, but a drug dealer. Sure, he may be a licensed doctor in the eyes of the State, but he is no different than the guy on the street who gives harmful substances to kids that destroy their own bodies. 1 Corinthians 3:17 says, "If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are."

Just take an hour researching cases in how real people died from cigarette smoke and the pain it caused them. Such a thing, while a part of the creation was not intended to be used in such a way. Oh, and those folks who quote Genesis 1:29 and Genesis 9:3 about how you can eat any green plant or herb, etc. have not considered that there are poisonous plants out there that can kill you if you eat them.

7 of the World’s Deadliest Plants

Either things have changed after the Fall, and or from the point of the beginning world from the time of Noah (after the flood), or it was understood by Adam, and Noah that there were certain plants later that could harm them. Surely, the command did not include them eating poisonous plants. That's just silly to say so otherwise. In fact, wasn't it the eating of the wrong tree (which is like a plant) by Adam the cause of all the trouble we are in now?

There is medical marijuana that does not involve smoking or vaping (as I am sure you know): Should you do it or continue to partake of it? Again, much prayer and searching the Scriptures on this matter should be taken before throwing down the hammer of judgment against concluding that God's Word may not be sufficient for handing the tough questions in living righteously today. Only your own conscience of the new man in the sight of God, His Word, and prayer can lead you to make the right decision ultimately, but I would be cautious to not tell others that you take it (if that is the case), because it can make them have a wrong idea about you that is not true. For is the guy who smokes marijuana or vapes a follower of Christ and in right standing with the Lord? I don't believe so. They are destroying their lungs, and the rest of their body, and potentially doing the same for others around them, as well. We are to live in such a way that is beneficial to others, and not in a selfish way. Christ was obedient to the Father unto death. Christ died so as to save others. We are to follow Christ's example. We are to let the light of Christ shine unto others to those who are in darkness.

I hope what I said here helps;
And may God bless you this fine day.

 

[CharismaticLady]

Double shame, ...your response was solely based on exploiting a sinful commodity? I may have slightly tolerated your response, considering it as an attempt to somehow resolve a plague that couldn't be stopped. But instead, because you saw a monetary gain in it, you felt we should look the other way and benefit from this hedonistic sickness & people's addictions?
Triple shame!

BTW, prostitution can be taxed, you sound simple.

I am not advocating any sexual sin, nor being addicted to anything. Your response was just too ludicrous to not make jest of, thus the wink. Drinking wine and taking medicines are not a sin. We all have our opinions as to who sounds 'simple.'

 

[DNB]

I am not advocating any sexual sin, nor being addicted to anything. Your response was just too ludicrous to not make jest of, thus the wink. Drinking wine and taking medicines are not a sin. I'm not the one who sounds 'simple.'

This was your quote 'just like alcohol, people are going to use it, and so it is with marijuana. So why not make it legal and get the tax money from it. Moderation in everything is the rule.'
This was the same rhetoric that lead to prostitution being legal in many jurisdictions, ...thus, my comment.
And all that you came back with was 'sex can't be taxed'. Thus, my simpleton comment, for it wasn't the point, plus, it wasn't true.

Making marijuana, or any other vice, legal, advocates its use under any situation. We do not condone, support, or capitalize on activities simply because we have not the means to eradicate it, ...especially when they are hedonistic and sinful, and whether its usage is in moderation or not (a little yeast, permeates the whole).
You find this position ludicrous or simple?

I will gladly take any drug prescribed by a doctor, eg: marijuana, methodone, demerol, etc.. Just enough until my affliction is over. Never will I support the legalization of these chemicals outside of a medicinal context.

 

[GaveMeJoy]

It's all about loss of control.
Proverbs 23:31-33
1 Peter 1:13
1 Peter 5:8
It's less about the particular intoxicant but more about the state of inebriation Being high on anything can make you lose good jugement. Even though I use low thc cannabis as medicine, I wouldn't get behind the wheel of an automobile after using it. I also wouldn't get behind the wheel while using vicodin or something like that. Being intoxicated on anything makes you dangerous to other people because you lose judgement of things like time and distance and other people's emotional states, and your own emotional state.
I certainly don't advocate use of anything for the purpose of getting high.
I actually wonder why God created us to even be capable of those states of consciousness because they're so dangerous. I can only surmise that these chemicals were created to be used in low dosages and we screwed it up by deciding we liked the effects and amplified it by selecting for more potency.

Also the concept of being high or drunk may have also been a result of the fall, when sin entered the world and corrupted things

 

[GaveMeJoy]

I guess the main concern can come down to something like, if you are going to find a new church, for some of these situations not directly addressed in the bible it's going to come down to the Pastor's opinion instead of being able to have the authority of scripture on your side.
Some pastors will be okay with medical use, others will not.

Holy Spirit leads and the lord gives wisdom to those who ask

 

[GaveMeJoy]

#1. My prayers and sympathies go out to you.

You have my sympathies. In reading this thread, if I understood you correctly, you are going through a lot of pain that needs to be managed. My prayers are with you so as to manage this pain so that you can focus on Christ and Him alone in all things. For I am sure you would like to follow Jesus in everything according to His Word and give Him the glory by the good work He does in you (When you surrender more to His inner working).

#2. The Bible is sufficient for all matters of our walk with the Lord in this life.

The Bible is sufficient for all matters of our walk with the Lord in this life. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 says, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works." There are many evidences that back up the Bible that tell us that it is divinely inspired and perfect. I would encourage you to check out my Blogger article here for the many evidences that prove God's Word is trustworthy, and sufficient.

Love Branch: Evidences for the Word of God

#3. God's grace and His following instructions on righteous living.

We know that from Genesis to Revelation, it is filled with instructions on how we need to be reconciled with God and then we need to live righteously in order to have fellowship and salvation in Him. As you know (being a New Covenant believer), this begins by believing in His Son Jesus Christ and what He has done for us (for salvation), and in seeking forgiveness with Him, and in believing in His death, burial, and resurrection on our behalf, and inviting Christ into our life by way of prayer. This is God's grace and it involves receiving a new heart with new desires. Without truly experiencing His grace, we know, no man will seek Jesus, and or desire to follow Him and or uplift His Word or trust in it. After being saved by His grace, we will naturally want to enter the Sanctification Process (if we decide we want to continue to make Him our Lord and Savior). For we have the power to live righteously by the working of His grace and Spirit. So we should strive by His power, and being and not our own to follow the Lord's commands that come from Jesus and His followers (Note: This would not be going back to the 613 Laws of Moses (as a whole or contract); For example: We do seek to obey things like circumcision, the Saturday Sabbath, and the dietary laws, etc.). However, God's moral laws (that came into existence for mankind after the Fall of Adam when they received the knowledge of good and evil) should be obeyed (i.e. like: Do not murder, do not steal, do not covet, etc.). This is the kind of Law that Gentiles were able to keep without having the Law of Moses (See: Romans 2:14). The Moral Laws have continued on into the New Testament (or New Covenant). 2 Timothy 3:16-17 says that all Scripture is profitable for righteous instruction. Righteous instruction is in how to live right or righteously. So there must be some kind of righteous instruction when it comes to the topic of medical marijuana (even though it may not be clear to an individual at first glance). The truth on this matter may not be apparent to us at first because we seek to justify our own way (that is sinful), but the Bible is clear on how to conduct ourselves in this life (if one is truly seeking the truth of it in His Word with God's help and they are not seeking their own path or way). There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death. (Proverbs 14:12). Time does not change God when it comes to the core of certain good things. For the Lord our God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.

#4. We need guidance from God, and we need to study His Word.

The Spirit will guide a believer into all truth (John 16:13). This is not always an overnight process. 2 Timothy 2:15 KJV says we are to study God's Word to show ourselves approved of unto God.

"Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." (2 Timothy 2:15 KJV).

In other words, if we study God's Word and ask God to send His Spirit to help us to understand His Word, then we will be truly seeking after what God thinks His Word says (if we truly want to follow Him).

#5. Explaining why Pastors differ in opinion on this topic.

Pastors will differ on this topic because some are aligning with what God has talked to their heart on what is good and right, and others simply want to do the wrong thing (Although it is not obvious at first). Many appear to put on a sheep's covering when they are actually ravening wolves. But narrow is the way that leads unto life, and few be there that find it. Most want to justify sin and wrongdoing these days. Surely, it would be a waste of our time to serve two masters. One is either in total commitment to following the Lord, or they are only pretending to be His master. If wants to play games with their soul and take the wide gate path everyone is on, they by all means, they will justify just about anything these days in the name of the Lord.

#6. Abstain from all appearance of evil.

I think it is important not to have an appearance of evil.

1 Thessalonians 5:22 KJV says,

"Abstain from all appearance of evil." ​

If you tell people of this world or believers that you take medical marijuana, the picture they conjure up in their minds is that you are a pothead whose car and apartment is filled with a thick fog of smoke with them coughing and repeatedly saying things like, "Hey dude," "That so cool," "That's radical, man," in a surfer kind of voice. They will think you hang with people who worship a plant instead of the one and true living God. They worship it because they wear a picture of this plant on their clothes, and have it displayed in their homes, and they talk about it all the time. Marijuana is their god. Does such medical prescriptions leave your home smelling like your a pothead in your car and home? 1 Thessalonians 5:22 says avoid having any appearance of evil. So if a Christian posted on this forum and they declared that they take medical marijuana, I would encourage them to edit all their posts in this thread (and other ones) so as not to give people the impression that they take medical marijuana in any form so as not to make people think the wrong thing of them (Thereby ruining their testimony or witness for Christ).

#7. No excuse or allowance for smoking or vaping.

Cigarettes and vaping in general can lead to coughing (chronic coughing for some), and lung disease. So a doctor who prescribes these versions of marijuana is not really a doctor, but a drug dealer. Sure, he may be a licensed doctor in the eyes of the State, but he is no different than the guy on the street who gives harmful substances to kids that destroy their own bodies. 1 Corinthians 3:17 says, "If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are."

Just take an hour researching cases in how real people died from cigarette smoke and the pain it caused them. Such a thing, while a part of the creation was not intended to be used in such a way. Oh, and those folks who quote Genesis 1:29 and Genesis 9:3 about how you can eat any green plant or herb, etc. have not considered that there are poisonous plants out there that can kill you if you eat them.

7 of the World’s Deadliest Plants

Either things have changed after the Fall, and or from the point of the beginning world from the time of Noah (after the flood), or it was understood by Adam, and Noah that there were certain plants later that could harm them. Surely, the command did not include them eating poisonous plants. That's just silly to say so otherwise.

There is medical marijuana that does not involve smoking or vaping (as I am sure you know): Should you do it or continue to partake of it? Again, much prayer and searching the Scriptures on this matter should be taken before throwing down the hammer of judgment against concluding that God's Word may not be sufficient for handing the tough questions in living righteously today. Only your own conscience in the sight of God and His Word can lead you to make the right decision ultimately, but I would be cautious to not tell others that you take it (if that is the case), because it can make them have a wrong idea about you that is not true. For is the guy who smokes marijuana or vapes a follower of Christ and in right standing with the Lord? I don't believe so. They are destroying their lungs, and the rest of their body, and potentially doing the same for others around them, as well. We are to live in such a way that is beneficial to others, and not in a selfish way. Christ was obedient to the Father unto death. Christ died so as to save others. We are to follow Christ's example. We are to let the light of Christ shine unto others to those who are in darkness.

I hope what I said here helps;
And may God bless you this fine day.

I agree with most of this except the false dichotomy explaining why pastors differ in opinions on scripture. It’s not always that one pastor is right and the other is a wolf in sheep’s clothing or refusing to follow the lead of God. There are many many many non salvation issues where earnest, Bible believing, Christ exalting pastors and teachers disagree. They each believe the Holy Spirit has enlightened their understanding of a particular passage a certain way and share their convictions. The problem in most disagreements one or both are mistaken about the truth. Godly men can disagree and Godly men can be wrong.

 

[Bible Highlighter]

Also the concept of being high or drunk may have also been a result of the fall, when sin entered the world and corrupted things

Just eating the fruit by Adam was all it took for Adam and Eve to die spiritually that day.
God said that He would die the day he ate of that tree. Adam obviously did not die physically that day, so this means he died spiritually.

 

[Bible Highlighter]

I agree with most of this except the false dichotomy explaining why pastors differ in opinions on scripture. It’s not always that one pastor is right and the other is a wolf in sheep’s clothing or refusing to follow the lead of God. There are many many many non salvation issues where earnest, Bible believing, Christ exalting pastors and teachers disagree. They each believe the Holy Spirit has enlightened their understanding of a particular passage a certain way and share their convictions. The problem in most disagreements one or both are mistaken about the truth. Godly men can disagree and Godly men can be wrong.

I don't think this is one of those topics that a godly Pastor can have any confusion about. No good Pastor will allow for a fellow believer to smoke or vape and thereby destroy their own body. 1 Corinthians 3:17 says if we defile the temple, God will destroy us. As for other forms of medical marijuana to handle pain only (that is not smoking or vaping): I think a good Pastor would also agree to tell these believers to keep silent on the matter so as to not have any appearance of evil (so as not to appear like a stoner or pothead where marijuana is their God and not Christ). But, we are living in the last days. Many may appear to be good and godly, and may even be against all forms of marijuana, but they may justify other kinds of sins in the name of Christ (like lying a little, lusting a bit, cussing sometimes, and or hating others at times, etc.). They may teach that, "Hey, Christ is my Savior, and I don't really need to worry about those sins in the Bible that appear to condemn me." Sure, they may not condone the really bad sins like murder, rape, and child abuse, etc. but they will justify other sins (When push comes to shove and you can get them to admit what they really believe about the topic of "sin and salvation.").

 

[Semper-Fi]

But we're not talking about what people say, we're talking about what the bible says. And it is sufficient if you just read it carefully. I didn't make any leaps of logic.

Genesis 9
3 Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. I have given you all things, even as the green herbs. 4 But you shall not eat flesh with its life, that is, its blood.

So he didn't exclude the psychotropic herbs which existed even then. He said they were all food. There's no need to leap to any conclusions other than the obvious that all the animals and herbs are good for food.

So that's explicit authority. There's nothing forbidden as far as green herbs are concerned for the rest of the text.

He said they were for food.
That verse talks about [green herbs to eat].
Where does it say [you can smoke weed?]
Smoking anything will damage the lungs.

 

[Bible Highlighter]

He said they were for food.
That verse talks about [green herbs to eat].
Where does it say [you can smoke weed?]
Smoking anything will damage the lungs.

There is also this, too.

7 of the World’s Deadliest Plants

 

[dqhall]

Ok, thank you to everyone who replied to me with scripture. Inebriation is a problem, yes, but I'm not sure that weed rises to that level. Weed can help with concentration, anxiety, depression, pain, and a plethora of other issues. There's got to be a line drawn somewhere and that line will naturally be relative. Each person will be different. In such a case, there is no absolute in scriptures. In such a case we must seek guidance from the Lord outside of scripture, which goes back to the original post. The Bible, alone, cannot answer everything.

Marijuana has not been approved for any medical use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Marijuana use contributes to the risk of lung cancer. New Zealand estimated 10% of their lung cancer was from marijuana use. Marijuana was shown to retard brain development in adolescents. People driving under the influence of marijuana were more likely to wreck. Colorado legalized marijuana and traffic accidents increased. Marijuana is a hallucinogenic waste of time. It is a waste of money. It should be illegal.