Christianity and Cannabis.

Hi there, this is my first post on this forum.

I would like to know what other christians opinions are about smoking or using cannabis.

Ive noticed it is frowned upon by most christians, however, the bible doesnt seem to have anything about cannabis printed in it.

It would be interesting to hear what other christians feel about this.


Thank you!

Since you're asking for the opinions of other Christians, I'm moving your thread to Ethis & Morality (from Chat with Staff), this will help your question get answered much quicker and more thoroughly

FatBurger said:

Since you're asking for the opinions of other Christians, I'm moving your thread to Ethis & Morality, this will help your question get answered much quicker and more thoroughly

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Wow, I thought the opinions of christians would have been quicker found in General Theology or something. Just goes to show how much ethics and morality is used.

To the OP, if it's not obiouse I do not condone recreational drug use. My belief is not based on something within the bible, it is purely something I take a stand against as of seeing the effects of recreational drug use in other people.

I'm also using the 'term recreational drug use' because I am aware that there are many drugs and herbs out there which can have similar effects on the body as illict drugs.

*peace*

kopilo said:

Wow, I thought the opinions of christians would have been quicker found in General Theology or something. Just goes to show how much ethics and morality is used.

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"Quicker" compared to Chat with Staff, "more thorough" compared to the other debate forums

OD3 said:

Hi there, this is my first post on this forum.

I would like to know what other christians opinions are about smoking or using cannabis.

Ive noticed it is frowned upon by most christians, however, the bible doesnt seem to have anything about cannabis printed in it.

It would be interesting to hear what other christians feel about this.


Thank you!

Click to expand...

The bible tells Christians to treat their bodies like temples.

It also tells Christians to obey those in authority in so far as doing so does not directly contradict or deny God, so that unbelievers will not have a reason to use a Christian's behavior as an excuse to dislike God.

The laws of most nations are against marijuana use.

Luke 4:20

Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him.

That settles it.

Considering that it is less destructive, less addictive, and less inhibitive than alcohol; and considering that alcohol is acceptable for a Christian to use: I consider weed an acceptable substance. However, I do not necessarily consider it acceptable to break the law.

Lvythn said:

Luke 4:20

Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him.

That settles it.

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You've lost me. What does that have to do with the OP?

The bible tells Christians to treat their bodies like temples.

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True. But they burn incense in temples to help relax.

The laws of most nations are against marijuana use.

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Oh, just so you know: There are laws against POSSESSING mj but NO laws against using it.

Another verse to consider (a couple from Matt. 15

11:What goes into a man's mouth does not make him 'unclean,' but what comes out of his mouth, that is what makes him 'unclean.' "
18:But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man 'unclean.'

Put that into context with I Corinthians 6:12.


baddabing baddaboom.

groundhog said:

You've lost me. What does that have to do with the OP?

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Oh, just so you know: There are laws against POSSESSING mj but NO laws against using it.

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how do you do that? Get someone else to hold the joint? Sounds more like justifacation.

We are not to become intoxicated. There are two reasons for this:
1. It leaves us vulnerable to misrepresenting Christ.
2. It leaves us vulnerable to making bad choices that aren't good for us or our bodies (God's temples).
3. The altered awareness can open us to spiritual influences that are not of God.
This kinda gives me a problem with things that give the mind an "altered state" or "altered awareness".

We are to obey the law. I'd like to know how you "smoke but don't possess" marijuana?

One other thing I've heard is that marijuana is a "gateway drug" that makes drug use more acceptable to the user. If this is so (I know, I know slippery slope arguement), that, too would be a problem.

If it were not illegal and was for a medical purpose, I wouldn't have a problem.

Rachel

Maynard Keenan said:

Considering that it is less destructive, less addictive, and less inhibitive than alcohol; and considering that alcohol is acceptable for a Christian to use: I consider weed an acceptable substance. However, I do not necessarily consider it acceptable to break the law.

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So as long as there is something worse that is legal, it is ok?

knightlight72 said:

So as long as there is something worse that is legal, it is ok?

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I don't think that can be extrapolated from Scripture, though I don't begrudge the poster of his opinion.

Rachel

Robinsegg said:

I don't think that can be extrapolated from Scripture, though I don't begrudge the poster of his opinion.

Rachel

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I think comparing something with worse effects makes something ok is not a strong argument, and was pointing out a flaw with it.

Lvythn said:

Luke 4:20

Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him.

That settles it.

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hey I love that platypus! I'm sitting next to the guy with the scroll. I think he is "bogarting"!!

Maynard Keenan said:

Considering that it is less destructive, less addictive, and less inhibitive than alcohol; and considering that alcohol is acceptable for a Christian to use: I consider weed an acceptable substance. However, I do not necessarily consider it acceptable to break the law.

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So, being a Christian in say Amsterdam, I could smoke all the ganja I can and I wouldn't break any laws nor the bible?

That would be ok then wouldn't it. Gotta love them Dutch.

SCORE!!!

knightlight72 said:

So as long as there is something worse that is legal, it is ok?

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You'll notice I didn't mention that because alcohol is LEGAL pot is ok. I said that alcohol is acceptable to use by the majority of Christians' standards, and by my own. By the same standards weed should be ok, but since it is legal i said it is probably not acceptable given that we are to obey the law. Geez, could you misinterpret me any worse?

Thanks Robinsegg for reminding me about intoxication, in the bible there are passages which speak against and for consumption of wine.
See here for verses.

This may seem to not gell at first, until you recognice that the word wine can mean, "something that invigorates or intoxicates"

Therefore if the word 'wine' in a few given contexts when it is stating something against it, is meaning "something that invigorates or intoxicates", then things such as recreational drugs which intoxicate the body may well be a sin.

Just a thought though.

rambot said:

True. But they burn incense in temples to help relax.

Oh, just so you know: There are laws against POSSESSING mj but NO laws against using it.

Another verse to consider (a couple from Matt. 15

11:What goes into a man's mouth does not make him 'unclean,' but what comes out of his mouth, that is what makes him 'unclean.' "
18:But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man 'unclean.'

Click to expand...

I'll put it into historical context for you, it was thought that what people ate and drank could stop them from going to the temples because they were not 'clean' enough to enter. The emphasis might be better put on unclean and clean than mouth. Matthew 15:1

Matthew 5:27-30 also states if a limb makes you sin, then you should cut it off, considering recreational drugs are mind altering and therefore behaviour altering. If they make you sin, should you not cut them from your life.

"If God intended us to smoke he would have set us on fire" - anon