Doing drugs and being a christian

[hunger4u]

ok. so i know the bible says that our body is a temple for god and that we shouldn't do anything to harm it, but why is it such a bad thing to do drugs? I'm not talking about man-made drugs such as E tablets, but natural substance such as weed and magic mushroom.
there are far worst things that damages the body such as tobacco, alcohol, and some processed food, including some vegetables, and fruit that do so much more harm than smoking one joint of weed, and even some prescription drugs that are worst. why is it now that natural drugs are such a bad thing when people back in the days probably did smoke it?
(sorry for the bad grammar and sp)

 

[LWB]

Hunger4u, I'm not one for being overly superstitious regarding the activity of Satan and demons, but I'm absolutely convinced that spiritual agents are able to interact with and even inhabit people through the use of hallucinogenic substances.

You could experience a bad trip that is your worst nightmare come true, or worse, be convinced by the lies these hyperspatial entities seek to seduce you with.

If you have any love for Christ whatsoever, you will do well to avoid mind altering substances at all cost.

 

[Indebted]

I agree with LWB wholeheartedly. Both substances can open you up spiritually (some cultures use both as a means of closer commune with their 'gods', or demons). While marijuana may not be highly hallucinogenic compared to mushrooms or LSD, it still alters your state of mind and leaves you open for spiritual attacks (or influence).

I used to smoke marijuana on a near constant basis for many years before I discovered the grace of God or I was saved. In that time, I had many experiences involving demons, even a few out-of-body experiences.

Regularly, I would smoke and write or 'freestyle' to some music, even draw sometimes. I was always under the impression that the right kind of marijuana can bring out your creativity and allow it to cultivate better. Take in mind that I took various college-level English classes, so I was a decent writer anyway. But man, when I took a hit of some good smoke, it just flipped a switch in my mind and the creative juices flowed like never before.

What I failed to realize is that many of the times I started to utter words after I smoked, they were not my own. Yes, they came from my mouth, but the thoughts were not conceived by me. I was naturally a very loving and kind guy, but the things that proceeded out of my mouth were sinister, very dark. When I began to realize that alot of the things I were saying were misconstrued bible verses (might I add that it was only after I was 18 that I even picked up a bible to read) I knew something was going on. I figured I was opening myself up to some sinister entities (as I would hear them chant random nonsense, even say my name), but I let them stay for the time being. People liked what they were hearing, I liked the attention. It wasn't until after I was saved that I knew for certain what that was all about.

In some other instances not involving the freestyling, I can remember a few times where I actually left my body. All of a sudden, after I had smoked, I would be at the other end of the room or looking at myself from a short distance away. I chalked it up to the fact that it was some really strong weed.. but I believe it now to be some demonic trickery.

I could go on and on about my demonic experiences, but I thought I would add that the use of marijuana heightened the experiences, and were more frequent because of it.

Let me leave you with this...
1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.

And the ways that he can use to deceive you are as plentiful as the sky; he's had a lot of time to figure how to get to us. And well, drugs are one way.

 

[citizenthom]

Well that's an interesting take.

Two more down-to-earth answers:

1. Christians are to follow the law. As long as such drugs are illegal, Christians should not use them.

2. Even above and apart from the law, Christians are called to meet the "morally upright" standards of our societies. In our society, drug use rightly has a negative perception. It speaks ill of Christ and the church for a Christian to use them.

 

[Quasicentennial]

For several months during my late teens: 17-19 years, I used to smoke cigarettes and felt a calming effect all over my mind and body as if they prevent nervousness, fear and worry. Anti-smoking ads had people who suffered lung cancer and throat cancer, so just before I turned 20 years old, I decided to end smoking for good. To receive the same calming effect without drugs or smoking substances, my spiritual partner Jesus can give his fullness of his healing, plus together with everything I eat and drink healthwise such as my favorite fruit and vegetables: blueberries and coleslaw, and bottled mineral springwater instead of tapwater. I sleep peacefully for a few hours during night time and wake up in the morning feeling thirsty for a cup of coffee with strawberry jam instead of sugar. The jam in coffee can give a wonderful refreshing warm feeling - a light version to drugs or marijuana I thinkish.:*:.

 

[hunger4u]

i understand, and respect what you people have kindly said, i know that mushrooms can heighten one's awareness, but so does normal herbs such as rosemary, lavender, Cinnamon, and even some common plant found in an everyday garden, that can also have a healing effect on the mind, but no one seems to judge those, could it just be now in society, that what is judge is what cannot be profitable?

 

[Indebted]

The fact is that those herbs or what have you do not alter your perception of reality and affect your free will, decision-making, whatever.

Cocaine is natural. Opium is natural. Salvia divinorum is natural. Do you have the same view points towards those?

In another sense, there are things that are 'God made' or natural that are poisonous. For example, in much the same way that a poisonous mushroom is poisonous or even lethal to our bodies, a psychadellic mushroom can be deemed poisonous to our spirits and minds.

Also, you have to look at why you would want to do them anyway. Problems in your life? Stress? Family trouble? Lost a job? Bored? All of these things can solved by Jesus. As an active Christian, boredom shouldn't even be in your vocabulary in my opinion.

I used to have the same mindset though, whereas if it's natural, God must WANT us to use it somehow. Not in all cases, but some of those drugs have their uses medically. But I rather go straight to the major source of healing, Jesus.

Just my two cents.

 

[hunger4u]

ok, ok i was just curious. I've learnt to question all things, I'm sixteen and have never taken drugs, but i do see an appeal of learning about yourself in every realm and situation as it is the only real way to fight a temptation, because knowing oneself is the only way of understanding what you want, need from the holy spirit and god.

 

[aiki]

Just to add one more thing to the good thoughts already given:

Galatians 5:22-23
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

I underlined self-control because such control is greatly diminished when taking drugs. If a Christian is to be under the influence of anything, it is the Holy Spirit.



Selah.

 

[Kaitlin08]

Drugs are bad to the degree that they keep you from doing your best. For a lot of people, they sap away needed money, or they become an end in themselves, instead of just an aid to having fun or improving performance. Not very many people have the self-control, the knowledge, or the concern to use them responsibly. Some drugs can also trigger underlying mental illnesses, which wouldn't have come out without the drugs, and which no one knew were there before taking them; there are enough unknown dangers in the world to think carefully before altering one's own mind.

 

[freezerman2000]

Just to add one more thing to the good thoughts already given:

Galatians 5:22-23
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

I underlined self-control because such control is greatly diminished when taking drugs. If a Christian is to be under the influence of anything, it is the Holy Spirit.



Selah.

Self control can also mean knowing when enough is enough and not overdoing something

 

[SoldierOfSoul]

There is no reason for a Christian to want to use drugs. Yes, there will be a time in your life that you may need to take a drug for pain or some illness but that is completely different then using a mind altering substance to achieve a false demonic reality and a fleshly, worldly satisfaction.

Christians have the Holy Spirit and we do not need these false gods of drugs to help us achieve peace in this life. We have the peace of Christ, we are called to strengthen the inner man, to strengthen the Spirit. If we put our focus on God, we can have peace in this world because Jesus died to give it to us. Drug abuse is demonic, extremely addicting and a opening to evil spiritual realms and it should be avoided as much as any other sin.

 

[LWB]

I understand how enticing these substances can be. Anyone interested in philosophy, especially the work of Alan Watts and Aldous Huxley, would probably be seriously tempted if given the opportunity to experiement with mind altering compounds.

But these things promise the same thing the fruit of good and evil promised, and the human race has been suffering one mega bad trip since then.

I will wait until the Lord Jesus reveals such mysteries to me, if he so pleases to do so, just like I would wait until marriage before consumating love.

 

[wayfaring man]

Taking drugs to induce an altered state of consciousness is like trying to take a spiritual shortcut (which is full of snares and pitfalls), and it leads to losing more than gaining, for it is not The Path of Christ.

wm

 

[TheDag]

ok. so i know the bible says that our body is a temple for god and that we shouldn't do anything to harm it, but why is it such a bad thing to do drugs? I'm not talking about man-made drugs such as E tablets, but natural substance such as weed and magic mushroom.
there are far worst things that damages the body such as tobacco, alcohol, and some processed food, including some vegetables, and fruit that do so much more harm than smoking one joint of weed, and even some prescription drugs that are worst. why is it now that natural drugs are such a bad thing when people back in the days probably did smoke it?
(sorry for the bad grammar and sp)

You are making an unfair comparision here. You are saying alcohol is far worse than one joint. For that to be true you would have to be talking about getting drunk. A fairer comparison would be one alcoholic drink versus one joint. In my experience one joint has far more impact than one drink.

As mentioned before drugs are illegal in most countries and therefore wrong in God's eyes as we are to obey earthly authorities. I personally believe it is wrong not to be in control of yourself and the same amount of drugs can have very different results. One just can't be sure. They also interact with other things in our system. I agree wholeheartedly that tobacco is wrong as well however one or two drinks a night is fine just getting drunk is wrong.