If POT wasnt ILLEGAL would it be bad

[Moraiah]

Moraiah,

I agree that social interaction has shrunk significantly, a lot if not most social activity has moved from real life to being done over the internet.

And I do agree that in some cases this can lead to loneliness.

I hear all that.

But, God wouldn't want us to turn to drugs, they don't solve our problems. They might make you forget about them for a while but as Life2Christ said, if your problem is lack of money then it just adds to it. I am of course missing out the damage this does to your health.

If you feel you need that social aspect of your life then one should aim to find people who are also looking for people to do things with. There are people at Church, people even advertise in the paper they are looking for friendship etc.

Doing drugs is never the answer.

And if your at home bored all day, then why find something to do, there is always something.

I agree in part. I have no problem with people smoking pot or drinking alcohol if it's legal where they are and if it is not used as an escape, it's not going to hurt your body to occasionally drink with your friends or smoke weed, both have shown to be quite harmless when not used excessively. So as far as this topic goes I'm in agreement with you, turning to drugs or alcohol as a way to escape your problems is a clear sign that you need to put it down immediately and seek out help.

Why I said I agree in part is because I'm not sure if you're including prescription meds when you say you should never turn to drugs (I'm assuming you weren't but I thought I'd mention it anyways just to be sure).

 

[janman345]

janman345,

I don't want to fall out with you over this. Just so as you know I can get passionate in how I argue a point.

So I hope I haven't upset you in anyway.

Moving on though...



This shouldn't be cauing you stress. This is coveting which is one of the 10 commandments.

Exodus 20:17
"You shall not covet your neighbor's house. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor."

We should be content with what we have:

Hewbrews 13:5
Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."

The reason I stated this scripture:

Proverbs 3:1
My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, for they will prolong your life many years and bring you prosperity.
Was to show you that God can extent our lives if we live according to his will. So stress isn't much a problem with how long we live because God can extend it.

On top of this, someone who is financially poor can prosper if they simply do what God would have them do.

Thats true, I guess I would just have a hard time berating someone for very sparing pot use as long as they are working to correct their situation at the same time. Kind of like a 18 year old male viewing porn, its like are you really gong to berate them when they are at the peak of puberty espeically when porn is a debatable topic and is not specificly mentioned in the bible (just like pot).

 

[fm107]

I agree in part. I have no problem with people smoking pot or drinking alcohol if it's legal where they are and if it is not used as an escape, it's not going to hurt your body to occasionally drink with your friends or smoke weed, both have shown to be quite harmless when not used excessively. So as far as this topic goes I'm in agreement with you, turning to drugs or alcohol as a way to escape your problems is a clear sign that you need to put it down immediately and seek out help.

Why I said I agree in part is because I'm not sure if you're including prescription meds when you say you should never turn to drugs (I'm assuming you weren't but I thought I'd mention it anyways just to be sure).

At the end of the day all drugs are not good for you and all have side effects including prescription drugs.

But no, we need to take some drugs in order to battle ill health, diseases etc. It would be silly not to use a drug which can help heal us because God we have the knowledge of how to cure certain illnesses.

I take an asthma pump when I do most sports.


I feel there is a diving line between taking drugs because you want to and taking drugs because you genuinely need.

 

[janman345]

At the end of the day all drugs are not good for you and all have side effects including prescription drugs.

But no, we need to take some drugs in order to battle ill health, diseases etc. It would be silly not to use a drug which can help heal us because God we have the knowledge of how to cure certain illnesses.

I take an asthma pump when I do most sports.


I feel there is a diving line between taking drugs because you want to and taking drugs because you genuinely need.

The thing is, even if you are taking it because you want to is it really a sin. not all things are benificial but that does not make them sin.

 

[TheDag]

So if I live in Holland does that mean Its OK to smoke weed from a Christian perspective?

Im wanting views and also yes fully admit trying to justify me smoking it. In short I gave it up 6 years ago when Jesus touched my life and I was radically transformed. Of all the drugs & alcohol, weed was the hardest as its around me with family and friends all the time. Im the only Christian amoung my family and friends. Anyway, 6 years on and I've started smoking it again. I believe I have a great reletionship with God and this hasnt stopped me seeking and praying. Although many would agrue if I did have a reletionship then WHY did I go back to smoking.

Im really keen to hear from Christians who have smoked weed, given up, and never looked back. Is it possible? I certainly thought so until 5 months ago when depression hit hard and I turned to weed to cope. Depression of being a single mum for 14 years (my sons entire life) the start of pre-teens and not having alot of support. I cant go to my church as I feel to ashamed. Hence why I joined this forum. And I cant go to my family & friends as they are were I used to be and there answer to everything is get high, get drunk....... AND yes I have been taking it to God but man its soo hard to give up.

Thank you for reading

YouTube - Ben: Diary Of A Heroin Addict 01/05

warning clip does not hide anything and may offend

There are five altogether. This guy started on drugs before he was ten. He died at the age of 32. He started on cannabis. I am aware that this does not mean all cannabis users will end up like this however there is the chance.
What I would be looking at is does smoking pot cause problems? My understanding is that it can lead to mental health issues and therefore is not right in Gods eyes as you are not taking care of the temple that your body is.

However having only smoked pot a few times I can understand how people get addicted. It is after all a drug and can lead to addiction.

I will also say that I do not fit the profile of the person you are looking for to respond. I also do not know what it is like to be in a situation other than it is tough. I still won't say go for it though. I wish you all the best.

Sorry if I repeated stuff as I did not read the entire thread like I normally would before posting

 

[fm107]

Thats true, I guess I would just have a hard time berating someone for very sparing pot use as long as they are working to correct their situation at the same time. Kind of like a 18 year old male viewing porn, its like are you really gong to berate them when they are at the peak of puberty espeically when porn is a debatable topic and is not specificly mentioned in the bible (just like pot).

I feel like your changing your argument, from someone who wants to use it to relive stress to an addict who is trying to cut down on it.

Well I do think porn is a sin, I class that as sexual immorality.

1 Corinthians 6:18
Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body.

Romans 6:13
Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness.

The thing is, it doesn't matter how tempted we are to do something, it is still our failing at the end of the day.

1 Corinthians 10:13
No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

 

[janman345]

I feel like your changing your argument, from someone who wants to use it to relive stress to an addict who is trying to cut down on it.

Well I do think porn is a sin, I class that as sexual immorality.

1 Corinthians 6:18
Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body.

Romans 6:13
Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness.

The thing is, it doesn't matter how tempted we are to do something, it is still our failing at the end of the day.

1 Corinthians 10:13
No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

Thats because im not arguing im discussing, I understand many many members on CF have a very hard time with that and it seems no matter what the topic or subforum someone manages to turn it into a nasty arguement which is unfortunate.

As far as sexual immorality its very important to break down what falls into that catagory which is mentioned else where in the bible (beastiality, sleeping with relatives, etc) porn is never mentioned, this is where alot of christians and most churchs like to invent definitions of words. If someone feels its a sin for them thats fine but its not a universal sin like murder or adultry. I agree pot could break down your body if done in excess and it could be considered a sin, just like over eating or getting drunk, what I was saying im not going to berate someone over taking a hit to ease the pain of a tough situation so long as they are not going over board.

 

[wayfaring man]

So if I live in Holland does that mean Its OK to smoke weed from a Christian perspective?

Im wanting views and also yes fully admit trying to justify me smoking it. In short I gave it up 6 years ago when Jesus touched my life and I was radically transformed. Of all the drugs & alcohol, weed was the hardest as its around me with family and friends all the time. Im the only Christian amoung my family and friends. Anyway, 6 years on and I've started smoking it again. I believe I have a great reletionship with God and this hasnt stopped me seeking and praying. Although many would agrue if I did have a reletionship then WHY did I go back to smoking.

Im really keen to hear from Christians who have smoked weed, given up, and never looked back. Is it possible? I certainly thought so until 5 months ago when depression hit hard and I turned to weed to cope. Depression of being a single mum for 14 years (my sons entire life) the start of pre-teens and not having alot of support. I cant go to my church as I feel to ashamed. Hence why I joined this forum. And I cant go to my family & friends as they are were I used to be and there answer to everything is get high, get drunk....... AND yes I have been taking it to God but man its soo hard to give up.

Thank you for reading

Your answer is within -

I gave it up 6 years ago when Jesus touched my life and I was radically transformed.

Why else would The Lord's touch release you from feeling the need to use pot , unless His Will is that you be free from such an addictive / unhealthful / mind altering substance ?!!

I smoked pot for a few years - long time ago ... same scenario - when The Lord took center stage - pot was left behind .

Also like you , I did get sucked back in for a few months once ( also long ago ) , because of other difficulties which I wasn't dealing with well ... and that made it even worse - cause now I knew what it had been like to be free !

And it was harder to quit , because I'd smoke till being burned out , then quit for a while ... but the a little pot seemed to offer a "fresh high" , but it wasn't long until it was more burn out than anything again ... and that's the seductive / destructive nature of pot ( and other addictive drugs ) which seem to offer euphoria at first , but before long they make it hard to even feel sane or normal . This is the sorcery / pharmakeia connection -

G5331
φαρμακεία
pharmakeia
far-mak-i'-ah
From G5332; medication (“pharmacy”), that is, (by extension) magic (literal or figurative): - sorcery, witchcraft.

[ In Revelation 9:21 + 18:23 the English word " sorceries" is translated from the Greek word pharmakeia .

Having a surge in endorphins produce a type of a " high " is meant to be the result of our conscience / spirit rejoicing in being apart of something good , something godly, and this usually involves some discipline , effort , sacrifice , diligence , patience , perseverance , etc. But with psychoactive drugs , it's as if Satan is saying to us - Ah , you don't have to go through all that to feel good - just take a hit of this , or pop a pill of that , and you'll feel great without all that prolonged fuss and involvement - but at the end of the day the substantial reasons for feeling good ( wherein we learn faith , patience and perseverance ) are still exuding joy and consolation ; but the devil's shortcuts have all turned out to be dead ends , which not only have no lasting benefit , but which insidiously cripple our ability to experience the lasting joy , by supplanting the methodology of the pursuit of Christ centered love , peace + joy , with an unhealthy dependency upon substances which distract and detour in other directions .

No matter how bad things are - adding an addictive substance to the mix , will not help , but will hurt in the long run - Sure if you've got a horrible toothache , maybe you take something for the pain ( Oil of clove works good ) , but one doesn't stick with that , or use it as an excuse to keep sucking on clove buds ... you either fix the tooth or yank it out .

Hope and pray The Wisdom & Strength of The Lord Prevails in your life !

wm

 

[janman345]

I guess instead of smoking you could just force the issue of having a nice quite place to sleep for like 12 hrs even if its at the expense of the kids, sometimes you just have to have some me time. So I guess pot is not really the answer

 

[L2becomeCL]

Thank you all so much for your input. Very, very encouraging and very, very thought provoking. At the end of the day I know Im using marijuna to medicate myself. Its my antidepressant. I know it will bring me ONLY momentary pleasure and ONLY a measure of happiness......I know It wont ever bring me the lasting joy and freedom that only God will bring. And thats what sucks the most about it. Is the awareness and "the knowing".

What I have taken from the replies is to set my heart on the lord and not on my situation. I know thats not going to be easy. But God has already started the ball rolling - I just started attending a Christian support group for depressed, stressed out working single mums using drugs to cope. In that order.
Yesterday I arrived at the group very, very, very HIGH and was told that it would be best for all if I not come in and to leave. I was soooo hurt and gut wrenched, this group was my support, my lifeline. I got in my car, got onto the motorway, wound down my window and let it all fly away. Yes the weed. I believe (now Im straight) that God wanted me to depend on him to get thru this, not depend on the group like I was. Like it says in bible "cast your burdens upon the lord and he will sustain you". So day one down (and one day at a time) and I'm letting God into the stress & depression. Hard? Absolutely. But as many of you have said. God will never leave nor forsake me.

Thank you all again and God Bless you all.

 

[TheDag]

Thank you all so much for your input. Very, very encouraging and very, very thought provoking. At the end of the day I know Im using marijuna to medicate myself. Its my antidepressant. I know it will bring me ONLY momentary pleasure and ONLY a measure of happiness......I know It wont ever bring me the lasting joy and freedom that only God will bring. And thats what sucks the most about it. Is the awareness and "the knowing".

Is there anything stopping you from using medications? Is there some reason you don't want to take them?

What I have taken from the replies is to set my heart on the lord and not on my situation. I know thats not going to be easy. But God has already started the ball rolling - I just started attending a Christian support group for depressed, stressed out working single mums using drugs to cope. In that order.
Yesterday I arrived at the group very, very, very HIGH and was told that it would be best for all if I not come in and to leave. I was soooo hurt and gut wrenched, this group was my support, my lifeline. I got in my car, got onto the motorway, wound down my window and let it all fly away. Yes the weed. I believe (now Im straight) that God wanted me to depend on him to get thru this, not depend on the group like I was. Like it says in bible "cast your burdens upon the lord and he will sustain you". So day one down (and one day at a time) and I'm letting God into the stress & depression. Hard? Absolutely. But as many of you have said. God will never leave nor forsake me.

Thank you all again and God Bless you all.

I'm not sure that I would take the same message from being asked not to go into the group. There would be others in the group who are struggling and if they saw you in that state they may be tempted to slide. It most likely would just be them protecting the members. When my wife and I got together she did not want me drinking alcohol due to her struggles. Now she is fine with the thought but I don't want her drinking in front of me as I might be tempted (alcohol clashes with my medication)

Certainly lean on God for support and he will help you through with his strength. Just be careful before shutting of sources that God might be putting there to help you.

 

[r035198x]

Idon't blame the people in that group too.
I doubt that they could have made a lot of progress with you if you were 'very, very, very HIGH'.

 

[MoNiCa4316]

So if I live in Holland does that mean Its OK to smoke weed from a Christian perspective?

I think from a Christian perspective it's always wrong to smoke marijuana, or any drug, for the same reason why it's wrong to get drunk... St Paul said, "don't be drunk of wine, but be filled with the Holy Spirit". Getting drunk, high, etc, - goes against virtue, and self control... it's sinful.

 

[If Not For Grace]

I think Paul said it best "all things are lawful for me, but not all things are beneficial"

the litmus test is: Can or it is it likely that good can come from it? Is my doing it
likely to cause someone else to go down a hard road? Do I have to justify it to feel good about doing it?

Now what do you think?