Shilby,
I guess I am the half wit then? If you followed the full thread you would have noticed the third post by me (in case you skipped it here it is):
I would suggest that it depends on why you are doing it. Remember that Paul said, 'everything is permissable but not everything is beneficial.' If anything takes a hold on your life and competes for Christ's attention then it should be either avoided or seriously considered. Paul also spoke about, 'moderation' in everything. This goes for everything, such as: alcohol, drugs, food, activities, etc. Anything can be abused in this life, not just drugs.
Now, there are laws in some countrys that state that you cannot possess or use marjuana. You need to reconcile these laws with your beliefs as well.
If you have considered the above and still feel that you are being reasonable about your decision, I would council you to still do research on the topic as well as keeping the activity in your personal prayers with God. Many people attach a stigma to marjuana consumption, especially in the last 50 years, but it really is a personal decision. If you read some of what Paul discussed in Corinthians about this topic, you will notice that some were being critical about alcohol consuption in the early church. Paul stated the above statements as well as an admonition to the accusers to back off. Alcohol is, as we know, a toxin that affects conscious thinking. But Jesus made water into wine and God has shown us that it is acceptable to partake it in moderation.
Personially, I think that an adult should make up his own mind on this issue, but there will always be those ready to jump in and dictate what is and is not acceoptable. I have also done some research and have noted that not one death has ever been attributed to marjuana, nor has any serious medical condition been identified. There has been suggestion that it is also a gateway drug, but current research identifies the far more addiciting subsances, alcohol and nicotine, as likely being the true 'gateway' drugs.
Here is a site of other like-minded Christians on the topic of marjuana. Many good articles.
Christians for Cannibas
I posted this in responce to Gu5t4Christ's question about whether smoking marjuana was bad for a Christian. I did not tell him it was ok for him, instead I listed many scriptural references and advised prayer on the subject for him to decide. I also mentioned that in the early church several situations took place in which fellow believers were critisizing and condemning other believers for how they worshipped, whether they drank alcohol, etc. Paul clearly states that EVERYTHING is permissible but that everything should be taken in moderation. He goes on to severly chastise those who would condemn a fellow brother over these issues. He compares them to Pharisees and warns them to smarten up... Amazing that 2000 years later the same stuff takes place. I was in a church several years that kicked out an elder because he had a glass of wine at an airport to wish his son off on a mission for several years. First they called him upfront and then publicially ridiculed and insulted him. I almost left Christianity that day. Fortunately, I have realized that there are many false doctrines and hypocrites in the church as Satan directs his largest attacks on the church. Some of the worst gossipers, slanderers, idolaters, hypocrites, etc. are in our churches today. It's enough to make a true believer cry. I will also assume that you did not read some of my other earlier posts in which i identified many addictive, mind-altering substances that are very very harmfull that the church as a whole takes for granted and gives no condemnation for, sugar being the worst as it kills more people worldwide now than war, murder, all drugs (legal and illegal), alcohol, tobacco, etc. combined! over 60% of United States adults are OBESE! and suffering from congestive heart failure, diabetes and a host of other complications due to excessive sugar consumption. Also, I previously stated, alcohol is a deadly toxin, lethal in drinkable ammounts, mind-altering and extremely addictive and yet... jesus made water into wine and the bible clearly states that this poisoness substance is acceptable to partake in in moderation. Cannibas on the other hand is not lethal, millions (perhaps billions) of people have smoked, eaten and drank it for 6000 years (summerians) with not one single report of death or mental damage ever!. The best medical reports by the DEA no less list the negative aspects of marjuana consupmtion as transitory (meaning they only last for ahwile and are not permanent). Let alone all the medical uses: Glaucoma, Arthritis, Aids, Cancer, Asthma, Multiple sculerosis, etc.... the list goes on and on. This plant grows on every continent in every climate, is used by over 700 animal species medicinially, and is the only known drug for which our brain is directly "MADE' to recieve. That's right, we have receptors in our brains from birth for recieving canniboloids that work for nothing else. Other drugs such as caffiene, cocaine, heroin, alcohol, etc, etc. modify neuro-transmitters and cause damage to achieve their affects. And yet, because some ill imformed president in the 40's was bought and paid for by special interest that wanted to make money on all the things that marjuana produced (pulp, insecticide, paper, cloth, petro-chemicals, etc.), we have seen 65+ years of prohibition and sometimes gross, and outright lies and propaganga about it. Interestingly enough, most early presidents actually grew it for smoking! Wasington included! The queen mum's personal doctor wrote a treatise on medicines and remedys of the day and under the heading of cannibas he stated, 'every housewife in britian knows and understand the efficacy and all the uses of this powerfull herb so I shall not even need to conduct an entry describing it.
With all that said, here is where I agree with you. This likely isn't the place for this discussion. As I stated, the thread started with a question and I tried to answer it as scripturally and spiritually as I was able... From that point on people posted a series of harsh recriminations and made a number of ill-informed judgements. To which I was even asked to reply to, Curiously, these same people, while asking me to reply, also stated that I shouldn't reply later on because this wasn't the place... and I was just mainly quoting SCRIPTURE!. SO i did some quick replys and stayed quiet till now. Another thing I agree with you is that it is not for everyone. In fact, many people in this life have difficulties with a variety of issues, alcohol not being the least. I would never council an alcoholic to drink. I would however have serious problems with someone stating that drinking alcohol is a sin because it causes some to stumble. That is not biblical nor is it even remotely Christ-Like. I would also suggest that some people have eating disorders, drink too much coffee, excercise too much, and on and on... Are these things inherintly sinful? Are they bad for everyone? NO! we are to take EVERYTHING in MODERATION... and we all have planks in our eyes. Everyone is a sinner and everyone says things that are wrong or they later regret. My main point, loosen up on the condemnation and try not to assume that everyone is like you. One believer may wish to still observe the Sabbath, another may eat food sacrificed to idols, another may have an occasional drink and still yet, another may have a toke now and then, You are NOT to tear these people down or call what they do SIN! instead, lift others up and if they are straying, or not being moderate in some area, gently show them, scripturally, the right way to be. I would like to emphasize 'scripturally', because all to often dogma and other false doctines are advanced in every church and we must be vigalent as we confront it. As we are in the last days, we will likely see many of the worlds churches disintigrate into Godless, Back-biting, Sinful and Lost congregations. Jesus warned us about this, especially in this passage:
2 Timothy 3:1-9
Godlessness in the Last days:
1But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God 5having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them. 6They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over weak-willed women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, 7always learning but never able to acknowledge the truth. 8Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so also these men oppose the truthmen of depraved minds, who, as far as the faith is concerned, are rejected. 9But they will not get very far because, as in the case of those men, their folly will be clear to everyone.
The suprising thing about this passage: It was directed at the churches! Jesus was addressing us and warning us what's going to happen to the churches! It's terrible what is coming and it's already started! Satan invades all of our hearts and all of the churches all the time. Jesus also said that even the elect will be deceived!
here are some more relavent passages that I posted here:
Genesis 1:29-31
29 Then God said, "I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. 30 And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds of the air and all the creatures that move on the groundeverything that has the breath of life in itI give every green plant for food." And it was so.
31 God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morningthe sixth day.
1 Timothy 3:8
Deacons, likewise, are to be men worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain.
1 Timothy 4:4
4For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving,
1 Timothy 5:23
Stop drinking only water, and use a little
wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses.
John 2:10
and said, "Everyone brings out the choice
wine first and then the cheaper
wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now."
Colossians 2:16
Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or
drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day.
1 Corinthians 10:23-26
The Believer's Freedom
23"Everything is permissible"but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible"but not everything is constructive. 24Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others. 25Eat anything sold in the meat market without raising questions of conscience, 26for, "The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it."
Romans 14:1-3
The Weak and the Strong
1Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters. 2One man's faith allows him to eat everything, but another man, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. 3The man who eats everything must not look down on him who does not, and the man who does not eat everything must not condemn the man who does, for God has accepted him.
Romans 14:13-14
13Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother's way. 14As one who is in the Lord Jesus, I am fully convinced that no food is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for him it is unclean.
I implore you to search your heart on this and bring up the matter to God in your prayers.. I do the same on all controversial issues like this as I am all to aware that I fail and get things wrong too. But I have searched the scriptures thouroughly on this matter and not only do I find no condemnation about ingesting marjuana I actually found that it is accepted... within moderation and other constraints listed for anything we eat or drink. Anything can cause us to stumble and everything is dangerous if not taken in moderation... water for instance is lethal in the 6 or 7 liter range. It upsets the eloctrolite balance of our blood and results in death. Several atheletes have died from drinking too much water, recently in the news even. Eating 10 raw potatoes can result in death. Cherry pits contain cycanide and eating enough can cause death. The main point of this entire post: Exactly what Paul said, 'everything is permissible but not everything is beneficial', and 'everything in moderation' and, 'it is not what goes into a man that is sin but that which comes out', and finnially Our Lords own words directed towards the pharisees of his day: 'ye brood of vipers', and his warning to the pharisees that it will go better for the people of sodom and gomorah on judgement day that it will for the pharisees. Please, please rethink your position. A large volume of data has been compiled on this subject disputing the many myths that have been perpetuated by the government and by extension, the church in the last 65+ years. It's high time (pun intended), that we as believers stop stooping to the level of unbelievers and critisize each other for that which is perfectly acceptable within the limits proscribed scripturally. I will also pray for you and others and am very gratefull for your prayers as well. God Bless you and may the Grace and Peace of our Lord, Jesus Christ be with you always.
Finially, I apologize if I came off to harsh, the post was lengthy and I went back and edited much but was concerned that I got A little too 'Paul-like' in my discussion... I am not an apostle lol... at least im pretty sure im not. Pauls words on this and other subjects are far, far superior to mine!
. And i was delievered from my addiction and i always thank him for that, its still left me emotionally scarred and its something im gonna have to deal with for a long time. But ive over come it, and it only gets easier. I was lucky.
