I've got the bad weed blues...

[drumbum]

Ok. this thread is coming from an ex-stoner. alaska legalized marijuana. not just medical marijuana, but all marijuana. that means you can buy, sell, smoke, and eat marijuana in all its various forms. when i had just quit smoking weed after i was saved i would tell people the reason i quit was b/c the bible says to "follow the laws of the land". but, if the laws of the land tell me it's ok to smoke marijuana, then i am not doing wrong. personally, i still would not smoke weed again because i definately feel as if it changes my reality and therefore it would affect my relationship with God. but, the above stated arguement, i think, is a valid one. and please, don't say that marijuana is detrimental to your health b/c as a former stoner/athlete i can say that it has little to no effect on your health (i've spent countless hours researching this subject). i'm not looking for an excuse to smoke, i'm just wondering what ya'lls opinion are on the subject.

p.s. if this thread belongs in another forum, please move it mods. thanks.

 

[fluffy_rainbow]

I found that I didn't like the lifestyle that came with being a stoner. Your attitude changes. Your circle of friends changes. It's a waste of money. Not to mention, it just makes you really lazy. You quit for reasons other than following the laws of the land. You quit because you felt conviction of the Holy Spirit. Stick with that and stay strong.

 

[Spicy McHaggis]

so what's the point of the thread? Just sharing some thoughts?

 

[fluffy_rainbow]

so what's the point of the thread? Just sharing some thoughts?

I think the point of the OP is he is looking for a reason other than following the laws of the land (since weed has been decriminalized in his state) to not smoke pot.

 

[peach16_4u]

Do you really need another reason other than it would impare your relationship with God. Your body is the temple of God and if you don't think God wants certian things in his temple then there's no reason to put them there. I am glad that you decided not to smoke any more and let me say that you have a great witnessing tool. I'm sure you know people that smoke weed and do that kind of thing. Let me encourage you to show them how your life has changed for the better and you don't need the weed anymore. May God bless you in your walk to know him more.

 

[Bradford]

Moved from the Friendship Court to Hamartiology.

 

[drumbum]

thanks for moving the thread.

i think you guys got the wrong impression. i'm never gonna smoke weed again. i just want to see what you guys think about this from a biblical standpoint. i used the verse "follow the laws of your land" to say that some might use that to justify smoking marijuana if it becomes legal. what are other verses that you guys can think of that give an arguement for or against legalized weed?

 

[drumbum]

so what's the point of the thread? Just sharing some thoughts?

kinda...i had this discussion with a youth pastor who was also an ex-stoner. we were discussing what would happen if weed was ever legalized in california. now that it's happened in alaska i don't this situation is far off in the future. i know there will christians that will try and justify smoking weed b/c they say it doesn't forbid it in the bible. so, i was just wondering what peoples opinions were on the matter.

 

[drumbum]

I am glad that you decided not to smoke any more and let me say that you have a great witnessing tool. I'm sure you know people that smoke weed and do that kind of thing. Let me encourage you to show them how your life has changed for the better and you don't need the weed anymore. May God bless you in your walk to know him more.

thanks.

that's another reason i want your guys' input. i know when i'm discussing this with my stoner friends this subject will come up. i just want to be able to back myself up biblically.

 

[drumbum]

i just realised that there was another thread a couple of threads down on this subject....oh well.

 

[Suzannah]

Hi there. Congratulations on your renewed commitment to your walk in Christ. That is a very wise thing indeed.

Also wise, is your decision to quit smoking pot. You asked for Biblical injunctions against or for such things. I can imagine that people will find many verses, including the one you referred to, to justify all manner of things, good and bad. This does not make them "right" in any event, because human beings are incapable of truly applying divine reason and justice, as God does.

That said, it is in my opinion, a rather simple issue here. Your question was, if I may paraphrase, what arguments are there, for or against, in the Bible regarding dope.
First of all, I submit that you will not find the word "dope" or "pot" or "cannibis" anywhere in the Bible (and if you do I have to wonder of the validity of the translation! LOL) This is because at the time the Bible was written, this simply wasn't an issue and therefore the context of your question has to change. Your question really should be "What are the Biblical arguments for or against, putting controversial substances into our bodies?"

At the time that the Bible was written, there wasn't any "stash" but wine and other fermented drinks were certainly available. Everywhere, we see injunctions against drunkeness and spending one's life in pursuit of drinking. I think we can all agree that alcoholism certainly is a disease and that it causes people to do and say all manner of things they should not do and say. Sobriety is preached everywhere, from the Old Testament to the New.

The Bible says that our bodies are "the temple of the Holy Spirit."
The Bible says that man is made "in God's image".
The Bible says that people are to be in close communion with God at all times, prayerful, spiritually awake, and vigilant in our lives. It encourages prayer, fasting and constant vigilance against sin and the snares of the Evil One and continuous repentence.
It says that we should not love anyone or anything, more than we love our God.
The Lord's prayer says "...lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil."

Although we do not see pot anywhere mentioned, it is very clear that putting a substance into your body for the sole purpose of getting "high" is an occasion to sin, (just as drinking is for other people), and that no substance should enjoy our attention and our desire more than God and the Holy Spirit. Common sense would tell us that although there is no specfic wording in the Bible that prohibits smoking dope, that such an activity, if it consumes us, if it calls to our soul and calls it away from God, then such a thing is in fact, quite evil. We are not called to satisfy appetites.

Nowhere in the Gospel does Jesus encourage indulgence...everywhere, he preaches repentence, and encourages fasting. Fasting is abstention from indulgence. Everywhere, Jesus preaches vigilance against the snares of the enemy. Common sense tells us that if, when we're all doped out, the devil comes to us, we would not be in the best shape to resist him or even "flee from the devil." Nowhere in the Gospel does Jesus say "Party on!" Instead He said, "Watch and pray, for you know not the hour..." "Take up your cross and follow Me".

So instead of putting pot, jet fuel, and all manner of other chemicals and silly things into our bodies, we should instead hear the words of Jesus of what we SHOULD put in our bodies: "I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world."

 

[drumbum]

ok, now, i understand your points, but what if someone were to say that they only did it in moderation, no different from drinking. for example, there is a thread in the men's forum that talks about smoking cigars every once in a while just as a form of relaxation. the general concensus was that it was OK as long as it wasn't a daily habit. some may so, "wait, but you're talking about getting HIGH", and to those people i say that there is no difference between getting high off of the THC and getting high off of tobacco. sure, they both feel different, but you are getting high in both cases. again, as a disclaimer, i am not advocating the consumption of marijuana, i'm just presenting the case as some friends might. i agree with everything that has been said personally, but others may not agree. and, they will bring up points like the one i brought up and other reasoning that will cause a debate. plus, i think it's a good subject to talk about.

 

[Suzannah]

ok, now, i understand your points, but what if someone were to say that they only did it in moderation, no different from drinking. for example, there is a thread in the men's forum that talks about smoking cigars every once in a while just as a form of relaxation. the general concensus was that it was OK as long as it wasn't a daily habit. some may so, "wait, but you're talking about getting HIGH", and to those people i say that there is no difference between getting high off of the THC and getting high off of tobacco. sure, they both feel different, but you are getting high in both cases. again, as a disclaimer, i am not advocating the consumption of marijuana, i'm just presenting the case as some friends might. i agree with everything that has been said personally, but others may not agree. and, they will bring up points like the one i brought up and other reasoning that will cause a debate. plus, i think it's a good subject to talk about.

"in moderation". Uh-huh. Right. And I have a question for them: What is "moderation" in God's eyes? Using this argument, is still attempting a self-justification. Nowhere in the Gospel does Jesus say "Indulge your whims, in moderation, of course." He preached fasting (abstention) and prayer.

All things, including cigars, chocolate, pot, whatever, can become idols....and once we start excusing ourselves, and justifying what we are doing, it has already become our idol. No one is perfect and all of us fall short in this regard. Personally, I should stop eating chocolate altogether.... To strive to become de-tached from such things, is the goal. No one, most of all, God expects perfection in this. We are human and we fall and we give in to our desires. But we have to keep striving.

 

[Trench777]

Fall head over heels in love with Jesus Christ and do whatever you want, would be my advice. As you (re: they) draw closer and closer to Christ, the desires of thier hearts will change. They will become more interested in pleasing God, than satiating thier flesh, just as you have experienced.

Check it:
PS 37:4 Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
PS 37:5 Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.

What this is telling us, is that when we fall head over heels in love with Christ, HE will put the desires in our hearts. "Give you the desires of your heart" is not the same as getting everything you want, of course....it is quite literally giving you desires. As we commit our ways to the Lord, He makes the desires He placed there come to pass.

This is the best advice I have ever received for combatting the desires of the flesh...letting God replace them with desires of the heart.

God bless you, brother, may you be as gentle as a dove and as subtle as a serpent when ministering to your friends.

T777

 

[Pilgrim 33]

Proverbs 23:7a, "For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he"

Romans 14:22b, "...Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth."

In those areas where God's delegated authority, man's law, has determined the use of a thing to be evil, then the law of conscience, being made aware of man's law, submits to God's authority, man's law; indeed, judges are referred to as ministers:

Romans 13:4b, "...But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil."

Romans 13:5, "Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake."

Romans 14:20b, "...All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence."

Romans 14:23, "And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin."

James 4:17, "Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin."

If you think something is evil and do it then for you it is sin.

 

[Pilgrim 33]

fasting (abstention) and prayer.[/b]

Luke 7:33-34, "...John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine; .......[but]...The Son of man is come eating and drinking;"

All things, including cigars, chocolate, pot, whatever, can become idols

and money, and possessions, and pride, and, quite frankly, just about everything else, too. The key is the heart and what occupies it.

....and once we start excusing ourselves, and justifying what we are doing, it has already become our idol. No one is perfect and all of us fall short in this regard. Personally, I should stop eating chocolate altogether.... To strive to become de-tached from such things, is the goal. No one, most of all, God expects perfection in this. We are human and we fall and we give in to our desires. But we have to keep striving.

Romans 14:1-3, "Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations. For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs. Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him."

 

[Pilgrim 33]

That was a very nice post, Suzannah, well thought out and presented. Thank you. There was, however, one statement of yours, and while it really doesn't have much to do with the thread itself, it does, nonetheless, deserve passing comment.

I think we can all agree that alcoholism certainly is a disease

I don't see this, or any form of substance abuse, lasciviousness, and the like labeled as a disease. True, society today pushes this concept as it does with so many other social issues, often fraught with ulterior motives. They prefer to see this sort of thing as an invasion of the body regardless how it is introduced and despite whether it was willing or not. The same could be said for lead poisoning from a 45 caliber bullet to the brain, demon spirits indwelling man and, even, death, itself, could be regarded as a disease. But where modern day society would excuse the result of improper attitudes, actions and choices as a disease the Scriptures, instead, see these improper attitudes, actions and choices as evil and their results as sin; and the result of sin being death. So, in short, what we are seeing happen here is a humanistic push in (further) opposition to Scriptural teachings.

 

[Pilgrim 33]

thanks.

that's another reason i want your guys' input. i know when i'm discussing this with my stoner friends this subject will come up. i just want to be able to back myself up biblically.

Idealism is a wonderful standard to measure against but realism rules.

 

[Keith Van Horn]

If what you're doing seems wrong to you, and you feel like it is not somthing God wants you to do and you do it anyway, that is a sin.