Selfish Sin or Just a Habit

[jesussavedme]

Hi all...a little about myself first before I give you my situation. I'm 23, going to college and studying Psychology and hopefully horticulture...almost have my associates in Psych. I was saved and became a Christian in January. Since January I've stopped doing several things and started doing other things..I stopped looking at porn, quit hanging out with my friends as much, and cut back a ton on cursing and premarital sex with my g/f. I've started praying more, reading my bible a few times a week, started going to church and their youth group to become a youth leader and I'm still getting used to putting others first, but getting better.
I still have one habit that I cling to...I still smoke pot, I'm still a pothead...I might not do it every day, but I still toke up a few times a week when I get the chance. I believe that it is selfish of me to do this and I should stop, but then I think to myself, "it's not that selfish is it? I'm doing it to relax and unwind." But it is also true that my body is a temple and should be treated as such. I think I still enjoy smoking pot because of the good memories I have with it and the fact that I've never been in trouble with it..and it does make me feel good at the end of the day. Sometimes I think I'll enjoy it all my life especially when I'm older and have aches and pains that it can alleviate...I already have arthritis from knee surgery 5 years ago and it does make my knee feel better when I smoke up.
I am confused on what I should do. It doesn't control my life, but it's still something I purely enjoy. I have prayed about it a few times and I'm still a little unsure. Should I just give up this one habit completely? I know that I am new to being a follower of Jesus Christ but I still think of when Jesus said to follow him. To me that means abandoning all the selfish things you used to do for him and his mission for us, to spread the good news. I also know that I can't be a pot smokin' youth leader as well. But even if I do give it up, what if I want to let loose on my bday and smoke a joint or two with some friends? Would it still be okay? Man, I need to pray more about this little dilemma.
Your comments and suggestions are welcome...oh, can you please find some inspiring scripture or passages for me if you can? I just need a different viewpoint on this. God bless

 

[ZiSunka]

I don't know if pot smoking is selfish, but it is unhealthy and illegal, and Christians should try to avoid things that are unhealthy and illegal.

Continuing to smoke pot will keep you from doing a lot of good things with your life. Practically all jobs require drug testing these days. My nephew had to have a drug test to work at McDonald's sweeping floors. And pot stays in the system for months. So smoking means you won't be able to get a job in this day and age. Let alone being a youth leader. No parent is going to let you take the kids anywhere if you are a pot smoker. Too many risks.

Now for the worst news of all.

Two years ago, my 25 year old nephew died from smoking pot. He had smoked for like ten years, then out of the blue he had an allergic reaction and had a convulsion, stopped breathing and died, right in his own house, right in front of his friends, who then abandoned him and left without even calling 911, because they were all afraid they would go to jail. His mother found him when she got home from work. His father found out about it from the radio. No one had any idea Mike would ever become allergic to pot so suddenly like that, but doctors say it's getting to be more common.

So ask yourself if that's the way you would want to die. If it is, then keep smokin' all the pot you want. But I doubt if God thinks it's the best use of your life. Lay your life down for God, not for pot.

 

[oneiric]

Hey there and God bless.

I *used* to smoke pot. I say I used to because I have quit very recently (this is my 4th day without any ) Anyways, I didn't want to quit and I used many ways to justify my usage. But, pot started messing with my life (and I only started 2 months ago). I got a bad reputation and I spent a lot of my money on it (40 dollars for an eighth doesn't last me long at all.) For a while, I started doing it everyday. Missing a day for me was torture. It made things interesting. It actually made me temporarily happy. (I used weed as my antidepressant).

But, I started to feel very guilty, and I prayed about it. And I knew I that I couldn't quit on my own. So, I asked God for help. I started taking my real antidepressants and saying no when the opportunities arose. I don't know how long I can go without one. It's so tempting. It's something to do when bored. But, I don't know. I guess it just isn't fulfilling. I don't want to be known for it. I don't want to be nothing but a pothead. I wanted to get my priorities in order.

"I can do all things in Christ, who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13

 

[duster1az]

saved writes: "Your comments and suggestions are welcome...oh, can you please find some inspiring scripture or passages for me if you can? I just need a different viewpoint on this. God bless"

Here are two verses for your consideration.

"And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption" (Ephesians 4:30).

The Christian is indwelt by the Holy Spirit with the purpose that the divine life should dominate all his thoughts, actions, and feelings rather than sin. The presence of sin in the believer's life grieves Him. When sin is tolerated in the Christian's daily life, the Holy Spirit must turn from His ministry of working through the individual to one of pleading with him. Rest assured, the sin in the individual's life that grieves the Spirit will become a known issue at once. The burden placed on the heart by the particular sin will become evident. Example (Ps. 32:3-4). Reading your original post tells me He's working on you.

"Quench not the Spirit" (1 Thessalonians 5:19).

This command, though similar to the one above, is different. Whereas the Spirit is grieved when sin occurs and remains unconfessed, the Spirit is quenched when the Christian resists or rejects the will of God in his life. These two together indicate that which is foundational to communion and fellowship between the Spirit and the one He indwells.

So, the problem is one of accepting and doing the will of God and it's the central problem we all face in the spiritual life. It is surely one that we learn over many years of failure, but the initial act is surrendering to His will.

In Christ,
Tracey

 

[jesussavedme]

thank you all for your great replies, they are appreciated much

The good thing is that I haven't spent any money on the stuff in over a month. Friends will ask if I want any and I just come up with excuses like, " no money", "umm...drug test at work", or "It's too much of a hassle."

Now I need to quit accepting offers to smoke up when they arise. It's not really hard to say no to pot, it's just hard to walk away from it knowing it was offered to you from a generous friend. Sometimes sin can be cleverly disguised as I'm finding out.

Again, thank you..and thank you duster for the scriptures god bless you all for your kind words and scriptures.

 

[Shakuhachi]

I don't know if pot smoking is selfish, but it is unhealthy and illegal, and Christians should try to avoid things that are unhealthy and illegal.

Continuing to smoke pot will keep you from doing a lot of good things with your life. Practically all jobs require drug testing these days. My nephew had to have a drug test to work at McDonald's sweeping floors. And pot stays in the system for months. So smoking means you won't be able to get a job in this day and age. Let alone being a youth leader. No parent is going to let you take the kids anywhere if you are a pot smoker. Too many risks.

Wise words. I used to smoke and then meditate thinking it was some sort of sacred act or something. Let it go. Let Christ be your high. Sacrifice for him. you wont regret it.

 

[Allen2]

I am delighted you have become a Christian and seem to discern from the get-go that following Christ means learning how to say NO when appropriate and YES when called for.
Pot may have medicinal value and I'm not certain that it should be illegal in that regard. However, there are other effective meds and exercise regimens that can help a great deal--I speak from experience. God in His goodness has provided these meds and we can take them without guilt. Perhaps a visit to a rheumatologist would be in order; it's legal, too Al

 

[TexasBorn]

I am not saying smoking weed is a terrible act at all, in fact, I used to be a very frequent user. I have moved past many things though.

Your body should be a temple of God, that is the main reason you should not only consider it selfish, but also a sin, many sins are caused by selfishness anyways. it can also cause you to make poor decisions which are often sinful. 2 reasons why i feel it may keep you just one step closer from God.

 

[A. believer]

thank you all for your great replies, they are appreciated much

The good thing is that I haven't spent any money on the stuff in over a month. Friends will ask if I want any and I just come up with excuses like, " no money", "umm...drug test at work", or "It's too much of a hassle."

Now I need to quit accepting offers to smoke up when they arise. It's not really hard to say no to pot, it's just hard to walk away from it knowing it was offered to you from a generous friend. Sometimes sin can be cleverly disguised as I'm finding out.

Again, thank you..and thank you duster for the scriptures god bless you all for your kind words and scriptures.

It sounds as if the Holy Spirit is definitely working in you on this issue. There is one thing, though, that I think should be said. You said that you're studying to be a youth leader, but it sounds as if you're a fairly new Christian yourself, and you're still dealing with some issues from your former life. It's generally very unwise to step into a position of leadership when you, yourself, are not yet very mature in your faith. In a position of leadership, there is the potential both for great good and for great harm in the lives of those who look to you as a leader due to the kind of example you set. I hope that you'll seriously consider giving a good deal more time before becoming a youth leader. It takes time for your faith to be tried and purified so that it shines as gold.

I don't know what your church pastor and/or elders think about this, but if they're encouraging you to become a leader, it's probably because the need is there in your congregation, and they observe in you certain gifts that make them believe that you'd be well qualified to step into this position. Sometimes, though, church leaders can be a little overzealous when it comes to appointing leaders, and they can neglect due caution. You may make an excellent youth leader some day, but I really don't think it should be any time very soon. It's much easier to come to an anonymous internet forum and open up about the things we're struggling with than it is to openly discuss with those who are in a position of spiritual oversight over us. (And it's not only the pot-smoking I'm referring to, but your comment that you've "cut down" on having sex with your girlfriend. This leads me to believe that this is an area in which you're still struggling, as well. ) I wonder if you're quite so open with the people you worship with who will be able to hold you accountable for your behavior choices.

I hope you don't take this as a "judgmental" post. I've been a Christian for 18 years (since I was 24), and I know firsthand what it is to have more zeal than self-discipline and maturity. When I was a new Christian, some habitual sins and behavior patterns just seemed to disappear with virtually no effort on my part. Others, on the other hand, tended to recur for a couple of years--and not without serious and permanent consequences. God never removed His hand of blessing and loving discipline from my life, but I would like you and those within your sphere of influence to be spared from harm, if possible.