Why is weed a sin

[holo]

Love covers as in "overlooks insult", but it doesn't cover it from the eyes of God!

No need. God has already thrown it into the sea of oblivion, he will remember it no more, and has removed it as far from you as the east is from the west. You can decide to remember it all you want, but God doesn't.

 

[holo]

Anyone who refuses to have an accountabilty partner is not willing to shed the offending behaviour.

Who has decided that everybody shall have an accountability pratner? Jesus?

One who desires to be free will actually jump at the opportunity given him to have a person of Godly integrity to help him.

Sure. And one who knows that the law is the power OF sin, not AGAINST it, and who knows that he is already made righteous by faith in God, will stay clear of trying to live according to some law, using his friends as police officers.

 

[Cris413]

Who has decided that everybody shall have an accountability pratner? Jesus?

Sure. And one who knows that the law is the power OF sin, not AGAINST it, and who knows that he is already made righteous by faith in God, will stay clear of trying to live according to some law, using his friends as police officers.

Please excuse my jumping in here...but I don't think that's the purpose..."policing" one another...but rather encouraging one and another and being there for a brother or sister who is in need...or may be having some struggles...

Paul had no trouble with admonishment and encouragement...and he certainly was generous with both....

I don't think it's like some Scriptural "requirement" to have an accountability partner...but there is certainly nothing wrong with it...and perhaps a bit of wisdom to it as well....Solomon seemed to think hanging out with another brother or sister regularly was a pretty good idea...someone to pick us up should we fall down....keep us warm if we grow cold...I think the applications work both physically and spiritually...

 

[Floatingaxe]

Who has decided that everybody shall have an accountability pratner? Jesus?

A person struggling with freedom in an area and seeking help will often be offered an accountability partner---by people who understand its merit. It is good leadership that offers it.

Sure. And one who knows that the law is the power OF sin, not AGAINST it, and who knows that he is already made righteous by faith in God, will stay clear of trying to live according to some law, using his friends as police officers.

No one is pushing the law on anyone. We are called to righteous living---people do struggle you know. Rose-coloured glasses don't become people who deny it.

 

[holo]

A person struggling with freedom in an area and seeking help will often be offered an accountability partner---by people who understand its merit. It is good leadership that offers it.

My point is that God has a better way. Humans can teach you techniques to deal with your addiction. God can make a new person of you.

Take the AA approach, for instance. Yes, they help thousands of people, but they don't set anyone free from their addiction. On the contrary, much of their basis is that you identify yourself as an addict - for the rest of your life. So you're still under the curse, you just learn some way to deal with it.

It's not bad, it's the best men can offer. But God offers deliverance - and you simply can't help people get free if you keep telling them they're in bondage. You have to start treating them as free people. It goes against your logic and probably your experience as well, it's scandalous, it's unfair - but it's grace, and grace is the only way for a person to get FREE.

I know of people who make vows to show their internet browser history to each other, in an attempt to stop looking at porn. How sad is that? The intentions are good, but it only keeps them in bondage. It's like when all these christians repeat every day that "I'm a sinner" - it's a LIE! They're not sinners, they're righteous, they're holy, they're spotless. "So why do they keep sinning" you may ask. Because they keep telling themselves that they ARE sinners. It's a vicious cycle. Instead of waking up every day and saying "hi, I'm holo and I'm an addict" I can agree with God and say "I'm righteous and holy, set apart, sanctified by God himself, saved by faith, approvable to the Lord through Christ, I am clothed in him, God finds no fault in me, my sins are as far from me as the east is from the west, I'm pure and clean, I'm truly free, I have nothing to be ashamed of, I'm a child of God, I'm every bit as righteous as Christ, because CHRIST IS MY RIGHTEOUSNESS. Who can accuse me?"

THAT's what people need to do, that's what they need to learn, what they need to hear, it's how people need to see themselves. Until they do, they will remain slaves to sin and every form of addiction.

 

[kellyc]

it sounds to me holo like you are using grace as an excuse to continue in sin. it occurs to me that God's plan for some addicts is to recover with the help of others, which is a valid plan. it's wrong to say that we are not sinners, the bible says 'not one is righteous, NO NOT ONE', which includes you and me. i think i do understand what you are getting at though, i know that addicts suffer excruciating guilt. i am just not sure that what worked for you would work for someone else.

 

[Cassidy]

My point is that God has a better way. Humans can teach you techniques to deal with your addiction. God can make a new person of you.

Take the AA approach, for instance. Yes, they help thousands of people, but they don't set anyone free from their addiction. On the contrary, much of their basis is that you identify yourself as an addict - for the rest of your life. So you're still under the curse, you just learn some way to deal with it.

It's not bad, it's the best men can offer. But God offers deliverance - and you simply can't help people get free if you keep telling them they're in bondage. You have to start treating them as free people. It goes against your logic and probably your experience as well, it's scandalous, it's unfair - but it's grace, and grace is the only way for a person to get FREE.

I know of people who make vows to show their internet browser history to each other, in an attempt to stop looking at porn. How sad is that? The intentions are good, but it only keeps them in bondage. It's like when all these christians repeat every day that "I'm a sinner" - it's a LIE! They're not sinners, they're righteous, they're holy, they're spotless. "So why do they keep sinning" you may ask. Because they keep telling themselves that they ARE sinners. It's a vicious cycle. Instead of waking up every day and saying "hi, I'm holo and I'm an addict" I can agree with God and say "I'm righteous and holy, set apart, sanctified by God himself, saved by faith, approvable to the Lord through Christ, I am clothed in him, God finds no fault in me, my sins are as far from me as the east is from the west, I'm pure and clean, I'm truly free, I have nothing to be ashamed of, I'm a child of God, I'm every bit as righteous as Christ, because CHRIST IS MY RIGHTEOUSNESS. Who can accuse me?"

THAT's what people need to do, that's what they need to learn, what they need to hear, it's how people need to see themselves. Until they do, they will remain slaves to sin and every form of addiction.

That's one of the best posts I've seen in a long time. Full of Godly truths and you obviously speak those out in your life! You obviously know who you are in Christ and it shows! You walk in freedom - not defeat! And this is something that a lot of Christians take most of their lives to master!

Praise the Lord!

 

[Cassidy]

it sounds to me holo like you are using grace as an excuse to continue in sin. it occurs to me that God's plan for some addicts is to recover with the help of others, which is a valid plan. it's wrong to say that we are not sinners, the bible says 'not one is righteous, NO NOT ONE', which includes you and me. i think i do understand what you are getting at though, i know that addicts suffer excruciating guilt. i am just not sure that what worked for you would work for someone else.

I think that you miss his point! He uses grace as a reason not to sin...he sees himself the way God sees him...in Christ - made righteous in Christ. You're right teh bible does say that none is righteous....but that's from man's perspective. But from God's percpective we are all wash clean by the blood of the lamb...having no spot or blemish in Christ.

Having God work on an addict instead of mere mortals will work for everyone! Just not everyone is given that chance because they are continually being told to be accountable to other mere mortals...who sin also. Holo isn't talking about encouragement here...he's talking about accountability complete with judgements and negative mantras..."Oh you are in bondage to drugs...you need this or that....Oh you are an addict well you need to do this or that" <---- this poses a problem with people who should be living the truth that sets them free...Christ!

 

[holo]

it sounds to me holo like you are using grace as an excuse to continue in sin.

What sin(s) does it sound like I'm continuing in?

 

[holo]

it occurs to me that God's plan for some addicts is to recover with the help of others, which is a valid plan.

And I agree wholeheartedly with that. I just don't think the help from others should involve judgment or "accountability," but rather grace, grace and more grace. Advice, conversations, therapy, whatever people may need. But not a feeling of guilt toward God or anybody else.

it's wrong to say that we are not sinners, the bible says 'not one is righteous, NO NOT ONE', which includes you and me.

No, that only includes unrighteous people, i.e. unsaved people. Not being a sinner is pretty much what salvation IS. It's a rebirth, it's a miracle, it's about who God says you are. If Christ is your righteousness, how can you possibly be a sinner? You can't, and that's extremely important to understand. As long as you see yourself as a sinner, you will continue to sin, because you don't even believe that you can't not sin.

The bible refers to the believer as a saint, a righteous person, a child of God, born again, with a new spirit, and so forth. It never calls believers sinners.

i think i do understand what you are getting at though, i know that addicts suffer excruciating guilt. i am just not sure that what worked for you would work for someone else.

I have seen people "abuse grace," using it as an excuse to be total jerks without even trying to change. But these are people who didn't understand their need for grace to begin with; their problem isn't that they hurt others, their problem is just that sometimes they get caught doing it, and in christian circles, grace can be a convenient excuse. There are some people like this around. But then there are those of us who actually need grace, and understand that we do. And we get to experience that the grace of God is actually sufficient, just like the bible says. It quotes God; "My grace is sufficient for you." For a believer, grace isn't just being forgiven whenever you didn't measure up. It's not just a safety net for when you fall. It's the very ground you stand on, it's the air you breathe, it's the reason you can exist at all. It's enough. The biggest problem is that people think God's grace ISN'T sufficient for us, that we need to add a heap of morality as well (and lots of other stuff, as if God needs our help).

 

[Floatingaxe]

No need. God has already thrown it into the sea of oblivion, he will remember it no more, and has removed it as far from you as the east is from the west. You can decide to remember it all you want, but God doesn't.

The point was regarding someone sinning against another...

 

[Floatingaxe]

My point is that God has a better way. Humans can teach you techniques to deal with your addiction. God can make a new person of you.

God's way includes a brother helping another brother in the faith. That's part of the purpose of the Church!

It's not bad, it's the best men can offer. But God offers deliverance - and you simply can't help people get free if you keep telling them they're in bondage. You have to start treating them as free people. It goes against your logic and probably your experience as well, it's scandalous, it's unfair - but it's grace, and grace is the only way for a person to get FREE.

God often uses wise ones to discern the bondage in another. He uses men to deliver them!

I know of people who make vows to show their internet browser history to each other, in an attempt to stop looking at porn. How sad is that? The intentions are good, but it only keeps them in bondage. It's like when all these christians repeat every day that "I'm a sinner" - it's a LIE! They're not sinners, they're righteous, they're holy, they're spotless. "So why do they keep sinning" you may ask. Because they keep telling themselves that they ARE sinners. It's a vicious cycle. Instead of waking up every day and saying "hi, I'm holo and I'm an addict" I can agree with God and say "I'm righteous and holy, set apart, sanctified by God himself, saved by faith, approvable to the Lord through Christ, I am clothed in him, God finds no fault in me, my sins are as far from me as the east is from the west, I'm pure and clean, I'm truly free, I have nothing to be ashamed of, I'm a child of God, I'm every bit as righteous as Christ, because CHRIST IS MY RIGHTEOUSNESS. Who can accuse me?"

THAT's what people need to do, that's what they need to learn, what they need to hear, it's how people need to see themselves. Until they do, they will remain slaves to sin and every form of addiction.

Righteous people sin, holo. That's reality. Welcome to it. If a person continues to partake in sin, smoking pot, taking drugs illegally, living in sin instead of marrying, one is thumbing one's nose at God, putting on unrighteousness and taking advantage of grace. It's HYPOCRISY.

 

[Floatingaxe]

And I agree wholeheartedly with that. I just don't think the help from others should involve judgment or "accountability," but rather grace, grace and more grace. Advice, conversations, therapy, whatever people may need. But not a feeling of guilt toward God or anybody else.

Instead of spouting off about accountability partners, it would be a good idea to look into it first. There is no guilt being placed on the shoulders of hurting, struggling people by loving brothers and sisters who desire to encourage and help someone out of a struggle. Wjast do you think they do? They offer grace! They offer advice, have meaningful conversations, and encourage in the Lord--just what all brothers and sisters in Christ are SUPPOSED to be doing!

Any guilt is coming from your misperception.

 

[holo]

God's way includes a brother helping another brother in the faith. That's part of the purpose of the Church!

Absolutely.

God often uses wise ones to discern the bondage in another. He uses men to deliver them!

Yes, but deliverance doesn't come through condemnation. Let God instill a guilty conscience in people if he wants to. He's capable of doing that without our help. Jesus didn't have to condemn people to make them want to change. On the contrary, it was the fact that he didn't condemn them that allowed them to change. Like the prostitute woman or the tax collector who had dinner with him.

But he definitely had a word or two for the self righteous people, who thought they had the authority to condemn others...

Righteous people sin, holo. That's reality.

I'll never deny that.

If a person continues to partake in sin, smoking pot, taking drugs illegally, living in sin instead of marrying, one is thumbing one's nose at God, putting on unrighteousness and taking advantage of grace. It's HYPOCRISY.

Not necessarily. In my case it certainly wasn't. The reason I kept doing drugs wasn't because I thought it was OK. It's not even because I wanted to. But I thought I had to, because people, especially christians, had told me all my life that if you use drugs, you're an addict, and addicts want to abuse drugs. Just like they had been telling me I was a sinner. No wonder I sinned! I didn't want to, but I believed it was who I was! It had nothing to do with taking advantage of grace, it was just painful. And a complete waste of life and time.

I acted like a slave because people like you made me believe I was one. And to make matters worse, then they came and accused me of being a hypocrite! Thanks for nothing...

I'm glad I stopped listening to you and started believing in grace. Grace produces change, not the other way around. Don't accuse people of taking advantage of grace until you've actually given some. Or a lot, which is what most people need. Often for an extended period of time. Don't assume that God is as impatient as you.

 

[holo]

Instead of spouting off about accountability partners, it would be a good idea to look into it first. There is no guilt being placed on the shoulders of hurting, struggling people by loving brothers and sisters who desire to encourage and help someone out of a struggle. Wjast do you think they do? They offer grace! They offer advice, have meaningful conversations, and encourage in the Lord--just what all brothers and sisters in Christ are SUPPOSED to be doing!

I'm all for that. But the term "accountability partner" doesn't sound like that to me. I hope I've gotten it all wrong! But the stories I've heard, like the one about the porn addiction and internet browser history, is the kind of "accountability" I'm very much against.

But we probably agree more than we disagree here, we just put different meanings in the same terms.

Any guilt is coming from your misperception.

Guilt? Don't have any

 

[Floatingaxe]

Nobody here is promoting condemnation, holo! That's just you being argumentative, methinks.

 

[Floatingaxe]

I acted like a slave because people like you made me believe I was one. And to make matters worse, then they came and accused me of being a hypocrite! Thanks for nothing...

I'm glad I stopped listening to you and started believing in grace. Grace produces change, not the other way around. Don't accuse people of taking advantage of grace until you've actually given some. Or a lot, which is what most people need. Often for an extended period of time. Don't assume that God is as impatient as you.

Finger-pointing is so immature.

 

[Floatingaxe]

Accountability partners are only successful when the struggling one avails himself of one! The accountability partner doesn't hover! He's there to be approached! Please grasp that fact!

 

[MARK777]

Hi all please can you keep your posts on topic with regards to the original post, that being "Why is weed a sin"

Here is my view..

Even though the Bible does not explicitly mention weed as sin, we know that we are told that as Christians we should have our minds focused on God, the work of his Son, and abibe in Spirit, and as weed is a mind altering drug, making people more lathargic, and less aware, and has the posibility of causing a lot more negative effects to the mind and body, will in effect cause people to be less able to function as a Christian, and I cannot imagine the Holy Spirit residing in a person who is "stoned" all the time either.

Maybe someone could elaborate on this? what other negative things may come in from taking weed while trying to operate in the Christian walk?? can it effect a person who is not a believer with regards to the perception of Salvation???

 

[Cris413]

Hi all please can you keep your posts on topic with regards to the original post, that being "Why is weed a sin"

Here is my view..

Even though the Bible does not explicitly mention weed as sin, we know that we are told that as Christians we should have our minds focused on God, the work of his Son, and abibe in Spirit, and as weed is a mind altering drug, making people more lathargic, and less aware, and has the posibility of causing a lot more negative effects to the mind and body, will in effect cause people to be less able to function as a Christian, and I cannot imagine the Holy Spirit residing in a person who is "stoned" all the time either.

Maybe someone could elaborate on this? what other negative things may come in from taking weed while trying to operate in the Christian walk?? can it effect a person who is not a believer with regards to the perception of Salvation???

I think it’s important to consider our witness to others. I mean, our main purpose is to spread the gospel of Christ Jesus…I’m not certain we could be an effective witness to the transforming power of the Holy Spirit in coming to Christ…smoking pot. Of what benefit is there in getting high?

In another forum there’s a thread regarding Christian hypocrisy as a “proven fact” and that when interviewed… born again believers show no difference in behavior as non-believers…

I’m not sure how true these statements are…but the point is that many unbelievers view Christians as hypocrites…do as I say not as I do…kinda thing.

Paul talks about not causing a brother to stumble…using food sacrificed to idols as the example:

1Co 8:9 But beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to those who are weak.
1Co 8:10 For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol's temple, will not the conscience of him who is weak be emboldened to eat those things offered to idols?
1Co 8:11 And because of your knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?
1Co 8:12 But when you thus sin against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ.
1Co 8:13 Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.


Kinda reminds me of when I was in backslidden state and hangin’ out in bars…inevitably…a conversation about Christ would arise…and even though I had turned my back on God…He certainly had not turned His back on me and brought me to remembrance of Him and His concepts and precepts…in the conversation it would always occur to me what a bad example I was setting…talking about Christ while drinking beer and slamming shots of tequila…

Eventually…I would have to confess to whomever I was talking…don’t pay any attention to me…I’m a poor example of a Christian and I’m the last person you should be talking to about God. That would end the conversation because in my mind…I had no right to proclaim Christ in such a state.

Same with weed...drunk or high...I consider our witness is damaged.