Author Topic: Recreational Drug Use is not ok by God  (Read 14687 times)

Man of Steel

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Recreational Drug Use is not ok by God
« on: March 03, 2016, 08:09:28 AM »
Question: "What does the Bible say about doing drugs?"

Answer: The Bible does not directly address any form of illicit drug use. There are no express prohibitions against cocaine, heroin, ecstasy (MDMA), or methamphetamines (Meth). There is no mention of marijuana, cannabis, peyote, magic mushrooms, or acid (LSD). Nothing is said about huffing, snorting, dropping, smoking, shooting, licking, or any other method of ingestion. This is not to say, however, that recreational drug use is permissible. On the contrary, there are several very clear biblical principles that place drug use well outside the realm of acceptable behavior.

To begin with, Christians are under a universal mandate to respect and obey the laws of the land (Deuteronomy 17:2; Ecclesiastes 8:2-5; Matthew 22:21; 23:2-3; Romans 13:1-7; Titus 3:1; 1 Peter 2:13-17; 2 Peter 2:9-11). The ONLY instance in which we are allowed to disobey the laws of the land is when the laws violate any divine imperatives (Daniel 3 and 6; Acts 5:29). There are no other exceptions to this rule. Contrary to popular belief, simply disagreeing with a law does not constitute a license for breaking that law.

Many have argued that marijuana does not warrant prohibition. They contend that smoking pot in defiance of the law is justifiable on these grounds and in light of (what they perceive to be) the hypocrisy of outlawing weed while allowing nicotine and alcohol consumption. Those who argue this point may be sincere in their conviction, but they are mistaken nonetheless. Heartfelt disdain for the law does not justify impunity towards it, as our Lord Himself made clear. While rebuking the Pharisees for turning the Law of Moses into an excessively oppressive yoke, Christ still required His disciples to submit to their unfairly harsh demands (Matthew 23:1-36, especially 1-4). Dutiful submission to authority and patient perseverance through unjust suffering and/or perceived unfairness (1 Peter 2:18-23) is God’s high standard for us – even if that means having to abstain from marijuana in compliance with “unfair” legislation.

Not only are we to submit to authority for submission’s sake, born-again Christians are further constrained by a mandate to live above reproach for the sake of the Gospel (1 Corinthians 10:32; 2 Corinthians 4:2; 6:3; Titus 2:1-8; 2 Peter 3:14). Needless to say, criminality is highly reproachable.

Obviously, this first principle does not impact drug users living in nations like the Netherlands where recreational drug use is legal and permissible. There are, however, more universally applicable principles. For example, Christians are all required to be good stewards of what God has entrusted to us, regardless of our national identity (Matthew 25:13-30). This includes our earthly bodies. Unfortunately, illicit drug use is an extremely effective way to destroy your health, not just physically, but mentally and emotionally as well.

As Dr. Alan Leshner, Director of the National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA) explains, “The most immediate, extensive, and long-lasting problems caused by drug abuse, both for individuals and for society, are often medical in nature. For example, known drug-abuse-related health problems and resulting lost productivity alone cost our society more than $33 billion each year. Illicit drugs directly cause many medical problems. Stimulants such as cocaine and methamphetamine increase the heart rate while constricting the blood vessels. In susceptible individuals, these two actions together set the stage for cardiac arrhythmias and strokes. The club drug methylenedioxymethamphet amine (MDMA, also called "ecstasy"), which many users mistakenly believe to be safe, has caused malignant hyperthermia, permanent kidney damage, and death. MDMA also damages serotonin nerve fibers in the brain. Heroin can cause a life-threatening kidney condition called focal glomerulosclerosis. The list continues: NIDA research has shown that almost every drug of abuse harms some tissue or organ.” (Addressing the Medical Consequences of Drug Abuse, NIDA Notes, Vol. 15, No. 1, March 2000; available to be read online at http://www.nida.nih.gov/NIDA_notes/NNVol15N1/DirRepVol15N1.html)

Marijuana, while being the least harmful of all of the illicit drugs, is still potentially lethal. Marijuana enthusiasts (“potheads”) take comfort in the fact that, unlike most other illicit drugs, it is seemingly impossible to fatally overdose on weed by means of normal consumption (i.e. smoking it). But this does nothing to diminish the potentially fatal risks of lung cancer, emphysema, and other forms of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) caused by marijuana smoke. While marijuana can be ingested without smoking it, thereby eliminating these risks, there still remain negative physiological and psychological consequences including damage to the reproductive system, the immune system, and cognitive ability.

Beyond stewardship, as Christians, our bodies are not our own. We “have been bought with a price” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20), not “with perishable things like silver or gold . . . but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ” (1 Peter 1:17-19). Having bought us with His own life, Christ has delighted to create in us something entirely new, something somewhat bizarre. By indwelling us with His Spirit, He has turned us into organic temples of sorts. So now, caring for our health is not just a matter of good stewardship. It is a matter of reverential piety. To pollute or harm our bodies is to desecrate the House of God (1 Corinthians 3:16-17). This is both wondrous and terrifying.

Another biblical principle concerns our susceptibility to deception. As fallible creatures we are prone to delusion. And since we are the objects of God’s intense affection, His enemies are our enemies. This includes THE enemy, the Devil, the father of lies (John 8:44), a most formidable and determined adversary. All of the apostolic exhortations to remain sober-minded and alert (1 Corinthians 15:34; 1 Thessalonians 5:4-8; 2 Timothy 4:5; 1 Peter 1:13; 4:7; 5:8 ) are designed to remind us that we must be vigilant against the wiles of the Devil (1 Peter 5:8 ), who seeks to ensnare us through deception. Sobriety is also important for prayer (1 Peter 4:7), as is obedience to God (Isaiah 1:10-17).

As for drug addiction, not all illicit drugs are physically addictive. Nevertheless, they are all psychologically addictive. While most people are familiar with physical addiction – the progressive condition whereby the human body becomes physically dependent upon a drug in order to function properly – psychological addiction is less well-known. Psychological addiction is an enslavement of the mind, often characterized by obsessive tendencies and a lack of desire to quit. While physical addiction brings the body into subjection, psychological addiction brings the will into submission. Users tend to say things like, “I could quit if I wanted to, but I just don’t want to.” This attitude tends to ensure a long-term pattern of drug use whereby users become devotees in defiance of a very poignant biblical principle. The fact is, no one can wholeheartedly serve two masters (Matthew 6:24; Luke 16:13). Any time spent kneeling before the god of drugs is time spent with your back towards the God of the Bible.

In summary, the Bible teaches us that “denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world” (Titus 2:12).

ritch

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Re: Recreational Drug Use is not ok by God
« Reply #1 on: March 03, 2016, 08:04:27 PM »
hey, hey, hey, smoke weed everyday...
?

IrishMuscle84

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Re: Recreational Drug Use is not ok by God
« Reply #2 on: May 10, 2016, 09:44:19 AM »
Would you say that drug use is a LUST OF THE FLESH ?

Man of Steel

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Re: Recreational Drug Use is not ok by God
« Reply #3 on: May 12, 2016, 09:35:30 AM »
Would you say that drug use is a LUST OF THE FLESH ?

Absolutely!

Dos Equis

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Re: Recreational Drug Use is not ok by God
« Reply #4 on: May 12, 2016, 02:26:10 PM »

To begin with, Christians are under a universal mandate to respect and obey the laws of the land (Deuteronomy 17:2; Ecclesiastes 8:2-5; Matthew 22:21; 23:2-3; Romans 13:1-7; Titus 3:1; 1 Peter 2:13-17; 2 Peter 2:9-11). The ONLY instance in which we are allowed to disobey the laws of the land is when the laws violate any divine imperatives (Daniel 3 and 6; Acts 5:29). There are no other exceptions to this rule. Contrary to popular belief, simply disagreeing with a law does not constitute a license for breaking that law.


I don't agree with this.  What about civil disobedience? 

Man of Steel

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Re: Recreational Drug Use is not ok by God
« Reply #5 on: May 12, 2016, 03:25:50 PM »
I don't agree with this.  What about civil disobedience?  

The OT contained casuistic laws, so as it pertains to an instance of civil disobediance the root of which would be similarly evaluated on a case by case basis.

Dos Equis

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Re: Recreational Drug Use is not ok by God
« Reply #6 on: May 12, 2016, 05:23:14 PM »
The OT contained casuistic laws, so as it pertains to an instance of civil disobediance the root of which would be similarly evaluated on a case by case basis.

Evaluated by whom?

Man of Steel

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Re: Recreational Drug Use is not ok by God
« Reply #7 on: May 12, 2016, 07:06:31 PM »
Evaluated by whom?

People....more specifically believers using the word of God as the means to evaluate.

Dos Equis

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Re: Recreational Drug Use is not ok by God
« Reply #8 on: May 13, 2016, 11:12:19 AM »
People....more specifically believers using the word of God as the means to evaluate.

If you are saying that individuals need to evaluate whether they have a spiritual obligation to obey secular laws, then I agree. 

Man of Steel

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Re: Recreational Drug Use is not ok by God
« Reply #9 on: May 13, 2016, 12:14:22 PM »
If you are saying that individuals need to evaluate whether they have a spiritual obligation to obey secular laws, then I agree. 

I'm just suggesting that if a matter of civil disobediance was to arise that justification for said disobediance would best be found in an appeal to God's word.

Dos Equis

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Re: Recreational Drug Use is not ok by God
« Reply #10 on: May 13, 2016, 12:56:25 PM »
I'm just suggesting that if a matter of civil disobediance was to arise that justification for said disobediance would best be found in an appeal to God's word.

Overall, I don't think the Bible requires Christians to obey all secular laws.  Not really a spiritual issue IMO.  There are a lot issues (drug use included) that really are about personal conviction.  There is a lot of black and white, but also a lot of gray. 

IrishMuscle84

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Re: Recreational Drug Use is not ok by God
« Reply #11 on: May 13, 2016, 07:23:02 PM »
What about MEDICAL MARIUJUANA / CANNABIS OIL ?

Agnostic007

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Re: Recreational Drug Use is not ok by God
« Reply #12 on: March 14, 2019, 06:45:09 PM »
"Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God's wrath but also for the sake of conscience."

Agnostic007

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Re: Recreational Drug Use is not ok by God
« Reply #13 on: March 14, 2019, 06:46:22 PM »
What about MEDICAL MARIUJUANA / CANNABIS OIL ?

If it is legal for you, then it doesn't violate the law and Medical Marijuana isn't for recreational use anyway. God approves

Tbomzisback!

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Re: Recreational Drug Use is not ok by God
« Reply #14 on: April 21, 2019, 05:44:43 PM »
This is a little misleading. Recreational use of intoxicating substances is only sinful when said usage is done with the intention to cause a state of consciousness in which the ability/desire to make good moral decisions is compromised. And this is proven by Jesus turning water into wine so that everyone at the wedding of Cana could party.

Matt

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Re: Recreational Drug Use is not ok by God
« Reply #15 on: April 11, 2022, 04:52:51 PM »
I didn't see God when I ate THC edibles.

I believe I saw Satan.

That will not be happening again.

Teutonic Knight

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Re: Recreational Drug Use is not ok by God
« Reply #16 on: April 12, 2022, 10:02:53 PM »
I didn't see God when I ate THC edibles.

I believe I saw Satan.

That will not be happening again.

AbrahamG & his pedo Mob, knows me as SHEITAN  ;D

Irongrip400

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Re: Recreational Drug Use is not ok by God
« Reply #17 on: April 16, 2022, 05:40:27 PM »
I didn't see God when I ate THC edibles.

I believe I saw Satan.

That will not be happening again.

This made me laugh.

Humble Narcissist

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Re: Recreational Drug Use is not ok by God
« Reply #18 on: June 18, 2022, 12:12:57 PM »
Those OT prophets were high as Hell when they had their visions.

ProudVirgin69

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Re: Recreational Drug Use is not ok by God
« Reply #19 on: July 28, 2022, 02:05:56 PM »
Those OT prophets were high as Hell when they had their visions.

seriously .. God speaking to Moses through the "burning bush" - we all know what thats referring to! :D

AbrahamG

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Re: Recreational Drug Use is not ok by God
« Reply #20 on: July 28, 2022, 03:41:36 PM »
seriously .. God speaking to Moses through the "burning bush" - we all know what thats referring to! :D

Moses fucked around and got VD?

AbrahamG

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Re: Recreational Drug Use is not ok by God
« Reply #21 on: July 28, 2022, 03:42:22 PM »
This is a little misleading. Recreational use of intoxicating substances is only sinful when said usage is done with the intention to cause a state of consciousness in which the ability/desire to make good moral decisions is compromised. And this is proven by Jesus turning water into wine so that everyone at the wedding of Cana could party.

Like you loading up on meth and getting your filthy, hairy asshole obliterated?  Rinse.  Wash.  Repeat.

Humble Narcissist

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Re: Recreational Drug Use is not ok by God
« Reply #22 on: July 29, 2022, 02:40:49 AM »
seriously .. God speaking to Moses through the "burning bush" - we all know what thats referring to! :D
Hebrew women shaved their snatches so I don't know what he was referring to with that.