I have to confess it head on. I've never smoked marijuana. I've never been drunk. In fact, I have never used illegal drugs of any kind. I mention this because I'm sure some people will object to what I say in this article, claiming that I have no right to speak about experiences I haven't had personally. Because there is. I think that's strange. Whether or not I have ever been “high” (again, no, actually not) is irrelevant to the question of whether Christians should use marijuana recreationally. That being said, let's get started.
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1. Medical cannabis use should be allowed under the guidance of a doctor.
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I am far from an expert on the question of whether marijuana should be legalized and available for use in cases of extreme medical distress. However, I will express my opinion. My humble opinion is that this could be a good basis for allowing marijuana use in certain cases. I don't know what criteria to use to decide when to use marijuana and when not to use it. But if marijuana could somehow be used under medical supervision to help people who are in extreme pain or for whom all other medical treatments have proven ineffective. , it seems reasonable to me that it should be so, and not at all unbiblical. approved. I know there are arguments against medical use of marijuana, but I cannot engage in those arguments today.
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2. Colorado has legalized recreational use of marijuana.
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Not long ago, Coloradoans approved Amendment 64, which allows adults 21 years of age and older to “personally use and regulate marijuana.” Although marijuana remains illegal under federal law, legal sales began in Colorado on January 1, 2014. This decision in Colorado opens the door to non-medical marijuana legalization in several other states, including California, Massachusetts, Maine, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, and Alaska. Ta.
This has led to countless debates and debates among Christians about whether or not marijuana use is a sin. Again, I'm not talking about use in extreme medical emergencies. We're talking about recreational use of marijuana when the primary purpose is to “get high” or “get stoned.”
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3. Does the Bible mention the use of marijuana? Yes and no!
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Some believe that there is clear support for Genesis 1:29 So God said to Adam: You should have them as food. ”
But how many people consume marijuana as a food? This passage is not an endorsement of recreational marijuana smoking. I don't know about the food we ingest by smoking. Joe Carter writes: “No one would probably add marijuana to their brownies because it would enhance the flavor. The reason for adding this particular plant to food is because of its effects on senses other than taste.” Is Use a Sin?”, January 6, 2014, Gospel Coalition Blog).
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4. Relate what the Bible says about alcohol to marijuana.
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So, apart from this passage in Genesis, marijuana is not mentioned anywhere in the Bible. So the questions we need to ask ourselves and answer are: Can you find anything in the Bible that is similar to the recreational use of marijuana? The answer is yes. Intoxication caused by drinking alcohol.
But what is “drunkenness”? If the Bible allows the use of alcohol in moderation, shouldn't it also allow the use of marijuana in moderation? People may consume small amounts of alcohol without intending to get drunk. Can a person similarly ingest small amounts of marijuana without intending to become intoxicated? To answer that, we need to define “intoxication.”
Joe Carter comes in handy here. He says, “In the case of alcohol, the unit of measurement is a 'standard drink,' a drink that contains about 14 grams (about 0.6 fluid ounces or 1.2 tablespoons) of pure alcohol. A standard drink has traditionally been 12 ounces of 5 percent alcohol beer, 5 ounces of 12 percent alcohol wine, or one and a half ounces (shots) of 40 percent alcohol (80 proof) spirits (hard). Defined as content. Liquor). In most U.S. states, the legal level of intoxication is after four drinks for an average-sized woman and five drinks for an average-sized man, depending on pace. It happens. ”
In the case of marijuana, it is said that it only takes four puffs to cause intoxication. If the purpose of ingesting marijuana in any form is not for the intoxicating effects, why bother ingesting it? What benefits are you looking for from it? And what is your intention to use marijuana recreationally? If it was indeed intended for some degree of intoxication, then your act is sinful.
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5. Effects of caffeine and marijuana.
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But what about caffeine? People drink coffee, Coca-Cola, and certain energy drinks to obtain physical benefits. That's true, but there's a big difference. As John Piper pointed out, “Marijuana temporarily impairs reliable processing of the reality around you. Caffeine usually sharpens that processing. Most coffee drinkers wake up and work. We want to improve our performance and drive more safely.While it is certainly possible to abuse caffeine, caffeine, a natural stimulant, is not used to escape reality, but to drive more safely. It is most commonly used as an effort to have and interact.” Therefore, “unlike caffeine, marijuana can help you become a more attentive father, a more conscious mother, or a more effective employee. It is not generally thought of as a drug that gives you the power to do things. Rather, for most users, it is a recreational escape that reduces the accuracy of observation, memory, and reasoning. can have a lasting negative impact on the mind's ability to do things.” (“Don't Pot Your Mind,” January 9, 2014, www.desiringgod.org).
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6. Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit.
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I will load it 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 – “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, which you have received from God?” You are not your own, because you were bought with money. So glorify God with your body. ” Contrary to what non-Christians may think of themselves, you, as a Christian man or woman, do not have the ultimate authority to do whatever you want with your body. Your body belongs to Christ! Your body is the abode of the Holy Spirit! Your body should be used to glorify God and glorify Him!
So if you drink to excess or smoke marijuana while feeling high, you should ask yourself, “Does this decision look good on Jesus?” We should also ask about the quality of the TV shows we watch, what we watch on the Internet, the type of music we listen to, the ratings of the movies we go to see, or how much we eat.
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7. A clear mind helps us glorify God in our actions.
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I will load it 1 Corinthians 6:13 The body is “for the Lord, and the Lord is for the body.” Our bodies were designed by creation, redeemed by the blood of Christ, and are instruments for Christ's use and His glory. Therefore, we must strive not to dull, diminish, or weaken the physical and mental abilities God has given us to glorify and serve God. We must strive to see clearly, think clearly, decide clearly, speak clearly, and remember clearly. Our hearts are designed by God to know Him, love Him, and grow in love for Him. Anything that undermines our spirit in this regard should be avoided. As Piper said, “Have a relentlessly clear mind.”
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8. Christians need to lead by example.
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When we participate with the world in the recreational use of drugs intended to induce states of passivity and stupor and reduce the accuracy of mental observation, memory, and basic reasoning abilities, we believe that Jesus What kind of testimony will we bear? In my opinion, not a good one.
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9. Ask the right questions.
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In cases like this, I often wonder if I'm asking the wrong question. we ask: “What's the problem?” “Why shouldn't I do that?” “How far can I go without sinning?” “Will it further the cause of Christ?” we should ask. maybe. “Will this activity lead me and others to value Jesus above all else?” “Will it help me fight?” faith Can we achieve greater success? ” “Will it sharpen and strengthen my knowledge of Christ and my determination to glorify Him in all things?” Asking these questions can lead to different answers than we usually hear. there is a possibility.
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10. There are no benefits to using marijuana for recreational purposes.
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Finally, remember that the only external force to which you should give conscious control or be under the influence is God's Holy Spirit. “And don't get drunk on wine.” [or high on marijuana]That is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit. ”Efe. 5:18). Therefore, my conclusion is that using marijuana recreationally for the purpose of getting “high” is not an option for Christians. In fact, it is a sin.
This is an excerpt from the article, 10 things to know about marijuana and Christians, written by Sam Storms and originally published on SamtStorms.com. Used with permission.
Related: Listen to the podcast. The Bible doesn't say that. All of our episodes are available at: LifeAudio.com.
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