Satan Says Its Not A Sin Did God Really Say You Cant Smoke It
Does this sound familiar to you? Dont fall into Satans trap.
Genesis 3:1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, Did God really say, You must not eat from any tree in the garden?
Reminders
1 Peter 5:8 Be sober-minded be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
Ephesians 5:17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lords will is.
Romans 14:23 But whoever has doubts is condemned if they eat, because their eating is not from faith and everything that does not come from faith is sin.
So What Does The Bible Say About Marijuana
From what can be deduced from the previous biblical verses, the use of marijuana itself is not sinful. Rather, sin arises from intoxication and debauched behavior. As long as you behave yourself, you probably have nothing to worry about.
However, if you are really concerned that marijuana is a sin, it is best to avoid it, as there is no concrete evidence that it is, but also that it is not.
Looking For A Loophole
The survey showed that half of young adult Christians think that marijuana should be legal. How did these young Christian adults reach this conclusion? Perhaps these young people believe that because marijuana is not mentioned in the Bible, it not morally wrong. If you take that into consideration, then that means that the use of other types of illegal drugs are not a sin. Russell Moore, the president-elect of the Southern Baptists Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, said that getting high on marijuana is similar to getting drunk, which a sin. He referred to Ephesians 5:18, which states Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit,
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Illegal Recreational Marijuana Use
The first context we will look at is where the governing authorities declare the use of marijuana to be illegal. Right now this is the case for every state except Colorado and Washington, and the official Federal position of our nation. While this is a very straightforward issue regarding Christian ethics that the Bible makes very clear for us, it is still important to start here. We are to be subject to the governing authorities and humbly be submissive to rulers as long as the law does not require us to break the higher law of Gods righteous commands. The only case where disobedience to governing authorities is acceptable is when those authorities demand disobedience to God. In that case we follow the example of the Apostles who said that we must obey God rather than men . Since God never gives a command in the Bible to smoke marijuana, it would be unethical and sinful to smoke weed and get high in the context of a government that declares the recreational use of marijuana to be illegal. Using marijuana in this context would be direct disobedience to the Bible, since the Bible calls us to submit to our governments laws. The much more challenging question is what the Christian should do in the context of a government that declares the use of marijuana legal.
Is Marijuana Ever Okay For Christians
Use of marijuana hasnt traditionally been a gray area for Christians. The drug was illegal, so it was off-limits to those who are subject to the governing authorities . But as recreational marijuana becomes legal in more states, some Christians are having conversations about whether there could be an acceptable use.
Pastors Joshua Ryan Butler and Thomas Terry offered thoughts on how they shepherd members of their churches in this area. They agree that while the Bible never mentions marijuana, it does prohibit intoxication. If one hit of marijuana makes you high, theres no way to smoke it and obey the Bibles commands against drunkenness.
Further, the effects of marijuana work against the kind of community we should seek in the body of Christ. Butler says that getting high pulls you within yourself, causes you to become more disengaged, not only from people, but also from life in general. Terry agrees and speaks from experience: Before I was a Christian, I smoked marijuana to . . . disengage from both people and issues. By causing users to disengage from life, marijuana works against the love of neighbor Jesus commands. Christians seeking to honor God with their lives would do well to avoid it.
Listen to this episode of The Gospel Coalition podcast or watch a video.
Transcript
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Bible Verses About Weed
Then set it empty on its coalsSo that it may be hotAnd its bronze may glowAnd its filthiness may be melted in it,Its rust consumed.
Then one went out into the field to gather herbs, and found a wild vine and gathered from it his lap full of wild gourds, and came and sliced them into the pot of stew, for they did not know what they were.
Water encompassed me to the point of death.The great deep engulfed me,Weeds were wrapped around my head.
Let briars grow instead of wheat,And stinkweed instead of barley.The words of Job are ended.
Shall the potter be considered as equal with the clay,That what is made would say to its maker, He did not make me Or what is formed say to him who formed it, He has no understanding?
Therefore, thus says the Lord God,Woe to the bloody city,To the pot in which there is rustAnd whose rust has not gone out of it!Take out of it piece after piece,Without making a choice.
O my God, make them like the whirling dust,Like chaff before the wind.
Out of his nostrils smoke goes forthAs from a boiling pot and burning rushes.
Before your pots can feel the fire of thornsHe will sweep them away with a whirlwind, the green and the burning alike.
They surrounded me like bees They were extinguished as a fire of thorns In the name of the Lord I will surely cut them off.
For as the crackling of thorn bushes under a pot,So is the laughter of the fool And this too is futility.
Final Thoughts On Christianity And Cannabis Consumption
Since a lot of Christians view the Bible as an interpretation of Gods word, and it advises against consuming substances that affect the mind, like alcohol and other substances, we can say that God probably opposes the consumption of recreational marijuana. So if youre a Christian, its probably best to avoid smoking pot, especially if youre doing it for recreational purposes.
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What Does The Bible Say About Smoking Weed
Contents
Weed is a plant that weve been using for over 10,000 years, whether recreationally, medicinally, or in religious practices. Ancient civilizations used it for its mind-altering effects and also for its sedative and anti-inflammatory properties. Nowadays, the recreational use of this plant is only expected to increase in the next few years as the legal cannabis market reaches nearly 43 billion dollars by 2024, according to Statista.
Cannabis use has significantly increased in recent years, partly as a result of the pandemic and also following the increasing legalization laws. Weed consumption is especially prevalent in young people who consume it recreationally in a lot of social gatherings. In states where cannabis is legal for medical use, it can be purchased in licensed dispensaries that sell a huge variety of cannabis products including raw flowers, CBD oil, THC oil, vapes, dabs, and even cannabis edibles.
But how is cannabis legalization regarded through the eyes of religion? Do Christians believe that the recreational use of marijuana is sinful? What does the Bible say about smoking weed? Well answer these questions and a few more as we examine how Christianity views cannabis consumption in the Bible.
Why Does This Matter
Despite popular culture making marijuana usage out to be cool or radical, true marijuana use is far from it. Cannabis will only destroy your physical health/mental health, reputation, and testimony.
Christians need to flee the temptations of the world and shine brightly for Christ. There are enough temptations, difficulties, and struggles in the world without being disoriented by cannabis usage.
Simply because the world says it is okay to smoke or vape marijuana does not mean God says it is okay. You are a beautiful, important, amazing masterpiece of Gods hands and He does not want you to destroy it with the usage of marijuana.
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Christian Cup Of Coffee
Consider this principle in terms of a psychoactive substance most American adults use every day: caffeine. Why do people drink coffee in the morning? To help them to see things as they really are, rather than through the fog of grogginess. The right and proper use of this God-given substance helps us see things as they really are.
But how does this principle apply to alcohol? At times moderate lubrication in Godward celebrations can be in keeping with the reality. People dont drink wine at funerals, which are a reminder of the curse and consequences of sin. If someone drank wine at a funeral, I would wonder whether they have an unhealthy relationship with alcohol.
But people do drink wine at weddings, in which we celebrate the profound parable being played out before our eyes: the great Bridegroom is coming for his bride, the church ! And wine will have a God-given role at the final consummating celebration . In this way, the proper and moderate use of alcohol can be a clarifier, not a distorter. It points us to the joy, fellowship, and celebration of the great coming feast.
Can You Smoke Weed And Still Go To Heaven
I think this is a bad question. Smoking weed is not what causes people to go to hell. You go to hell by not repenting and putting your trust in Christ alone. If you have not been saved by faith in Christ alone, then you will not enter into heaven. Let me say this again, if you have not trusted in the perfect work of Jesus Christ on your behalf and trusted Him for the forgiveness of sins, then you will not enter into heaven. We are not saved by works. You get into heaven by resting solely upon the perfect work of Jesus.
Christ took away the sin that was blocking us from God. He lived the perfect life that we couldnt live. Jesus died, He was buried, and He was resurrected for our sins. Trust in Christ alone. However, let me say this as well. Genuine faith in Christ will radically change your life. Evidence that you have put your faith in Christ is that you will be a new creature with new desires and affections for Christ and His Word. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come The old has gone, the new is here! A genuine Christian still struggles with sin, but what a Christian will not do is live a continuous lifestyle of rebellion and sin towards God. If He truly is a Christian, then He is a new creature. If he knows that weed is sinful, he will not want to indulge in that lifestyle.
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Can Christians Smoke Weed According To The Bible
Can you smoke weed, which is hurting your body for the glory of God? No!
1 Corinthians 10:31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
Colossians 3:17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Is Using Recreational Marijuana A Sin
Whether marijuana use is considered a sin in Christianity isnt a simple yes or no answer. Even though in the first chapter of the Bible God says Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food, which is sometimes cited when people discuss whether the Bible is pro or against cannabis consumption, other passages are against consuming substances which affect the mind.
Generally, cannabis was used for nutrition, as well as for making clothing, ropes, and other products. However, smoking cannabis does give users psychoactive and mind-altering effects. For that matter, we wont look at cannabis through the lens of its nutritional value, but rather look at it as a substance that affects behavior, similar to how alcohol does.
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The Danger Is In The Dose
Obviously, there isnt a direct connection between alcohol and marijuana. An individual can drink a small amount of alcohol without becoming drunk. In a two-hour period, the average woman can have four alcoholic drinks and the average man can have five before their blood alcohol level reaches 0.08. In most states, an individual is legally intoxicated at this blood alcohol level.
The Bible doesnt forbid drinking only drunkenness. Many Christians abstain from alcohol to avoid the appearance of evil . However, some drink with self-control and moderation. Those who only have a couple of drinks may be able to do so with a clear conscience if drinking doesnt lead to drunkenness.
For marijuana, a much lower dosage creates a state of intoxication. In fact, it takes just 7 milligrams of THC to make the individual high. Depending on their weight and other personal factors, this is between four and eight puffs of a marijuana cigarette.
In theory, an individual could ingest a small dose of THC that wouldnt result in intoxication. However, in most cases, the purpose of using recreational marijuana is to get high. Based on that, many Christians conclude that smoking even a small amount of weed is a sin.
What Does The Bible Have To Say About Christianity And Cannabis
Nothing. The Bible is silent.
Thats the simple answer because scripture does not mention this specific plant. A little digging reveals the Bible does have a great deal to say about how we take care of and maintain our mind. body, and spirit. These verses will be relevant in discussing cannabis use within the Christian community.
Whether youre looking for justification on recreational use or clarification on what options you have for medicinal use, our discussion is concerned on the spiritual implications.
Pull up a chair. Welcome to the table. Lets talk Christianity and cannabis!
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What Are The Side Effects Of Marijuana
There are many side effects of smoking marijuana, both physical and mental. The physical side effects of using cannabis are breathing problems, an increased heart rate, as well as intense nausea and vomiting, which often turns into Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome.
For women wanting to build a family, marijuana causes multiple problems with pregnancy and issues regarding the development of the infant while still in the womb as well as after the baby is born .
When nursing mothers use marijuana, the marijuana passes from the mother to the child in the breast milk and can cause problems with the development of the babys brain .
There are also multiple investigations underway to determine whether or not marijuana played a major role in the death of many of its users . In addition to the physical side effects of cannabis, there are also mental side effects of this drug.
The mental side effects of cannabis include changes in mood, hallucinations, paranoia, depression, difficulty sleeping, difficulty in concentration, low motivation, and psychotic illnesses such as psychosis, schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, and bipolar disorder.
Each of these psychotic illnesses can leave a person being disabled for the remainder of his or her life. Living with psychosis, schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, or bipolar disorder are all difficult illnesses to live through during a persons life.
Jesus ‘healed Using Cannabis’
Jesus w as almost certainly a cannabis user and an early proponent of the medicinal properties of the drug, according to a study of scriptural texts published this month. The study suggests that Jesus and his disciples used the drug to carry out miraculous healings.
The anointing oil used by Jesus and his disciples contained an ingredient called kaneh-bosem which has since been identified as cannabis extract, according to an article by Chris Bennett in the drugs magazine, High Times, entitled Was Jesus a Stoner? The incense used by Jesus in ceremonies also contained a cannabis extract, suggests Mr Bennett, who quotes scholars to back his claims.
“There can be little doubt about a role for cannabis in Judaic religion,” Carl Ruck, professor of classical mythology at Boston University said.
Referring to the existence of cannabis in anointing oils used in ceremonies, he added: “Obviously the easy availability and long-established tradition of cannabis in early Judaism _ would inevitably have included it in the mixtures.”
Mr Bennett suggests those anointed with the oils used by Jesus were “literally drenched in this potent mixture _ Although most modern people choose to smoke or eat pot, when its active ingredients are transferred into an oil-based carrier, it can also be absorbed through the skin”.
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