Faux theology is always a fun read as they never fail tie themselves up in knots , equate cannabis with alcohol, make false assumptions and generally destroy themselves with their own arguments.
The opening gambit sets us on the path to nowhere
Like many sins of the body, marijuana use can also have significant negative health impacts. An extensive report on marijuana usage in The New York Times noted, “From Washington State to West Virginia, psychiatrists treat rising numbers of people whose use of the drug has brought on delusions, paranoia and other symptoms of psychosis.”
I got about halfway through. then got bored.
You could try this one !
Can a Christian Do a Beer Run?
Can Christians Smoke Weed?
Like many sins of the body, marijuana use can also have significant negative health impacts. An extensive report on marijuana usage in The New York Times noted, “From Washington State to West Virginia, psychiatrists treat rising numbers of people whose use of the drug has brought on delusions, paranoia and other symptoms of psychosis.”
These journalists looked at medical records, spoke with doctors and health officials, and interviewed hundreds of users. One significant health concern is cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome, in which using marijuana produces severe nausea and stomach upset.
Another study shows that heavy marijuana usage correlates with domestic violence by young people, while a third suggests it seriously inhibits brain function, including a loss of IQ, in adolescents. The National Safety Council suggests businesses ban the use of marijuana in roles where safety is an issue, even while workers are off the clock, given its tendency to seriously diminish brain function.
Scripture tells us that what we do in our bodies matters. Few of us are making perfectly wise health decisions, and a good many of us (including me) could use a better diet and more exercise. But to deliberately cause serious damage to one’s body, raise the risk of violence and mental health issues, and hinder sober-mindedness dishonors God. Listen to what Paul says: “Don’t you know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought at a price. So glorify God with your body” (1 Cor. 6:19–20).
Many defend marijuana as a harmless drug that isn’t addictive like other substances. But this thesis is being contested. That New York Times report found that nearly a third of all adult users have “cannabis use disorder.” Yes, marijuana is less addictive than substances like cocaine or heroin, but it is still addictive.
Addiction is a complicated topic. We should sympathize with those who struggle with substance abuse and pray for the Lord to help them gain victory over this stranglehold. Still, while addictions may grow out of control, at the start, there is a choice to willingly turn over oneself to a mind-altering substance for the specific purpose of getting intoxicated.
To be addicted is to be mastered by something other than ourselves. Scripture says we can either be intoxicated by a substance or be mastered by the Spirit of God (Eph. 5:18). The New Testament contrasts the way of the Enemy with the way of the kingdom. If our bodies are to be a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable (Rom. 12:1) because of Christ’s atoning sacrifice, why would we turn them over to another master?
As Miles, the ethicist, correctly says, “It is the Lord’s right to direct what we do with our bodies. It is not our right nor the right of an activity or substance.”
So far I’ve focused on recreational marijuana use. But what about medical consumption?
Though the data is still inconclusive, it does seem there are limited, medicinal benefits to marijuana usage. Finding medicines and cures for disease and chronic pain is part of our mandate to subdue the earth and push back against the curse of the Fall, and that can include judicious medical use of intoxicating substances. Paul urged Timothy, for instance, to take some wine for his stomach’s sake (1 Tim. 5:23).
However, Christians should still ask ourselves: Is this the best and only cure for a specific pain or condition? Is it being given out in doctor-prescribed doses? Is the motivation genuinely to relieve pain, or is the user trying to find a convenient way to consume weed?
What’s more, a Christian must weigh the negative side effects of using marijuana for medicinal purposes. (These questions should also be asked of any such medication, such as opioids or painkillers.) The benefit must be weighed against the harm or potential harm. These risks do not mean it’s sinful to take these drugs in a limited way as needed, but such decisions should be made soberly, with accountability, and for a limited time.
