What is the Christian stance on marijuana?

[nazz]

The christian view is this...

Correction. YOUR view as a Christian.

 

[nazz]

but what do you think of the bible principle to not defile the flesh?

dont you view drawing poison into your lungs as a defiling of the body? And a better question....is it a practice which brings any honour to God?

Mar 7:15 “There is nothing that enters a man from outside which can defile him; but the things which come out of him, those are the things that defile a man.

 

[Iti oj]

Mar 7:15 “There is nothing that enters a man from outside which can defile him; but the things which come out of him, those are the things that defile a man.

Biggest peice of wisdom I have seen from the Bible. And i do not mean that just in context of this debate.

 

[Pegg]

Mar 7:15 “There is nothing that enters a man from outside which can defile him; but the things which come out of him, those are the things that defile a man.

well, you do have to blow smoke out of your lungs, so i guess it must be defiling afterall

 

[Pegg]

Alcohol's poison too; it severely hampers our mental capacity and control over our bodies if we indulge even a little above the standard amount, and it distracts people from serving God, but are you complaining about people having a drink?

not at all...alcohol in moderation does not poison the body. Besides, God permits the drinking of alcohol.

but smoking is addictive, and full of poisons which are known to cause cancer. Smokes become your master once you are addicted...and if you are a slave to the cigarette, then you are not a slave to God or Christ.

 

[Gjallarhorn]

well, you do have to blow smoke out of your lungs, so i guess it must be defiling afterall

Chewing tobacco and pot brownies.

 

[Yadon]

Chewing tobacco and pot brownies.

Does it count if you unwittingly eat those brownies?

 

[Pegg]

Chewing tobacco and pot brownies.

have you seen what happens to the gums of tobacco chewers?


Smokeless Tobacco

its not pretty :no:

 

[Gjallarhorn]

have you seen what happens to the gums of tobacco chewers?


Smokeless Tobacco

its not pretty :no:

And those that devour morsels of chocolatey and cannabinoid goodness?

 

[punkdbass]

not at all...alcohol in moderation does not poison the body. Besides, God permits the drinking of alcohol.

but smoking is addictive, and full of poisons which are known to cause cancer. Smokes become your master once you are addicted...and if you are a slave to the cigarette, then you are not a slave to God or Christ.

Not that I'm trying to argue but I hope you realize that alcohol is also addictive, can cause cancer, and thus can "poison" the body in a sense. It's actually rather common knowledge that marijuana is less addictive than alcohol, and in terms of it's effect on the brain - currently evidence shows that longterm marijuana use is less harmful on the brain than longterm alcohol use (this could change in the future though as marijuana research becomes easier to do with less legal restrictions in the way). So in general pot appears to be healthier than alcohol, the real issue though is today, people know how to create strains of marijuana with ridiculously high THC, or they know how to cook with marijuana to make extremely potent edibles or concentrates... we have a decent idea how moderate "regular" marijuana effects your health but who knows what the heck these extra potent strains and concentrates do to your health. Oh and fyi, you don't have to "smoke" marijuana, you can vaporize it (eliminates 99% of harmful byproducts of smoke), or cook with it.

So arguing that marijuana is wrong while alcohol is okay on a basis of how it impacts your health seems to be a pretty poor argument. But like I said, I'm not trying to argue with you (just inform), as you gave many great biblical verses that would speak against getting high.

 

[nazz]

well, you do have to blow smoke out of your lungs, so i guess it must be defiling afterall

Points for a clever retort!

 

[JayJayDee]

Not that I'm trying to argue but I hope you realize that alcohol is also addictive, can cause cancer, and thus can "poison" the body in a sense. It's actually rather common knowledge that marijuana is less addictive than alcohol, and in terms of it's effect on the brain - currently evidence shows that longterm marijuana use is less harmful on the brain than longterm alcohol use (this could change in the future though as marijuana research becomes easier to do with less legal restrictions in the way). So in general pot appears to be healthier than alcohol, the real issue though is today, people know how to create strains of marijuana with ridiculously high THC, or they know how to cook with marijuana to make extremely potent edibles or concentrates... we have a decent idea how moderate "regular" marijuana effects your health but who knows what the heck these extra potent strains and concentrates do to your health. Oh and fyi, you don't have to "smoke" marijuana, you can vaporize it (eliminates 99% of harmful byproducts of smoke), or cook with it.

So arguing that marijuana is wrong while alcohol is okay on a basis of how it impacts your health seems to be a pretty poor argument. But like I said, I'm not trying to argue with you (just inform), as you gave many great biblical verses that would speak against getting high.

Since you asked for the "Christian" stance on marijuana, I believe that this is what Pegg has given you.

Moderate consumption of alcohol is not harmful to health, in fact a glass of wine with meal aids digestion. Paul recommended a little wine for Timothy's frequent bouts of sickness. (1 Tim 5:23)

It is never OK for a Christian to break the laws of the land in which they live unless it directly contravenes God's law, which takes precedence. There is no leeway for a person who claims to be a Christian to engage in illegal activity.

Softer drugs are often the lead into something more serious. Even smoking tobacco is known to be harmful to health. Polluting the body deliberately with harmful substances, even if these are not illegal, is still against Bible principles. It shows gross disrespect for God's creation to deliberately pollute it.

The pollution of air, water and soil has a negative effect on all of us, but unless we are actively engaged in doing that, (which the average person is not) we have to wait for the time when God will "bring to ruin those who ruin the earth" (Rev 11:18)

The Christian position, I believe is clear. No mind altering substance can be abused whether its legal or not. A Christian must be in control of his actions and faculties to the best of his ability at all times.

 

[Jeremy Mason]

Since you asked for the "Christian" stance on marijuana, I believe that this is what Pegg has given you.

Moderate consumption of alcohol is not harmful to health, in fact a glass of wine with meal aids digestion. Paul recommended a little wine for Timothy's frequent bouts of sickness. (1 Tim 5:23)

So is cannabis.

It is never OK for a Christian to break the laws of the land in which they live unless it directly contravenes God's law, which takes precedence. There is no leeway for a person who claims to be a Christian to engage in illegal activity.

A few states have legalized cannabis.

Softer drugs are often the lead into something more serious. Even smoking tobacco is known to be harmful to health. Polluting the body deliberately with harmful substances, even if these are not illegal, is still against Bible principles. It shows gross disrespect for God's creation to deliberately pollute it.

Cannabis has many awesome health properties.

The pollution of air, water and soil has a negative effect on all of us, but unless we are actively engaged in doing that, (which the average person is not) we have to wait for the time when God will "bring to ruin those who ruin the earth" (Rev 11:18)

Do you drive a car? I stopped in 1999.

The Christian position, I believe is clear. No mind altering substance can be abused whether its legal or not. A Christian must be in control of his actions and faculties to the best of his ability at all times.

No caffeine!

 

[nazz]

The pollution of air, water and soil has a negative effect on all of us, but unless we are actively engaged in doing that, (which the average person is not) we have to wait for the time when God will "bring to ruin those who ruin the earth" (Rev 11:18)

Actually unless one lives in a cave we are all involved in that.

The Christian position, I believe is clear. No mind altering substance can be abused whether its legal or not. A Christian must be in control of his actions and faculties to the best of his ability at all times.

But alcohol is mind altering as well.

 

[JayJayDee]

So is cannabis.



A few states have legalized cannabis.



Cannabis has many awesome health properties.

This is why we have a conscience as well as written instruction JM.

Cannabis is not specifically mentioned in the Bible, but wine is.

People, including Jesus drank wine, but it is the over consumption leading to drunkenness that is condemned in the word of God.

We can feel relaxed after a glass of wine, merry after a couple, but when does a person cross the line into drunkenness? That is a matter for conscience.

Do you drive a car? I stopped in 1999.

Good for you, especially if you stopped specifically for reason of conscience. If I thought for one moment that ceasing to drive my car would in any way significantly reduce the pollution levels on earth, then I would probably stop too. A few drops of water in an ocean is hardly significant though. God is the only one who can reverse the damage already done in more ways than we can count. Air pollution is just the tip of a very big iceberg.

Everything that contributes to health and life on this planet has been polluted.
Do you grow your own food? Harvest rainwater to drink? Refrain from using pesticides etc in your home? Recycle all waste? All of that would be good except that the air is so polluted that even that will make little difference to the overall problem.

The oceans are a dumping ground for all sorts of toxic chemical waste.
Even when treated sewage is returned to the ocean, the medications that people take by the tons each year are not removed and are causing fish to become deformed in some areas. Heavy metal poisoning is common in some fish species.

The problem of pollution is so big that literally thousands of square miles of ocean are a floating mass of plastic waste, killing sea birds and other marine creatures by the thousands. No one it seems wants to take responsibility for this or wants to clean it up. I wonder how long it will sit there growing by the year?

The evil deeds of man are so far reaching that if we were to address them one by one, it would take many lifetimes even to discuss them, let alone do something about them. Makes not driving a car seem a little inadequate, doesn't it?

No caffeine!

LOL I can't get through the day without a cuppa, but then I put caffeine on the same level as wine......moderation is the key.

Over consumption of anything can be harmful I guess.

 

[Jeremy Mason]

This is why we have a conscience as well as written instruction JM.

I concur.

Cannabis is not specifically mentioned in the Bible, but wine is.

Maybe not mentioned, but cannabis was contemporary with the ancients.

People, including Jesus drank wine, but it is the over consumption leading to drunkenness that is condemned in the word of God.

I agree.

We can feel relaxed after a glass of wine, merry after a couple, but when does a person cross the line into drunkenness? That is a matter for conscience.

That is the same feeling most people get by 1 or 2 puffs off a vaporizer. Again, not over-doing it and no smoke. Eatables are an alternative as well.

Good for you, especially if you stopped specifically for reason of conscience. If I thought for one moment that ceasing to drive my car would in any way significantly reduce the pollution levels on earth, then I would probably stop too. A few drops of water in an ocean is hardly significant though. God is the only one who can reverse the damage already done in more ways than we can count. Air pollution is just the tip of a very big iceberg.

Your example has a profound impact on those around you. Your actions amplify your uniqueness.

Everything that contributes to health and life on this planet has been polluted.
Do you grow your own food? Harvest rainwater to drink? Refrain from using pesticides etc in your home? Recycle all waste? All of that would be good except that the air is so polluted that even that will make little difference to the overall problem.

I plan on doing these things.

The oceans are a dumping ground for all sorts of toxic chemical waste.
Even when treated sewage is returned to the ocean, the medications that people take by the tons each year are not removed and are causing fish to become deformed in some areas. Heavy metal poisoning is common in some fish species.

The problem of pollution is so big that literally thousands of square miles of ocean are a floating mass of plastic waste, killing sea birds and other marine creatures by the thousands. No one it seems wants to take responsibility for this or wants to clean it up. I wonder how long it will sit there growing by the year?

The evil deeds of man are so far reaching that if we were to address them one by one, it would take many lifetimes even to discuss them, let alone do something about them. Makes not driving a car seem a little inadequate, doesn't it?

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The Simpsons: Crying Indian - YouTube

LOL I can't get through the day without a cuppa, but then I put caffeine on the same level as wine......moderation is the key.

Over consumption of anything can be harmful I guess.

Exactly.

The thing to remember is caging people for using a plant is ridiculous. These non-violent people are clogging-up our courtrooms and jail/prison cells. I would rather see rapists and murders in these places. Marijuana reform is good policy.