As you live your life today, 105 people will have their's ended due to the effects of ingesting, inhaling, shooting up or drinking some sort of drug. Over 6,700 people will be treated at a medical facility because of the misuse of what they might have very well thought to be something simply "recreational" in nature. Being the leading cause of injury death just three short years ago (2010), recreational drug use has become a serious problem over the past few decades (1), maybe since the awakening of the modern mindset sometime during the last two generations. Whatever the cause, drug use is a hurdle which must be met head on by the members of the one and only Body of Christ. But, why? Is it just because it is harmful or deceptive?
It is Harmful & Deceptive
First, let's understand that recreational drug use is, in fact, those things. Since so many today stand for personal choices with regard to the use of substances like marijuana or even alcohol it is hard to get the chance to speak in the discussion. So many are "for" the legalization of substances which are said to be benign when in actuality the same material is said to be harmful. Whether it is marijuana or heroin, it is harmful. From the decrease in the ability to breathe must like that of cigarette smoke (2) to the very visible problems associated with opiates, they all harm the body which was given to us for the glorification of God rather than the gratification of self (1 Corinthians 6:20).
Addiction Is A Real Possibility
This is where the rubber meets the road in the spiritual discussion of one's partaking of recreational drugs. One need not study the Scriptures long before he comes to the realization that God is disgusted by addiction, of any kind. Cheeseburgers to cocaine, an addiction is an addiction. When a person allows something to control them to the point of an addiction he has allowed whatever the object of that obsession to take the place of the Almighty. Since doing so is the very essence of idolatry, the individual taken by such must flee from anything which would lead him to that point (1 John 5:21, 1 Thessalonians 5:22). Just a simple understanding of the harm which addiction can do to one's body, soul, family and reputation the Christian quickly sees that it is in no way something which should be associated with the church of the Lord.
Soberness is the Standard
Just for a second, let's look at something which is very near and dear to my heart, being a preacher of the Gospel aimed at educating individuals in the way of the Lord. The apostle Peter made it abundantly clear that the follower of God is to have within his back pocket, if you will, the answers to those questions which might be asked by those searching for Truth in order to lead them to Christ (1 Peter 3:15). If that is the case, the Christian then must not only have those answers accessible to him but be ready to give them at a moment's notice. Now, how can that be done when one is "stoned"? The interesting thing is that even the slang term used for one that is intoxicated brings forth the idea of one being immovable or unable to do anything (3)!
But, more than that, the mind is vital to the Christian life. Being self-controlled (Galatians 5:23), as will be better defined in our Peeled series later on, is the idea of having government over one's own actions. Since the use of such intoxicants lowers inhibitions and often causes people to act outside of their norm, it is not in congruence with the life of Christ. Furthermore, there are no less than 12 uses of the English word "sober" within the New Testament! If the Christian is to be sober (1 Thessalonians 5:6, 5:8, 1 Timothy 3:2, 3:11, Titus 1:8, 2:2, 2:4, 1 Peter 1:13, 4:7, 5:8), then recreational drug use is quickly dispatched as yet another action of the world which is abhorrent to God.
It is Harmful & Deceptive
First, let's understand that recreational drug use is, in fact, those things. Since so many today stand for personal choices with regard to the use of substances like marijuana or even alcohol it is hard to get the chance to speak in the discussion. So many are "for" the legalization of substances which are said to be benign when in actuality the same material is said to be harmful. Whether it is marijuana or heroin, it is harmful. From the decrease in the ability to breathe must like that of cigarette smoke (2) to the very visible problems associated with opiates, they all harm the body which was given to us for the glorification of God rather than the gratification of self (1 Corinthians 6:20).
Addiction Is A Real Possibility
This is where the rubber meets the road in the spiritual discussion of one's partaking of recreational drugs. One need not study the Scriptures long before he comes to the realization that God is disgusted by addiction, of any kind. Cheeseburgers to cocaine, an addiction is an addiction. When a person allows something to control them to the point of an addiction he has allowed whatever the object of that obsession to take the place of the Almighty. Since doing so is the very essence of idolatry, the individual taken by such must flee from anything which would lead him to that point (1 John 5:21, 1 Thessalonians 5:22). Just a simple understanding of the harm which addiction can do to one's body, soul, family and reputation the Christian quickly sees that it is in no way something which should be associated with the church of the Lord.
Soberness is the Standard
Just for a second, let's look at something which is very near and dear to my heart, being a preacher of the Gospel aimed at educating individuals in the way of the Lord. The apostle Peter made it abundantly clear that the follower of God is to have within his back pocket, if you will, the answers to those questions which might be asked by those searching for Truth in order to lead them to Christ (1 Peter 3:15). If that is the case, the Christian then must not only have those answers accessible to him but be ready to give them at a moment's notice. Now, how can that be done when one is "stoned"? The interesting thing is that even the slang term used for one that is intoxicated brings forth the idea of one being immovable or unable to do anything (3)!
But, more than that, the mind is vital to the Christian life. Being self-controlled (Galatians 5:23), as will be better defined in our Peeled series later on, is the idea of having government over one's own actions. Since the use of such intoxicants lowers inhibitions and often causes people to act outside of their norm, it is not in congruence with the life of Christ. Furthermore, there are no less than 12 uses of the English word "sober" within the New Testament! If the Christian is to be sober (1 Thessalonians 5:6, 5:8, 1 Timothy 3:2, 3:11, Titus 1:8, 2:2, 2:4, 1 Peter 1:13, 4:7, 5:8), then recreational drug use is quickly dispatched as yet another action of the world which is abhorrent to God.
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