Over the years [when asked this question about using marijuana], my default answer has been Romans 13:1–7, which basically says that believers must submit to the laws of government as long as there is no conflict with the higher laws of God in Scripture. This was a simple way to say “no” to recreational pot smoking. But now that recreational marijuana use is no longer illegal (according to my state laws, at least), the guiding question is now twofold:
Is using marijuana sinful, or is it wise?
Some things are neither illegal (forbidden by government in laws) nor sinful (forbidden by God in Scripture), but they are unwise. For example, eating a cereal box instead of the food it contains is not illegal or sinful—it’s just foolish. This explains why the Bible speaks not only of sin, but also folly, particularly in places such as the book of Proverbs. There are innumerable things that won’t get you arrested or brought under church discipline, but they are just foolish and unwise—the kinds of things people often refer to by saying, “That’s just stupid.”
Read it all.
Filed under: * Christian Life / Church Life • Parish Ministry • Ministry of the Ordained • * Culture-Watch • Drugs/Drug Addiction • Law & Legal Issues • Men • Urban/City Life and Issues • Young Adults • * Religion News & Commentary • Other Churches • Evangelicals • * Theology • Anthropology • Ethics / Moral Theology • Pastoral Theology
Posted December 8, 2012 at 4:00 pm
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2. Charles wrote:
Br. Michael, then I assume support going back to prohibiting alcohol. From what I remember from the history books, that didn’t work too well… December 9, 10:29 am | [comment link] |
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3. Br. Michael wrote:
You can make the case that consuming alcohol is sin and some denominations do. December 9, 2:58 pm | [comment link] |
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Isn’t it great how morality can change on a 50% plus 1 vote.
If we take Paul’s analogy of the body as God’s temple seriously then I would suggest that anything that pollutes that body is sinful whether it is sexual or ingested.
December 9, 7:07 am | [comment link]