I am very much against marijuana after years of seeing the long terms effects it has on people. I also know that our Lord doesn't want us abusing what He has given us. True, marijuana has some theraputical benefits but is is more often used for recreational use and often is abused. I tried it exactly three times in my teens and did not like the way it affected me. To me it is a moral issue since I know how it effects thought patterns and physical abilities as well. I have battled with my wifes son over this for several years and there has been a lot of damage to our relationship. He was smoking it on our property, in our home, having friends over, drinking beer and smoking pot. I am a deacon in my church and I cannot accept this lifestyle to continue. My wife was onboard with me for years about drinking or drugs in our home. We both would not allow it. Over the last few years she has caved in to his pressure, I have not and it continues to be a strain on our relationship. Now he has decided that he wants to be in the pot business. He is presently taking a class once a week to learn all about it. In about 10 weeks he will get his certificate and that will be his grand achievement in life. He was a straight A student for years until he got on pot, then his grades crashed and burned and his only ambition now is pot. Now I am the bad guy because I won't jump on board with his decision. To me it is a moral issue and am not comfortable with comprimising my morals and caving in. I would appreciate Godly advice on this situation...
Hi Jacob,
Regarding the use of drugs, in the NT this falls under the category of sorcery and witchcraft. The word pharmakeia translated as sorcery or magic arts, is where we get our English word "Pharmaceuticals" from. Drugs were/are part of casting spells and incantations. People use drugs today recreationally, but according to the word of God it is still considered engaging in sorcery, magic arts. This can be seen in the following scriptures:
"The rest of mankind who were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the work of their hands; they did not stop worshiping demons, and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone and wood—idols that cannot see or hear or walk. Nor did they repent of their murders, their
magic arts, their sexual immorality or their thefts." (Rev.9:21)
"Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. Outside are the dogs, those who practice
magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood." (Rev.22:14-15)
That being said, drug use provides opportunity for the powers of darkness, demonic activity, to interact within peoples lives. So regarding your wife's son, you might want to mention this aspect to him. For as I am sure that you already know, anyone who continues to willfully live according to the sinful nature will reap destruction. And also, not being in Christ and being involved with pharmakeía makes him vulnerable to the demonic activity. I will keep him in prayer.
pharmakeía (from
pharmakeuō, "administer drugs") – properly, drug-related sorcery, like the practice of magical-arts, etc.
phármakos –
properly, a sorcerer; used of people using drugs and "religious incantations" to drug people into living by their
illusions – like having magical (supernatural) powers to manipulate God into giving them more temporal possessions.