See, you keep saying this, but you have yet to respond to the many requests about this so-called "divine imperative" not to smoke pot.
I never said the divine imperative was about not smoking pot. I was making a reference to Acts 5:29. I will provide the list of verses so you can see for yourself.
(however, since it is illegal, and doesn't conflict with God's other commands for it to be illegal, it would be divine imperative)
Obey laws:
Deuteronomy 17:2
Ecclesiaste 8:2-5
Matthew 22:21; 23:2-3
Romans 13:1-7
Titus 3:1
1 Peter 2:13-17
2 Peter 2:9-11
We must obey God, when laws contradict with divine imperative.
Daniel 3 and 6
Acts 5:29
Even if we don't like that it's illegal:
Matthew 23:1-36 (Emphasis 1-4) Christ orders the disciples to obey the Pharisees, even though Christ rebuked them.
1 Peter 2:18-23
We are ordered to be above reproach for the sake of the Gospel:
1 Corintihians 10:32
2 Corinthians 4:2 and 6:3
Titus 2:1-8
2 Peter 3:14
Health:
Matthew 25:13-30
1 Cor 6:19-20
1 Peter 1:17-19
1 Cor 3:16-17
Susceptibility to deception:
John 8:44
1 Cor 15:34
1 Thess 5:4-8
2 Tim 4:5
1 Peter 1:13; 4:7; 5:8
1 Peter 5:8
1 Peter 4:7
Isaiah 1:10-17
If your motivation to use Marijuana is because you want to get high, you are following not only lust of the flesh, but also an idol. You cannot serve two Gods. (Matt 6:24)
Also, Titus 2:12
As you can see, it is not that we are to abstain from Marijuana that I was referring to as a divine imperative. I was saying that we are to obey the law of the land, except when the laws of the land contradict with divine imperative.
To understand what divine imperative is, we have to know the definitions of the words.
In this case, it would be definition 1a.
In this case, B first, and of course C has relevancy as well. 1a isn't quite as direct, but I think in some ways one could use that definition as well.
So what is divine imperative?
Basically, command, direction, things to be done/not done as expressed by God.
How is it that this conclusion has been made?
Well, first there is acts 5:29..
Acts 5 said:
27 The apostles were brought in and made to appear before the Sanhedrin to be questioned by the high priest. 28 “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,” he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.” 29 Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings! 30 The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from the dead—whom you killed by hanging him on a cross. 31 God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might bring Israel to repentance and forgive their sins. 32 We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”
Now, I used an example of this in an earlier post, which is quoted below.
JimmyDiggs said:
On the Romans 13 Clause, we are to obey the laws of the land so long as they do not conflict with divine imperative. For example, if I was in Saudi Arabia, it is illegal to evangelize, but I would still evangelize, albiet in private to keep the effectiveness. (My head in a basket of watermelons doesn't help a lot)
We see another example of this in Daniel 3...
Daniel 3 said:
1 King Nebuchadnezzar made an
image of gold, sixty cubits high and six cubits wide,
[a] and set it up on the
plain of Dura in the province of Babylon.
2 He then summoned the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates and all the other provincial officials to come to the dedication of the image he had set up.
3 So the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates and all the other provincial officials assembled for the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up, and they stood before it.
...................
7 Therefore, as soon as they heard the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp and all kinds of music,
all the nations and peoples of every language fell down and worshiped the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
8 At this time some astrologers[b] came forward and denounced the Jews. 9 They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, “May the king live forever!
10 Your Majesty has issued a decree that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe and all kinds of music must fall down and worship the image of gold,
11 and that whoever does not fall down and worship will be thrown into a blazing furnace.
12 But there are some Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon—Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego—who pay no attention to you, Your Majesty. They neither serve your gods nor worship the image of gold you have set up.”
Later in chapter 3, we see an example of pre-incarnate Jesus.
Daniel 3 said:
24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, “Weren’t there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?”
They replied, “Certainly, Your Majesty.”
25 He said, “Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.” 26 Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, “Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!”
We see Daniel having more trouble with this same thing, later in Daniel 6.
1 [a]It pleased Darius to appoint 120 satraps to rule throughout the kingdom,
2 with three administrators over them, one of whom was Daniel. The satraps were made accountable to them so that the king might not suffer loss.
3 Now Daniel so distinguished himself among the administrators and the satraps by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom.
4 At this, the administrators and the satrap
s tried to find grounds for charges against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs,
but they were unable to do so. They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent.
5 Finally these men said, “We will never find any basis for charges against this man Daniel unless it has something to do with the law of his God.”
6 So these administrators and satraps went as a group to the king and said: “May King Darius live forever!
7 The royal administrators, prefects, satraps, advisers and governors have all agreed that the king should issue an edict and enforce the decree that anyone who prays to any god or human being during the next thirty days, except to you, Your Majesty, shall be thrown into the lions’ den. 8 Now, Your Majesty, issue the decree and put it in writing so that it cannot be altered—in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.” 9 So King Darius put the decree in writing.
10 Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before. 11 Then these men went as a group and
found Daniel praying and asking God for help.
12 So they went to the king and spoke to him about his royal decree:
“Did you not publish a decree that during the next thirty days anyone who prays to any god or human being except to you, Your Majesty, would be thrown into the lions’ den?”
The king answered, “The decree stands—in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.”
13 Then they said to the king, “
Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, Your Majesty, or to the decree you put in writing. He still prays three times a day.”
14 When the king heard this, he was greatly distressed; he was determined to rescue Daniel and made every effort until sundown to save him.
15 Then the men went as a group to King Darius and said to him,
“Remember, Your Majesty, that according to the law of the Medes and Persians no decree or edict that the king issues can be changed.” 16 So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions’ den. The king said to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you!”
I have provided these to give you examples of how this would play out.
GrungeDiva said:
You keep spouting the "it's illegal so it's sin" argument, but you have not responded to many people here who have offered genuine questions about its legality for use as a medicine.
Recently the only person who said much coming from that perspective that has said much, has been muskokaman.
I'm not sure why you put the illegality into quotations, it's not like it's an unbiblical argument pulled out of a place that doesn't receive sunlight. It's a biblical principle. I will provided the passage below.
Romans 13 said:
1 Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2 Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. 4 For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.
6 This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. 7 Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.
GrungeDiva said:
Mr. Diggs, I think we are all in agreement that pot is illegal in the US and therefore it is a sin to smoke it. What you have failed to answer is, should we, as Christians, fight to allow sick people the right to use it if it helps them?
I don't recall reading any questions about that. (not saying they weren't there, just don't remember them at this point) All one has to do is go to scripture to find their answer.
The thread is about whether it is sinful to smoke Marijuana or not. That is what I have focused on answering.
GrungeDiva said:
Also, pot is not illegal in Denmark among other places. Does that mean it's a sin for Americans but not for Danes?
Coming from NORML.
NORML said:
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]
Denmark's legislation regarding drugs makes no distinction between hard and soft drugs, and drug use directly is not an offense. Acquisition of drugs is a criminal offense, and, the law makes no distinction between personal use and large scale trafficking, the latter subject to a penalty of up to six years imprisonment. In reality, the courts rarely view small amounts as "acquisition" and generally do not invoke severe penalties possible under the law. There are three categories of possession: for personal use, simple, and large scale. Possession for personal use is not an offense. If convicted, simple possession, meaning smaller amounts of less harmful drugs, can result in six years in prison. Large-scale possession of dangerous drugs can sentence one to up to ten years in prison. [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]
Although cannabis is categorized in Danish law with cocaine, heroin, and other highly addictive substances (in accordance with 1961 UN Convention), a directive from the Chief Prosecutor "provides for particularly lenient treatment of local trafficking in [cannabis] or possession with a view to use." The tendency of the courts' action for possession for personal use is most often a warning or a fine. Possession of small quantities of cannabis normally results in just a warning and confiscation of the substance. [/FONT]
European Drug Policy: Analysis and Case Studies - NORML <--- click
Assuming I understand what NORML wrote, and that NORML is accurate, it is still illegal in Denmark. Although, if it's not illegal in a country (assuming all laws, such as regional and municipal laws line up too) then Romans 13 would not be a principle that would apply.
Which would leave us with the following verses and their principles stilly applying.
We are ordered to be above reproach for the sake of the Gospel:
1 Corintihians 10:32
2 Corinthians 4:2 and 6:3
Titus 2:1-8
2 Peter 3:14
Health:
Matthew 25:13-30
(More on that here http://www.nida.nih.gov/NIDA_notes/N...epVol15N1.html)
1 Cor 6:19-20
1 Peter 1:17-19
1 Cor 3:16-17
Susceptibility to deception:
John 8:44
1 Cor 15:34
1 Thess 5:4-8
2 Tim 4:5
1 Peter 1:13; 4:7; 5:8
1 Peter 5:8
1 Peter 4:7
Isaiah 1:10-17
If your motivation to use Marijuana is because you want to get high, you are following not only lust of the flesh, but also an idol. You cannot serve two Gods. (Matt 6:24)
Also, Titus 2:12
GrungeDiva said:
Does God assign sin based on where you live rather than the behavior itself?
This is a false dichotomy.
Both occur at the same time, neither, or one at a time. It's not a strict either or.