Thursday, 24 March 2011
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Does Scripture Support Smoking Pot?
By Matthew at Jesus Needs New PR
Well… one Facebook group says yes. The group Every Seed Bearing Plant suggests that Genesis 1:29 offer biblical support for the extracurricular use of marijuana.“And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.” Genesis 1:29.
The group’s mission is simple: Establishing the God connection to the Marijuana, Poppy and Coca plant, and why it is against God’s law to make any plant illegal.
You can read more about this group’s high agenda here.
Scott Overpeck sent this to me!
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About the Author
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- From: JesusNeedsNewPR
- Name: Matthew Paul Turner
- About Me: Matthew Paul Turner is the author of ten books and a contributor to several others. He is also the former editor of CCM, a popular Christian music magazine, and a past contributor to crosswalk.com.
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Comments (98)
@Thespian_Carzer@xanga - I agree with you about people shouldn't use bible to get away with things.
Even the devil used the bible to tempt Jesus.
@dRebeccab@xanga - Christ himself drank wine and created a bounty of it for a party. I don't think alcohol is harmful unless people don't know when to quit. Getting drunk and being a jerk isn't good, but having a couple of glasses of wine (or beer, whiskey, bourbon, mixed drinks,etc.) and NOT being a jerk is okay. It depends directly upon the person and the amount of drink.
@When_We_Were_Both_Cats@xanga - @PseudoEuphoric@xanga -
@undeclared1@xanga -
Alright, alright. So, it's approved by doctors, so it's approved by half of todays generation. It still doesn't make it ethical or right or healthy by any means! I mean... there are so many other productive ways to deal with stress and peer pressure than to sit around, smoke pot, and sing Bob Marley. (That's not entirely true, but c'mon, Nickelback seems to think so.) It's just terrible to sit and watch today's generation melt away with video games and marijuana. You get what I'm talking about, right? Other than using it for medical reasons, there really isn't a need for it... It's a time-waster, body-consumer, habit. I mean... does it matter if The Bible says it's okay or not? People lie, even though it says not to. Sinning is a habit... Controversial things are going to happen regardless.
btw. I really appreciate your backup argument & your enthusiasm with the evidence, even though you're debating for supporting marijuana.
@When_We_Were_Both_Cats@xanga - & about what you said earlier... I agree. Caffeine is a complete waste of time. Sure, we all do it, but why? Is there a real benefit from it? For, what? A couple of hours? I'm sure eating healthier & exercising regularly is MUCH better. It's just going to happen. There are plenty of things out there that are becoming an epidemic.
@needtobreathe22@xanga - So you're saying all marijuana smokers are wasting their lives? Eh, I beg to differ.
Funniest thing, the President of The United States used to smoked pot, as did presidents in the past.
They didn't make it far, at all, did they? =P (Sorry for the sarcasm, I don't mean to be rude. Especially because you do have valid points.)
There are some medicinal needs, I believe. But for recreation, I don't see a real NEED either. But, then again, where is the NEED for alcohol, cigarettes, or like you said, caffeine? (Although, in the midst of a heart attack, ironically enough, caffeine pills can save your life =))
I do agree with you on the doctor thing. Just because they approve it, doesn't mean it's healthy. Hahaha, the irony.
Yes, people are going to do it either way. As our history books have taught us, prohibition DOES NOT WORK.
But, as said in a previous comment, I don't want MY tax dollars going towards putting a pothead in jail when they could be doing something like... putting a kid through college.
I believe meat bearing would mean to use as food. So, are you using it as food to nourish your body by chewing it up, or what? I find it funny how many people I know whom try to use that scripture to support their cause. It's funny what people can make scripture out to say. Oh well.
@f5ye_angel5@xanga - @f5ye_angel5@xanga - *Hugs* I agree.
People should learn to separate their cultural understanding of something from their scriptural understanding.
Most people are opposed to using marijuana because it has the stigma of being illegal in the U.S. They forget that at one time alcohol was illegal as well, and now it is not. Most Christians who read the Bible would agree that there is nothing morally/spiritually wrong with consuming alcohol, but to do so in excess or to the point of getting drunk is sin.
As it stands, using marijuana in this society is illegal. If it were legal would it be wrong to use? I don't think so.
If you research the properties of the plant you will find that when it is consumed in ways other than smoking, it is not addictive and it does not harm your health, certainly not to the degree that alcohol does.
The principal that we learn from the teachings of Jesus is that we are not to be mastered by anything, whether it is food, drugs, alcohol entertainment, attitude, etc. We are supposed to use self control in every area of our lives. This means that we can not allow ourselves to become addicted to anything. I would never take harmful drugs like heroin, cocaine, meth, or whatever because I know that I can physiologically become addicted to these things. But, I have no problem drinking a glass of wine.
I'm just saying, don't assume that because something is illegal, its bad.
@Liquid_Pain_523@xanga - forgive me for making this point, but assuming you are yourself a Christian: "People don't want to ask questions, they want to be told things." isn't that what religion is sort of based on? you were shown the Bible and the Christian religion and you believe it. you were told things. people get angry when you question their religion, because if religious people question their own religion, they are regarded as unfaithful.
also, marijuana may have (extremely minimal) medical benefits; however after the mental problems it has personally contributed to over the years, i would rather put up with 'chronic ache' than be constantly checking if there are people in my house for the rest of my life. it has turned alot of my ambitious, happy friends into uninteresting, drifting souls.. and that is really sad. -no matter what the Scriptures say, i'd rather be thankful for those plants that nourish the body AND soul, not those plants that waste both: much like a poison, i believe..
@tinyt3rror@xanga - In response to your first point, I'm not Christian. I'm not religious at all. I'm actually agnostic. In fact, I agree with you about religion.
Also, abusing any substance earlier in life will lead to detrimental effects later. I'm assuming you used to smoke a lot of it, and so did the people it turned into "uninteresting, drifting souls." And obviously it has different effects on different people, so it's not for everyone. But research seems to show that it's great for a wide range of problems, so I wouldn't say the medical effects are minimal.@Liquid_Pain_523@xanga - then apologies for my assumption. i am not anti-religion as such, i just reject the fact i cannot question anything within the "boundaries" of one!
yes, you're right, i was a heavy smoker for a good period of time, but i have friends that smoke maybe once or twice a week and have done so for a couple of years and they have already lost their personality.. i don't know, i see that as minimal use, but i may have a warped view.
i think i'd agree with the medicinal effects of marijuana more if they just isolated them and put them in a pill or something. i'm sure scientists are capable of doing this! (: i suppose a lot of people make themselves purposely blind to the good effects of marijuana, partly because yes, the government has told them it's bad; but secondly because people who do smoke it (in my personal experience) ram all its "good" qualities down your throat and wave away any bad qualities you point out!
@tinyt3rror@xanga - Very true. The issue is very polarizing, and as such, it's hard to get to the actual truth because everyone is so biased about it. As to the point of your friends losing their personalities... I'd just say to look around at people as they get older. Sadly, it just tends to happen.
Right...I don't agree with this. But even so, it doesn't mean that there aren't people out there who abuse it and are reckless. A lot of people just want the okay to sit around and get high all day. Not saying that it's like that for everyone. And I realize it's used for medical purposes. But I think restricting it is the better idea.
I believe if taken responsibly (eg. not while driving, caregiving, etc.) and in a state where it is legal there is nothing morally wrong with smoking.
@Ancient_Scribe@xanga - Have you tried it? There are many functioning stoners that use marijuana for medicinal purposes in many churches, in many neighborhoods, in many classrooms who are a true testament to their faith in Christ.. How can you say it's not so if you've never done it?
@MomGoneMadd@xanga - ...don't you find that line of thinking to be somewhat dangerous? The idea that we cannot justify morally advising against something unless we have tried it ourselves? I can think of plenty of things that I can believe are wrong without having to try them first.
As far as using marijuana for medicinal purposes, that is one thing entirely. There are indeed some medications that, for the sake of health, temporarily suspend or compromise one's ability to reason, to choose, and to exercise free will. But when a person willfully, simply for the sake of doing it, uses a substance that hampers their ability to reason clearly, I think this is something that begins to create distance between the person and God. I don't need to try various drugs or even drink until I am drunk or buzzed to know that to willfully suspend my ability to pray, to minister to others, to relate to God and serve Him well is likely against His desires for me.
@Ancient_Scribe@xanga - Perhaps. I also think saying someone who uses cant be of a sound mind in Christ because of it is equally dangerous and condemning.
@MomGoneMadd@xanga - I am talking here, of course, of those who use such substances that alter the mind to the point of adversely affecting the will. Smoking tobacco, drinking caffeinated beverages, having a couple of drinks, medicinal use of prescribed amounts of marijuana (I suppose), etc. do not produce an effect that negatively impacts the use of our reason, which is the very attribute of our humanity that permits us to know God in the first place. To suspend it or impact it detracts from our capacity to know God and to choose a life with Him.
Again, I'm not dismissing all users, but rather the *choice* any would make to willingly withdraw from their ability to know God clearly.
Smoking marijuana, sniffing coke, drinking fermented grapes, or any other natural substance in of itself is not sinful. What is sinful is when a person intentionally chooses to lose control of ones senses and inhibitions, opening himself to further sin, temptation, and evil influence.
@CecilliaMarie@xanga -I AGREE IT .... is against the law to use / Possess pot and according to the bible we are suppose to Obey the laws '' Jesus instucted us to obey the laws and government ''' as long as it does NOT conflict with God's law..... ALSO the bible clearly states NOT to defile the temple ! another verse WHETHER THEREFORE YE '''EAT'' OR ''DRINK'' OR WHAT EVER YE DO, DO ''''ALL'''' TO THE GLORY OF GOD 1 Corinthians 10:31 YOU can't be using drugs & giving GOD the GLORY ... EITHER you are for GOD or againest HIM ! either Satan or GOD ...
you walk in darkness or in the light !
It is not necessary to smoke pot for recreation, it is not contrary to proper Christian living to abstain from it, therefore so long as it is illegal I think there is very little excuse for a Christian to use it for fun. If law of the land is asking you to do something scripture clearly teaches to be immoral, than I can see breaking the law. But while scripture teaches God created everything and called it good, scripture does NOT at all suggest that your soul is in moral jeopardy if you don't smoke pot, so there goes that idea.
That's a separate issue from whether or not we should support changing such laws. I personally don't like the idea of pot outside of legit medicinal use, but I still think it should be legal. But as long as it is the law ,we should follow it, and using the Bible as an excuse to get stoned illegally is pretty low, and kinda supports the idea that pot is really bad for your brain cells.
@Liquid_Pain_523@xanga - The bible reads to follow the law of the land...as long as it does not confict the law of god, in which case you still do righteousness even to imprisonment or death. We have bigger problems than weed, our brothers sisters in muslim countries are persecuted everyday just for using the name of christ, this is heading to america also-persecution. By the way you cannot serve god high. Smoking pot puts you in the same state of mind as being drunk, the bible condemns drunkeness in the new and old testaments. As christians all we have to stand on is the bible if we dont have it as a firm foundation we are without hope. We're not saved by opinions, mine or someone else's. The word of God is our salvation.
@CecilliaMarie@xanga - Prayer was illegal, but Daniel prayed.They forbade the preaching of the gospel, but they preached. Yah does not require us to obey unjust laws. As Paul wrote to Timothy, "For
everything created by God is good, and
nothing is to be rejected if it is
received with thanksgiving,for it is made holy
by the word of God and prayer."
Cannabis, or kaneh bosm as the Bible refers to it in Exodus 30:23, falls into the same category of "everything" in the New Covenant Scriptures as it did in Genesis 1:29, "And God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food."