Redeemer Lutheran Church

Marijuana

 

This touches on a matter that ought to be of much concern to Christians as they seek to live in a way that pleases God. We must remember, of course, that the Scriptures do not always specifically address many issues that Christians confront today. Nothing specific is said about the use of marijuana. However, this is not to say that the Word of God provides us with no guidance regarding the use of a drug such as this. Quite the contrary, the Holy Scriptures speak quite directly to the general moral question involved in drug usage.

 

Let us take, for example, where Paul provides us a sample list of acts of the sinful nature.

“Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God” (Galatians 5:19-21).

 

Included at the end of the list are things such as “drunkenness, orgies, and thing like these.” Common to all of the items in the list is self-indulgence, the pursuit of pleasure, euphoria, and happiness through acts that serve our fleshly desires. Those who cave in to a life style ruled by such acts endanger their own spiritual welfare and may even through impenitence jeopardize their inheritance in the kingdom of God. Note, too, that in the list of the “fruit of the Spirit” in the verses that follow is the quality of “self-control.” It is not difficult to see that the use of drugs falls into the category of self-indulgence, which is the characteristic of all “acts of the flesh.” It may be important also to note that not everything that is legal is morally permissible. For example, that abortion is legal does not mean that it is morally permissible in God’s eyes.

 

God promises to those who believe in Jesus Christ the gift of His Holy Spirit so that they may live on a higher level. St. Paul provides a great summary of this life style when he says, “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God" (1 Corinthians 10:31).