God’s View of DRUGS... Should be Yours Too!

Some people may believe that the Bible has little to say about drugs, but this is not so. First, the Bible has a great deal to say about the most common and most abused drug of ancient times... alcohol. Ephesians 5:18 admonishes Christians not to be drunk with wine. In many places in Scripture drunkenness is called a sin (Deut. 21:20-21, Amos 6:1, 1 Cor.6:9-10, Gal. 5:19-20). The Bible also warns of the dangers of drinking alcohol in Proverbs 20:1, Isaiah 5:11, Habakkuk 2:15-16. If the Bible warns of the danger of alcohol, then by implication it is also warning of the dangers of taking other kinds of drugs that alter a person’s awareness and grasp on reality.

The Biblical perspective on alcohol is clear, is it not?  Therefore we can assume that any substance or additive to the human body that alters our physical awareness and reality would be condemned by God.  Don’t be deceived by those who say the Bible says nothing about “drugs” therefore they are permissible for medicinal and moderate recreational use.  

Drugs were an integral part of many ancient near East societies. For example, the pagan cultures surrounding the nation of Israel used drugs as part of their religious ceremonies. Both the Old Testament and New Testament condemn sorcery and witchcraft. The word translated "sorcery" comes from the Greek word from which we get the English words "pharmacy" and "pharmaceutical." In ancient times, drugs were prepared by a witch or shaman.

Drugs were used to enter into the spiritual world by inducing an altered state of consciousness that allowed demons to take over the mind of the user. In that day, drug use was tied to sorcery. In our day, many use drugs merely for so-called "recreational" purposes, but we cannot discount the occult origins and demonic connection of drugs that alter our mental state.

Galatians 5:19-21 says: "The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery, idolatry and witchcraft [which includes the use of drugs]; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions, and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like.I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God." The word witchcraft here is also translated "sorcery" and refers to the use of drugs. The Apostle Paul calls witchcraft that was associated with drug use a sin. The non-medical use of drugs is considered one of the acts of a sinful nature. Using drugs, whether to "get a high" or to tap into the occult, is one of the acts of a sinful nature where users demonstrate their depraved and carnal nature.

The psychic effects of drugs should not be discounted. A questionnaire designed by Charles Tate and sent to users of marijuana documented some disturbing findings. In his article in Psychology Today he noted that one fourth of the marijuana users who responded to his questionnaire reported that they were taken over and controlled by an evil person or power during their drug induced experience. And over half of those questioned said they have experienced religious or "spiritual" sensations in which they meet spiritual beings.

Many proponents of the drug culture have linked drug use to spiritual values. During the 1960s, Timothy Leary and Alan Watts referred to the "religious" and "mystical" experience gained through the use of LSD (along with other drugs) as a prime reason for taking drugs.

No doubt drugs are dangerous, not only to our body but to our spirit. As Christians, we must warn our children and our society of the dangers of drugs.  Are we succeeding in that challenge of warning our kids and staying connected to them and the things they pursue for entertainment? 

Are you listening to the music your teens may be listening to?  If you are not, it’s likely that you have no clue what the lyrics are suggestively planting in impressionable minds.  A Nine Inch Nails album The Downward Spiral features a song "My Self Destruct" with the lyrics: "I am the needle in your vein and I control you, I am the high you can't sustain and I control you." Another song, "Hurt," explores drugs as a means of escape with lyrics like, "The needle tears a hole, the old familiar sting, try to kill it all away."

Then there’s the mindless violence that often accompanies drug use. Five Dodge City, Kansas teenagers, high on marijuana, killed a stranger for no obvious reason. Three West Palm Beach, Florida teenagers mixed beer, rum, marijuana and cocaine. They then kidnapped and set ablaze a tourist from Brooklyn NY.  Once sober, all these teens could not explain what happened... or why they did what they did... none-the-less, their lives are ruined. 

Nearly everywhere we look, the consequences of drug abuse can be seen. Violent street gangs, family violence, train crashes, the spread of AIDS, and babies born with cocaine dependency all testify to the pervasive influence of drugs in our world.

The statistics are staggering. The average age of first alcohol use is 12 and the average age of first drug use is 13. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, 93 percent of all teenagers have some experience with alcohol by the end of their senior year of high school and 6 percent drink daily. Almost two-thirds of all American young people try illicit drugs before they finish high school. One out of sixteen seniors smokes marijuana daily and 20 percent have done so for at least a month sometime in their lives. A recent poll found that adolescents listed drugs as the most important problem facing people their age, followed by crime and violence in school and social pressures.

Drugs have changed the social landscape of America. Street gangs spring up nearly overnight looking for the enormous profits drugs can bring. Organized crime is also involved in setting up franchises that would make McDonald's envious. But these are not hamburgers. In the world of drugs, homicidally vicious gangs compete for market share with murderous results. Many gang members outgun the police with their weapons of choice: semi-automatic pistols, AK-47s, and Uzis. Drug dealers have also gone high tech using cellular phones and computers to keep track of deals, while their teenage runners wear phone beepers in school.

The Parents' Resource Institute for Drug Education (PRIDE) reports that children who abuse illicit drugs are significantly more likely to carry a gun to school, take part in gang activities, think of suicide, threaten harm to others, and get in trouble with the police than children who abstain.

Does raising young people in the Church make a difference?  One survey released by the University of Colorado shows that the problem of drug use is not just outside the church. The study involved nearly 14,000 junior high and high school youth and compared churched young people with unchurched young people and found very little difference. For example, 88 percent of the unchurched young people reported drinking beer as compared to 80 percent of churched young people. When asked how many had tried marijuana, 47 percent of the unchurched young people had done so compared to 38 percent of the churched youth. For amphetamines and barbiturates, 28 percent of the unchurched had tried them while 22 percent of the church young people had tried them. And for cocaine use, the percentage was 14 percent for unchurched youths and 11 percent for churched youths.  Drugs are stealing our youth, spoiling their relationship with God.

Fighting the lure of drugs on our youth often seems futile. When drug dealers are arrested, they are often released prematurely because court dockets are overloaded. Plea bargaining and paroles are standard fare as the revolving doors of justice spin faster. As the casualties mount in this war against drugs, some commentators have begun to suggest that the best solution is to legalize drugs. But you don't win a war by surrendering. If drugs were legalized, addiction would increase, health costs would increase, and government would once again capitulate to societal pressures and shirk its responsibility to establish moral law.

Legalization is not the answer, then something must be done about the abuse of drugs like alcohol, cocaine, marijuana, heroin, and PCP. Just the medical cost of drug abuse was estimated by the National Center for Health Statistics to be nearly $60 billion, and the medical bill for alcohol was nearly $100 billion.

Many people have gotten hooked on drugs after deciding that they just wanted to try them once. To chance just one time is dangerous. Most all drugs are physically addictive, affecting some people more strongly than others. In addition, people get hooked psychologically, on the high—the euphoric and mellow feeling they have while under the influence of a drug. It feels so good that they want to do it again and again and will do just about anything—including illegal and immoral behavior—just to get another "fix" so they can again enjoy the effects of the drug.

A wise person will not take the chance of getting hooked, which amounts to idolatry—putting other things before God and his laws.

Sadly the character issue is often overlooked. But it is absolutely vital. God wants people to develop righteous character in this life in preparation for His return. Righteous character is developed by determining right from wrong, choosing to do what is right and then following through with the proper action.  It is a matter of character to choose not to do what is illegal, disrespectful of God and potentially damaging to your health and spiritual well-being.

DON’T BE DECEIVED... DRUGS ARE ADDICTIVE.  Addiction to anything other than God Himself is wrong. God is the only focus that should intensely occupy our minds and hearts habitually.  To do so with anything else (drugs) draws us away from Him, displeases Him and could irrevocably damage our eternal standing with Him.  He alone is worthy of our complete attention, love, and service. To offer yourself, your indulgence, your allegiance to anything or anyone else is idolatry.

Risks of the NOT so friendly Weed...

Maybe the illustration today is a little extreme... or maybe not.  This series of articles that started on June 17th, focusing on Marijuana, is not intended to facilitate debate about the positive or so called medicinal benefits of the drug.  It is not intended to justify legalization by presenting it as a harmless personal choice.  My intend from start to finish is to present the truth... to get you to think.  To think about the consequences of staring down a path of drug use that could easily push you into use of cocaine and heroin.  

If you are a Christian, and I hope you are, I want you to think about what will happen with your precious relationship with God, should you make the dangerous choice to indulge in what many perceive as a harmless drug.

Marijuana, Mary Jane, is known by many names... “pot,” “grass,” “herb,” “weed,”  “reefer,” “skunk,” “boom,” “gangster,” “kif,” “chronic,” and “ganja.”

Whatever you call it... Marijuana refers to the dried leaves, flowers, stems, and seeds from the hemp plant Cannabis sativa, which contains the psychoactive (mind-altering) chemical delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), as well as other related compounds. This plant material can also be concentrated into a resin called hashish or a sticky black liquid called hash oil.

Marijuana is the most common illicit drug used in the United States. Although the federal government considers marijuana a Schedule I substance (having no medicinal uses and high risk for abuse), two states have legalized marijuana for adult recreational use, and 21 states have passed laws allowing its use as a treatment for certain medical conditions.

Marijuana is usually smoked in hand-rolled cigarettes (joints) or in pipes or water pipes (bongs). It is also smoked in blunts—cigars that have been emptied of tobacco and refilled with a mixture of marijuana and tobacco. Marijuana smoke has a pungent and distinctive, usually sweet-and-sour, odor. Marijuana can also be mixed in food or brewed as a tea.

How Does Marijuana Affect the Brain?  When marijuana is smoked, THC rapidly passes from the lungs into the bloodstream, which carries the chemical to the brain and other organs throughout the body. It is absorbed more slowly when ingested in food or drink.

However it is ingested, THC acts on specific molecular targets on brain cells, called cannabinoid receptors. These receptors are ordinarily activated by chemicals similar to THC that naturally occur in the body and are part of a neural communication network called the endocannabinoid system. This system plays an important role in normal brain development and function.

The highest density of cannabinoid receptors is found in parts of the brain that influence pleasure, memory, thinking, concentration, sensory and time perception, and coordinated movement. Marijuana over-activates the endocannabinoid system, causing the “high” and other effects that users experience. These effects include altered perceptions and mood, impaired coordination, difficulty with thinking and problem solving, and disrupted learning and memory.

Marijuana also affects brain development, and when it is used heavily by young people, its effects on thinking and memory may last a long time or even be permanent. A recent study of marijuana users who began using in adolescence revealed substantially reduced connectivity among brain areas responsible for learning and memory. A large long-term study in New Zealand showed that people who began smoking marijuana heavily in their teens lost an average of 8 points in IQ between age 13 and age 38.  Importantly, the lost cognitive abilities were not fully restored in those who quit smoking marijuana as adults. 

What Are the Other Health Effects of Marijuana? Marijuana use may have a wide range of effects, particularly on cardiopulmonary and mental health.

Marijuana smoke is an irritant to the lungs, and frequent marijuana smokers can have many of the same respiratory problems experienced by tobacco smokers, such as daily cough and phlegm production, more frequent acute chest illness, and a heightened risk of lung infections. One study found that people who smoke marijuana frequently but do not smoke tobacco have more health problems and miss more days of work than those who don’t smoke marijuana, mainly because of respiratory illnesses. It is probable, but not yet confirmed, whether marijuana smoking contributes to risk for lung cancer.

Marijuana also raises heart rate by 20-100 percent shortly after smoking; this effect can last up to 3 hours. In one study, it was estimated that marijuana users have a five-fold increase in the risk of sudden heart attack in the first hour after smoking the drug. This risk may be greater in older individuals or in those with cardiac vulnerabilities.

A number of studies have linked chronic marijuana use and mental illness. High doses of marijuana can produce a temporary psychotic reaction (involving hallucinations and paranoia) in some users, and using marijuana can worsen the course of illness in patients with schizophrenia. A series of research studies following users for extended periods of time showed a link between marijuana use and later development of psychosis. This relationship was influenced by genetic variables as well as the amount of drug used, drug potency, and the age at which it was first taken—those who start young are at increased risk for later problems.

Associations have also been found between marijuana use and other mental health problems, such as depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts among adolescents, and personality disturbances, including a lack of motivation to engage in typically rewarding activities. More research is still needed to confirm and better understand these linkages.

Marijuana use during pregnancy is associated with increased risk of neurobehavioral problems in babies. Because THC and other compounds in marijuana mimic the body’s own endocannabinoid chemicals, marijuana use by pregnant mothers may alter the developing endocannabinoid system in the brain of the fetus. Consequences for the child may include problems with attention, memory, and problem solving.

Additionally, because it seriously impairs judgment and motor coordination, marijuana contributes to risk of injury or death while driving a car. A recent analysis of data from several studies found that marijuana use more than doubles a driver’s risk of being in an accident. The combination of marijuana and alcohol is worse than either substance alone with respect to driving impairment.

Is Marijuana Addictive?  Contrary to common belief, marijuana is very addictive. Estimates from research suggest that about 9 percent of users become addicted to marijuana; this number increases among those who start young (to about 17 percent, or 1 in 6) and among people who use marijuana daily (to 25-50 percent).

Long-term marijuana users trying to quit report withdrawal symptoms including irritability, sleeplessness, decreased appetite, anxiety, and drug craving, all of which can make it difficult to abstain. Behavioral interventions, including cognitive-behavioral therapy and motivational incentives have proven to be effective in treating marijuana addiction. However, behavioral modification therapies only work if an addicted user truly wants to stop using the drug.  

Although no medications are currently available, recent discoveries about the workings of the endocannabinoid system offer promise for the development of medications to ease withdrawal, block the intoxicating effects of marijuana, and prevent relapse.  So, now that we know the risks and effects of marijuana on a person’s physiology, particularly the brain, the most important question remains... How Does Marijuana Affect a User’s Life? 

Research shows marijuana may cause problems in daily life or make a person's existing problems worse. Heavy marijuana users generally report lower life satisfaction, poorer mental and physical health, more relationship problems, and less academic and career success compared to non-marijuana-using peers. For example, marijuana use is associated with a higher likelihood of dropping out of school. Several studies also associate workers' marijuana smoking with increased absences, tardiness, accidents, workers' compensation claims, and job turnover.

WHY would you want to use such a substance that could cause all these problems in your life?  

If you are a Christian adult, why would you consider recreational use of such a threatening substance, knowing that such behavior will foul your relationship with God?  As a parent, do you want your teen son or daughter to risk their health and future by becoming addicted to marijuana?  Consider these words of counsel from Scripture...

Romans 12:2... Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20...  Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

1 Peter 5:8... Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

Galatians 5:21... 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...  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.

Nothing in that counsel about drugs. Those words deal with a person’s moral and spiritual character, right?  Many people, Christians included, will argue that even in the strongest warnings and admonition, the Bible says nothing about the use of drugs,  Are you sure about that?  Actually the Bible says much about the most common and most abused drug of ancient times... alcohol.  

The Bible also CONDEMNS the use of drugs!  An upcoming installment in this series will explain God’s strong condemnation of drug use.  STAY TUNED and WALK Upright before the Lord!

The Great American Disease...

Does anyone pay attention to the bad choices and ensuing bad habits of a free and democratic people?  Been there, done that, learned not to do it again???  Let me enlighten you on those snarky questions by summarizing the cyclic patterns of tolerance and restraint in American attitudes toward drug use. 

In the 1880's, opiates were welcomed as an ideal tonic, and large numbers of Americans became addicted. By 1890, the image of such drugs had changed. By 1900, cocaine and opiates had come to be viewed as dangerous drugs; subsequently, their use declined largely as a result of disillusionment with initial claims about the drugs and growing awareness of the effects on individuals and their families. 

The first major national narcotics law, the Harrison Act of 1914, was intended to curb recreational drug use and non-medical addiction. Contemporaneous with growing concerns about the drug problem were the imposition of State and local controls on narcotics, a search for a cure for addiction, and the establishment of narcotics clinics. 

In 1930, the Federal Bureau of Narcotics was established, international anti-drug activities were initiated, and controls on cannabis were implemented. Between World War II and 1970, strong legal sanctions against drug abuse were established. Strong reactions to sanctions eventually yielded considerable responsibility for control to physicians and mental health professionals. 

From 1965 till now, toleration of drug use increased, along with calls for legalization of marijuana.  Now you know a bit about America’s fascination with drugs. So, here we are... 2014 and the debate is not much of a debate,but a foregone conclusion that marijuana will be the next harmful pastime to be legalized.  

FROM THE UNITED STATES WHITE HOUSE – OFFICIAL POLICY STATEMENT:  Marijuana is a topic of significant public discourse in the United States, and while many are familiar with the discussions, it is not always easy to find the latest, research-based information on marijuana to answer to the common questions about its health effects, or the differences between Federal and state laws concerning the drug. Confusing messages being presented by popular culture, media, proponents of “medical” marijuana, and political campaigns to legalize all marijuana use perpetuate the false notion that marijuana is harmless. This significantly diminishes efforts to keep our young people drug free and hampers the struggle of those recovering from addiction. (Excerpt from the The White House website: http://www.whitehouse.gov/ondcp/ondcp-fact-sheets/marijuana-legalization)

Regardless of your personal feelings about legalizing marijuana, it's hard to deny that legal weed would be a bonanza for cash-strapped states, just as tobacco and alcohol already are.

With Colorado and Washington starting to tax and regulate recreational weed sales, and medical marijuana legal in 20 other states, we can finally start to put some hard numbers on the industry's value.  That’s the real lure... its value.  Marijuana is the ultimate “cash crop.”

Numbers like these...

$1.53 billion: The amount the national legal marijuana market is worth, according to a Nov. 2013 report from ArcView Market Research, a San Francisco-based investor group focused on the marijuana industry.

$10.2 billion: The estimated amount the national legal marijuana market will be worth in five years, according to that same ArcView report.

$6.17 million: The amount of tax revenue collected in Colorado on legal marijuana sales in just the first two months of 2014.

$184 million: The total tax revenue that Colorado will reap in the first fiscal year of collecting taxes on Weed. Much higher than expected.

$40 million: The amount of marijuana tax revenue Colorado is devoting to public school construction.

7,500-10,000: The estimated number of marijuana industry jobs that currently exist in Colorado, according to Michael Elliott, the Executive Director of the Marijuana Industry Group, a trade association that advocates for responsible marijuana regulation.

$190 million: The amount in taxes and fees legal marijuana is projected to raise for the state of Washington over four years starting in mid-2015, according to the Economic and Revenue Forecast Council, an independent agency that advises the state government on the budget and tax revenue.

$105 million: The estimated annual sales tax revenue generated by medical marijuana dispensaries in California, according to the Marijuana Policy Project, a Washington, D.C.-based group that supports legalization.

$142.19 million: The estimated size of the medical marijuana market in Arizona in 2014, according to the ArcView Market Research report, up from $35.37 million last year. Arizona has a record 80 medical pot dispensaries currently open, with more expected to open this year, according to AZMarijuana.com.

$36 million: The amount of estimated tax revenue Maine would earn every year if it legalized and regulated marijuana, according to a 2013 estimate from the Marijuana Policy Project. Portland, Maine's largest city, voted to legalize weed in November, and a grassroots campaign to get state legalization on the ballot in 2016 is underway.

$21.5 to $82 million: The amount of estimated tax revenue Rhode Island would earn every year if it legalized and regulated marijuana, according to an April 9 report from the non-profit organization Open Doors. Rhode Island legislators are considering a bill this session that would tax and regulate marijuana like alcohol.

$134.6 million: The amount of estimated tax revenue Maryland would earn every year if it legalized and regulated marijuana, according to a 2014 estimate from the Maryland Department of Legislative Services. Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley signed a law legalizing medical marijuana on April 14, and state lawmakers are considering a bill this session to legalize weed for recreational purposes, too.

$17.4 billion: The estimated total amount that marijuana prohibition costs state and federal governments every year, according to a 2010 study by Harvard University economist Jeffrey Miron.

Here’s a bit of bone-headed logic... Marijuana begins with “M”... Money begins with “M” so it’s natural for the two to become soul mates, right!?  No one cares about you or your teens or the physical and psychological well-being of America... not when two M’s come together to make piles and piles of MONEY! 

Think about this... Why would American views shift so dramatically on the use of marijuana?  I expect the reason is because people have seen marijuana use in their own lives and those of others, see it as relatively harmless, see its benefits (medical and recreational) and have changed their minds based on the accumulating evidence.  

I wonder what God thinks of this smoldering situation?   

More to come on just that very question in the coming days, until then... Walk Upright before the Lord.

God, The Bible and Smokin' da Weed...

The American public is concerned about the problem of drug abuse – both nationally and locally. In fact, 87%, a large majority, say that drug abuse across the country is either a crisis or a serious problem that threatens our society. 

Yet, we are living amidst a major shift in attitudes on whether or not the use of marijuana should be legalized for recreational use.  As recently as four years ago, about half (52%) said they thought the use of marijuana should not be legal; 41% said marijuana use should be legal. Today those numbers are roughly reversed – 54% favor marijuana legalization while 42% are opposed. Majorities across nearly all demographic and partisan groups say the use of marijuana should be legal, at least for medicinal use.

Despite the growing support for marijuana legalization, many Americans express concerns about the inevitable consequences from legalization.  What is a Christian to think of these shifting attitudes in our society?  What are parents to do to try and persuade their teens that marijuana is harmful and the first step in seeking ever stronger drugs for more powerful highs?

The Bible does not directly address any form of illicit drug use. There are no express prohibitions against cocaine, heroin, ecstasy (MDMA), or methamphetamines (Meth). There is no mention of marijuana cannabis, peyote, magic mushrooms, or acid (LSD). Nothing is said about huffing, snorting, dropping, smoking, shooting, licking, or any other method of ingestion. This is not to say, however, that recreational drug use is permissible. On the contrary, there are several very clear biblical principles that place drug use well outside the realm of acceptable behavior for a Christian.

To begin with, Christians are under a universal mandate to respect and obey the laws of the land (Deuteronomy 17:2; Ecclesiastes 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). The ONLY instance in which we are allowed to disobey the laws of the land is when the laws violate any divine imperatives (Daniel 3 and 6; Acts 5:29). There are no other exceptions to this rule. Contrary to popular belief, simply disagreeing with a law does not constitute a license for breaking that law.

Many have argued that marijuana does not warrant prohibition. They contend that smoking pot in defiance of the law is justifiable on these grounds and in light of (what they perceive to be) the hypocrisy of outlawing weed while allowing nicotine and alcohol consumption. Those who argue this point may be sincere in their conviction, but they are mistaken nonetheless. Heartfelt disdain for the law does not justify impunity towards it, as our Lord Himself made clear. While rebuking the Pharisees for turning the Law of Moses into an excessively oppressive yoke, Christ still required His disciples to submit to their unfairly harsh demands (Matthew 23:1-36, especially 1-4). Dutiful submission to authority and patient perseverance through unjust suffering and/or perceived unfairness (1 Peter 2:18-23) is God’s high standard for us – even if that means having to abstain from marijuana in compliance with “unfair” legislation. 

Not only are we to submit to authority for submission’s sake, born-again Christians are further constrained by a mandate to live above reproach for the sake of the Gospel (1 Corinthians 10:32; 2 Corinthians 4:2; 6:3; Titus 2:1-8; 2 Peter 3:14). Needless to say, and form of protest and criminality is highly reproachable.

Obviously, this first principle does not impact drug users living in nations like the Netherlands where recreational drug use is legal and permissible. There are, however, more universally applicable principles. For example, Christians are all required to be good stewards of what God has entrusted to us, regardless of our national identity (Matthew 25:13-30). This includes our earthly bodies. Unfortunately, illicit drug use is an extremely effective way to destroy your health, not just physically, but mentally and emotionally as well.

As Dr. Alan Leshner, Director of the National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA) explains, “The most immediate, extensive, and long-lasting problems caused by drug abuse, both for individuals and for society, are often medical in nature. For example, known drug-abuse-related health problems and resulting lost productivity alone cost our society more than $33 billion each year. Illicit drugs directly cause many medical problems. Stimulants such as cocaine and methamphetamine increase the heart rate while constricting the blood vessels. In susceptible individuals, these two actions together set the stage for cardiac arrhythmias and strokes. The club drug methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, also called "ecstasy"), which many users mistakenly believe to be safe, has caused malignant hyperthermia, permanent kidney damage, and death. MDMA also damages serotonin nerve fibers in the brain. Heroin can cause a life-threatening kidney condition called focal glomerulosclerosis. The list continues: NIDA research has shown that almost every drug of abuse harms some tissue or organ.” (Quote from Addressing the Medical Consequences of Drug Abuse, NIDA Notes, Vol. 15, No. 1, March 2000)

Marijuana, while being the least harmful of all of the illicit drugs, is still potentially lethal. Marijuana enthusiasts (“potheads”) take comfort in the fact that, unlike most other illicit drugs, it is seemingly impossible to fatally overdose on weed by means of normal consumption (i.e. smoking it). But this does nothing to diminish the potentially fatal risks of lung cancer, emphysema, and other forms of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) caused by marijuana smoke. While marijuana can be ingested without smoking it, thereby eliminating these risks, there still remain negative physiological and psychological consequences including damage to the reproductive system, the immune system, and cognitive ability.

Beyond stewardship, as Christians, our bodies are not our own. We “have been bought with a price” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20), not “with perishable things like silver or gold . . . but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ” (1 Peter 1:17-19). Having bought us with His own life, Christ has delighted to create in us something entirely new,  by indwelling us with The His Spirit. He has turned us into organic temples to accommodate His presence in our lives. So now, caring for our health is not just a matter of good stewardship. It is a matter of reverential piety. To pollute or harm our bodies is to desecrate the Temple of God (1 Corinthians 3:16-17). 

Another biblical principle concerns our susceptibility to deception. As fallible creatures we are prone to delusion. And since we are the objects of God’s intense affection, His enemies are our enemies, or they should be. This includes THE enemy, the Devil, the father of lies (John 8:44), a most formidable and determined adversary. All of the apostolic exhortations to remain sober-minded and alert (1 Corinthians 15:34; 1 Thessalonians 5:4-8; 2 Timothy 4:5; 1 Peter 1:13; 4:7; 5:8) are designed to remind us that we must be vigilant against the wiles of the Devil (1 Peter 5:8), who seeks to ensnare us through deception. Sobriety is also important for prayer (1 Peter 4:7), as is obedience to God (Isaiah 1:10-17). 

As for drug addiction, maybe not all illicit drugs are physically addictive. Nevertheless, they are all psychologically addictive. While most people are familiar with physical addiction – the progressive condition whereby the human body becomes physically dependent upon a drug in order to function properly – psychological addiction is less understood. Psychological addiction is an enslavement of the mind, often characterized by obsessive tendencies and a lack of desire to quit. While physical addiction brings the body into subjection, psychological addiction brings the will into submission. Users tend to say things like, “I could quit if I wanted to, but I just don’t want to.” This attitude tends to ensure a long-term pattern of drug use whereby users become devotees in defiance of a very poignant biblical principle. 

The fact is, no one can wholeheartedly serve two masters (Matthew 6:24; Luke 16:13). Any time spent kneeling before the “god of drugs” is time spent with your back towards the God of the Bible.  Any time spent lustfully pursuing the things of this fallen world –– drugs –– is turning your back on the salvation, eternal life, God desires for you!  The Bible teaches us that “denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world” (Titus 2:12).

More to come on this topic in the coming weeks... until then, Walk in Step with the Spirit.

Living in Step with the Spirit

For many today, Christ is very appealing but living the Christian life seems all but impossible.  Do you sometimes feel that way?  Let me tell you a secret...it is impossible to “live a life in Christ” without help... HIS help.   Hey, its okay if you feel this way, from time to time we all have feelings that our “walk in the Spirit” is off track.  First thing we need to understand and accept... is that we can’t walk with Him, His way, on our own. 

Trying to live the Christian life by your own efforts is like a ship trying to move on dry land... just doesn't work very well. For a ship to get anywhere, it needs to be sitting in water. And to enjoy an immersive Christian life, one needs to learn on how live “set apart” immersed in God’s formula for living. Paul knew this intimately... “For I can do everything God asks me to with the help of Christ who gives me strength and power” (Philippians 4:13).

The Christian's formula to a consistent life is for Christ to work His plans and ways through us... “I have been crucified with Christ: and I myself no longer live, but Christ lives in me. And the real life I now have within this body is a result of my trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20).

It was during Christ's final evening with His disciples that He told them He would be leaving them, but they would not be left alone... “But the fact of the matter is that it is best for you that I go away, for if I don't, the Comforter won't come. If I do, he will – for I will send him to you” (John 16:7).  

We have been given someone who will enable us to live the Christian life bravely, courageously – The Holy Spirit. He isn't just some inanimate guide at the information booth along life’s trail... He is the Living God, in the person of the Holy Spirit.  For those of us who are committed, all-in for Christ, He dwells within us... our partner, our companion along life’s narrow and often challenging road.

Who is the Holy Spirit? The Holy Spirit is God, as are the Son and the Father. Much of the confusion surrounding the Holy Spirit occurs when people fail to view Him as a person. He has a personality. He is a divine person with a will and emotions.

The Holy Spirit possesses all the attributes that the Son and the Father have. He is omnipotent (all powerful), omniscient (all knowing), immutable (unchanging) and eternal. He is the third person of the Godhead... the trinity.

What is the Mission of the Holy Spirit?  The Holy Spirit is a major part of your Christian life. Let's look at some of His roles and see why He is so vitally important.

The Holy Spirit convicted you of your sin and your need for Christ (John 16:8-11). The Bible explains that without the Holy Spirit's help, people think Christianity is foolishness (1 Corinthians 1:18). Those around you may think it's crazy you've made such a commitment to Christ! You don't see it that way at all because the Holy Spirit has revealed the wonder of a life in Christ to you.

At your baptism, the Holy Spirit indwells and gives you a fresh start in life. Flesh gives birth only to flesh, Jesus said. It takes the Holy Spirit to give a spiritual birth (John 3:6). And it is through that Spirit that God's love was poured into your heart (Romans 5:5). The Holy Spirit also provides an inner witness (an assurance) that you are a Christian (Romans 8:16).

The Holy Spirit is a teacher and enabler. He leads you to the truth of God's Word. As you study the Scriptures, He illuminates the Bible so you are able to understand and apply its truth (John 16:13,14). He gives power and spiritual effectiveness in your witnessing (Acts 1:8). He intercedes for you before the Father when you feel like you don't know what or how to pray (Romans 8:26,27).

The Holy Spirit was sent by Christ to enable you to live the Christian life! As Paul wrote, “…the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you” (Romans 8:11). The Christian life is possible only with the power of the Holy Spirit.

You may be thinking, I need the Holy Spirit in my life. If you are a devoted and committed Christian, He is already there: “You are controlled by your new nature if you have the Spirit of God living in you (Romans 8:9). The Holy Spirit resides in you, but you may not be yielding your life to His direction. He may be a resident – without being CEO.

Paul distinguished between two types of Christians: the spiritual Christian and the carnal Christian.  Consider the differences and where you might see yourself.

1. The Spiritual Christian “The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man's judgment…” (1 Corinthians 2:15).

The spiritual person has accepted Christ and lives a Christ-centered life. He is not sinless and he faces problems and temptations every day, just like everyone else. But as a way of life, he trusts Christ with each detail and problem that comes along. His greatest desire is to please Christ, and he doesn't covet the approval of others.

2. The Carnal Christian “Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly – mere infants in Christ. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere men?” (1 Corinthians 3:1-3).

Carnal means “fleshly.” The carnal Christian is a Christian (he has committed his life to Jesus Christ at some point), but his life is oriented around himself and his needs. He may show some evidence of being a Christian, but the work of the Holy Spirit is blunted, suppressed either through conscious disobedience and resistance to the Holy Spirit's attempt to work in your life.

What distinguishes the carnal Christian from the spiritual Christian? It isn't that the carnal Christian lacks part of Christ or the Holy Spirit – he possesses the same spiritual resources as the spiritual Christian. But the spiritual man relies on Christ's power to live his Christian life while the carnal man relies on his own power. Trying to live the Christian life on your own efforts is as futile as trying to get around town by pushing your car.

The Bible talks about being “led” by the Spirit. That implies we obey what He says... He leads, we follow. Simple enough. But usually we don't like anyone telling us what to do – even if it's God. Yet the filling of the Holy Spirit means allowing the Spirit of God and the Word of God to guide us in all we think and do.

We have the choice each day... Will we let the Holy Spirit lead us, or will we be controlled by something else? Will fear about the future, or our desire to get what we want, become more important than obeying Christ? When the Holy Spirit fills you, He controls your thoughts and your actions. You can't be filled with hatred, fear or worry while you are filled with the Spirit. There isn't room for both.

“Don't act thoughtlessly, but try to find out and do whatever the Lord wants you to. Don't drink too much wine, for many evils lie along that path; be filled instead with the Holy Spirit, and controlled by Him.” (Ephesians 5:17). Unlike alcohol, the changes the Holy Spirit produces aren't artificial. They don't wear off with time. The Bible calls these lasting changes the fruit that is produced from a Christ-centered life: “But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives He will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control; and here there is no conflict with Jewish laws” (Galatians 5:22.23).

How Can I Be Filled with the Holy Spirit? Submitting, surrendering to control of the Holy Spirit in your life is our choice.  It's voluntary, but it's not by osmosis. People don't become drunk by handling unopened bottles of Jack Daniels or working in a liquor store. It's after drinking the liquor that things begin to get fuzzy.  As a Christian you can be surrounded by Bibles and Christians without being filled with the Holy Spirit. Or you can be alone, but Spirit-filled.

Some people equate the Holy Spirit with a mystical religious experience. It's not mystical. It is a decision of faith: a response to what God says in His Word. Being filled with the Holy Spirit isn't dependent upon feelings you think you have, but upon the Bible you have studied and the promises of God you trust and believe.

Why aren't more Christians being led by the Holy Spirit?  In a word, sin. We choose to ignore God, thereby disobeying Him. This can take the form of pride: wanting things our way. We don't give God control of our finances; we've worked hard for our money and it's ours. We don't give God control of our relationships; why forgive that person when it's really their fault? We don't give God control of our personal morality; that's nobody's business but our own—not even God's. That's pride talking. Scripture says, “He [God] mocks proud mockers but gives grace to the humble”  (Proverbs 3:34).

Sin can take another form: fear. Proverbs states, “Fear of man will prove to be a snare...” (Proverbs 29:25). Is there something [holy living] you know you should be doing, but you haven't done it because you're afraid of what people will think? It's easy to think... I can't do that. I would look foolish if I did that. God can't possibly want me to do that. 

The last half of that verse in Proverbs teaches... “but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe.” It's easy to put the approval of people above the approval of God, but isn't pleasing God what we really want?  Our lives will be different than those around us... but with eternity in view... it's worth it.

Can you be filled with the Spirit and still struggle with sin?  It depends on what you mean by “struggling with sin.”  If you are consistently giving in to sin, then the Holy Spirit can't be controlling or filling your life.  But if you are concerned... “Will I still sin after the Holy Spirit enters my life?”— the answer is an emphatic yes.

You may find yourself committing sin and confessing it several times throughout the day. That's not spiritual weakness... it is evidence that you're living and breathing spiritually. Becoming aware of sin and dealing with it immediately is essential if we are to be living “in-step” with the Holy Spirit.

We never become immune to sin in this fallen world. Sinlessness is reserved for heaven. As we grow to know God better, we will grow in seeing life from His perspective, and sin less. We will also learn to battle temptation. But even then there will be occasions when we sin and need to seek His forgiveness, whether we're in the first year of a Christian life or in the seventieth.

What if your life hasn't changed much yet?  We've looked at two types of Christians, the carnal and the spiritual. But there is a third category... the new Christian. Remember what Paul told the Corinthians? “Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly—mere infants in Christ.”

Several years earlier, Paul had led many of those Corinthian believers to Christ. At that time he didn't expect them to be immediately mature, spiritually minded believers. Instead of following a normal growth pattern towards spiritual maturity, the believers at Corinth became carnal. If you're a new believer, you're still a “baby” Christian—not carnal... just young in your faith and only just learning to walk with the Spirit.

If you are obeying Christ today and trusting His power to change you, then you are exactly where God wants you to be. Don't agonize over the “fruit” you feel you lack. Growth is a process, and each part of the process is vital.

Obey Christ and don't worry about comparing myself to other Christians... if you do that, you will enjoy being a Christian.

The True Essence of FAITH...

Imagine a young boy, maybe 7 or 8 years old, asleep on the second floor of the family home. The boy awakens in the middle of the night to the strong smell of smoke. He knows what that means, there is a fire somewhere in the house. The boy stumbles to the door and opens it to a raging inferno.   The young boy quickly slams the door against the flames and runs to his bedroom window, only to stare down into thick billowing smoke and the darkness of night. 

From the ground below the young boy hears his father's voice saying, "Son, I'm here… jump!"

The young boy replies, "But, Daddy, I can't see you."

The father replies, "It's all right, Son, I can see you. Jump!"

So the young lad jumps into his father's arms.  Safe at last in his father’s embrace.

What does this scenario have to do with faith?  It's a part of faith for that young lad to believe his father was there, even though he couldn’t see him. It's another part of faith to trust and believe in his father, to feel that his father was able to catch him. It's the essence of faith to throw himself into smoky blackness, falling into his father's waiting arms.

That's what it means to believe on Jesus Christ. It's a part of faith to believe Jesus died on the cross to take the punishment for your sin.  It's another part of faith to believe God is able and willing to forgive you and give you the promise of eternal life. It's the essence of faith to abandon yourself to God, trusting Him completely and allowing Jesus Christ to be your Savior and the ruler of your life.

Faith... how it forms and grow in us, how we become dependent on it, is a wondrous thing that only God can bring to full measure in us.  First there is the grace of God, then there is as the writer of Hebrews said in chapter 11 verse 1... Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.

Belief that brings us to completeness in God is as simple and life-changing as throwing yourself into His waiting arms. 

God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. For in him we live and move and have our being.' As some of your own poets have said, 'We are his offspring.'  Acts 17:27-28