Sunday, April 01, 2007

The War on Drugs...
Drugs must be one of the most hotly debated subjects ever. Ranging from politicians to Church leaders, to your everyday person, drugs are a huge subject of debate. I have touched earlier on the drug issue, but here I will present more ideas and open the comment box up for a friendly debate. However, previous comment rules still apply and charity in the discussion must be used no matter what side you are on.
First of all, as a Christian and Catholic who believes in the Bible and in what the Church teaches I have no doubt on this subject: Drugs (except for strictly medical purposes) are wrong. The Catechism of the Catholic Church in #2291 says: "The use of drugs inflicts very grave damage on human health and life. Their use, except on strictly therapeutic grounds, is a grave offense. Clandestine production of and trafficking in drugs are scandalous practices. They constitute direct co-operation in evil, since they encourage people to practices gravely contrary to the moral law."
The Bible has many passages condemning drunkenness (a.k.a. intoxication) and there are at least two references in the Bible that strongly condemn "pharmakeia" the primary translation being "the use or the administering of drugs". Passage references condemning intoxication include: Galatians 5:19-21, Revelation 9:20-21, 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, 19-20, 1 Peter 5:8
1 Corinthians 6:9-10: "Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither the immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor robbers will inherit the kingdom of God." Drunkenness in intoxication can be achieved through alcohol or other drugs. The Bible is saying here that those people who engage in drunkenness will not enter Heaven. This makes a very clear statement that marijuana can not be compatible with a Christian as marijuana can never be used without abuse.
As I have pointed out earlier marijuana and all drugs are harmful to your health and therefore damaging of the body (and soul) that God has given us for Him to dwell in. For those people who are claiming that cannabis (marijuana) is actually something holy and is a part of a sacrament, then I challenge them to ask why would God would institute a substance for religious purposes that is harmful to your mental and physical health? Why would the Bible shout out so loudly that intoxication is wrong yet promote intoxication within its sacraments?
An argument given for marijuana is that in Exodus 30:23 cannabis is one of the ingredients for the holy oil, yet remember that that is only a theory. As pointed out from Wiki-Pedia, "The Septuagint translates kaneh-bosm as calamus" which is not cannabis.
Let's look at another problem with this holy oil turned sacrament theory: It's novelty. Now just because it's new doesn't prove it's wrong, but it should lead us to suspicion. It would be claimed by believers of this, of course, that this sacrament was preached by Jesus and the early Church Fathers yet where do we see this recorded? Where do the apostles go around preaching the importance of this sacrament? Drugs have long (meaning back around Jesus time at least) been associated with witchcraft and black magic and therefore would have been rejected as this stuff was condemned by the authors of the Bible and --oh yea--God. Baptism is preached by Jesus and the apostles as the first essential element for being saved---but not baptism with cannabis oil.
What about God saying when He created the Earth "'Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit; you shall have them for food.'"
You have to be pretty stupid to translate that as God saying every plant is OK to consume---at least now living in a fallen world (Don't forget that God said that before the fall.). Are you going eat poisonous mushrooms? No. Yet those mushrooms play a role in the ecosystem. Will you play with King Cobras? No. yet cobras have their proposes on earth. Cannabis is good for making rope--yet I know of nothing else yet, and God creating marijuana doesn't mean it was meant to be smoked and for intoxication.
How can I believe that God would promote a drug? The culture of drugs have torn nations apart, brought murder, death, torn apart relationships, and more. How can I believe God wants a drug used in a sacrament when he condemns drugs?
I don't mean to be presumptuous and I know some people may indeed be sincere, but this theory seems like an excuse to allow for an action clearly condemned by God.
Sorry if I seemed to ramble on here, and if you have specific questions I will do my best to answer them. Comments posted here may be used for further publication on this blog.
"Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God? You are not your own. You were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body." (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)
"Be sober, be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking some one to devour." (1 Peter 5:8)

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

I like your post here, but I do believe that there is one slight gap in the logic of your argument; you leave no room for addicts to enter the kingdom of God. I've known many holy men and women that fell pray to the evils of addiction, and despite their best efforts, were unable to break the addiction, or even mount the courage to try. Addiction is a disease that poisons the ability to judge.

Another area to consider when it comes to drugs - I assume you are talking about the abuse of legal drugs, or the use of illegal substances. There are many holy brothers and sisters in the world that use medication to help them deal with depression, anxiety, etc.

Just some thoughts,
Charley

Anonymous said...

The recent discovery of the "Cave of John the Baptist", the millions of pottery shards and the footplace cut in stone for the anointing rite leaves no question in the mind of an objective observer what that baptism was really all about. The priests of that day condemned John as having a devil for he baptized with the blessed oil of Moses that contained KNH spice. The priests of this day condemn those who honor the Word of the Lord Jesus Anointed. Recall if you can the lesson of the Good Samaritan or pass by on your way to hell. In Jude, "Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core." v. 10 In Mark, "Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed; when He cometh in the glory of His Father with the holy angels." viii. 38.

PBXVI said...

Terry, thank you so much for being such a gentleman! Happy Easter to you, and I mean to respond to your posts soon! May God Bless you always!

To the rest of you: I mean to respond very soon as well! God Bless and thanks for the feedback!

BLESSED EASTER!!!