This is a mirror of "Drugs, a Biblical Perspective" by Darwin Fish.
See also Drug and Alcohol Recovery Programs Are Satanic.
Then God said, "Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb that yields seed, . . . . i
And God said, "See, I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food. Also, to every beast of the earth, to every bird of the air, and to everything that creeps on the earth, in which there is life, I have given every green herb for food"; and it was so. Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good. ii
Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. I have given you all things, even as the green herbs. iii
On the third day when God made the plants of the earth, He said they were "good." iv Just because evil men misuse something, that does not make that something bad. v Nevertheless, in a denial of God's Word, there are many who claim some plants are bad, so much so, they kill and incarcerate because of them.
I. Insanity
The Bible says in Ecclesiastes 9:3,
Truly the hearts of the sons of men are full of evil; madness is in their hearts while they live, and after that they go to the dead.
The "evil" and "madness" of men is well illustrated in both the abuse of drugs and the laws prohibiting them. The abuse is quite self-evident, as evil men ruin their minds and lives in self-destructive behavior. But, the prohibition, though very destructive as well, is covered in deceit.
At the beginning of creation and after the flood all green herbs were given for food. That well sums up God's perspective of the lawfulness of possessing and consuming green plants. Unlike man's laws that make the simple possession of certain green plants illegal, vi God never commanded any such thing. But, "deceiving spirits" forbid what God has not.
1 Timothy 4:1-3 says,
Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, vii giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, forbidding to marry, viii and commanding to abstain from foods ix which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.
It is consistent with the working of Satan, "who deceives the whole world," x to speak the opposite of God. xi And, since the "whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one," xii it is no surprise to see "the violent perversion of justice and righteousness" xiii via governments "commanding to abstain" from what God "created to be received."
The prohibition man puts on plants and substances is just another example xiv of man's perverted mind and deceived heart. xv Isaiah 5:20 says,
Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil.
Government is "for the punishment of evildoers." xvi But, when they punish for that which is not evil, they become "God's ministers" xvii who oppress xviii and bring the woe of Isaiah 5:20 upon themselves. The punishment for possessing industrial hemp is particularly insane. xix It isn't even a mind altering drug. It has no psycho-active effect, and it is indeed good for human consumption (food) and quite useful in a variety of ways. Communist China is noted as the world's biggest producer of hemp, with over 30 other countries allowing industrial hemp cultivation as well.
Yet, in "the land of the free" xx the United States Drug Enforcement Administration xxi insanely forbids its cultivation and possession, not even allowing a "sovereign" nation to grow it. Historically, not too long ago, hemp was promoted by the very same government that now vehemently prohibits it. For example, see the video, "Hemp For Victory." The video well illustrates the government's hard-hearted hypocrisy, as it documents benefits of hemp.
Likewise, the prohibition against marijuana xxii is insanely evil as they kill people and incarcerate others for possession. Marijuana has been known for a long time to be quite medically beneficial. According to history, cannabis has been known and used as medicine in the United States at least as far back as 1850.
By 1850, marijuana had made its way into the United States Pharmacopeia [an official public standards-setting authority for all prescription and over-the counter medicines], which listed marijuana as treatment for numerous afflictions, including: neuralgia, tetanus, typhus, cholera, rabies, dysentery, alcoholism, opiate addiction, anthrax, leprosy, incontinence, gout, convulsive disorders, tonsillitis, insanity, excessive menstrual bleeding, and uterine bleeding, among others. Patented marijuana tinctures were sold... xxiii
From 1850 to 1941, cannabis was listed in the U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP) and National Formulary (NF). xxiv
Yet, in like manner as with industrial hemp, the Federal government's ban on marijuana is one of psychotic xxv duplicity. The DEA claims cannabis xxvi has "no currently accepted medical use." Yet, it is reported that the U.S. government has been providing marijuana to patients for medical purposes since 1976. And, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services presently holds a U.S. patent citing medical benefits of cannabis. xxvii In this patent abstract it says,
Cannabinoids have been found to have antioxidant properties, unrelated to NMDA receptor antagonism. This new found property makes cannabinoids useful in the treatment and prophylaxis of wide (sic) variety of oxidation associated diseases, such as ischemic, age-related, inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. The cannabinoids are found to have particular application as neuroprotectants, for example in limiting neurological damage following ischemic insults, such as stroke and trauma, or in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzhiemer's disease, Parkinson's disease and HIV dementia. xxviii
Later in the patent it notes,
As used herein, a "cannabinoid" is a chemical compound (such as cannabinol, THC or cannabidiol) that is found in the plant species Cannabis saliva (marijuana), . . . . xxix
The following examples show that both nonpsychoactive cannabidiol, and psychoactive cannabinoids such as THC, can protect neurons from glutamate induced death, by a mechanism independent of cannabinoid receptors. Cannabinoids are also be shown (sic) to be potent antioxidants capable of preventing ROS toxicity in neurons. xxx
There are also several other U.S. granted patents concerning cannabis describing various medical benefits therein. xxxi And, as of this date, there are about 32 States and the DEA's own DC that have legalized the use of marijuana for numerous medical purposes.
The DEA's ban on hemp xxxii is a sad example of an evil government that is not for the people on these matters, but against them. The DEA's stand is the polar opposite of 3 John 2:
Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, . . .
If the government truly cared about people on these things, hemp xxxii would not be illegal. If they were truly concerned about some misusing drugs, they wouldn't be killing them or throwing them into cages like wild beasts. xxxiii Those in government would not want to be treated that way. xxxiv They are as it is written, "hateful and hating one another." xxxv
II. Illegal Water -- Illegal Plants
It is sad to see this folly prevail. The abuse of drugs is sad, and the prohibition against certain plants and particular drugs just makes matters worse. When there is a law against something, it is normal human nature to now want it because it is illegal. As it is written,
Stolen water is sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant. xxxvi
Men are evil. xxxvii People like to do evil things. xxxviii They like to rebel. xxxix So, what was once legal, but is now made illegal, simply making it illegal provokes evil men to want to break the law. Like in the proverb, stolen water is sweet. It's the illegal water that is sweet to men.
Thus, by these laws, the government provokes into existence a whole new class of criminals, who now find sweet savor in the new forbidden fruit (as in the days of prohibition of alcohol). Moreover, those who once peacefully and lawfully farmed, cultivated, prepared, transported, sold, used, and possessed these substances, now suddenly are criminals, if they continue to do so. The creation of these kinds of laws is a crime against peaceful law abiding citizens.
It is no wonder then that we have both a drug abuse problem and an enforcement issue. Of course, the former would not evaporate if drugs were legalized, since drug abuse is immoral by God's law; xl and men like to rebel against that. xxxix But the government, by making it illegal to possess, simply gives evil men another reason and provocation to rebel that wouldn't otherwise be there.
But, the enforcement issue would evaporate, since it is a creation of the State. It is reported that in the U.S. almost half of the prison population is incarcerated xli because of drug related crimes, and that America leads the world xlii in its incarceration rate. xliii No such issue would be an issue if these laws were non-existent. Man often creates his own problems. xliv
Even worse, it is reported drug laws result in the deaths of thousands via violent drug cartels and street gangs, who are funded via the sales of illegal substances. They prosper, thrive, and get rich because of the drug war xlv making large profits off the sales of high priced substances due to their illegality. Children are enticed into a life of crime, and police and innocents lose their lives fighting over plants.
Stories are told of death via police, who raid homes of private citizens and kill people. xlvi What a tragedy! Are these innocent people's lives, both police and citizens, really so worthless so as to keep this useless war raging? How many more police and innocent people have to die in this endless war on drugs?
It is reported that Seattle City Attorney Pete Holmes said:
All we've achieved by prohibition is to fill our jails and make drug dealers quite rich. xlvii
Sadly, most governments would rather see people dead or in prison rather than alive at home foolishly abusing their mind. Whether they realize it or not, that's the decision they make by inforcing the drug laws. Such insanity fits well with Satan's agenda, who himself wants people dead xlviii and oppressed. xlix Man wages a drug war that God has never waged in His law, and he causes serious harm and destruction, thinking he's doing good; l but he is not. It is reported in the U.S. drugs continue to be available to those who want them, children, li adults, and even in prisons.
The drug war, in truth, is not a war on "bad" drugs. There are plenty of legal drugs that are used and/or abused and plenty of them have in their list of possible bad side effects: "death." The drug war is really a war on humans. People are the ones who are being killed and taken prisoner in this war, and those doing the killing and imprisoning are Satan's pawns fulfilling his desire. lii The killing and imprisoning has been effective in removing people to their eternal doom, liii but the drugs continue, just as moonshine in the days of prohibition. No doubt, this is all the wrath of God upon men via men. liv
III. Biblical Standard
Although many foolishly think it to be the moral high ground to wage such a sociopathic lv and destructive drug war, Scripture dispels that folly. Before, during, and after the Law of Moses, the Lord in His perfect Word lvi never prohibits either the possession or use of any plants, and plants are nothing new under the sun. lvii Likewise, no drug is ever generally forbidden, and drugs are nothing new to the mind of man. lviii Soberness is commanded, lix but to possess a particular substance is never outlawed. God's law is perfect. lvi Man's law fits well into Proverbs 14:12 and 16:25:
There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.
Death and unnecessary incarceration lx well characterize the drug war. The prisons for this war could well be called, "Criminal Training Centers."
Evil company corrupts good habits. lxi
And,
the companion of fools will be destroyed. lxii
Prisons are not a good environment.
Moreover, if and when people are released, because our system and our society are unforgiving, lxiii they encourage further unlawful behavior and embolden people into a life of crime. For one, due to the stigma of a criminal record, it is difficult to obtain a decent job. Second, they have just come out of a "Criminal Training Center" in which they have had plenty of time to scheme evil plans and plenty of encouragement to do so. And third, it is quite enticing to make good money selling illegal drugs. lxiv It's no wonder jail and imprisonment is a revolving door for some.
2 Samuel 23:3 says,
He who rules among man is righteous who rules in the fear of God. lxv
Making certain plants and drugs illegal to possess is neither righteous nor fearing God, because they forbid what God has not. lxvi Thus, they unjustly kill and imprison people for it.
Evil men do not understand justice. lxvii
They do not understand God's Word is the standard for right and wrong. lxviii Whether in government or anywhere else, to declare something as evil lxix what God has not declared to be evil, is evil. lxx All those who do so will be judged by and for their ungodly standard. lxxi
The Law of Moses, the law God gave to govern sinful men, lxxii provides for great freedom in this area. lxxiii But, unloving men lxxiv do not believe in nor understand such liberty. lxxv They do not know the liberty of love. The liberty that loves their neighbors as themselves. lxxvi The liberty that treats others as they would want to be treated. xxxiv That love doesn't kill people and throw them into jail for possessing plants.
For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. lxxvii
God's Word lxxviii lays no such burden upon men. But, unloving, deceived, lxxix and perverted men do. lxxx As Israel of old, lxxxi they do not know the ways of the Lord. Man's ways are not God's ways. lxxxii
Who is wise? Let him understand these things. Who is prudent? Let him know them. For the ways of the Lord are right; the righteous walk in them, but transgressors stumble in them. lxxxiii
IV. Biblical Example
The only example we have in Scripture of a drug is the drug of alcohol. With this drug, God's example is to give it to them, not forbid it. Proverbs 31 instructs,
Give strong drink to him who is perishing, and wine to those who are bitter of heart. Let him drink and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more. lxxxiv
This imperative is given to a King. lxxxv This instruction tells the one in power to "Give . . . ." the drug. In the days of the prohibition of alcohol the government took and confiscated the drug. lxxxvi Instead of having compassion or mercy on the foolish, the government killed and punished the one "who is perishing." So, they do today likewise with other drugs.
Nevertheless, it is the rulers, the government, who should stay away from this particular drug, lxxxvi as the verses immediately prior to this say:
It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, nor for princes intoxicating drink; lest they drink and forget the law, and pervert the justice of all the afflicted. lxxxvii
Likewise, even though part of the worship of God involved alcohol, lxxxviii even "strong drink," lxxxix it was not to be consumed by the priest when he entered the tabernacle of meeting. xc This prohibition was given a specific reason. It was so that the priest,
may distinguish between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean. xci
And that he,
may teach the children of Israel all the statutes which the Lord has spoken to them by the hand of Moses. xcii
In addition, those under the Nazirite vow were forbidden to consume not only alcohol, but also any grapes along with other regulations as well. xciii Consequentially, those who gave a Nazirite wine were condemned. xciv
Of course, abuse and misuse of alcohol is clearly forbidden, xcv but possession and moderate consumption is actually encouraged.
For example, in the worship of God the Israelites were told they could purchase both wine and strong drink:
And you may spend the money for whatever your heart desires, for oxen, or sheep, or wine, or strong drink, or whatever your heart desires; and there you shall eat in the presence of the LORD your God and rejoice, you and your household. xcvi
Ecclesiastes says,
Go, eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a merry heart; . . . . xcvii
Wine and a merry heart go hand in hand. It makes a person happy, as it is written,
But the vine said to them, "Should I cease my new wine, which cheers both God and men, . . . ." xcviii
Wine makes both God and man happy. So, evidently, even God drinks wine. He did so when He was here. xcix
Moreover, Psalm 104 speaks of the works of God and says,
He causes the grass to grow for the cattle, and vegetation for the service of man, that he may bring forth food from the earth, and wine that makes glad the heart of man, oil to make his face shine, and bread which strengthens man's heart. c
Wine makes the heart of man happy, as Ecclesiastes 9:19 also notes,
A feast is made for laughter, and wine makes merry; . . . .
Proverbs 17:22 reveals this is a good thing, as it is written,
A merry heart does good, like medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones.
Alcohol is also recommended to be used in a pharmaceutical way in 1 Timothy 5:23. Paul writes Timothy,
No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for your stomach's sake and your frequent infirmities. ci
Clearly, wine is good for the heart, stomach, and even other ailments. For more on alcohol in Scripture, see our article on Drinking Alcohol.
Therefore, as the drug of alcohol illustrates, there's a proper and an improper use. So it is with plants and/or drugs. Because some people misuse plants and/or drugs, and even abuse themselves and in excess, this does not make those plants or drugs evil. The people who do so are evil. The substance is not. v
V. Pharmakeia
In regards to drugs in general, some may argue the use of the Greek word pharmakeia in Scripture shows God's disapproval of drugs. In the Greek NT there is the Greek term φαρμακεία. cii It is found in Galatians 5:20; Revelation 9:21; and 18:23 all translated by the KJV; NKJV; NAS ciii as "sorcery," "sorceries," or "witchcraft." There is also the Greek word φάρμακοι civ found in Revelation 22:15 and 21:8 typically translated "sorcerers." Depending on the English translation, these words cv are sometimes translated as "drug" or "drugs."
The following are a few examples of this:
- Common English Bible cvi translates Galatians 5:20 as "drug use and casting spells," and Revelation 9:21; 21:8 "drugs" and 22:15 "drug." It translates Revelation 18:23 "spell you cast." "Drug" or "drugs" is not found elsewhere in the CEB except in the apocrypha. cvii
- Complete Jewish Bible cviii in Galatians 5:20; Revelation 9:21; 21:8; 22:15 are all translated "drugs." JCB translates Revelation 18:23 "magic spell."
- Contemporary English Version cix translates the Greek word choles cx in Matthew 27:34 as "drug." cxi In Acts 8:23 it translates this same word as "jealous." cxii Choles is found in the LXX in Deuteronomy 27:18; cxiii 32:32; cxiv Psalm 69:21; cxv Proverbs 5:4; cxvi Job 16:13; cxiv 20:14; cxvii Jeremiah 8:14; cxiv 9:15; cxviii Lamentation 3:15; cxvi 3:19. cxiv
In Mark 15:23 the CEV translates the participle esmurvismenon cxix as "mixed with a drug." This Greek word is only found here in Mark 15:23. The Greek word for "myrrh" is smurna cxx and is found in the LXX in Exodus 30:23; Psalm 45:8; cxxi Song of Solomon 3:6; 4:6, 14; 5:1, 5, cxxii 13. In the NT it is found in Matthew 2:11 and John 19:39 and is the name of the city in Revelation 1:11 and 2:8, "Smyrna."
- Darby translates the Hebrew word sammiym cxxiii "fragrant drugs" in Exodus 25:6; 30:34; 31:11; 35:8, 15, 28; 37:29; 39:38. In Exodus 30:7; 40:27; Leviticus 4:7; 16:12; and Numbers 4:16 Darby translates the same word "fragrant" and in 2 Chronicles 2:4 and 13:11 "sweet."
- GOD'S WORD Translation cxxiv translates Galatians 5:20 "drug use." It translates Revelation 9:21 "practicing witchcraft;" 18:23 "witchcraft;" 21:8 and 22:15 "sorcerers." For Matthew 27:34 GWT translates choles cx "a drug called gall," and Mark 15:23 cxxv "mixed with a drug called myrrh."
- Good News Translation cxxvi translates Mark 15:23 cxxv "mixed with a drug called myrrh." "Drug" or "drugs" is not found elsewhere in the GNT except in the apocrypha. cxxvii
- J. B. Phillips New Testament translates the Greek word choles in Matthew 27:34 as "drug." In Acts 8:23 it translates this same word as "jealousy." In Mark 15:23 the participle esmurvismenon is "drugged."
- Orthodox Jewish Bible cxxviii for Revelation 22:15 cxxix reads,
"Outside are the kelevim (dogs) and the mekhashfim (sorcerers, abusers of drugs; [T.N. the original language "pharmakoi" is where we derive the word for "drugs"; sorcerers often abused drugs to hallucinate or induce a passive state when they worked their magic and witchcraft; see Ga 5:20 and Rv 21:8] cxxx
For Galatians 5:20 OJB has "kashefanut (sorcery, witchcraft)," Revelation 9:21 "kishufim (sorceries);" 18:23 "kashefanut (sorcery);" 21:8 "mekhashfim (sorcerers)." In 1 Timothy 3:2 cxxxi they have "drug free and clear-headed" for the Greek word nephalion. cxxxii
We can look further at the above Greek words cxxxiii via the Septuagint cxxxiv to understand their meaning. In the LXX there is pharmaka, cxxxv pharmakeia, cxxxvi pharmakos, cxxxvii and the verb pharmakeuo. cxxxviii It's evident from the usage, when the context is clear, these are used for a sorcery/witchcraft type of meaning.
The passage in Exodus 7:11 is particularly emphatic in that both pharmakeia and pharmakos are used in the verse and the context is clearly sorcery. To get an idea of how it reads, here is a translation of Exodus 7:11 cxxxix with those two Greek words transliterated: cxl
And Pharaoh called together the wise of Egypt and the pharmakous, and the magicians of Egypt also did likewise with their pharmakeiais.
Here the pharmakous cxli are the ones doing the pharmakeiais, cxlii and what do they do? They turn two rods into snakes. cxliii That's sorcery. Likewise, as noted above, Exodus 7:22; 8:7, 18 cii and 9:11 cxliv are all in this context of sorcery.
VI. "Christian" Folly
Nonetheless, many make an unbiblical case against drugs. For example, Steve Rudd cxlv has an article entitled "Drugs and the Bible: E, Shrooms, Cocaine, Crack, Marijuana" cxlvi in which he states,
Simon would give hallucinogen [sic] drugs like "THC" (cannabis) "Psylocibin" [sic] cxlvii or "Cybelcyblin" [sic] (magic mushroom) "Cocaine", "Heroin" (poppy plant) to someone, wait a few minutes then as the drug starts to set in, start waving his hands around giving the impression that HIS POWER is causing all the pink elephants to fly.
The "Simon" he speaks of is the Simon of Acts 8:9. Rudd does well here at adding to God's Word. cxlviii Scripture says no such thing.
Steve Rudd further writes,
"Where was Jesus offered drugs and refused?": on the cross "Gall" Mt 27:34.
Even if that was a "drug," it doesn't say why He refused it. People may claim to know why, but Scripture doesn't say; and so neither should we. cxlviii
Also in this article Steve Rudd writes,
The argument of a glass of wine a day as a reduction in heart problems, is invented by wine companies who fail to tell you that you get 10 times the positive effect by just drinking straight grape juice!
Actually, as already noted, it was "invented" by God. The beneficial use of alcohol is clear in Judges 9:13; Psalm 104:15, and Proverbs 17:22. "Cheers," xcviii "makes glad," cxlix and "merry" cl are all from the same Hebrew root word שָׂ֭מֵחַ. cli When you put these verses together it can be seen that wine is good medicine for the heart, as Proverbs 17:22 more literally says,
A merry heart does good medicine . . . .
Rudd continues his argument against drugs and writes,
Illicit drugs destroy the body and are condemned: 1 Cor 3:16; 6:19.
Neither of those passages condemns drugs. First of all, the Bible knows nothing of illicit drugs, let alone drugs in particular. clii Thus, there is no condemnation thereof. cliii Second, it is the misuse of drugs that destroy the body. Scripture condemns the misuse of anything. cliv
Moreover, 1 Corinthians 3:16 says,
Do you not know that you clv are the temple clvi of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? clv
1 Corinthians 3:16 addresses the body of Christ, the church. 1 Corinthians 6:19 does indeed address the physical body of believers, but the immediate context clvii is not about drugs, health issues, or putting things into the body, but rather sexual immorality. clviii Then, the following verse says,
For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's.
The believer's physical body is certainly God's, and the believer should surely "glorify God" in his body. But, how is that done? "By taking heed according to Your word," clix and the word says nothing about illicit drugs. Scripture does talk about obeying the governing authorities. clx So, if the government has declared them illegal, then they are illegal. clxi But, the Bible itself does not declare any drugs illegal or illicit.
Rudd continues his argument against drugs saying,
5. Illicit drugs are condemned because its fruit is rotten. Matthew 7:17ff. Frequent drug users are losers with messed up lives constantly shooting themselves in the foot. Eventual loss of family, wealth, jobs, friends and life itself. Drug users are associated with biker gangs, going to bars, immoral sexual activity, illegal activity. Successful people do not use drugs. Take a look at the people who use drugs and line them up with people who do not... big difference!
Because people misuse a substance that, in itself, does not mean the substance is "rotten." Water can be misused. clxii That doesn't make water "rotten."
Furthermore, Rudd seriously twists Matthew 7:17. The bad fruit in Matthew 7:17-20 is from a human, a bad tree, a false prophet. clxiii Drugs are from a literal plant clxiv and are put into a human. Rudd has it backwards. But, so does the rest of the false Christian world. They are as Jesus said to the Jews:
Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying: "These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men." clxv
a true church, P. O. Box 130, Moodys, OK 74444
1-800-HOW-TRUE; www.atruechurch.info
- Genesis 1:11 ^
- Genesis 1:29-31 ^
- Genesis 9:3 ^
- Genesis 1:12 ^
- Romans 14:14 ^ ^
- e.g. hemp, marijuana, coca, poppy, peyote, etc. ^
- Historically, the U.S. was founded largely by false Christians and throughout its history has had a great deal of influence from false Christianity (both Catholic and Protestant and otherwise). To this day, false Christianity is quite prevalent throughout the United States.
1 Timothy 4:1 says they "will depart from the faith." That is how false teachers are described in 2 Peter 2:21:
For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them.
- As the "commanding to abstain from foods" in 1 Timothy 4:1-3 is applicable to our wicked government, so is the "forbidding to marry" realized in our ungodly laws. It is illegal in the United States to marry more than one wife. That is explicitly "forbidding to marry." God lays no such prohibition in His Word (see our article on polygamy), but "deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons" (1 Timothy 4:1-3) prohibit what God does not. ^
- In 1 Timothy 4:3 what the NKJV translates as "foods" the KJV translates as "meats," but it is not technically the word for meats. Κρέα (krea, found in Romans 14:21 and 1 Corinthians 8:13) is the word for meat in the NT. The Greek word in 1 Timothy 4:3 translated "foods" (NKJV) or "meats" (KJV) is βρωμάτων (brômatôn). It is a general word for food. That can be seen, for example, in Matthew 14:15 where it is translated "food" (NKJV) or "victuals" (KJV, "victuals" = food), or 1 Corinthians 10:3, spiritual "food" (KJV spiritual "meat"). For the spiritual food of 1 Corinthians 10:3 see Psalm 78:23-25 ("angels' food," more lit., "mighty ones' bread" לֶ֣חֶם אַ֭בִּירִים; see also Exodus 16:4 and Nehemiah 9:15). Likewise, LXX translates the Hebrew general word for "food," אֹ֭כֶל ('ochel), with this Greek word, βρῶμα (brôma), in Psalm 107:18, and likewise also in Ezekiel 4:10. There the context is not meat (see Ezekiel 4:9).
Moreover, some may argue over the Greek word κτίσμα (ktisma) in 1 Timothy 4:4 which is translated "creature" by the NKJV and KJV (ASV; Douay-Rheims; Darby; ERV; Webster's; WEB; YLT). The argument might be that 1 Timothy 4:1-4 is only referring to the forbidding of eating certain animals. Therefore, the forbidding of certain plants could not be included here.
A Greek English Lexicon of the New Testament (Arndt and Gringrich) defines κτίσμα (ktisma) as "that which is created." That is how the NAS translates it.
For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected, if it is received with gratitude (1 Timothy 4:4 NAS; see also NLT; NIV; ESV; HCSB; WNT)
The prior verse, 1 Timothy 4:3, uses language consistent with this general wording. In 1 Timothy 4:3 in reference to the "foods" (βρωμάτων), these are the words used: "which God created" (1 Timothy 4:3, ἃ ὁ Θεὸς ἔκτισεν). The relative plural neuter pronoun, ἃ (ha) "which" in verse 3, refers to the plural neuter noun βρωμάτων (foods) in verse 3 and the singular neuter noun κτίσμα (ktisma) in verse 4.
Κτίσμα (ktisma) is also only found in the NT in James 1:18; Revelation 5:13 and 8:9. The use in those Scriptures begs the question: Is it biblically proper to call a plant a "creature" (a κτίσμα)? James 1:18 speaks of "the firstfruits of His creatures." Revelation 5:13 has "every creature" praising the Lamb. Who all does that include? Revelation 5:13 says,
And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying: "Blessing and honor and glory and power Be to Him who sits on the throne, And to the Lamb, forever and ever!"
This praise is very much like the praise of Psalm 148 which commands virtually every created thing to praise the Lord (see also 1 Chronicles 16:33; Psalm 69:34; 96:12; 96:12; Isaiah 14:8). In Revelation 8:9 "a third of the creatures in the sea died" (KJV). From the context (verses 8-9), it would indicate any kind of life (sea vegetation included) would be dead, as even the ships themselves are destroyed (verse 9).
Nevertheless, God has given both plants and animals for food (Genesis 9:3), for βρῶμα (brôma). Thus, "commanding to abstain from" that "which God created to be received" (which includes both plants and animals) is consistent with the activity of "deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons" (1 Timothy 4:1-3). ^
- Revelation 12:9 ^
- e.g. Genesis 3:4 ^
- 1 John 5:19 ^
- Ecclesiastes 5:8 ^
- of many ^
- Jeremiah 17:9 ^
- 1 Peter 2:14 ^
- Romans 13:4-6 ^
- Oppress: to crush or burden by abuse of power or authority (www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/oppress). King Asa (2 Chronicles 14:1-16:14) is a classic Biblical example of a ruler who actually started out good, and for quite sometime (2 Chronicles 15:17), but in the end "oppressed some of the people" (2 Chronicles 16:10) and "did not seek the Lord" (2 Chronicles 16:12). ^
- "madness" ^
- one of the most incarcerated countries in the world ^
- DEA ^
- another form of hemp, food ^
- History of Marijuana as Medicine - 2900 BC to Present ^
- Medical Marijuana: Pharmacologic Considerations and Regulatory Update ^
- Psychotic: having or relating to a very serious mental illness that makes you act strangely or believe things that are not true (Definition of psychotic). ^
- marijuana ^
- dated Oct. 7, 2003 ^
- p. 1 ^
- p. 14, column 10 ^
- p. 15, column 12 ^
- e.g. 6,113,940; 6,132,762; 6,410,588 B1; 2004/0039048 A1; 7,597,910 B2; 8,071,641 B2 ^
- both industrial and medicinal ^ ^
- Romans 13:10 ^
- Luke 6:31 ^ ^
- Titus 3:3 ^
- Proverbs 9:17; see also Proverbs 20:17; Romans 7:7-11 ^
- Psalm 14:1-3 ^
- e.g. Exodus 32:22; Micah 3:1-2 ^
- Proverbs 17:11 ^ ^
- 1 Peter 5:8 ^
- Incarceration is an oppressive way to deal with mankind, particularly for something that shouldn't be illegal in the first place. In the Law of Moses God never gave locking up a criminal as a form of punishment, and "the law of the Lord is perfect." (Psalm 19:7)
But incarceration is nothing new under the Sun. Job knew prisons were oppressive. When he cursed the day of his birth, in speaking about the advantages of death, he says,
There the prisoners rest together; They do not hear the voice of the oppressor. (Job 3:18; see also Psalm 146:7)
Nevertheless, God Himself does use prisons and incarcerates men for their disobedience to Him, and when they turn to Him there, He delivers them. See Psalm 107:10-16. In the afterlife also, God has put some men in prison (1 Peter 3:19-20). But for those in that prison, there is a hope for salvation (1 Peter 3:18-20; 4:6). ^
- except perhaps North Korea ^
- per capita ^
- Jeremiah 2:17 ^
- like Al Capone in the days of prohibition ^
- even in the wrong homes ^
- Washington state lights up as smoking marijuana becomes legal (last paragraph). ^
- John 8:44 "murderer" ^
- e.g. Acts 10:38 ^
- Proverbs 16:2; 21:2 ^
- even in the schools ^
- as in John 8:44; 2 Timothy 2:26 ^
- Hebrews 9:27 ^
- Romans 1:18f; 11:36 ^
- Sociopathic: of, relating to, or characterized by asocial or antisocial behavior (Definition of sociopathic). An appropriate term for such policies that are so antihuman and anticompassion. ^
- Psalm 19:7 ^ ^
- Ecclesiastes 1:9-11 ^
- Ephesians 2:3 "desires of the . . . mind" ^
- 1 Thessalonians 5:6, 8; Titus 2:2 ^
- which can result in rape, ruin and death ^
- 1 Corinthians 15:33 ^
- Proverbs 13:20b ^
- Romans 1:31, here for a crime that shouldn't even be a crime ^
- 1 Timothy 6:10 ^
- a more literal translation. אָמַר אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל לִי דִבֶּר צוּר יִשְׂרָאֵל מוֹשֵׁל בָּאָדָם צַדִּיק מוֹשֵׁל יִרְאַת אֱלֹהִים (Hebrew for 2 Samuel 23:3)
The God of Israel said to me, the Rock of Israel spoke, “He who rules among man is righteous who rules in the fear of God.” (2 Samuel 23:3, a more literal translation)
- Titus 1:15-16 ^
- Proverbs 28:5 ^
- Hebrews 4:12-13 ^
- e.g. possession of a certain plant or drug ^
- Isaiah 5:20 ^
- Isaiah 5:20; Matthew 7:1-2; Revelation 21:8 ^
- The Law of Moses is a perfect law (Psalm 19:7) for governing sinful men (that's the context in which it was given). In God's perfect law, some sin is actually explicitly allowed. For example, Deuteronomy 24:1 allows husbands to divorce their wives. Such an act is a serious breach of love (Galatians 5:14), and in Matthew 19:3-6 Jesus reveals it was sin to do so from "the beginning." Yet, the Law explicitly allowed it nonetheless.
Likewise, drunkenness is sin (Ephesians 5:18), but the Law never punishes anyone for simply getting drunk. A rebellious unrepentant son, who is a drunkard, certainly receives the death penalty (Deuteronomy 21:18-21) along with any who might hit or curse their parents as well (Exodus 21:15, 17; Leviticus 20:9). Yet, for a person who might simply get drunk, there is not even so much as a sin offering for that, or even a specific prohibition against it. ^
- Psalm 119:45; 2 Corinthians 3:17 ^
- Romans 1:31; 2 Timothy 3:3 ^
- 1 Peter 2:16 ^
- Mark 12:31 ^
- 1 John 5:3 ^
- the love of God ^
- 2 Timothy 3:13 ^
- Proverbs 14:2 ^
- Hebrews 3:10 ^
- Isaiah 55:8-9 ^
- Hosea 14:9 ^
- Proverbs 31:6-7; for more on this, see our report on DARP, particularly point III. Disregard The Word ^
- Proverbs 31:1 ^
- alcohol ^ ^
- Proverbs 31:4-5 ^
- e.g. Exodus 29:40 ^
- Numbers 28:7 NAS ^
- Leviticus 10:9-11 NAS ^
- Leviticus 10:10 ^
- Leviticus 10:11; see also Isaiah 28:7 ^
- Numbers 6; see also Judges 13:3-5, 7, 14 ^
- Amos 2:11-12 ^
- Deuteronomy 21:20; Proverbs 20:1; 23:21, 29-35; Isaiah 5:11, 22; Ephesians 5:18 ^
- Deuteronomy 14:26 NAS ^
- Ecclesiastes 9:7; see also Ecclesiastes 8:15; Proverbs 21:17
Ecclesiastes 9:7 says, "and drink your wine with a merry heart." The Hebrew for this is וּשֲׁתֵה בְלֶב־טוֹב יֵינֶךָ
This reads more literally, "and drink your wine in a heart of good." Very similar language is used elsewhere.
For example, in 1 Samuel 25:36 it says in the Hebrew, וְלֵב נָבָל טוֹב עָלָיו וְהוּא שִׁכֹּר עַד־מְאֹד This more literally reads, "and the heart of Nabal was good upon him, and he was drunk unto excess." 2 Samuel 13:28 says, "when Amnon's heart is merry with wine." This more literally reads, "when Amnon's heart is good in wine" (כְּטוֹב לֵב־אַמְנוֹן בַּיַּיִן). Esther 1:10 likewise reads (more literally), "when the heart of the king was good in wine" (כְּטוֹב לֵב־הַמֶּלֶךְ בַּיָּיִן). Judges 16:25 also more literally reads, "And when their heart was good" (וַיְהִי כִּי טוֹב לִבָּם). ^
- Judges 9:13 ^ ^
- Luke 7:33-34 ^
- Psalm 104:14-15 ^
- 1 Timothy 5:23 ^
- pharmakeia ^ ^
- etc. ^
- pharmakoi ^
- and a few others ^
- CEB ^
- Wisdom 12:4; 18:13; 3 Maccabees 5:2, 10 ^
- CJB ^
- CEV ^
- χολῆς ^ ^
- NKJV, KJV "gall" ^
- KJV "gall;" NKJV "poisoned" ^
- LXX, H 17, KJV "gall"; NKJV "bitterness" ^
- KJV, NKJV "gall" ^ ^ ^ ^
- LXX 68:22; H 69:22, KJV, NKJV "gall" ^
- KJV, NKJV "wormwood" ^ ^
- KJV "gall"; NKJV "venom" ^
- LXX, H 14, KJV, NKJV "gall" ^
- ἐσμυρνισμένον NKJV, KJV "mingled with myrrh" ^
- σμύρνα ^
- H9; LXX 44:9 ^
- 2x ^
- סַמִּים ^
- GWT ^
- esmurvismenon ^ ^
- GNT ^
- Sirach 38:7 "druggist" ^
- OJB, a paraphrase ^
- OJB, Hisgalus 22:15 ^
- bold added ^
- OJB Timotiyos I 3:2 ^
- νηφάλιον KJV "sober"; NKJV "sober-minded" ^
- and those related ^
- LXX, Greek OT ^
- NKJV "witchcraft," 2 Kings 9:22; "sorceries," Micah 5:12 [LXX and H 11]; Nahum 3:4 [2x] ^
- NKJV "enchantments," Exodus 7:11, 22; 8:7 [LXX and H 3], 18 [LXX and H 14]; "sorceries," Isaiah 47:9, 12 ^
- NKJV "sorcerers" Exodus 7:11; "magicians," 9:11; "sorceress" 22:18 [LXX 17; H17]; "sorcerer" Deuteronomy 18:10; "charmers" Psalm 58:5 [LXX 57:6; H58:6]; "sorcerers" Jeremiah 27:9 [LXX 34:9]; Daniel 2:2; Malachi 3:5 ^
- NKJV "used sorcery," 2 Chronicles 33:6; "charming," Psalm 58:5 [LXX 57:6; H58:6] ^
- LXX ^
- not translated ^
- plural of pharmakos ^
- plural of pharmakeia ^
- Exodus 7:12 ^
- pharmakos ^
- "church of Christ" ^
- www.bible.ca/s-marijuana.htm ^
- "Psylocibin" should be "psilocybin." ^
- Proverbs 30:5-6 ^ ^
- Psalm 104:15 ^
- Proverbs 17:22 ^
- sameach ^
- other than alcohol ^
- 1 Corinthians 6:12 ^
- Romans 2:8 "self-seeking;" 1 Corinthians 10:31 ^
- plural ^ ^
- singular ^
- prior verse ^
- 1 Corinthians 6:18 ^
- Psalm 119:9 ^
- Romans 13:1-5; 1 Peter 2:13-17 ^
- by the decree of men ^
- Revelation 12:15 ^
- Matthew 7:15-23 ^
- or substance ^
- Matthew 15:7-9 ^
[...] God never forbid the use of any drugs. [...]
[...] We believe that very few people actually believe the Bible, and that most churches lead to hell. The Bible does not forbid: polygyny, drugs, gambling, smoking, drinking, masturbation. [...]
[...] "And you're for recreational drug use, too, right?" Yes, the Bible doesn't forbid it. Except that we should obey the law. But I would vote to legalize any and all drugs. [...]
[...] But here you go, the Bible doesn't forbid: drugs, drinking, smoking, gambling, slavery, polygyny, masturbation. That's not an exhaustive list. [...]
[...] None of these things are inherently wrong to do. Drinking and smoking cannabis are not condemned by Scripture. [...]
[...] I think a drug is made more safe when it is made legal, and there is no Scriptural basis for drug prohibition. [...]
[...] "Not all biker clubs are drug traffickers." And drugs aren't inherently bad anyway. [...]
[...] It's not good to abuse drugs, but there is no Scriptural basis for prohibiting them in general. People abuse themselves with whatever they can. [...]
[...] God wonders if any believers will be found on earth when He returns. The whole world is deceived by Satan and yet we can expect victory in taking dominion of the earth? This is insanity. [...]
Honestly Daniel, I agree with you on the drug part. Nice to see a christian who views legalization in the right way.