[Ken H]

There was no prohibition in either the NT or OT, nor was there a suggestion that there should be. So how does the Bible justify secular drug laws?

[mrsmel]

Well, firstly, Jesus said "render unto Caesar" which didn't mean that Christians had to participate in lawful but immoral practices. Secondly, I was always taught (trusting in my pastors and teachers, who had studied the matter and whose teaching always coincided over the years-in this world, I must trust someone, as I will never be a genius who can study it all for myself in the original texts, so I choose to trust those who have never led me wrong on other matters, to the best of my knowledge), that the word translated as "witchcraft"-pharmakia-refers to recreational drug use.

As I can't say it any better, not being erudite in this matter, I will rely upon and present one of those dreaded "copy and paste" jobs, lol, which says it better than I ever could-

The Greek word “pharmakia” literally means “drugs”, and appears five times in the New Testament: in Gal 5:20, Rev 9:21, 18:23, 21:8, and 22:15.

“Pharmakia” is translated into our English Bible as either “witchcraft” or “sorceries”. We also get our English word “pharmacy” from the Greek word “pharmakia”.

In each of the above five passages, “pharmakia”, or “drugs” is listed as a work of the flesh of man as opposed to the Spirit of God working in us.

For example, Gal 5:16-23 in the KJV:

16 “[This] I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.

17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.

19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are [these]; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,

20 Idolatry, witchcraft (“pharmakia” or drug use), hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,

21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told [you] in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

23 Meekness, temperance (self control) : against such there is no law.”

The King James Bible translators translated “pharmakia” as “witchcraft”, because almost no one but witches and sorcerers used drugs 400 years ago. Drugs were most commonly used in pagan worship to hallucinate and to try to get in touch with evil spirits.