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Faith Leaders Wrestle Over Growing Support for Marijuana
Christian Headlines ^ | February 04, 2014 | Sarah Pulliam Bailey

Posted on 02/05/2014 3:37:20 AM PST by xzins

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To: xzins

The way to combat substance abuse is to deal with the root issues that are causing the pain in the person’s life that they are trying to numb or escape.


21 posted on 02/05/2014 5:27:50 AM PST by metmom (...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith....)
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To: Ken H

Actually, they taxed it. Whiskey Rebellion put down by George Washington by force.

So, they did exert controls on it.

Also, the danger of riding a horse while drunk is probably not as likely to injure others as is driving a vehicle while drunk.


22 posted on 02/05/2014 5:28:09 AM PST by xzins ( Retired Army Chaplain and Proud of It! Those who truly support our troops pray for victory!)
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To: xzins

Texting while not driving is perfectly safe. Banning pot smoking when someone is not driving because they might drive would be akin to banning all texting because someone might text while driving.


23 posted on 02/05/2014 5:31:20 AM PST by dirtboy
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To: metmom

I worked on a drug/alcohol ward at Veteran’s Hospital and had a career in the military chaplaincy, my last 6 years in a counseling role.

I think the issue with alcohol abuse is addiction and the inability to kick that addiction.

There is a significant body of literature that points to an addiction to marijuana. More important is the mental issues associated with marijuana use in my opinion.

Nonetheless, in BOTH there is inebriation that ruins normal reflexes during the inebriated period of time. Making laws to prohibit driving under the influence makes perfect sense to me.


24 posted on 02/05/2014 5:32:38 AM PST by xzins ( Retired Army Chaplain and Proud of It! Those who truly support our troops pray for victory!)
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To: dirtboy

I don’t see any argument on my part against texting while not driving.

Substances, however, can legitimately be controlled.

No one under 21 can purchase, purchased only in licensed locations, no operating vehicles while under the influence, etc. Those are all good laws and apply to marijuana as much as to alcohol.


25 posted on 02/05/2014 5:36:45 AM PST by xzins ( Retired Army Chaplain and Proud of It! Those who truly support our troops pray for victory!)
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To: xzins

First of all, there’s this passage:

Rev 21:7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
Rev 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

And this one:

Rev 22:14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
Rev 22:15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.

I point this out because of the word “sorcerers” in each text. That’s the Greek “pharmakeus” meaning “a druggist (“pharmacist”) or poisoner, that is, (by extension) a magician: - sorcerer.” In context, it’s obvious that drug dealing for the purpose of getting high is being condemned to the lake of fire.

In other places in the Bible it’s clear that using any substance to the point that it clouds our faculties is a bad thing.

Pro 20:1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.

That’s why they tended to mix their wine with water. They’d get the medicinal effects of the wine, including the disinfection of potentially tainted water, but it would take a lot to cloud their faculties.


26 posted on 02/05/2014 5:37:15 AM PST by afsnco
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To: xzins
Romans 13 doesn't quantify good from bad, nor could it considering it is an epistle to Romans, who could not be considered "good" in any respect towards Christians.

"Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established".

27 posted on 02/05/2014 5:39:03 AM PST by Durus (You can avoid reality, but you cannot avoid the consequences of avoiding reality. Ayn Rand)
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To: Ken H

You need to stop padding your ignorance. Sorry.


28 posted on 02/05/2014 5:46:05 AM PST by ifinnegan
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To: xzins
Actually, they taxed it. Whiskey Rebellion put down by George Washington by force. So, they did exert controls on it.

Agreed. You make my point. The Whiskey Rebellion was over taxation levels. It was not over whether it should be prohibited.

Also, the danger of riding a horse while drunk is probably not as likely to injure others as is driving a vehicle while drunk.

Well, yes, but what does that have to do with prohibiting drugs or alcohol? We have laws against DUI for alcohol but alcohol itself is not prohibited.

29 posted on 02/05/2014 5:47:40 AM PST by Ken H (What happens on the internet, stays on the internet.)
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To: ifinnegan
You need to stop padding your ignorance. Sorry.

Suppose you enlighten all of us and explain how the Bible justifies secular prohibition laws, and why the Founders never saw fit to institute it.

30 posted on 02/05/2014 5:51:01 AM PST by Ken H (What happens on the internet, stays on the internet.)
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To: afsnco
So what you are saying is that pharmacists are going to hell? It's a real stretch to say that "sorcerers" (pharmakeus) translates into druggies or even drug dealers. The Greek word incorporates a lot of meaning, including the "snake oil salesmen" to a person that would drug people to give an illusion of a religious experience, even to faking a religious experience minus drug use. It even includes the concept of an overt poisoner.

A snake handling "evangelist" matches this definition more so than a recreation drug user or drug dealer.

31 posted on 02/05/2014 5:52:09 AM PST by Durus (You can avoid reality, but you cannot avoid the consequences of avoiding reality. Ayn Rand)
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To: Ken H

Ken, how much dope do you some?

You can’t even follow your own train of thought.


32 posted on 02/05/2014 5:58:13 AM PST by ifinnegan
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To: xzins

To those Faith Leaders who Wrestle Over Growing Support for Marijuana:

MARK 9:50
Salt is good for seasoning. But if it loses its flavor, how do you make it salty again? You must have the qualities of salt among yourselves...

1 CORINTHIANS 6:19-20
Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.


33 posted on 02/05/2014 6:11:10 AM PST by stars & stripes forever (Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.)
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To: Durus

Samuel Adams disagreed with you.


34 posted on 02/05/2014 6:13:32 AM PST by xzins ( Retired Army Chaplain and Proud of It! Those who truly support our troops pray for victory!)
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To: afsnco

I agree. Those who use drugs for legitimate medicinal purposes are fine. Those who use them to manipulate people are in danger of God’s judgment.

Those who use them for recreation are probably being manipulated.

There does seem to me to be a recognition that wine in proper amounts is ok...and that some influence of the wine on the physiology was recognized as OK, unless it went to drunkenness. For example, Jesus made wine at a wedding in Cana of Galilee.

1 Peter 4:3 KJV For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries:


35 posted on 02/05/2014 6:23:28 AM PST by xzins ( Retired Army Chaplain and Proud of It! Those who truly support our troops pray for victory!)
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To: ifinnegan
Ken, how much dope do you some?

I have never somed dope in my whole life. Honest.

36 posted on 02/05/2014 6:29:37 AM PST by Ken H (What happens on the internet, stays on the internet.)
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To: metmom

Most of the people I know who get high, get high because they enjoy getting high. It’s not to quell pain, it’s to get pleasure.


37 posted on 02/05/2014 6:42:08 AM PST by odawg
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To: Durus
"Romans 13 says that good rulers make good laws for the good of society and that they should be obeyed".

We are a nation born out of rebellion to god then right? I think you are missing the context of "Romans".

Your statement makes no sense unless you think George III qualified as a "good ruler". I don't think many historians would agree with that assessment.

38 posted on 02/05/2014 6:53:05 AM PST by CA Conservative (Texan by birth, Californian by circumstance)
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To: Ken H

I believe you.

When the Bible condemns witchcraft and sorcery it uses the Greek term pharmakeus. It is where were get our term pharmacy.

Mind altering drugs have always been associated with witchcraft and associated practices and beliefs, and still is.


39 posted on 02/05/2014 6:58:19 AM PST by ifinnegan
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To: Durus
Romans 13 doesn't quantify good from bad, nor could it considering it is an epistle to Romans, who could not be considered "good" in any respect towards Christians.

Your argument here is flawed.The epistle to the Romans is addressed to "To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints:" (Ro. 1:7). So the letter was written to the Christians in Rome at that time, not to the Roman citizenry in general.

40 posted on 02/05/2014 6:59:43 AM PST by CA Conservative (Texan by birth, Californian by circumstance)
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