{"id":25968,"date":"2011-09-12T20:05:31","date_gmt":"2011-09-13T01:05:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/?p=25968"},"modified":"2020-09-12T20:13:31","modified_gmt":"2020-09-13T01:13:31","slug":"recreational-drug-use-is-sinful","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/recreational-drug-use-is-sinful\/","title":{"rendered":"Recreational Drug Use Is Sinful"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\tby Bryan Matthew Dockens\n

Recreational drug use is sinful because it violates the law. Under the current legal code in the United States, the recreational use of narcotics is strictly forbidden. The word of God requires obedience to the law: “Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves<\/em>” (Romans 13:1-2).<\/p>\n

\"\"Recreational drug use is sinful because it violates self-control. Through the apostle Paul, the Lord commands that we “Walk in the Spirit<\/em>” (Galatians 5:16), the fruit of which includes “self-control<\/em>” (Galatians 5:22-23). Under the influence of drugs, though, self-control is diminished, if not altogether forsaken. One of the mildest drugs available is alcohol, but even its consumption results in the user being unaware of his actions and losing his inhibitions (Proverbs 23:29-35).<\/p>\n

Recreational drug use is sinful because it is addictive. All narcotics are addictive, and addiction competes with one’s service to God. The apostle Peter wrote, “By whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage<\/em>” (II Peter 2:19). And Paul asked rhetorically, “Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?<\/em>” (Romans 6:16). We ought to enslave ourselves to God (Romans 6:17, 22), with the understanding that our loyalty must never be divided (Matthew 6:24).<\/p>\n

Recreational drug use is sinful because it is harmful to the body. The deleterious effects of narcotics on human health are well documented. Such self-inflicted physical abuse is contrary to God’s will insomuch as the apostle Paul wrote, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service<\/em>” (Romans 12:1). The Lord does not accept blemished sacrifices (Malachi 1:14); He demands the best we have to offer. Therefore, deliberate damage to the body is unacceptable. “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s<\/em>” (I Corinthians 6:19-20).<\/p>\n

Recreational drug use is sinful because God prohibits it. Drug use is explicitly forbidden in scripture as behavior that will keep one out of heaven. “Sorcery” is identified as a “work of the flesh” that will prevent entrance into God’s kingdom (Galatians 5:19-21), and “sorcerers” are among those destined for hell (Revelation 21:8). The word translated “sorcery” is the Greek word “pharmakeia<\/em>“, from which is derived the word “pharmacy”, and”sorcerers” is translated from “pharmakeus<\/em>” which means “pharmacists” or “druggists”. Drugs were used in the deceptive efforts of ancient sorcery, thus the connection. Legitimate pharmacology is not at issue here inasmuch as God allows for the limited use of otherwise restricted substances for strictly medicinal purposes (I Timothy 5:23). Ordinarily, though, drugs should be off-limits.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

by Bryan Matthew Dockens Recreational drug use is sinful because it violates the law. Under the current legal code in the United States, the recreational use of narcotics is strictly forbidden. The word of God requires obedience to the law: “Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[27],"tags":[372],"class_list":["post-25968","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-article","tag-drugs"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":29064,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/it-is-clear-that-masturbation-is-sinful-why-are-you-saying-it-is-not\/","url_meta":{"origin":25968,"position":0},"title":"It is clear that masturbation is sinful. Why are you saying it is not?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"November 26, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: If you truly search the heart and mind of God and the Scriptures it is clear that masturbation is a sin. Sex outside of marriage is a sin. Period. That's how the Word of God defines it. Go a little deeper, please! Just because the Bible does not mention\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":20099,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/can-marijuana-be-used-for-legitimate-medical-purposes\/","url_meta":{"origin":25968,"position":1},"title":"Can marijuana be used for legitimate medical purposes?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"February 20, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Is using marijuana or components of marijuana for legitimate medical diagnoses biblical? Answer: While it is popular for promoters of marijuana to talk about \"medical marijuana,\" there currently does not exist any known medical uses for marijuana that there isn't a superior drug already on the market that doesn't\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":35804,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/recreational-use-of-marijuana-approved-in-two-states\/","url_meta":{"origin":25968,"position":2},"title":"Recreational Use of Marijuana Approved in Two States","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"November 12, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Source:\u00a0\"Marijuana tourism: A budding industry?\" Omaha World-Herald, 12 November 2012. As predicted, the push for legalizing marijuana under the guise of medical need was merely a rouse to get recreational use legalized. Both Colorado and Washington have voted to legalize the use of marijuana in their states so long as\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Issues"","block_context":{"text":"Issues","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/issues\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":15118,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/sorcery\/","url_meta":{"origin":25968,"position":3},"title":"Sorcery","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"November 12, 2007","format":false,"excerpt":"by Ethan R. Longhenry Introduction Sorcery! When the word is spoken, images of witches and wizards come to mind Harry Potter and his adventures have put sorcery back in the news today Nevertheless, sorcery reckoned as sin in the Bible Galatians 5:19-20 Revelation 9:21, 18:23 So what is sorcery? Why\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Sermon"","block_context":{"text":"Sermon","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/sermon\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":51319,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/how-does-a-former-drug-dealer-become-a-christian\/","url_meta":{"origin":25968,"position":4},"title":"How does a former drug dealer become a Christian?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"September 8, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Hello Jeff, I had an awesome meeting with a guy who's a little older than I am. He came to services on Sunday, and I talked briefly with him. He said that the class and sermon really spoke to him. We met tonight for dinner, and he revealed that\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":45770,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/does-god-hold-us-responsible-when-we-pay-taxes-to-a-government-that-uses-the-money-for-sinful-purposes-such-as-funding-abortions\/","url_meta":{"origin":25968,"position":5},"title":"Does God hold us responsible when we pay taxes to a government that uses the money for sinful purposes, such as funding abortions?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"August 18, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I live in a State where Medicare covers abortions. Since our taxes pay for Medicare, will God hold us responsible for this? We are told in the Bible to pay taxes, but as citizens, we don't have control over how the money is spent. Thank you for your reply.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25968","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=25968"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25968\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=25968"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=25968"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=25968"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}