What does the Bible say about SMOKING POT?


This question is #2 of The 31 Questions series on this blog, leading up to Q Sunday on February 1, 2015!

Q #2:  What does the Bible say about smoking marijuana?

A:  While the Bible does not address smoking marijuana, the scriptures do, in a variety of ways, discourage altering consciousness for the cause of pleasure.

It might surprise you to know it, but many ancient cults involved the use of alcohol and drugs as a way to connect with the spirits or gods. In fact, today, in various expressions of Hinduism, animism and tribal religions, mind-altering drugs are part of the worshiper's journey in contact with spiritual realities.

Additionally, in the New Testament's original Greek, the word for drugs is "pharmakeia" and is translated consistently as "witchcraft"--suggesting a connection between the use of drugs and unclean spiritual endeavors.  To see those passages where this word is translated into witchcraft, see Galatians 5:20, Revelation 9:21, 18:23, 21:8, and 22:5.

Finally, the apostle Paul seems to indicate that being stoned (whether it's from alcohol or something else) is in some way diametrically opposed to the activity of the Holy Spirit.  Ephesians 5:18 says, "Do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit."

In this way, one would extrapolate that Christ-followers should avoid any sort of experience that robs one of sobriety.  BOTTOM LINE:  Following Christ and being filled with the Holy Spirit do not involve the kind of high that comes from smoking pot.

Learn more about this series by reading the post "31 Questions" or by doing a search on 31 questions above!

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