Do Christians Smoke Weed?

[UrsusMedius]

The Bible does not instruct to obey every law on the books. It instructs to obey the true Law, the Law of God. In fact there is much evidence of civil disobedience that is in the name of God.

I was referring to what Paul wrote in Romans 13 about submitting to worldly authority. The worldly authority that Paul was subject to was Imperial Rome; brother Paul had it quite a bit rougher that we do here in the U.S.A. When he needed to act against Roman law when it interfered with his mission of evangelism, he risked a lot more than we do here.

Many actions have been done in the name of God; I can foment a riot and claim to be doing it in the name of wolf_fire, but that doesn't mean you had anything to do with it. The times noted in the Bible where God's emissaries and disciples worked against worldly authority was when that authority was acting against God's will.

 

[UrsusMedius]

Its rarely that simple. Chronic over indulgence becomes a psychological disorder and development of disease processes.

Agree, and I also agree that it still come down to choice, but once the disease/disorder takes hold, it becomes much more difficult to make that choice, or even to be aware that a choice needs to be made. In my case (and in the cases of every recovering alcoholic that I personally know) I didn't realize how bad I had gotten until the consequences of my drinking had become severe enough for me to make the connection. Pain is nature's way of saying "don't do that", but my alcoholism had me rationalizing away all those lesser consequences to other causes (any fault but my own). I just thank God that I never caused physical harm to anyone other than myself during my drinking days.

 

[UrsusMedius]

Here's an idea: if it is legal, but doing it makes you look over your shoulder because you are afraid of someone seeing what you're up to, don't do it.

Excellent concept! I've also heard it said that if it feels wrong for you to do it, it probably is wrong for you to do it, though that does not necessarily mean that it's wrong for someone else. In my case, it is wrong for me to use alcohol because I become an instant asshat, but for someone without my affliction there's nothing wrong with responsible drinking.

 

[golocx4]

The Bible is full of one story after another of Human Beings making promises to God and None of them were able to keep those promises. Only one was able to do so and hence he became Christ. He didn't choose to associate with the pious and righteous Pharisees, the ones who judge others or who even to presume to holier than though. He associated with prostitutes and lepers and the people without status. Today people who berate Christians don't have a clue what they are doing. Christians are sinners and they know it and that is why they look to Jesus Christ as the Son of God who became man.

 

[AppliedPerspective]

A true Christian, which is one saved by Jesus Christ, has no desire to intentionally sin or defile the body with drugs.

I wouldn't go that far. True Christians are still fleshy, and our flesh is corrupt. As a Christian, since I have the power of the Spirit in me and the desire to please God, I may be able to reject my desires to do all the profane things my flesh desires, but that does not mean my desires have gone away. I am still tempted to lie, cheat, steal, commit adultery in my heart and a thousand other things that "come naturally" to me, but I choose daily to follow Christ instead of my desires.

 

[wolf_fire]

I was referring to what Paul wrote in Romans 13 about submitting to worldly authority. The worldly authority that Paul was subject to was Imperial Rome; brother Paul had it quite a bit rougher that we do here in the U.S.A. When he needed to act against Roman law when it interfered with his mission of evangelism, he risked a lot more than we do here.

Many actions have been done in the name of God; I can foment a riot and claim to be doing it in the name of wolf_fire, but that doesn't mean you had anything to do with it. The times noted in the Bible where God's emissaries and disciples worked against worldly authority was when that authority was acting against God's will.

I thought for the longest time this letter of Paul's meant for us to follow the law of the state, but it never made sense that Paul would be writing to those of the Way and telling them to submit to worldly authority. This is especially true when Paul himself was jailed (and killed) by not submitting to worldly authority. So the question remains, what does Paul actually mean in Romans 13 if it doesn't mean be submissive to the laws of the state?

Here's a decent link (not the one I was looking for, but it makes its case). Romans 13:1-7 A Christian perspective - not secular

 

[UrsusMedius]

Here's a decent link (not the one I was looking for, but it makes its case). Romans 13:1-7 A Christian perspective - not secular

A quick scan of page article makes me want to take some time tonight and give it thorough read. Thanks!

 

[mwhals]

I wouldn't go that far. True Christians are still fleshy, and our flesh is corrupt. As a Christian, since I have the power of the Spirit in me and the desire to please God, I may be able to reject my desires to do all the profane things my flesh desires, but that does not mean my desires have gone away. I am still tempted to lie, cheat, steal, commit adultery in my heart and a thousand other things that "come naturally" to me, but I choose daily to follow Christ instead of my desires.

I never said the body isn't tempted. I just have no desire to willfully sin from a knowledge point of view. My fleshly body is still with me until I die.



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[ingrahmm]

Alcoholism is 100% invented by the psychology industry, like most "isms." The industry has to periodically create more 'isms' and bogus diseases in order to remain relevant. It is another industry established under the voodoo of 'science' to make bogus money and be part of the 'controlling' clique of society. We don't need the industry - never did. Anybody can abuse any substance with varying results. Some things are more difficult to cease but all is possible if desire and incentive exists. We don't need 75% of the entire medical industry which currently exists. The medical industry (including the psychology industry) exists because we're a pampered, introspective, and coddled society - cultivated by mass media which has barely existed a century - the beginning of which nearly everything about the American society began going to hell.

“Alcoholism is a disease, but it's the only one you can get yelled at for having. Goddamn it Otto, you are an alcoholic. Goddamn it Otto, you have Lupus... one of those two doesn't sound right.”

- Mitch Hedberg

 

[dad45acp]

Alcoholism is 100% invented by the psychology industry, like most "isms." The industry has to periodically create more 'isms' and bogus diseases in order to remain relevant. It is another industry established under the voodoo of 'science' to make bogus money and be part of the 'controlling' clique of society. We don't need the industry - never did. Anybody can abuse any substance with varying results. Some things are more difficult to cease but all is possible if desire and incentive exists. We don't need 75% of the entire medical industry which currently exists. The medical industry (including the psychology industry) exists because we're a pampered, introspective, and coddled society - cultivated by mass media which has barely existed a century - the beginning of which nearly everything about the American society began going to hell.

Where or whom do you derive your expertise from?

Sent from my hand-held mind distractor

 

[GlassWolf]

...some people really are like a slinky, aren't they?

 

[ingrahmm]

The Bible is full of one story after another of Human Beings making promises to God and None of them were able to keep those promises. Only one was able to do so and hence he became Christ. He didn't choose to associate with the pious and righteous Pharisees, the ones who judge others or who even to presume to holier than though. He associated with prostitutes and lepers and the people without status. Today people who berate Christians don't have a clue what they are doing. Christians are sinners and they know it and that is why they look to Jesus Christ as the Son of God who became man.

re: Tolerance of the intolerant leads to the destruction of tolerance. “You are also reminded that any inappropriate remarks or jokes concerning security may result in your arrest,” in the land of the free.
This is all true - but I remind folks that this nation will soon make the old Soviet Union seem free unless ordinary citizens fight to return America to a constitutionally-based republic - which absolutely cannot happen by sheer political and electoral will. Blood, and a lot of it, will have to be shed by ordinary people. To think otherwise is to dream - history proves this.

 

[jhodge83]

Where or whom do you derive your expertise from?

Sent from my hand-held mind distractor

Tom Cruise and scientology...lol