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As a kid, I never really experimented with marijuana. Honestly, one time I was offered a joint and I took two puffs and never inhaled. I used to tell that story until Bill Clinton told reporters during his campaign that he smoked marijuana but never inhaled. His answer was so ridiculed that I couldn't tell my story any more. So, I actually have to embellish it a bit to sound believable. I just say, "Yeah, I smoked a little bit but never really got into it." Potsmokers believe me because you are either a potsmoker or you are not. If I was into it they would know.
That brings me to my point. It is amazing how many potsmokers I know. And guess what? You will never believe how many folks you know who are into it. And not only that, no one thinks its a big deal. I guess we could thank Dr. Dre, The Black Crowes, et al, but it doesn't really matter who has made marijuana acceptable. For so many folks, it is.
When you speak about it, you hear the standard responses. They say it's not a drug because it grows naturally. It's not a drug because you can't OD on it. It is not a gateway drug. It's better for you than getting drunk. You've never experienced it so you just don't know, blah blah blah. I'm sick of it.
Within the church, if you speak to folks who smoke marijuana, they'll say, "Hey don't give me the don't be drunk thing. Marijuana doesn't get you drunk. It just relaxes you." They don't respond to the illegal thing. They say, "Speeding is illegal too. You speed."
Basically, if you smoke marijuana you think it's fine. You don't fear what it can do to you like alcoholism because you can hold a job and smoke. You don't fear OD'ing and dying like you do on hardcore drugs because you are not going to OD on tree.
But this is what I notice about my potsmoking friends. Most of them are quickly becoming burnouts. They say marijuana is not a gateway drug. However, every person I know that has done hard drugs did marijuana too. Though every person who did marijuana doesn't do hardcore drugs, you can't argue against the connection. They say there is nothing wrong with it because all it does is relax you. But the folks I know that have been doing it for 10 or so years all hold mediocre, ambitionless jobs with very little desire to create a life to take care of a family. Their biggest concern is getting off of work for a concert.
Now I know there are the folks that attempt a mix between dedication to Christianity and marijuana, but those are few, at least in my circles. What I get is folks that smoke and give slight attention to Christ and church. That is not surprising because it is consistent with everything else marijuana has done in their lives. They are passionless and ambitionless, so their slight attention to church and Christ fits in with their lack of drive for everything else.
What is the church to do? I'm honestly not sure. I have good relationships with these folks, and continue to love them and pray for them. The ones that come to church hear the truth. Some of them do see that there is something that they are missing out on, but it is not enough to get them to quit smoking. They most likely aren't going to be arrested unless they are dealing, but that is not a threat for most. They can continue to keep their bartending, waitressing, service-related jobs, so losing their job is not a motivating factor to quitting. Some will go into or go back into hard drugs and will experience hard times or even death. Some will get married and get divorced. While all the while Jesus offers them true joy, true love, true acceptance, and something greater than getting lifted. But many will miss out on them for an inadequate substitute.
Gordon Duncan is the pastor of Sovereign King Church in Garner, NC. He blogs daily at www.xanga.com/gordzilla7
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I'm not sure that I get how this article fits into the "emerging conversation". First off, I make 50k+ a year, I've held the same job for 8 years...and I am one of only a handful of people in the country that are qualified to do what I do. I miss an average of 1.5 days of work a year...and yes, I'm sick when I call in...not blowing it off to go to a concert. I provide for my family, own my home outright, and love Jesus with all my heart. Some people unwind after particularly bad day at work with a glass of wine or a beer when they get home. 1 glass, every couple of days after work...is that what you would consider a problem? I wouldn't. I just happen to prefer a small "hit from the bong"(by the way, if you are trying to sound authentic with your use of the "hip pot smoking lingo"-you missed the mark, it sounds way too contrived-speaking from the heart in your own words would have a greater impact). I don't "get stoned"-i don't put pot before anything else in my life. Does smoking pot negatively effect my love of Jesus? Does a person that has an occasional alcoholic beverage love Jesus less to the same degree as me, or does pot take you further down on the "Jesus love-o-meter "? I will be the first to admit that alcohol and marijuana can both lead to harder drugs. If I were a youth pastor, I'd do my best to try and steer my flock into a a more positive outlet...but I would not make it a point to speak out and point the finger at any adults in my congregation that I knew were occasional smokers-unless I knew that it was interfering with their lives and faith in a negative manner. Just about anything has the potential to be abused, I dare say that even the Christian faith has the potential to lead people down the wrong path. You said "Every person I know that has done hard drugs did marijuana too. Though every person who did marijuana doesn't do hardcore drugs, you can't argue against the connection". I find your logic flawed. The reason that people that use hard drugs have also used pot is that they have an addictive personality, and will do just about anything to get high. You could pretty much exchange "marijuana" with "alcohol" in your statement and it would be just as true. So I ask you again...is an occasional light drinker that does not let it interfere with their life, family, and love of Christ still a sinner? Your statements are a bit too broad regarding smokers. Go back and read what you've written...a disclaimer that maybe there are some that are perhaps capable of "maintaining" a normal life, followed by sweeping generalizations of those that smoke. Pot can ruin lives, so can drinking, so can many things that we think of as "good"...just about anything taken to an extreme can be detrimental to ones life and faith. If you don't like pot-don't do it. Simple as that. If pot(or any other substance) is having a negative effect on a friend, speak up. Lumping all smokers into the slacker, lazy, of little faith camp does nothing for any of us. -Yours in Christ-Simon
Was it intentional to put the article up on 4/20? That made me smile.
I think the article fits in well with the emerging conversation. Arguing that marijuana is a grey area is a minority position, and what is more postmodern than questioning the center and listening to the edges?
Biblically I think we'd have a hard time taking any hard stances against moderate marijuana use, per se, and especially medical. But what about issues of liberty vs. causing others to stumble? Or even just the banal question of obeying the law, when it doesn't contradict the faith?
So I fall on the 'say no' side for now. Still, it's an important question for my generation and I'd like to hear some scholarly response. Can anybody point me to it online?
No, Joey, it wasn't published on 4/20 for that reason. It was just the earliest available date when the article was submitted. :)
I find it interesting that in all cases, not just in the church but outside as well, people always do the comparison between marijuana and alcohol. Do you come down on those whole appreciate a cool ale at the end of a hard day?, or a glass of red to take the edge off? Though having a toke on some stinky green hash doesn't harm you as much as meth or even alcohol, you have to come back to the place that one is illegal and one isn't. So i guess our conversation should really be, "I'm a sinner to my core, like what James says I've broken one I'm as guilty as if i broke them all, I might as well ignore the law and get blazed because Jesus loves me"Just a thought
Why do we need to debate these issues again and again. Of course "all things are lawful" but the question is are they expedient. Why would a believer need to unwind when they are already walking in the strenght of the spirit of god. What if we decide "hey I like to unwind, with a little cocaine".
The fact is none of these "mood altering substances" whether smoked or swallowed help in our battle against the flesh. Not being part of the emergent conversation I dont know if anyone bothers with that battle, but if not someone had better add it into the "pot" pardon the bad pun.
The bottom line is none of these things are a spiritual act, and none are done in faith, nad "whatever is not of faith is sin"
Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God and authorities that exist are appointed by God (Rom 13:1)
Breaking the laws of your country is sin because lawlessness opposes God.
If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me: (Ps 66:18)
Continually breaking the laws of God's appointed officials and knowing that you are doing so may really mess up your prayer life.
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I'm not sure that I get how this article fits into the "emerging conversation". First off, I make 50k+ a year, I've held the same job for 8 years...and I am one of only a handful of people in the country that are qualified to do what I do. I miss an average of 1.5 days of work a year...and yes, I'm sick when I call in...not blowing it off to go to a concert. I provide for my family, own my home outright, and love Jesus with all my heart. Some people unwind after particularly bad day at work with a glass of wine or a beer when they get home. 1 glass, every couple of days after work...is that what you would consider a problem? I wouldn't. I just happen to prefer a small "hit from the bong"(by the way, if you are trying to sound authentic with your use of the "hip pot smoking lingo"-you missed the mark, it sounds way too contrived-speaking from the heart in your own words would have a greater impact). I don't "get stoned"-i don't put pot before anything else in my life. Does smoking pot negatively effect my love of Jesus? Does a person that has an occasional alcoholic beverage love Jesus less to the same degree as me, or does pot take you further down on the "Jesus love-o-meter "? I will be the first to admit that alcohol and marijuana can both lead to harder drugs. If I were a youth pastor, I'd do my best to try and steer my flock into a a more positive outlet...but I would not make it a point to speak out and point the finger at any adults in my congregation that I knew were occasional smokers-unless I knew that it was interfering with their lives and faith in a negative manner. Just about anything has the potential to be abused, I dare say that even the Christian faith has the potential to lead people down the wrong path. You said "Every person I know that has done hard drugs did marijuana too. Though every person who did marijuana doesn't do hardcore drugs, you can't argue against the connection". I find your logic flawed. The reason that people that use hard drugs have also used pot is that they have an addictive personality, and will do just about anything to get high. You could pretty much exchange "marijuana" with "alcohol" in your statement and it would be just as true. So I ask you again...is an occasional light drinker that does not let it interfere with their life, family, and love of Christ still a sinner? Your statements are a bit too broad regarding smokers. Go back and read what you've written...a disclaimer that maybe there are some that are perhaps capable of "maintaining" a normal life, followed by sweeping generalizations of those that smoke. Pot can ruin lives, so can drinking, so can many things that we think of as "good"...just about anything taken to an extreme can be detrimental to ones life and faith. If you don't like pot-don't do it. Simple as that. If pot(or any other substance) is having a negative effect on a friend, speak up. Lumping all smokers into the slacker, lazy, of little faith camp does nothing for any of us. -Yours in Christ-Simon Posted by Simon | Posted at 04/20/2007 9:19 AM
Was it intentional to put the article up on 4/20? That made me smile.
I think the article fits in well with the emerging conversation. Arguing that marijuana is a grey area is a minority position, and what is more postmodern than questioning the center and listening to the edges?
Biblically I think we'd have a hard time taking any hard stances against moderate marijuana use, per se, and especially medical. But what about issues of liberty vs. causing others to stumble? Or even just the banal question of obeying the law, when it doesn't contradict the faith?
So I fall on the 'say no' side for now. Still, it's an important question for my generation and I'd like to hear some scholarly response. Can anybody point me to it online?
Posted by Joey Aszterbaum | Posted at 04/22/2007 4:12 PMNo, Joey, it wasn't published on 4/20 for that reason. It was just the earliest available date when the article was submitted. :) Posted by Lydia | Posted at 04/23/2007 7:01 AM
I find it interesting that in all cases, not just in the church but outside as well, people always do the comparison between marijuana and alcohol. Do you come down on those whole appreciate a cool ale at the end of a hard day?, or a glass of red to take the edge off? Though having a toke on some stinky green hash doesn't harm you as much as meth or even alcohol, you have to come back to the place that one is illegal and one isn't. So i guess our conversation should really be, "I'm a sinner to my core, like what James says I've broken one I'm as guilty as if i broke them all, I might as well ignore the law and get blazed because Jesus loves me"Just a thought Posted by Anthony Campbell | Posted at 04/25/2007 6:20 PM
Why do we need to debate these issues again and again. Of course "all things are lawful" but the question is are they expedient. Why would a believer need to unwind when they are already walking in the strenght of the spirit of god. What if we decide "hey I like to unwind, with a little cocaine".
The fact is none of these "mood altering substances" whether smoked or swallowed help in our battle against the flesh. Not being part of the emergent conversation I dont know if anyone bothers with that battle, but if not someone had better add it into the "pot" pardon the bad pun.
The bottom line is none of these things are a spiritual act, and none are done in faith, nad "whatever is not of faith is sin"
Posted by paul carley | Posted at 05/03/2007 4:48 AMLet every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God and authorities that exist are appointed by God (Rom 13:1)
Breaking the laws of your country is sin because lawlessness opposes God.
If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me: (Ps 66:18)
Continually breaking the laws of God's appointed officials and knowing that you are doing so may really mess up your prayer life.
Posted by Paul | Posted at 05/03/2007 5:48 AM