Follow along with the video below to see how to install our site as a web app on your home screen.
Note: This feature may not be available in some browsers.
100% yes. God gives man sexual desires, and we criminalize child molestation, statutory rape and other sexual abuses. An example where God's gift is abused, and used irresponsibly.Is it OK for legislation to criminalize that which God had specifically given to man?
100% yes. God gives man sexual desires, and we criminalize child molestation, statutory rape and other sexual abuses. An example where God's gift is abused, and used irresponsibly.
I am asking if it is OK for government to criminalize what is essentially a plant given by God to man.
The parallel I was drawing was the criminalization of something that is abused. Sex is a gift from God. Just as cannabis is. The abuse of sex is legislated against by the government (to a degree). It seems that the government's attitude to what the abuse of cannabis is is different to yours.I'm afraid I do not see the relation. If your example paralleled the question properly, well, sexual desires would have to be illegal, not the misuse of them.
I am not asking whether or not God set apart cannabis to be smoked and inhaled or the government's opinion about that predicament. I am asking if it is OK for government to criminalize what is essentially a plant given by God to man.
Is there a solid argument in support of a magistrate criminalizing God's provision?
The parallel I was drawing was the criminalization of something that is abused. Sex is a gift from God. Just as cannabis is. The abuse of sex is legislated against by the government (to a degree). It seems that the government's attitude to what the abuse of cannabis is is different to yours.
So, my point is; what should a Christian say is the difference between using Marijuana and abusing Marijuana? Just as sexual relations cross the line into abuse when it occurs outside of marriage, when does smoking pot cross that line?
Larry Hughes said:No, by its very nature it's contradictory. Only the abuse of it is correct to be regulated. But man is clunky and very dull in fact closed to the idea of the fallen heart. Thus, man magistrates things of creation thinking they are causal, thus man blames God by assigning causality via such legistlation to the good Creation, e.g. alcohol, rather than addressing directly the crime issuing forth from the heart. Man thus merely mimics the old Adam, 'the woman you gave...led me astray, the wine did it, the cannibis did it, ad nausem. This is how utter confusion abounds when man attempts in vain to "do" the law of God. You end up with opinion discussions about what can and cannot be done, a never ending nightmare of do and don't. When the fundamental loss of the total depravity of the heart of man to do God's Law is lost sight of, this is the resultant chaos. The Pharisees had what, a few hunderd laws. Check out the "Code of Federal Regulations", and that's just federal law. We cannot even track the violations to our written laws any longer so monumental they are, only the one's high on the "radar" are of concern.
L
If you want to use Genesis to justify the use of marijuana, you can't honestly stop there - you'd have to apply the same argument to other organic mind-altering substances, such as poppyseed derivatives, cocoa derivatives, etc.
I'd suggest that trying to justify marijuana through the use of Genesis 1:29 would be at least as intellectually dishonest as, say, trying to use Titus 1:15 to justify <insert pet besetting sin here>.
If you want to use Genesis to justify the use of marijuana, you can't honestly stop there - you'd have to apply the same argument to other organic mind-altering substances, such as poppyseed derivatives, cocoa derivatives, etc.
I'd suggest that trying to justify marijuana through the use of Genesis 1:29 would be at least as intellectually dishonest as, say, trying to use Titus 1:15 to justify <insert pet besetting sin here>.
Hello Chris,
Thanks for your comments. I definitely see and appreciate your concern. I'm still interested in a response to the question though.
Is it OK for legislation to criminalize that which God had specifically given to man?
*I understand that this subject can draw opinions about people, but I think it's worthy of discussion with regard to a magistrate's accountability or freedom thereof.
the distinction Chris is the "effect". I think halucenogenic drugs are in a seperate category and can legitimatly be banned based on the laws against "witch-craft".
Since pot is not (ordinarily) a halucenogenic as it is commenly used it would not fall under the ban that I see in scripture against other drugs.
I would say however that the nearly universal use of pot/hash is as an intoxicant. Since scripture clearly forbids drunkeness it would be a sin for a xn to use (abuse) it in this way.
but it shouldn't protect us from ourselves.
No, not at all.
The *real* question, though.....who are we to question them? Government is concerned with this world. My treasure doesn't lie here. Let government do as it will. Our job is to spread the Gospel.
Thanks for expanding on your answer, Chris. Quick question for now, when you mention this:
You ask who are we to question them? I could see this being valid if we lived under some kind of monarchy, but do you think the same in our current system of government? Shouldn't we be exactly the ones to question them?
It's not so much the discussion of marijuana here but it is the principle of this situation that is so interesting.
Hi Vaughan,
Hope all is well this morning. I understand the point you are making that both sex and marijuana plants are abused even though they are gifts from God. This issue I am concerned with, however, is that there is a big difference between how legislators have handled the two. It is perfectly legal to have sexual desires or intercourse up to the point where the state deems an act abusive, harmful, or immoral. But this model does not match well with how marijuana plants are handled. I'm not sure of the laws in Australia, but here it would be a criminal offense to simply have one growing on your property. The law criminalizes the plant's existence within a person's posession, far before we even have a chance to discuss abuse, harm, or immorality. This is why I mentioned that the example of sex does not parallel the question.
One can pray – seek the Lord’s presence – while under the influence of acid or ‘shrooms, and even find His mercy and saving power, but grass is a different story! (Yes, there was a period of being backslidden when I knew these things firsthand, to my shame.)
. . . One may have heightened perception, profundity of thought, increased linguistic or artistic skill (though this is disputed), and all this while one’s heart and life-situation is in disorder, turmoil, indeed, even in gross ruin. Getting high on grass may be a means of escape from the reality of one’s genuine state of mind and heart. (It may also be an escape from a physical or nervous ailment, but as I said, such a remedy opens upon a doorway of great darkness.)
Some of the prophets were stoned, right?.......
OK, my presidential aspirations are now over.