Alcohol/Drug Abuse

As many of you already know, the world lost yet another great voice last week...Whitney Houston.  I was a great Whitney fan.  My heart goes out to her family and close friends whom will truly miss her just as her fans will.

We've seen Whitney's life play out in front of our lives.  Her becoming a superstar at an early age.  Bringing us hit after hit.  She grew into a beautiful woman who happened to fall in love with another young star, Bobby Brown.  And yes, we saw her demise as she fought her drug addiction.  With many speculations roaming, we still do not know what was the actual cause of her early death.  But I want to get some insight on how God viewed drug and alcohol abuse.  Primarily, the difference between a drug that is prescribed to you and one that is not.  Does God view drug use as sinful if it is prescribed?  For the past several years we have seen several celebrities lose their lives do to an overdose of prescription drugs.  How does this compare to lets say, smoking marijuana.  I will use that drug because it is the least harmful and life threatening amongst a host of other illegal drugs and is the most controversal being that some states are now legalizing the drug and still others are considering to do the same.

Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit
1 Cor. 6:19-20  Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?  You are not your own; you were bought at a price.  Therefore honor God with your body.

Proverbs 20:1  Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler; whoever is led astray by then is not wise.

Heavy drinking brings misery
Proverbs 23:29-35  Who has woe?  Who has sorrow?  Who has needless bruises?  Who has blood shot eyes?  Those who linger over wine, who go to sample bowls of mixed wine.  Do not gaz at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly!  In the end it bites like a snake and poisons like a viper.  Your eyes will see strange sights and your mind imagine confusing things.  You will be like one sleeping on the high seas lying on top of the rigging.  "They hit me", you will say, "but I'm not hurt!  They beat me but I don't feel it!  When will I wake up so I can find another drink?"
This gives you a visual picture of what a drunk person looks like

Eph. 5:15-18  Be very careful then, how you live--not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, becasue the days are evil.  Therefore, do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is.  Do not gt drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery.  Instead, be filled with the Spirit.

No drunkard shall enter heaven
1 Cor. 6:9-10  Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdon of God?  Do not be deceived; Neither the sexually immoral...nor drunkards...will inherit the kingdom of God.


The Bible does not directly address any form of illicit drug use.  That's  not to say that recreational drug use is permissible.  There are several very clear biblical principles that place drug us well outside the realm of acceptable behavior. 

Christians are mandated to respect and obey the laws of the land...

Many argue that marijuana does not mandate prohibition since prescription drugs, nicotine and alcohol are legal.  Being that marijuana is being used to treat medical issues and pain: cancer and glacoma patients.  Dutiful submission to authority and patient preseverance through unjust suffering and/or perceived unfairness is God's high standard for us--even if that means abstanining from marijuana in compliance with "unfair" legislation.

Now, that leads me to my confusion.  Does that mean if mairjuana becomes legalized, would it then be ok to use it?  Would that use of the drug be sinful?

In some nations (the Netherlands for example) recreational drug use is legal.  But we as Christians have to remember we are to be a good steward of what God has entrusted in us regardless of our national identity.  This includes our earthly bodies.  And unfortunately illicit drugs destroy your body not just physically but mentally and emotionally.

Titus 2:12  Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and Godly, im this present world.

With all this being said, and from my own studying I ponder on those who unfortunately develop an addiction to prescription drugs.  Many of these drugs are mind altering and harmful to the body as well especially once the person becomes dependent on the drug and abuses it.  Is this any different from smoking marijuana. 

This leaves a lot to think about.  My belief...I stick with... anything that is harmful to the temple of Christ is unacceptable behavior as a Christian.

I hope that my viewers are able to log in and comment to this blog.  I really would love to hear your opinions and thoughts.