This week, we are examining the issue of marijuana.
Specifically, we are asking and answering the question “What policies would
Jesus promote when it comes to the issue of the legalization of marijuana? Would
Jesus promote the legalization of marijuana, or would Jesus promote the
prohibition of marijuana?”
Yesterday, we looked at both ends of the conversation
that we are having as a culture when it comes to the issue of legalizing
marijuana. We also looked at three passages in the
letters that make up the Bible that are used by proponents for the legalization
of marijuana. We discovered that while those who advocate for the legalization
of marijuana point to Genesis 1:29 and Genesis 9:3 as evidence that supports
their view, we do not eat poison ivy, oleanders, hemlock, or Jimson weed,
because they are poisonous. Not every leaf or green plant is for eating,
smoking, or healing.
We also
looked at Exodus 30:22-23, and discussed that the vast majority of scholarship does not
support the claim that the phrase "fragrant cane" is referring to
marijuana. In addition, while this ingredient was mentioned in the making of
the anointing oil, this ingredient is not mentioned in Exodus 30:34 for the
making of the holy incense that would be used in the tabernacle or the Temple. In
other words, even if this ingredient was indeed cannabis, which I am extremely
hesitant to support, this mixture was an oil to be placed on one’s skin, not
something to be ingested or smoked.
Besides
these verses, there is no mention in the letters that make up the Bible of
marijuana. There is no command in the letters that make up the Bible that
address marijuana specifically. However, there are three principles that we can
draw upon from the letter that make up the Bible that help us to shed light on
what Jesus would hold to when it comes to the issue of the legalization of
marijuana. The first principle is found in a passage that we have looked at
throughout this series, which is Romans 13:1-4:
Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there
is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God.
Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they
who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves. For rulers are not
a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of
authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same; for it is a
minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it
does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger
who brings wrath on the one who practices evil.
As we
have talked about throughout this series, government was designed by God to
represent Him in a way that promotes good for people and punishes the evil of
people. And because of that reality, as followers of Jesus, we are to practice a
lifestyle of submission to government. As
followers of Jesus, we should be subject to the government and obey the laws of
the government, because as Paul points out, the act of opposing government is
to place ourselves in opposition to God.
Paul’s
point here is that when we choose to oppose the government that choice places
us in a position to be punished and judged by government as God’s instrument of
justice on earth. As of today, current
federal law, which supersedes state law, prohibits the use of marijuana. Using
marijuana for either medical or recreational use is still a federal crime. And
because of that reality, the principle of submission to government would argue
that Jesus would not be a proponent of legalizing marijuana.
Now a
natural objection that could arise is “Well Dave, what if the government
legalized marijuana nationwide? That would totally undercut your argument. So
how can you say that Jesus would not promote the legalization of marijuana
based on that principle?” If that objection is running through your mind, my
response would be this: I absolutely agree with you. If the federal government
legalized marijuana, then this principle would be totally undercut.
And
because of that reality, we need to see if the letters that make up the Bible
reveal to us some other principles that would help clarify what Jesus position
would be on this issue. With that in mind, let’s look at a second principle,
which is found in a section of a letter that is recorded for us in the New
Testament of the Bible called the book of 1 Corinthians. In 1 Corinthians
6:19-20, we see the Apostle Paul say the following to the members of the church
at Corinth:
Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in
you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been
bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.
In
verse 19, Paul asks a rhetorical question that was designed to introduce a well
known and generally accepted fact that the members of the church should have
known but were living as though they did not know: do you not know that your
body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and
that you are not your own? Paul is revealing for the church at Corinth, and us
as well, that followers of Jesus are temples of the Holy Spirit. In other words,
the Holy Spirit takes up residence and dwells in the bodies of followers of
Jesus.
Paul
then explains that the reason that the Holy Spirit dwells in us is because God
has given us the Holy Spirit. Paul then states that you are not your own. But
what does that mean? Paul’s point here is that as followers of Jesus, we are God’s
possession. God owns us. But how does God own us?
In
verse 20, Paul answers this question for us by stating "for you have been
bought with a price." Paul is bringing the members of the church of
Corinth back to the reality of the cross. The cross reveals the reality that
Christ rescued and redeemed us from our selfish and sinful lives by allowing
Himself to be treated as though He lived our selfish and sinful lives so that
God the Father could treat us as though we lived Jesus perfect life. And it is
the price that Christ paid that not only brings us the forgiveness of sin and
the relationship with God that we were created for but also makes us His
possession.
And
because of that reality, Paul explains that, in light of the price that Jesus
paid to rescue and redeem us; in light of the reality that we are His
possession, we are to glorify God with our bodies. The idea of glorifying God
means to influence one’s opinion about God so to enhance God’s reputation. Paul
here is calling the members of the church at Corinth, and us here today to
honor, extol, and make much of God by how we handle and take care of our physical
bodies.
So here
is a question: Does smoking marijuana result in you glorifying God with your
body? Does smoking marijuana place you
in a position where you can influence the opinion of others in a way that
enhances God’s reputation? And if our bodies are a temple of the Holy Spirit;
if the Holy Spirit dwells within us, how does smoking marijuana impact the
temple?
What is
so interesting here is that one of the most potent arguments for the
legalization of marijuana is that it can be used to treat medical disorders.
However, what is being repeatedly discovered is that smoking marijuana can be
extremely harmful to one’s health. And now, on of the most persuasive arguments
against the use of marijuana to treat medical disorders is that marijuana may
cause the acceleration or aggravation of the very disorders it is being used to
treat.
Friday,
we will look at those arguments and a third principle from the letters that
make up the Bible regarding marijuana...
No comments:
Post a Comment