This essay is from Ben Kreps and the video linked HERE is a discussion of the topic.
Over the years, I’ve encountered Christians who claim the Bible sanctions the recreational use of cannabis. Their reasons vary:
“Marijuana is a plant, and Genesis says that God gave every plant for us to use, so I’m just enjoying God’s creation.”
(Arsenic and poison ivy are also found in nature. The existence of something in nature doesn’t mean it’s good or safe to consume.)
“The Bible doesn’t say anything about cannabis, so I’m free to enjoy it.”
(The Bible doesn’t say anything specifically about crystal meth or fentanyl either. Does that mean Christians are free to use those drugs?)
“You like to have a beer in the evening to relax; I enjoy smoking a little weed. What’s the difference?”
This is the question I want to address briefly. First, let’s look at what the Bible says about alcohol.
What About Alcohol?
The Bible clearly presents wine (alcohol) as a good gift from God, to be enjoyed in moderation. It is even commended as a health remedy (1 Tim. 5:23), and the first miracle recorded in the ministry of Jesus was turning water into fine wine at a wedding in Cana (John 2:1–11). While Christians can certainly have a conviction of conscience that leads them to refrain, God’s Word does not forbid consuming and enjoying alcohol.
Scripture also warns us about alcohol addiction and abuse, and drunkenness is forbidden (Eph. 5:18). Though alcohol is commended and celebrated in the Bible, overuse and dependence are condemned. We are called to be sober-minded and self-controlled.
One significant difference between a glass of wine and a joint is that wine can be enjoyed without drunkenness; it takes abuse to get there. Modern cannabis, by contrast, is designed and cultivated to be intoxicating even in very small amounts. Often, those who claim to be largely unaffected and to use the drug simply to relax have developed a tolerance from overuse of this potent, psychoactive substance. While alcohol can inebriate if used irresponsibly, it can also be enjoyed to the glory of God. The basic purpose of recreational cannabis use, however, is intoxication, which God forbids.
In a culture that is increasingly comfortable with, and even celebratory of, cannabis, how should we respond?
Remember You Are Salt
In Matthew 5:13, Jesus describes his disciples as “the salt of the earth.” Salt is not only a seasoning but a preservative. Part of our function as believers is to push back against the degradation of the cultures and countries where we live. In his commentary on the Sermon on the Mount, Daniel Doriani writes:
“The more we sense and accept our difference from the world, the greater our influence will be. The more we allow the secular society to affect us, morally and spiritually, the more we lose our saltiness.”
Resisting the World’s Influence
Part of the reality of the new life we have been given in Christ is that our relationship with the world is transformed. By the grace of God, we now resist the worldliness that once attracted us. We should not be surprised when the world doesn’t understand or appreciate our biblical convictions; we should expect it. The apostle Peter tells us that people will be surprised when we don’t join them in debauchery (1 Pet. 4:4), but we live with an awareness that we don’t answer to them; we answer to Another. We have been bought with the precious blood of Christ (1 Pet. 1:18–19), and we realize we are not our own, so we seek to glorify God in our bodies (1 Cor. 6:19–20).
Resting in Christ
If you have been indulging in cannabis and are aware of your sin, I have great news! The Lord Jesus is full of mercy and eager to forgive when you turn from your sin and commit yourself to him anew.
In Christ, we find peace and stability by resting in his love, most vividly displayed at Calvary. We don’t need to look for relief from stress and anxiety in temporary, shallow fixes like cannabis, and we don’t need to chase pleasure in experiences God forbids.
Let us live to please God, not to scratch our itch for pleasure and relaxation through intoxicating drugs. Christ is more than enough!
In Closing
I realize the debate about cannabis is complex, and to be clear, I’m not addressing those who receive physical relief from its medical use. Still, let us stand firmly on God’s revealed will for our lives and shine in a darkened world that desperately needs the light of Christ.
ABOUT
Ricky Alcantar serves as Pastor at Cross of Grace Church in El Paso, Texas and the Editorial Director for Digital with Sovereign Grace Churches.
Ben Kreps serves as pastor at Living Hope Church in Middletown, Pennsylvania and also hosts the Mark Prater podcast.