At Shabbach DC, Pastor Daniel Gray preached a powerful word on Sunday asking if YOU had DIED yet. One of the reasons that the change doesn't stick after a conference like Shabbach is that some of us did not DIE. We tried to add God into the mix of a cRaZy lifestyle when what we really needed to do was to put that old stuff to death and be resurrected into a new life in Him. Don't believe me….
In Romans 6, Paul is encouraging the believers to live a life free from sin. His reasoning- because they had DIED to who they used to be. "What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?" (Romans 6:1-3, ESV). You must die to who you were to become a new creation in Christ. This is why we refer to the area at the front of the sanctuary as the altar; because this is the area where things are put to death.
So I must ask you, did you DIE at Shabbach?
You cannot live an empowered Christian life and keep your old self on life-support just in-case things don't work out. You cannot simply add Jesus to the mix of what you've always done and expect this thing called a relationship with him to last very long. Rather, you must put to death the old things.
Do I really have to DIE?
When we think of dying, we think of what we LOSE. But that's not the way Jesus sees it. He sees our sacrifice for what we will GAIN. "For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it." (Luke 9:24, ESV). What you lose NOW for the cause of Christ will pay off in the long run. Jesus pointed out that a seed is only one small thing unless it falls into the ground and dies. But in its death, it is transformed into a new life that can bear much fruit (John 12:24). Paul teaches in Romans 6 that if we die with Christ, we will also be resurrected with him in the power of the Spirit, free from the bondage of sin.
As Pastor Daniel Gray illustrated, when you hold a seed in your hand, you do not simply hold a seed. You are holding a seed that can produce a tree, that can produce fruit, that can produce more seeds, that can produce more trees….. etc. In other words, you contain the potential of a forest when you hold a seed in your hand. The pivotal moment is when the seed falls to the ground and dies. Only then will its potential be reached.
So I encourage you to reflect on your life. Have you DIED to who you were so that you can be resurrected into who he is? When you do, you release a forest of potential and receive the power to walk in newness of life, bearing fruit for the kingdom.
Finish reading Romans 6:1-14,
John D. Smith
Shabbach Ministries
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Staying CONNECTED to change!
Every year we witness lives CHANGED at Shabbach, but we often see students return back to their old life a few weeks after the conferences. We don't want to see this happen this year! Here are 5 things you can do to stay CONNECTED to the change that took place at Shabbach 2012...
1. Stay CONNECTED to fellow Shabbachers- do not let yourself be isolated from those who experienced this weekend with you. The enemy would love to sever your ties because this is your support system and accountability group. Bring a Shabbach attitude into your youth service and watch God show up!
2. Stay CONNECTED to a Youth Worker- your youth worker can remind you of the commitments made at the conference and keep you accountable. Reach out to them, ask questions, tell them about your experiences this weekend. Let them partner with you to keep the change going.
3.Stay CONNECTED to Your Armband- sometimes you have to remind yourself what God did for you. Every time you look down you will be reminded of the change that took place. Declare to yourself "I'M NOT GOIN' BACK!"
4. Stay CONNECTED to the Word- God speaks through his word. It is there where God reveals his thoughts and his plan. Get into your BIble on a daily basis and allow your thought life to be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
5. Stay CONNECTED in Prayer- carve out time every day to pray. Get a prayer journal and record what has been done this weekend and what you are praying for God to continue to do in your life. Prayer is the avenue through which God continues to change us!
1. Stay CONNECTED to fellow Shabbachers- do not let yourself be isolated from those who experienced this weekend with you. The enemy would love to sever your ties because this is your support system and accountability group. Bring a Shabbach attitude into your youth service and watch God show up!
2. Stay CONNECTED to a Youth Worker- your youth worker can remind you of the commitments made at the conference and keep you accountable. Reach out to them, ask questions, tell them about your experiences this weekend. Let them partner with you to keep the change going.
3.Stay CONNECTED to Your Armband- sometimes you have to remind yourself what God did for you. Every time you look down you will be reminded of the change that took place. Declare to yourself "I'M NOT GOIN' BACK!"
4. Stay CONNECTED to the Word- God speaks through his word. It is there where God reveals his thoughts and his plan. Get into your BIble on a daily basis and allow your thought life to be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
5. Stay CONNECTED in Prayer- carve out time every day to pray. Get a prayer journal and record what has been done this weekend and what you are praying for God to continue to do in your life. Prayer is the avenue through which God continues to change us!
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Team Values to Live by
Recently i was asked by our exe. pastor to make a list of values that we as a staff team should live by when dealing with each other. It sent me on a journey, so i thought i would share my thoughts with you.
Tell me what you think of these 10 Values to live by as a teammate.
There are some things that should be the desire from all staff members.
Here are ten values, I as a staff should live, love & lead by.
1. Love God. I want to be a person who authentically loves God every day. There is not a need for an extremely gifted person who seems to only live a life of religious routine. I want to truly know and love God and love working with the team, God has synced me with.
2. Live a life of faith. I want to model walking with the Lord in true faith, by stepping out in ways that don’t always make sense to our human minds. Peter walking on the water was witnessed by the others. I do not want to witness the miraculous, i want to experience it!
3. Be a true spiritual leader. In the church, we call ourselves “spiritual leaders,” so I want to actually lead in spiritual things. I need to be spiritually-focused and spirit-led in interacting with the team.
4. Know and love Scripture. I want to be in Scripture regularly, interacting with it, and seeking to know it better. My entire Christian faith stems from the truths of Scripture, therefore, i seek to know it for myself and for the team I am in spiritual leadership with.
5. Avoid behavior management. I desire to be more concerned about the spiritual condition of our team than them having proper or improper behavior. I want them to witness, regularly, my heart and my actions being in tune with the spirit of the team. My most opportune moment for this is when disagreements occur.
6. Hang with the team. Relationships are started at a meeting, but built outside of that time. I desire to spend as much time with the team outside of weekly meetings as possible, without compromising my family or personal time.
7. Know the big picture. I want to, regardless of the age-stage I am working with, to realize that my branch in this ministry, as vital as it may be, is just a part of a life-long discipleship process of the individuals i am leading with the my fellow teammates. My ministry isn’t the end, but simply a means to a much greater end (Philippians 1:6) for every student I lead for a season thate we, as a team, groom for eternity.
8. Integrate into families. Having relationships with the team is great, but getting to know and love their families is far better. We are players on the starting line-up. I want to find ways to positively reinforce what we are endeavoring to do in our meetings by having a greater chemistry between families, not just colleagues.
9. Force thought. I desire to force our team to think, not just be given answers. Far too many meetings have been spoon-fed activities & ideas into my life, never being forced to think through own my own and then share from my perspective. This is detrimental, and a major cause of team detachment. I want to respectfully challenge the process and base the outcome off the truth that is the Word of God and for the betterment of the Whole.
10. Be teachable. Nothing is more frustrating than trying to teach someone who is unteachable. I define a teacher as a constant student who has learned (and is still learning)a lesson worth passing on. I need to understand that this is the means by which the Lord brings me to greater maturity (1 Peter 5:1-2; Ephesians 4:11-16).
hope i helped, gw
Tell me what you think of these 10 Values to live by as a teammate.
There are some things that should be the desire from all staff members.
Here are ten values, I as a staff should live, love & lead by.
1. Love God. I want to be a person who authentically loves God every day. There is not a need for an extremely gifted person who seems to only live a life of religious routine. I want to truly know and love God and love working with the team, God has synced me with.
2. Live a life of faith. I want to model walking with the Lord in true faith, by stepping out in ways that don’t always make sense to our human minds. Peter walking on the water was witnessed by the others. I do not want to witness the miraculous, i want to experience it!
3. Be a true spiritual leader. In the church, we call ourselves “spiritual leaders,” so I want to actually lead in spiritual things. I need to be spiritually-focused and spirit-led in interacting with the team.
4. Know and love Scripture. I want to be in Scripture regularly, interacting with it, and seeking to know it better. My entire Christian faith stems from the truths of Scripture, therefore, i seek to know it for myself and for the team I am in spiritual leadership with.
5. Avoid behavior management. I desire to be more concerned about the spiritual condition of our team than them having proper or improper behavior. I want them to witness, regularly, my heart and my actions being in tune with the spirit of the team. My most opportune moment for this is when disagreements occur.
6. Hang with the team. Relationships are started at a meeting, but built outside of that time. I desire to spend as much time with the team outside of weekly meetings as possible, without compromising my family or personal time.
7. Know the big picture. I want to, regardless of the age-stage I am working with, to realize that my branch in this ministry, as vital as it may be, is just a part of a life-long discipleship process of the individuals i am leading with the my fellow teammates. My ministry isn’t the end, but simply a means to a much greater end (Philippians 1:6) for every student I lead for a season thate we, as a team, groom for eternity.
8. Integrate into families. Having relationships with the team is great, but getting to know and love their families is far better. We are players on the starting line-up. I want to find ways to positively reinforce what we are endeavoring to do in our meetings by having a greater chemistry between families, not just colleagues.
9. Force thought. I desire to force our team to think, not just be given answers. Far too many meetings have been spoon-fed activities & ideas into my life, never being forced to think through own my own and then share from my perspective. This is detrimental, and a major cause of team detachment. I want to respectfully challenge the process and base the outcome off the truth that is the Word of God and for the betterment of the Whole.
10. Be teachable. Nothing is more frustrating than trying to teach someone who is unteachable. I define a teacher as a constant student who has learned (and is still learning)a lesson worth passing on. I need to understand that this is the means by which the Lord brings me to greater maturity (1 Peter 5:1-2; Ephesians 4:11-16).
hope i helped, gw
Monday, August 1, 2011
Advice to Young Guys Stepping into Ministry
Recently, I was to give a few suggestions for young ministers who were stepping into ministry to consider as they walk into the zany world that is the Church. It went over so well, i thought i would throw them at you to see if they help!!
here we go:
1. Have an out. Life cannot ALWAYS be about the business of the Lord. Sabbath is commandment #4 in case you forgot. Find your "calgon, take me away" thing and make sure it is a CONSTANT part of your life! Me? I like blowing stuff up with my guns!! scary, i know!
2. Preserve your wife's church. This is a HUGE mistake i see happen. Guys come and blast the church and everything about the staff, etc. Guys feel better, but women (for the most part) internalize everything and hold grudges. I suggest never discussing a problem in the heat of the battle. Wait until you have the issue resolved and then talk to her about it. You won't be stressed and she will not feel the need to defend your honor. Example: If you have ran the minister of music in the dirt all week, it will be nearly impossible for her to be led into God's presence by him/her on Sunday. Be smart for family, not selfish to make yo feel better.
3. Go HOME. You will NEVER make every person happy! you will NEVER send enough emails! You will NEVER visit enough hospitals! You will NEVER do it all! set a time you are going to leave and GO HOME! When you get home, be there! These are the people who deserve to get all of you, as well.
4. Reserve your 1st impression for your 3rd interaction. People are so guarded by nature and they work hard to make themselves look better than they really are. Give people a chance before you throw them in a category they aren't really suited for, good or bad. Bottom line, it takes time to KNOW people.
5. Relational. Relational. Relational. Any long-term ministry team has to be balanced with relationship. Too much focus on the business relationship, and your relationship will exist as long as there isn't a better deal. Too much focus on the personal relationship side, and the person will grow less respectful of you and the office you hold. either way, people have to get to know you. They buy into people before vision and purpose is enticing enough to make a change for.
6. Learn to "Play ALL the Instruments." Everybody's not the same so you can't treat them the same. A saxophone and trombone require two different methods of making music come out. Yet both are vital to a jazz band. Learn what people need and make a melody that is in harmony with others on your team.
7. Have a Creation mindset. Take your God-sized dream and make it into a man-sized stratedgy. At each accomplishment on the way to your overall goal, have an "It is Good" celebration! make sure you involve yourself as an honored guest to that party!
Hope i helped,
pg
here we go:
1. Have an out. Life cannot ALWAYS be about the business of the Lord. Sabbath is commandment #4 in case you forgot. Find your "calgon, take me away" thing and make sure it is a CONSTANT part of your life! Me? I like blowing stuff up with my guns!! scary, i know!
2. Preserve your wife's church. This is a HUGE mistake i see happen. Guys come and blast the church and everything about the staff, etc. Guys feel better, but women (for the most part) internalize everything and hold grudges. I suggest never discussing a problem in the heat of the battle. Wait until you have the issue resolved and then talk to her about it. You won't be stressed and she will not feel the need to defend your honor. Example: If you have ran the minister of music in the dirt all week, it will be nearly impossible for her to be led into God's presence by him/her on Sunday. Be smart for family, not selfish to make yo feel better.
3. Go HOME. You will NEVER make every person happy! you will NEVER send enough emails! You will NEVER visit enough hospitals! You will NEVER do it all! set a time you are going to leave and GO HOME! When you get home, be there! These are the people who deserve to get all of you, as well.
4. Reserve your 1st impression for your 3rd interaction. People are so guarded by nature and they work hard to make themselves look better than they really are. Give people a chance before you throw them in a category they aren't really suited for, good or bad. Bottom line, it takes time to KNOW people.
5. Relational. Relational. Relational. Any long-term ministry team has to be balanced with relationship. Too much focus on the business relationship, and your relationship will exist as long as there isn't a better deal. Too much focus on the personal relationship side, and the person will grow less respectful of you and the office you hold. either way, people have to get to know you. They buy into people before vision and purpose is enticing enough to make a change for.
6. Learn to "Play ALL the Instruments." Everybody's not the same so you can't treat them the same. A saxophone and trombone require two different methods of making music come out. Yet both are vital to a jazz band. Learn what people need and make a melody that is in harmony with others on your team.
7. Have a Creation mindset. Take your God-sized dream and make it into a man-sized stratedgy. At each accomplishment on the way to your overall goal, have an "It is Good" celebration! make sure you involve yourself as an honored guest to that party!
Hope i helped,
pg
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
The Way to Purity
One of the things i do each day is read from Oswald Chambers' devotional, My Utmost for His Highest. This was the devotion today. It spoke profoundly to me, so i thought i would share it with you, as well.
262011
Those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart . . . . For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. These are the things which defile a man . . . —Matthew 15:18-20
Initially we trust in our ignorance, calling it innocence, and next we trust our innocence, calling it purity. Then when we hear these strong statements from our Lord, we shrink back, saying, “But I never felt any of those awful things in my heart.” We resent what He reveals. Either Jesus Christ is the supreme authority on the human heart, or He is not worth paying any attention to. Am I prepared to trust the penetration of His Word into my heart, or would I prefer to trust my own “innocent ignorance”? If I will take an honest look at myself, becoming fully aware of my so-called innocence and putting it to the test, I am very likely to have a rude awakening that what Jesus Christ said is true, and I will be appalled at the possibilities of the evil and the wrong within me. But as long as I remain under the false security of my own “innocence,” I am living in a fool’s paradise. If I have never been an openly rude and abusive person, the only reason is my own cowardice coupled with the sense of protection I receive from living a civilized life. But when I am open and completely exposed before God, I find that Jesus Christ is right in His diagnosis of me.
The only thing that truly provides protection is the redemption of Jesus Christ. If I will simply hand myself over to Him, I will never have to experience the terrible possibilities that lie within my heart. Purity is something far too deep for me to arrive at naturally. But when the Holy Spirit comes into me, He brings into the center of my personal life the very Spirit that was exhibited in the life of Jesus Christ, namely, the Holy Spirit, which is absolute unblemished purity.
262011
Those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart . . . . For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. These are the things which defile a man . . . —Matthew 15:18-20
Initially we trust in our ignorance, calling it innocence, and next we trust our innocence, calling it purity. Then when we hear these strong statements from our Lord, we shrink back, saying, “But I never felt any of those awful things in my heart.” We resent what He reveals. Either Jesus Christ is the supreme authority on the human heart, or He is not worth paying any attention to. Am I prepared to trust the penetration of His Word into my heart, or would I prefer to trust my own “innocent ignorance”? If I will take an honest look at myself, becoming fully aware of my so-called innocence and putting it to the test, I am very likely to have a rude awakening that what Jesus Christ said is true, and I will be appalled at the possibilities of the evil and the wrong within me. But as long as I remain under the false security of my own “innocence,” I am living in a fool’s paradise. If I have never been an openly rude and abusive person, the only reason is my own cowardice coupled with the sense of protection I receive from living a civilized life. But when I am open and completely exposed before God, I find that Jesus Christ is right in His diagnosis of me.
The only thing that truly provides protection is the redemption of Jesus Christ. If I will simply hand myself over to Him, I will never have to experience the terrible possibilities that lie within my heart. Purity is something far too deep for me to arrive at naturally. But when the Holy Spirit comes into me, He brings into the center of my personal life the very Spirit that was exhibited in the life of Jesus Christ, namely, the Holy Spirit, which is absolute unblemished purity.
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Be Useful to your Pastor...
2Timothy 4:11- Bring Mark with you , for he is useful to me in the ministry.
I came across this verse in my devotions this morning. Let me give you some food for thought regarding this verse.
1. Mark had been cast aside from Paul for forsaking him at a critical moment in his missionary tour with Barnabas ( Ac 15:37 - 40; 13:5 , 13 ). Bottom line: he blew it in a critical moment when his senior pastor needed him to produce. Mark let him down. Nothing is worse then counting on someone you can't count on. Mark was not useful to Paul. The truth is, if you are not useful to your leader, you are useless to him/her.
2. Paul is writing to Timothy, who occupied the same post in relation to Paul as Mark once held. Your position can be done by someone else. Don't ever make the mistake of thinking you are not expendable. Not arrogance, but ignorance is the cause of a people thinking God's work cannot be done without them. Just because He called you, doesn't means He needs you. You must walk humbly in your bold calling.
3. Paul wipes out the past by giving high praise of Mark to Timothy. Great leaders never let bridges on fire burn to the ground. Paul never completely walked away from Mark. I believe this is the essence of great leadership. When a leader can stay connected when they have been left or hurt, that leader is something special. Very rarely do you ever see this in practice today. The church leadership has adopted the philosophy, "if you aren't on staff with me, then you are against me." Lord, help us to get back to secure leadership.
4. Timothy and Mark must have had some sort of relationship. Can you imagine having a strong relationship with the person who took your place? Can you imagine being truly connected to a ministry you walked away from to the point when the leader asks for you to walk with him, you do? Look how foreign this is in our church world today. We check the attendance and the tithe and run our mouths off about the person we let down, as if it was their fault we screwed up! Paul sent Timothy to get the guy he replaced. How could egos be removed so the work of the ministry could get accomplished? Answer. It was about the work of the ministry and not the ego of the ministers. That's how it has to be done.
Bottom line, our job is to simply be useful to our senior pastor today. Whether it's carrying boxes to his car or being in the meeting mentally that your body is in physically, be useful. Whether you are working on the grad service or just trying to keep the student ministry out of his way, be useful. Whether you are cleaning up after the senior adults who left their mess in your area or you are shooting him/her a text to let him know you are praying for him, be useful. People are paid by the problems they solve, not produce, for their leaders. If you are a problem-solver, and not a problem-producer, there will always be a position for you to fill. Why? YOU ARE USEFUL!
Hope I helped,
pg
I came across this verse in my devotions this morning. Let me give you some food for thought regarding this verse.
1. Mark had been cast aside from Paul for forsaking him at a critical moment in his missionary tour with Barnabas ( Ac 15:37 - 40; 13:5 , 13 ). Bottom line: he blew it in a critical moment when his senior pastor needed him to produce. Mark let him down. Nothing is worse then counting on someone you can't count on. Mark was not useful to Paul. The truth is, if you are not useful to your leader, you are useless to him/her.
2. Paul is writing to Timothy, who occupied the same post in relation to Paul as Mark once held. Your position can be done by someone else. Don't ever make the mistake of thinking you are not expendable. Not arrogance, but ignorance is the cause of a people thinking God's work cannot be done without them. Just because He called you, doesn't means He needs you. You must walk humbly in your bold calling.
3. Paul wipes out the past by giving high praise of Mark to Timothy. Great leaders never let bridges on fire burn to the ground. Paul never completely walked away from Mark. I believe this is the essence of great leadership. When a leader can stay connected when they have been left or hurt, that leader is something special. Very rarely do you ever see this in practice today. The church leadership has adopted the philosophy, "if you aren't on staff with me, then you are against me." Lord, help us to get back to secure leadership.
4. Timothy and Mark must have had some sort of relationship. Can you imagine having a strong relationship with the person who took your place? Can you imagine being truly connected to a ministry you walked away from to the point when the leader asks for you to walk with him, you do? Look how foreign this is in our church world today. We check the attendance and the tithe and run our mouths off about the person we let down, as if it was their fault we screwed up! Paul sent Timothy to get the guy he replaced. How could egos be removed so the work of the ministry could get accomplished? Answer. It was about the work of the ministry and not the ego of the ministers. That's how it has to be done.
Bottom line, our job is to simply be useful to our senior pastor today. Whether it's carrying boxes to his car or being in the meeting mentally that your body is in physically, be useful. Whether you are working on the grad service or just trying to keep the student ministry out of his way, be useful. Whether you are cleaning up after the senior adults who left their mess in your area or you are shooting him/her a text to let him know you are praying for him, be useful. People are paid by the problems they solve, not produce, for their leaders. If you are a problem-solver, and not a problem-producer, there will always be a position for you to fill. Why? YOU ARE USEFUL!
Hope I helped,
pg
Thursday, May 12, 2011
Christian Potheads???
If you have been in this youth culture for a while, WEED always seems to come into question. I just received an email from one of my former high school students who is in the middle of a faith crisis and wanted me to help him "land" on this issue of being saved and still being able to "smoke it up." Instead of just inboxing him, i thought i would use his question as an opportunity to BLOG. Maybe i can help you, as i try and lead him along his path from a biblical perspective.
Scriptures about weed - Okay, so there are no verses that talk directly about marijuana. Is that surprising? Although the Bible mentions weed, it was the kind that interferes with agriculture (Genesis 3:18). Pot was something you cooked in (Numbers 11:18). The only smoking that was going on at the time the Bible was written was caused by burning wood, houses, sacrifices, and ultimately, people (at the judgment). So, smoking of cigarettes and marijuana are not mentioned in the Bible.
What a Christian is - At this point, we need to back up a little to examine the question from a more fundamental perspective. We originally asked if it was okay for a Christian to use marijuana and other drugs. The question we need to ask first is "Who is a Christian?"
Aren't you a Christian if you go to church and at some point went up front in response to an altar call? Jesus said that people are Christians if they believe in Him. Jesus also indicated that those who believed would hear His voice and follow Him. Part of the process of following Jesus is to repent. Repentance is a fancy Christian word that means to turn from one's sins and go in the opposite direction (righteousness). Jesus said that those who do not repent will perish. Jesus also indicated what kind of commitment one should make to be considered His disciple:
Then He [Jesus] said to them all: "If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for Me will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self? (Luke 9:23-25)
So, Jesus made it quite clear that a casual confession of "faith" isn't going to cut it. One who really believes in Jesus will follow Him as their ultimate purpose in life. Now that we have a clear understanding of who is a Christian, we can go back to the original question.
Mind-altering Drugs - Although the Bible does not address marijuana directly, it does discuss other mind-altering drugs. Specifically, the Bible addresses the use of drugs in the book of Galatians:
Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. (Galatians 5:19-21)
So, where are the drugs mentioned in this verse? Actually, the word translated "sorcery" is the Greek word pharmakeia, from which we get the English word "pharmacy." The primary meaning is "the use or the administering of drugs" (usually associated with sorcery or idolatry). Since this verse comes from a list of things that if practiced would preclude one from heaven, this should be a reasonably strong suggestion that the Christian should not practice drug use. In addition, the book of Revelation lists drug use as one of the things for which the unrepentant will suffer the wrath of God.
The Bible has a lot to say about alcohol. At the time, there was no hard (distilled) liquor, just wine and beer (which was more diluted at that time then it is now). Even so, the Bible has much to say about people who used wine to get drunk. One was Lot, who got drunk and slept with his daughters. Others sold girls to get wine to get drunk. The Bible warns about the bad effects of getting drunk - seeing strange sights and being confused, saying stupid things, making poor decisions, vomiting, getting involved in fights, and losing one's wealth. We are warned not to join with those people. The consequences of such behavior is judgment. Jesus Himself used two examples of those who will be drunk when God comes to judge the world. God's judgment of such behavior does not paint a pretty picture. The New Testament condemns drunkenness and warns that those who engage in that behavior will not inherit the kingdom of God (i.e., heaven).
The Old Testament warns the priests not to go into God's house drunk, or they will die. In the New Testament, those who serve in the body of Christ are not to be addicted to wine or any other sordid thing. Even those who do not directly serve in the church are warned not to be addicted to wine. Finally, the New Testament commands us to not get drunk, but be filled with the Spirit of God:
Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. (Ephesians 5:18)
Does marijuana get one intoxicated? Even proponents of marijuana usage encourage users never to drive a motor vehicle while using marijuana. Why is this? Because when one use marijuana, one is legally intoxicated and incapable of clear thinking and reasonable reactions. Being intoxicated is clearly condemned in scripture. So, if one uses drugs or anything else to escape and get high, or is addicted to these substances, it is against the commands of scripture and inappropriate for Christian participation.
Illegal - Besides the moral question, there is the legal question. Christians are commanded by the scriptures to be in subjection to governing authorities and submit to every human institution.
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. (Romans 13:1-2)
The only exception to this command would be if those in authority directly contradicted the commands of God. Since smoking marijuana was never a command of God, Christians should not smoke marijuana where doing so is illegal.
The point of freedom - We do have freedom in Christ, but that freedom is not to be used to sin:
For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. (Galatians 5:13)
Act as free men, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as bondslaves of God. (1 Peter 2:16)
The freedom of Christ is freedom to follow Him in service to others. We are not to use the law as an excuse for immorality (e.g., "I can't help that person because it is the Sabbath"). Likewise, we are not to allow things (e.g., drugs) to bring us under their control:
"Everything is permissible for me"--but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible for me"--but I will not be mastered by anything. (1 Corinthians 6:12)
For speaking out arrogant words of vanity they entice by fleshly desires, by sensuality, those who barely escape from the ones who live in error, promising them freedom while they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by what a man is overcome, by this he is enslaved. (2 Peter 2:18-19)
We are not to be slaves of sin, engaging in fleshly desires and lusts, but we are to serve the living God.
Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body that you should obey its lusts, and do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. (Romans 6:11-13)
There are many who call themselves Christian, but basically serve their own desires. God will not be deceived by those who play the Christianity game. Jesus said that you will know them by their love for one another, and not love of self.
Kingdom Allegiance - Ultimately, the most important principle in the Christian life is to do what Jesus told us to do. When Jesus was asked what was the most important commandment, he answered:
And He said to him, " 'YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.' This is the great and foremost commandment." (Matthew 22:37-38)
Obviously, smoking marijuana does nothing to fulfill this most important commandment. Along the same lines, Jesus said that people should seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. However, these days, it seems that many "Christians" seek first the kingdom of self and its attendant pleasures. The scriptures predicted as much when the apostle Paul wrote to Timothy:
But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these. (2 Timothy 3:1-5)
Jesus indicated that people would respond in several ways to the gospel message. In one of His parables, He indicated that there were different kinds of soils. One of the soils was filled with thorns and weeds, which choked out the ability of the crop to produce fruit. The reason why these people produced no spiritual fruit is because they were more concerned with the "worries and riches and pleasures of this life" than with the kingdom of God. There are many other verses in the Bible that condemn those who seek pleasure first instead of God's kingdom.
HERBS - Many Christian Potheads make the argument that God created the herbs (including marijuana) for us:
And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat. (Genesis 1:29, KJV)
Marijuana smokers are especially fond of the King James version, since it uses the word "herb". However, the Hebrew word is much less specific, having the general meaning "plant," with the root word having the meaning "green." Further, the verse talks about fruit trees, indicating that the real meaning of the verse is about edible plants. So, the verse makes it clear that God created the plants for us for eating. It doesn't say anything about smoking them! Here is the more contemporary NASB translation:
Then God said, "Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the surface of all the earth, and every tree which has fruit yielding seed; it shall be food for you; (Genesis 1:29, NASB)
BOTTOM LINE - The argument has been made that everything God created is good, and that this includes hemp. Everything God created is good, but all these good things can be turned into evil. Sexual relations are good within marriage, but adultery is evil. It's all sex, which was created by God for good, but not all that men do with it is good. Poisonous mushrooms are good for breaking down dead wood, but bad for eating. Hemp is good for making rope, but bad for smoking. So, now you know. Do what's right!
for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking [and smoking pot], but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. (Romans 14:17)
at the end of the day, you must "...work out your own salvation with fear and trembling..." (Philippians 2:12)But i would encourage you to stay focused on the "fear & trembling" part of working out your salvation.
hope i helped,
pg
Scriptures about weed - Okay, so there are no verses that talk directly about marijuana. Is that surprising? Although the Bible mentions weed, it was the kind that interferes with agriculture (Genesis 3:18). Pot was something you cooked in (Numbers 11:18). The only smoking that was going on at the time the Bible was written was caused by burning wood, houses, sacrifices, and ultimately, people (at the judgment). So, smoking of cigarettes and marijuana are not mentioned in the Bible.
What a Christian is - At this point, we need to back up a little to examine the question from a more fundamental perspective. We originally asked if it was okay for a Christian to use marijuana and other drugs. The question we need to ask first is "Who is a Christian?"
Aren't you a Christian if you go to church and at some point went up front in response to an altar call? Jesus said that people are Christians if they believe in Him. Jesus also indicated that those who believed would hear His voice and follow Him. Part of the process of following Jesus is to repent. Repentance is a fancy Christian word that means to turn from one's sins and go in the opposite direction (righteousness). Jesus said that those who do not repent will perish. Jesus also indicated what kind of commitment one should make to be considered His disciple:
Then He [Jesus] said to them all: "If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for Me will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self? (Luke 9:23-25)
So, Jesus made it quite clear that a casual confession of "faith" isn't going to cut it. One who really believes in Jesus will follow Him as their ultimate purpose in life. Now that we have a clear understanding of who is a Christian, we can go back to the original question.
Mind-altering Drugs - Although the Bible does not address marijuana directly, it does discuss other mind-altering drugs. Specifically, the Bible addresses the use of drugs in the book of Galatians:
Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. (Galatians 5:19-21)
So, where are the drugs mentioned in this verse? Actually, the word translated "sorcery" is the Greek word pharmakeia, from which we get the English word "pharmacy." The primary meaning is "the use or the administering of drugs" (usually associated with sorcery or idolatry). Since this verse comes from a list of things that if practiced would preclude one from heaven, this should be a reasonably strong suggestion that the Christian should not practice drug use. In addition, the book of Revelation lists drug use as one of the things for which the unrepentant will suffer the wrath of God.
The Bible has a lot to say about alcohol. At the time, there was no hard (distilled) liquor, just wine and beer (which was more diluted at that time then it is now). Even so, the Bible has much to say about people who used wine to get drunk. One was Lot, who got drunk and slept with his daughters. Others sold girls to get wine to get drunk. The Bible warns about the bad effects of getting drunk - seeing strange sights and being confused, saying stupid things, making poor decisions, vomiting, getting involved in fights, and losing one's wealth. We are warned not to join with those people. The consequences of such behavior is judgment. Jesus Himself used two examples of those who will be drunk when God comes to judge the world. God's judgment of such behavior does not paint a pretty picture. The New Testament condemns drunkenness and warns that those who engage in that behavior will not inherit the kingdom of God (i.e., heaven).
The Old Testament warns the priests not to go into God's house drunk, or they will die. In the New Testament, those who serve in the body of Christ are not to be addicted to wine or any other sordid thing. Even those who do not directly serve in the church are warned not to be addicted to wine. Finally, the New Testament commands us to not get drunk, but be filled with the Spirit of God:
Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. (Ephesians 5:18)
Does marijuana get one intoxicated? Even proponents of marijuana usage encourage users never to drive a motor vehicle while using marijuana. Why is this? Because when one use marijuana, one is legally intoxicated and incapable of clear thinking and reasonable reactions. Being intoxicated is clearly condemned in scripture. So, if one uses drugs or anything else to escape and get high, or is addicted to these substances, it is against the commands of scripture and inappropriate for Christian participation.
Illegal - Besides the moral question, there is the legal question. Christians are commanded by the scriptures to be in subjection to governing authorities and submit to every human institution.
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. (Romans 13:1-2)
The only exception to this command would be if those in authority directly contradicted the commands of God. Since smoking marijuana was never a command of God, Christians should not smoke marijuana where doing so is illegal.
The point of freedom - We do have freedom in Christ, but that freedom is not to be used to sin:
For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. (Galatians 5:13)
Act as free men, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as bondslaves of God. (1 Peter 2:16)
The freedom of Christ is freedom to follow Him in service to others. We are not to use the law as an excuse for immorality (e.g., "I can't help that person because it is the Sabbath"). Likewise, we are not to allow things (e.g., drugs) to bring us under their control:
"Everything is permissible for me"--but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible for me"--but I will not be mastered by anything. (1 Corinthians 6:12)
For speaking out arrogant words of vanity they entice by fleshly desires, by sensuality, those who barely escape from the ones who live in error, promising them freedom while they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by what a man is overcome, by this he is enslaved. (2 Peter 2:18-19)
We are not to be slaves of sin, engaging in fleshly desires and lusts, but we are to serve the living God.
Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body that you should obey its lusts, and do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. (Romans 6:11-13)
There are many who call themselves Christian, but basically serve their own desires. God will not be deceived by those who play the Christianity game. Jesus said that you will know them by their love for one another, and not love of self.
Kingdom Allegiance - Ultimately, the most important principle in the Christian life is to do what Jesus told us to do. When Jesus was asked what was the most important commandment, he answered:
And He said to him, " 'YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.' This is the great and foremost commandment." (Matthew 22:37-38)
Obviously, smoking marijuana does nothing to fulfill this most important commandment. Along the same lines, Jesus said that people should seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. However, these days, it seems that many "Christians" seek first the kingdom of self and its attendant pleasures. The scriptures predicted as much when the apostle Paul wrote to Timothy:
But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these. (2 Timothy 3:1-5)
Jesus indicated that people would respond in several ways to the gospel message. In one of His parables, He indicated that there were different kinds of soils. One of the soils was filled with thorns and weeds, which choked out the ability of the crop to produce fruit. The reason why these people produced no spiritual fruit is because they were more concerned with the "worries and riches and pleasures of this life" than with the kingdom of God. There are many other verses in the Bible that condemn those who seek pleasure first instead of God's kingdom.
HERBS - Many Christian Potheads make the argument that God created the herbs (including marijuana) for us:
And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat. (Genesis 1:29, KJV)
Marijuana smokers are especially fond of the King James version, since it uses the word "herb". However, the Hebrew word is much less specific, having the general meaning "plant," with the root word having the meaning "green." Further, the verse talks about fruit trees, indicating that the real meaning of the verse is about edible plants. So, the verse makes it clear that God created the plants for us for eating. It doesn't say anything about smoking them! Here is the more contemporary NASB translation:
Then God said, "Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the surface of all the earth, and every tree which has fruit yielding seed; it shall be food for you; (Genesis 1:29, NASB)
BOTTOM LINE - The argument has been made that everything God created is good, and that this includes hemp. Everything God created is good, but all these good things can be turned into evil. Sexual relations are good within marriage, but adultery is evil. It's all sex, which was created by God for good, but not all that men do with it is good. Poisonous mushrooms are good for breaking down dead wood, but bad for eating. Hemp is good for making rope, but bad for smoking. So, now you know. Do what's right!
for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking [and smoking pot], but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. (Romans 14:17)
at the end of the day, you must "...work out your own salvation with fear and trembling..." (Philippians 2:12)But i would encourage you to stay focused on the "fear & trembling" part of working out your salvation.
hope i helped,
pg
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