May 17, 2010 Question: Recently, a very honest individual wrote in a question about the Bible’s stance on the use of marijuana.  There was evidently some debate going on based upon the following Scriptures, and this person was seeking clarification. The Scriptures held up as possible supports for recreational pot were: Translations Unknown  “I will take my rest and I will consider in my dwelling place like a clear heat upon herbs. For afore harvest, when the bud is perfect and the sour grape is ripening in the flower, he shall cut off the sprigs with pruning hooks and take away and cut down the branches." Isaiah 18:4-5 Then God said, "I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. 30 And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds of the air and all the creatures that move on the ground—everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every green plant for food. And it was so.” Genesis 1:29-31 (the marijuana plant is a seed bearing plant) "He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man." Psalms 104:14 Response:   Ok, let's look first at the approach to Scripture.  This might seem a little academic, so I apologize in advance.  I'll look at the Scriptures you have presented, plus some others, and if the Bible says it's ok, I'll tell you... but I'll also tell you the other if we find it to be the case.  I will tell you that it's usually at least a little “iffy” to try to pull out verses to support getting stoned. The Holy Scripture is made up of several different types of literature, from history to allegory and in between.  Isaiah is what we consider "high poetry & prophecy".  This means that most of Isaiah is speaking into an ancient context with figurative language.  I know that sounds funky, but the bottom line is that the prophet Isaiah was speaking to the audience of his era in a way they would understand, but which is a little tough to get thousands of years later unless we really dive into his (Isaiah's) situation in life & history.  The big stinkin' theological term for this is sitz em leben.  The Psalmic and Genesis references are a little more legit for your question.  While the Psalms are, by definition, poetry, they tend to speak both figurative and literally in cases... and of course, Genesis is historical literature, so you're on solid ground there as far as the type of literature is concerned. Ok, now let's look at the Scriptures being debated.  The Genesis verse specifically refers to plants with seeds and fruits with seeds.  It is only conceivable from a very limited perspective that any seed bearing plant is therefore ok for us to consume.  Case in point, one would have to dismiss the fact that God also forbade Adam and Eve to consume the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.  Theologically, this is where most folks are just trying to make God say they can smoke pot... and not really looking for the whole Truth.   The bottom line is that God said "yes" and "no", but before the fall/sin of man, seed bearing plants were beneficial... and of course, in some states, the medicinal use of this particular seed is still seen as beneficial. On to Psalms, this is actually an ok text, except that the Hebrew word your translation interpreted as 'herb' can mean both green plant, grass, or herb.  So using the poetic text of this psalm as a proof-text for weed falls short, as it could also apply to St. Augustine, Monkey grass, Bermuda grass, Dallas grass, etc.  There are definitely herbs/green plants which are "good to labor to bring for food," but in the context of this psalm, it is far more fitting to the whole Psalm that the Hebrew word "esev" is talking about the grass or grain a cattle rancher would cultivate to feed his cattle on in order to produce food. So then, the verses being used as proofs (which beware of singled out verses internet searches produce too easily), end with the Genesis passage being only slightly viable, and that only if neglecting both the denial of God for at least one fruit of the earth, as well as the pollution of creation by the sin of man. A better verse would really be I Cor. 6:12, "All things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable.  All things are lawful for me but I will not be mastered by anything." (nasb) So in Christ, while forgiven, we are instructed to be mastered by nothing.  This doesn't only apply to addiction (which is the common argument pro-pot), but anything which takes you out of control of self.  In the end, there are only two entities given complete control over us, God and one's spouse.  So, getting stoned or drunk is by definition a sin. Also, Romans 13:1 tells us to subject ourselves to the governing/superior authorities.  Of course, this has Biblical limitations, even as is proven out by the likes of Daniel in the Lion's Den, Shadrach & friends, and all the way through to the early church fathers.  However, unless the governing authorities are telling you to do something which is disobedient to God, then we are to obey the laws. Bottom line: even if the legislature said it was ok, in my theological opinion the Scripture would prohibit recreational pot.  It would remove control from God and place it in the creation of God. There is one more aspect to this off the top of my head, which is the rebellion factor.  Basically, without digging out countless references, God doesn't dig rebellion, which is the context of recreational pot, etc.  Of course most people smoking pot would deny that, but their response would beg the question of why they are running for a false reality instead of engaging true reality.  Truth is not relative... nor is reality... that's just a bunch of horse-hokey smoked up by folks who did too much mental weed. So there you go.  Feel free to hammer it out.  Ask as many questions as come to mind.  You won't offend me or God by asking and thinking... in fact, I'm convinced God prefers the engaged brain. If you really want to know what the Bible says, consider first reading the whole Bible by using the One Year Bible with us... we even have a "Question of the Day" place to ask stuff like this on the church web-site. Hope that helps, Pastor John

April 14, 2010

Question:  Why is it exactly that we are supposed to base marriages off of the Song of Solomon?

From: Janie

Thanks for the question, Janie!  

First off, I'll tell you that when leading a couple through their pre-marital preparations, the Song of Solomon is one of the last texts I lead them to encounter together.  Before that point, we have discussions out of very direct teachings of the Old and New Testaments centering upon such things as the Biblical structure of marriage, the roles of husbands and wives, submission and cooperative living, etc.

However, when looking into the intimate courtship process, the Shir Ha-sharim (Song of Songs/Song of Solomon) is, in my opinion, the clearest, "no holds barred" approach to the intimate relationship between a man and a woman.  There is no doubt about the moral mandates which Solomon trampled in his days as the King of Israel.  In fact, many of the pluralistic maladies and practices of the Israelites in the following generations, find their roots in the influx of religions which accompanied Solomon's non-Israelite wives.  The reality, however, is that Solomon, imbued with the greatest of human wisdom by God, reveals to us the most excellent of insights as He records the courtship, romance, and marriage of himself to the Shulamite bride.

There are, then, clear transports of principle to our relationship with God.  However, to equate this book as purely allegorical to that divine relationship would be out of sync with the style of that marriage allegory held elsewhere in Scripture.  In simple English, Solomon gets way more explicit than do prophecies relating God to His people in a marriage allegory.

So what can we learn from the Song of Solomon?  Godly passion.

Godliness and intimacy are not separate concepts; indeed, God Himself created the beauties of human intimacy.  Solomon explores those in this book and gives us a pathway toward lifting high the fulfillment of one another in marriage.  I believe that this practice alone could save countless marriages today, and provide keys to future success for people not yet married.

All that being said, its also just absolutely beautiful literature!  Enjoy the poetry, I wish you could read it in the Hebrew!  Discover God's "gold standard" for intimacy!  Accept and embrace nothing less!

Pastor John

What's up with the ground swallowing people?

In today's reading in Numbers 16, we find a group of prominent men from the tribe of Levi leading a coup against Moses and Aaron.  The Levites were the tribe to which the non-priestly duties of worship had been ascribed, and evidently they didn't think that they should be excluded from the "cool", or more important stuff.

Moses invites them to come the next morning and give it a shot... to bring censors with burning incense to the entrance of the tent of meeting and just let God decide.  It is worth noting that God does not depart from His design or settled determination.

In verse 32, then, we find the ground opening up and swallowing the entire households of the three ring-leaders of this coup.  OUCH!

Here's the deal... God expects us to follow His design, to be massively flattered by the compliment of whatever service He allows us to perform, and to not be "ladder climbers" in the Kingdom.

In Texas there's a saying, "Don't mess with Texas!"... well, you might well walk away from this story with a very similar and simple message, "Don't mess with God!"