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Originally Posted by Andrew P.C.  Positive blessing? It sounds to me like you are looking for a quick legal toke. |
Well, then, I suspect you haven't really understood a word I've written. The positive blessing is that ending drug prohibition would eliminate much of the gang related violence and similar societal corruptions that relate to this ongoing and futile "war against drugs." The answer to the drug problem is not more laws, or even the existing laws, it's the return to the clear preaching of the Gospel. Something almost unheard of in this country, despite all the religiosity on TV, radio and in books. The biblical faith is an anachronism and instead we have hucksters and Jeeebus hawkers fleecing suckers by the thousands. Similarly, I've argued the biblical role of gov't isn't to protect us from ourselves, and, besides, these laws have not worked and anyone who thinks they have has his head buried.
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You still haven't answered my question. Being alert is a biblical command, and you are avoiding the issue.
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I didn't know it was a question and besides you're wrong since I most wholeheartedly agree with you on this point. I just don't agree that the prohibition of drugs is a legitimate role of government.
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Paul commands us in many places to not only be alert but to be sober. In order to battle fortresses that are within the church or dodging the flaming arrows of satan, you must be sober minded. Can you be sober minded while high? You are looking for a direct command to not toke on the dope. Look what scripture says about your mind. It's plain and clear.
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Again, you clearly have not understood me at all. I agree that commands against dissipation and, conversely, commands to be alert apply to the use of any substance, not just illegal ones. The point that was under discussion is that Steve doesn't agree and instead argues that drug use, particularly marijuana use, is to engage in sorcery and universally falls under these biblical prohibitions. Go back and read his posts. Read mine again too since you clearly did not understand them.
I realize that the lazy argument is that anyone who is for legalization is also in favor of a legal toke, but like much of Steve's argument, this too doesn't follow.
What I do not agree with is that ending prohibition will unleash hell on earth and that all drug use, specifically marijuana use, necessarily entails sorcery. It certainly may at times (Meg Thomas made this point above), but it also may not. Steve says I'm guilty of great evil if I don't agree with him on this point. This is Steve's argument in a nutshell and I've argued that his assertions are the result of an invalid inference from Scripture and his attempt to universalize his own subjective experience. If his argument is valid, he certainly hasn't demonstrated it, that is all.
FWIW, I smoked marijuana and it was never in any occult attempt to attain knowledge or a higher state of being or for any other stupid Sixties-Hippy myth. I and the people I knew smoked pot to get stoned. Period. My guess is that this is the case today as well and Meg's and Steve's experience, while at one time perhaps the norm, is the exception today.
In short, his view is not a necessary inference from Scripture, whereas yours is.