BGEA: A friend of mine gave his life to Jesus recently, but he says he doesn't see anything wrong with continuing to smoke pot.

A friend of mine gave his life to Jesus a few months ago, and I really believe he meant it. But he's always been kind of a free spirit and says he doesn't see anything wrong with continuing to smoke pot, just like he's done for years. Is he right? — J.F.

No, it isn't God's will for him to continue doing this. God doesn't want us to cloud or confuse our minds in any way, whether with drugs, alcohol or anything else.

When we do things like this, we endanger ourselves morally, spiritually and even physically—and that is never God's will. We also compromise our witness with others (including some who may be struggling with addiction, or may be tempted to begin using drugs or alcohol in their search for inner peace).

God gave our bodies to us, and He wants us to treat them wisely and use them for His glory. The Bible says, "I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship" (Romans 12:1) God also gave us our minds, and they too are to be used for God's glory. Jesus commanded us to "Love the Lord your God ... with all your mind" (Mark 12:30). One reason God gave us His Word, the Bible, was "to stimulate you to wholesome thinking" (2 Peter 3:1).

Pray for your friend and encourage him to grow spiritually. Pray not only that he will turn his back on this habit, but that he will put Christ first in his life. God's will—for him and for every believer—is that we would be "transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory" (2 Corinthians 3:18).

7 Comments

Jim says 9.17.2012, 9:00 p.m.

Seems I go bach and forth with pot. Know it"s wrong ,stay away for over a year. This last time at a memorial service with family members,I took a hit.And regreted it,what followed was quilt, no witness,no blessing.

Steve says 8.4.2012, 10:38 p.m.

Gatewaydrug and supports crime.

todd says 9.4.2011, 8:46 p.m.

God doesn't want us to cloud or confuse our minds in any way but the media along with others do it everyday. We should not allow this but we do. Open your minds and thoughts with what god gave us.Genesis 1:11 Then God said, "Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb that yields seed, and the fruit tree that yields fruit according to its kind, whose seed is in itself, on the earth"; and it was so.Hebrews 6:7 For the earth which drinks in the rain that often comes upon it, and bears herbs useful for those by whom it is cultivated, receives blessing from God.

Joy says 5.14.2011, 02:09 a.m.

God allows many things on this earth that is good or bad. We have free will and it is up to us to make good choices. In our hearts we know what is right and wrong if we truly ask God to show us, and we have to be willing to accept his answer.

Brent says 1.21.2011, 00:02 a.m.

To answer your question Brandon, I believe it was put here for us to remove stress from our lives, but the world could benefit also. The hemp plant is a very versatile plant, which can make many, many different things. It is used in shampoos, fabrics, drugs (such as marinol, medicinal marijuana and smokable marijuana), ropes, makes an alternative to fossil fuels when making fibers out of it as well. The fabrics and paper that is created out of hemp is much greater quality than is made out of cotton, etc. and lasts longer, hence why the declaration still exists.

Brent says 1.20.2011, 10:45 p.m.

I don't think marijuana is even remotely bad for your faith... or the mind, personally I think if we sat around a smoked marijuana and talked about God I think we would learn plenty.. and it doesn't effect your memory or learning ability to any major extent. Also it would reach out to more people... just thinking its time for a change in our views on the subject... don't you. Disregard anything dealing to legal status for this post... I'm aware its illegal

Brandon says 10.15.2010, 6:35 p.m.

So why did God allow marijuana to grow?