Does the Bible specifically prohibit smoking dope?

Question

Really, does it? Give me chapter and verse please.

please, biblical quotes not simple citations, they're too easy to cut and paste.

this to altering the temple; what if your doctor prescribes you a strong euphoric which is shown to cause liver damage and is highly addictive, does that go against scripture? The pharmeciutical industry is built on selling mind altering drugs to the general population for nothing more serious than feeling nervous around strangers.

Answer 1

1 Corinthians 3:16,17
Know ye not that ye are the temple of God,and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you??If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy;for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye ARE.

Proverbs 20:1
Wine is a mocker,strong drink is raging:and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.

Answer 2

No, it does not specifically condemn smoking dope. There are a few other things that it does say that might factor into one's decision to do it or not, though.

1) The Bible understands our bodies to be good and important. God created them (Genesis 2:7) and in Christ they are temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19). All of this goes to show that treating our bodies right is an important part of a Christian ethic. I know that smoking up isn't a huge health problem, but it would be hard to say that the folks who sit around and do nothing but smoking up are really treating their bodies right.

2) The Bible says that we should all "be subject to the governing authorities" (Romans 13:1). Given that in the United States marijuana is illegal, this should at least give a Christian pause. But of course, Christians have also always recognized that the "governing authorities" do not always make just laws, and Christ's legal execution relativizes (but does not do away with) the thing from Romans.

3) The Bible understands us to have been "created in Christ Jesus for good works" (Ephesians 2:10) of love (1 John 3:23). Christ is our exemplar, showing us that the love demanded of us is a complete and total giving of self. Although smoking pot is not necessarily selfish, the question of whether or not it is a habit impeding one's ability to love should be foremost in the mind of a Christian.

4) Other people have already noted the injunctions against drunkenness in Galatians and Proverbs. A Christian needs to keep this in mind, but smoking a joint doesn't necessarily lead to crazy bacchanalian frenzy, just like one glass of wine isn't going to send you into a crazy fit of drunkenness.

Anyways, I'm not saying that these things unequivocally condemn rolling a joint now and then. These are some really important biblical mandates to keep in mind as one forms one's conscience about whether or not to smoke dope (or, really, to do anything). I've smoked pot before and may well do it again in my life, but it's something that is, probably at best, Christianly ambiguous. Also it's just good to be aware that we tend to be really good at fooling ourselves and justifying behavior that we want to justify, and that we are really good at overdoing stuff.

Hope this helps you, and good luck in making your moral decisions.

Answer 3

Galatians 5:19-21 talks of the works of our flesh (sin nature) and lists all of them. In verse 20 the word "sorcery or witchcraft" is translated from the greek "pharmakeia", which literally means medication. This is also where we get the word "pharmacy".
Pot can be considered medication because that's what we do with it, medicate, along with booze and a whole host of other substances.
Since Christians are to be led by the spirit and not by the flesh (sin nature), smoking dope would be a fleshly act. It's not good for your lungs and God's desire for us is to have life not death.
Our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit (Rom. 6:19-20)and because they are, we are to conduct ourselves according to the standard of honoring God.

Answer 4

I agree with an earlier comment, "The body is the temple of God".
My spiritual teacher has said there are three rules we must all follow through life:
#1-Take no intoxicants into the body.
#2-Respect and care for your parents till they are no longer with you.
#3- Continue your education as long as you live.

Regarding rule #1and using an example: If you are bitten by a poisonous snake, does the snake have to inject all of its venom into you to take your life? Many varieties of snakes need only a drop to take your life. Like this, who is to say that pot, dope, ganja, etc., will not eventually weaken ones faith,
eventually taking from them what might have been a beautiful
journey.
No doubt many will argue this point, but think on this with wisdom and realize that man already has been given all the tools necessary to find God. Intoxicants are not needed to find
ones path to God......... GBU.....

Answer 5

Specific to dope?
No.
However, mood altering chemicals of any and all types are condemned.

Galatians 5:19
Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
20 Idolatry, WITCHCRAFT, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

Answer 6

Any illegal drug is not good because it changes the way your percieve things which could leave you to more temptation. Basically when your high or drunk your not yourself and is possible to do things you wouldnt normally do And as others have said it is not good for your health. You should abstain from any illegal drug.

Here is what the Catechism of the Catholic Church says:
2291 The use of drugs inflicts very grave damage on human health and life. Their use, except on strictly therapeutic grounds, is a grave offense. Clandestine production of and trafficking in drugs are scandalous practices. They constitute direct co-operation in evil, since they encourage people to practices gravely contrary to the moral law.

Answer 7

Well the other nations had a different wine called the poppy seed. Old Testament. And it was considered bad.

Dope is bad for your health. Also, it is written for the Christian to not to drink in excess, but rather be filled with the Holy Spirit.

For people who have had different highs & have come to Christ, the Holy Spirit is a much better high than anything the devil has to offer in the world.


Also, drunkedness doesn't inherit the Kingdom of God, so what spirits does it inherit. The same would go for dope. It isn't Gods Kingdom. The wages of sin is death.

Answer 8

No. In fact, marijuana is thought to be an ingredient in the holy annointing oil mentioned in Exodus chapter 30.

Marijuana has been used as a religious sacrament for thousands of years.

Answer 9

It says that our body is a temple and that we need to take care of it and since drugs destroy your body that would fall into the category of not taking care of it. It also says to obey those in authority over you and since drugs are illegal, doing them is going against the bible.

Answer 10

ive read damn near all of the bible, and nothing that i know of in it, i know ive forgot alot about it, and didnt pay attention to alot, but i dont think it says anything about it's good, or bad

damn im wrong, i was reading more questions and saw this Smoking is indeed sinful activity because it violates 7 Biblical principles......

1. Chemical addiction - Smoking has chemicals in it that make it many more times addictive than heroine or cocaine. According to Jesus we cannot have anything else master over us but God. (Genesis 4:7, Matthew 6:24, Luke 16:13)

2. Bad for your health - If God created the human body which he called "good" (Genesis 1:31), why would you pollute it? If you got your kid a nice bike for his birthday, how would you feel if you later saw him leaving it lying around in the mud and rain and not taking care of it?

3. Setting a poor example for unbelievers - How can people glorify God by your example (Matthew 5:16, 1 Peter 2:12) when you are engaged in improper activity?

4. Setting a poor example for believers - How are we going to be mutually encouraged by each others faith if we are engaged in sin?! I am offended enough every time I smell someones 2nd hand smoke but to smell it coming from a believer?!?!?!?!!?

5. Setting a poor example for kids - But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. -Matthew 18:6

6. Using the resources God gave you for no good purpose - Smoking wastes money (Matthew 25:14), time, and your health. (things we can all use more of) Since God gave us resources, we need to use them to further the Kingdom, not live life the way we want.

7. Continuing in sin - Given the hundreds of times i have talked to smokers; deep down people know that it is wrong and is therefore SIN. If you continue to do that which you know is wrong you are allowing sin to rule your life.

Direct my footsteps according to your word; let no sin rule over me. -Psalm 199:133

For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace. -Romans 6:14


i havent looked them up to see if that's what they say in the bible, but im just going to assume they're right