Drugs

Though drug use goes back to ancient times, the Bible does not directly address the issue. Still, the Bible has concrete principles we can apply.

Christians are required to follow the law. The apostle Paul wrote, “Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God. So, anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished” (Rom. 13:1-2, NLT). When the law of the land contradicts God’s law, then and only then it is acceptable to break that law.

Christians are required to care for their bodies (1 Cor. 3:16-17). Slowly or rapidly, drugs deteriorate and destroy the mind and the body.

Drugs are a false god. People use drugs to escape their reality—to relax, to find comfort, to get away from it all. True peace and real comfort come only from God. Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matt. 11:28, NIV). A mind focused on Jesus is a mind that has peace (Isa. 26:4).

Drugs alter the mind and give Satan an open door. The apostle Peter, no stranger to impetuous action, wrote “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Pet. 5:8, NIV). Drugs dull the senses and give a false sense of freedom, while numbing our mind to the Holy Spirit’s call.

Although other drugs are not named explicitly in the Bible, alcohol is, and the warnings are clear. Solomon wrote, “Wine gives false courage; hard liquor leads to brawls; what fools men are to let it master them, making them reel drunkenly down the street!" (Prov. 20:1, TLB). The principle is this. Drugs, including alcohol, impact the mind in a very negative way. Allowing anything except the Holy Spirit to have control of our mind is dangerous.

For a deeper understanding of the issue involved, we suggest people go to the following link: https://www.adventist.org/en/information/official-statements/statements/article/go/-/chemical-use-abuse-and-dependency/