When writing about certain attitudes that would mark the foretold "Last Days",one of the things that the apostle Paul foretold is that "men would be...lovers of pleasures(2 Tim.3:5). For many today some of these so-called "pleasures" have been the use and consumption of alcohol and drugs,the latter often illegally obtained. Drug and alcohol abuse have increased dramatically in recent decades,in fact drugs are probably more frequently used today than in previous decades.

Alcohol and drug addiction is no respecter of persons;it has involved anyone from young and old,rich and poor,non-religious,even those who are professedly religious,even though a good number of avid churchgoers are also addicted to nicotine-a drug. Some are even alcohol abusers.

But what is a Christian's position on the use of drugs and alcohol consumption? Is the use of alcohol and drugs wrong,and if so,what biblical principles bear on this matter,if any? First of,the basic medicinal use of drugs in itself is not wrong. For example,when Jesus gave the parable of the Good Samaritan in which a Jewish man was beaten and robbed by criminals and left for dead,the parable shows that the kind and helpful Samaritan man tended to the critically wounded man with "oil and wine",which in Bible times was used as medicines(Luke 10:34).

Contrary to some religions that claim that the drinking of alcohol is wrong or "sinful",the Scriptures says the very opposite. It does not condemn the moderate use of wine(Psalm 104:15;Eccl.9:7,10:19). What it does condemn is alcohol abuse(Prov. 23:29-35;1Cor.6:10). So it is not wrong to use drugs for proper,medicinal purposes,such as relieving pain or coping with an illness or to moderately use alcohol,if one chooses to drink at all.

But what about so-called"pleasure drugs" such as Heroin,Cocaine and the popular drug Marijuana? Does the Bible say that use of these drugs are wrong? The Bible does not mention any of such drugs,because the use of such mind-altering drugs was not a practice in Bible times. These drugs have only become commonly used in relatively modern times. But the Scriptures does have principles that bear on this subject. For example,it encourages Christians to serve God ,while 'their whole soul and mind',something that is clearly impossible to do under the influence of mind-altering drugs,since it says that they should serve him with their WHOLE mind,not while they are 'stone out of their minds'(Matt.22:37).

The Bible also admonishes Christians to "cleanse themselves of every defilement of flesh and spirit"(2Cor.7:1)The use of such harmful drugs as nicotine contaminates the body inside and out and the person's "spirit",or one's mental attitude can make a person psychologically dependent on harmful substances,whether it is nicotine or any other harmful drugs. Even prescription or over-the-counter drugs can also be addictive.

So,based on the scriptural evidence presented above,the Bible does not condemn the balanced used of alcohol and the proper,medicinal use of drugs,but it does clearly show,either directly-as in the case of alcohol-and in principle,as in the use of mind-altering,harmful drugs,which may make people have an intoxicating high,or "feel good",is clearly out of Harmony with the Bible and contrary to Christian standards,one of which says that they should not be a "drunken brawler"or "not giving themselves to a lot of wine",especially for those taking the lead in the Christian congregation(1Tim.3:3,7).

Learn more about this author, James Harvey.
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