Drinking From The Cup of Demons 3

So far we've seen that marijuana has some good, in some cases excellent, medical uses, but outside of those few instances and making rope, the only purpose marijuana has is to put yourself into a stoned stupor. We've pointed out that the argument that marijuana is good for you because it's natural is silly at because anthrax is natural too, then again so is asbestos, arsenic, and mercury. (If natural equals healthy why not just roll a 'fattie' from poison oak leaves and light that up? Maybe hemlock cookies and brownies too?) We've also mentioned that unlike wine and cigars, marijuana is not enjoyed for it's flavor but exclusively for its intoxicating abilities. We've also discussed how drug use is addressed in the Bible, how it's condemned in the Bible, and how intoxication drives a wedge between you and God. And finally we discussed how addictive substances take control of you away from God and hand it over to a foreign substance, and that since marijuana is supposedly not an addictive substance, every time you stone yourself into a stupor with marijuana it's a conscious, willingful act of rebellion against God.

Now for the scary stuff, the assault on the Church...

For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. (Romans 1:25)

Out there in this fallen world is a group of atheists that call themselves "the Church of Reality" and they claim to believe in everything that's real, which includes evolution, space aliens, and of course the deification of themselves. This also means that they deny the existence of anything that they have deemed to be "unreal", things like God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and faith. (How can someone who believes in fairy tales like global warming and evolution deny the existence of faith?) The founder of the church proudly admits that the Church of Reality is a marijuana inspired vision and that marijuana and LSD are the drugs that "opened his mind" to create his website. In fact he goes so far as to claim that marijuana makes you smarter. Considering the brain damage that pot use can cause I'm sure the Church of Reality has a unique and very special definition for the word 'smarter'. But this is just a bunch of atheists playing church as they mess around with mind altering drugs while thinking that their occasional bout with 'enlightenment' is superior to not only God's word but on a human level thousands of years of prayer and study by millions of people.

However 'smarter' is not happening in the church. Many people are falling for the demonic twisting of scripture which seems to be one of Satan's favored tactics. One good example of psudo-christianity run amok is the THC Ministry of Pahoa Hawaii. The THC ministry believes in a lot of things, all of it has to do with marijuana. They believe that marijuana is a sacred sacrament, they consider it the stone that the builders rejected, and they go so far as to call marijuana 'mana'. They use cannabis in rituals such as baptisms, weddings, funerals, and communing with nature. They believe that marijuana IS the tree of life. Much of their theology comes not from the bible but from High Times magazine. Their founder, Roger Christie, is a conscientious objector who bailed out of the US Army when he found that getting stoned was more fun that serving his country. And by the way, their founder, Roger Christie, is currently performing his pastoral duties from federal prison as he languishes there on federal drug charges.

Rev. John Jackson of the Trinity United Church of Christ told The Tennessean newspaper that he thinks that the God we serve doesn't care if we take drugs. "Just to let them know, our God is too big to be concerned about somebody smoking a joint, smoking a cigarette or drinking a glass of beer... God does not care if you smoke weed." How did this man become a "reverend" of any kind of Christian church and completely miss Romans?

1 Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves. 3 For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same; 4 for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil. 5 Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also for conscience’ sake. (Romans 13:1-5)

It is abundantly clear here in Romans whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God and unfortunately for Rev John Jackson, his church is in Gary Indiana, where the laws still say that marijuana is illegal. I fully agree with Pastor Al Pittman of the Calvary Worship Center in Colorado Springs CO when he says that for Christians obeying the law is the same as obeying God's word and the only time a Christian is justified in disobeying the law is when it is in direct conflict with God's law. And just where does Rev. Johnson get off claiming that God doesn't care about what you do?

⁶ Are not five sparrows sold for two cents? Yet not one of them is forgotten before God. ⁷ Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows. (Luke 12:6-7)

Shame on you John Jackson! Of course God cares if you smoke a joint, or a cigarette, or drink a beer. He cares if you drink a glass of water, He cares if you eat an Oreo, He cares if you walk your dog, and He most certainly cares if you tell your flock that He doesn't care. No right thinking minister would ever dream of saying that God doesn't care about what you do if he truly is a man of God and true to God's word.

This is the kind of muddle headed thinking that is slowly invading the church as marijuana rapidly invades society. Thinking along the lines of "God doesn't care if you break a law" (even though he commands us to follow the laws of our authorities) or "God doesn't care if you stone yourselves into a drooling stupor" (even though there's over 70 verses in the bible regarding drunken behavior) will slowly become the norm as fringe groups like the THC Ministry, and Christians for Cannabis and Temple 420 (whose founder is in prison) gain ground and like the perverse Message become considered mainstream by the liberal factions in the Church.

¹⁴ No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. ¹⁵ Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds. (2 Corinthians 11:14-15)

A very long time ago Satan whispered in Eve's ear, “Did not God say you can eat from ANY tree in the garden? ... You surely will not die! For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” He promised Eve her mind would be opened if she would just eat the forbidden fruit. As I mentioned earlier the founder of the Church of Reality proudly admits that his "church" is a marijuana inspired vision and that marijuana and LSD are the drugs that "opened his mind" to create his website. Since his website is primarily an anti-God, anti-Christian, anti-faith screed, one can only wonder... was it the drugs opening his mind, or was it Satan whispering in his ear.

The Church of Reality, Christians for Cannabis, and Temple 420 (along with Pastors who speak like John Jackson) are just individual artillery rounds fired in Satan's war against God. Satan is still twisting God's words,and as his minions still whisper in our ears ("Marijuana is legal, have a toke and your eyes will be opened, your mind will be expanded") and they're twisting scripture in ways you will not believe, but that's for next time.