The Life Foundations
Nexus
Pneumiatric Drug Treatment Center
IS DRUG USE A SIN?
This article also appears on the Pneumiatric Drug
Treatment Center website.
Before we begin, note that we are not
talking about the medical use of drugs.
The Bible teaches that the medical use of drugs is not a sin.
Is drug use a sin? Yes, with two exceptions.
In order to learn the Bible’s teachings
on drugs, we need to know that alcoholic drinks are a type of drug. Whatever the Bible teaches about alcoholic
drinks it is teaching about drugs.
Whatever the Bible teaches about wine and “strong drink” it is teaching
about drugs.
The Bible makes a distinction between
“wine” and “strong drink.” It is
obvious from these terms that wine is not a strong, alcoholic drink. A parallel examination of the Hebrew and
Greek texts, of course, reveals the same thing. These facts teach us that the Bible makes a distinction between
“weak drugs” (e.g., wine) and “strong drugs” (e.g., strong drink). Before you jump to any conclusions, note
that this distinction is only for medical purposes. IN OTHER WORDS, THE BIBLE TEACHES THAT DRUGS
(OF ANY TYPE AND IN ANY FORM) ARE ONLY TO BE USED MEDICALLY IF THEY
DO NOT IMPAIR ONE’S MENTAL OR MORAL FACULTIES AND DO NOT ALTER ONE’S
PERSONALITY.
The Bible does not say that Jesus drank
any alcoholic drinks. The Bible does
not say that Jesus used any drugs (alcoholic drinks and any other types of
drugs). The model of a “holy person” in
the Bible excluded the drinking of wine.
The model of a “holy person” in the Bible excluded the use of drugs
(wine and any other types of drugs).
Jesus refused wine when it was offered to him. Jesus REFUSED A DRUG (wine) when it was offered to him.
What are the
two exceptions to the ban on drug use found in the Bible? These exceptions apply only if one does not
have the benefit of either a certain part of or all of the work of the Holy
Spirit and if one does not have a better way to meet the needs involved in
these exceptions. They are: (1) to mitigate the pangs of death and (2)
when one would otherwise die of thirst.
The “thirst exception” refers to the use of an alcoholic drink WHEN
THERE IS NO DRINKING WATER AVAILABLE.
We will have
more to say later on the subject of drug use.