Can Christians smoke weed? Many locations in the United States are legalizing recreational marijuana. What does the Bible have to say about this? Can you love Jesus and still smoke marijuana?
I personally don’t smoke weed, and I never have. I’m not saying that because it makes me better than anyone else, but just for the sake of transparency on this topic.
As is often the case with these controversial topics, I’m not going to give you a hard yes or no answer on this. The Bible isn’t explicit on this issue, therefore I won’t be either. But what I can do is give you a biblical way to think through this question, so you can be led by the Holy Spirit in your decision.
Can Christians smoke weed — is it legal?
Where you currently live, is it legal for you to consume marijuana? If it isn’t, then you already have your answer to this question, and you don’t even need to go any further.
Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established.
But what if you live in Colorado, California, or somewhere else where the use of recreational marijuana is fully legal? Let’s go to another biblical principle.
Is it beneficial?
All things are lawful to me, but all things are not profitable.
Even though you can do it according to the law, is smoking weed beneficial to you? Studies have shown that marijuana use can have adverse effects on your mind, such as memory loss, reduced learning, decreased attention, schizophrenia, or psychopathic disorders.
Other studies have shown that many car accidents are the result of someone driving while high or intoxicated. There is also an increased percentage of people who have attempted or committed suicide who have been high. If you’re using drugs to escape reality, when you come back down, you have to face things. That can be too difficult for some people.
So even though it may feel good, can you say that marijuana is beneficial to you in the long term?
What is my intent?
Only you can answer this for yourself. If you’re using weed to change the state of your mind (intoxication), then you’re going directly against the Bible, which calls us to be self-controlled and sober minded at all times.
Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober…
The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray.
Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls about like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
Be honest with yourself: Can you smoke weed and at the same time be alert, sober-minded, and under complete self-control? If you can’t, that means it is a sin for you to smoke weed.
Could I cause others to sin?
So then, if eating meat makes my Christian brother trip and fall, I will never eat it again. I do not want to make my Christian brother sin.
What’s the context? The issue wasn’t just about eating meat. In this culture. Some meats were offered as a sacrifice to false gods. So some Christians worried that such meats would be contaminated. Paul knew that wasn’t the case, but he knew other Christians thought that way, and therefore he abstained in their presence so as not to cause them to violate their conscience.
If you’re a Christian who faithfully attends church, who quotes the Bible, who prays with people, and who might even be a leader in the church, smokes weed, even if you for some reason don’t view it as problematic for yourself, it could lead a less mature Christian who is observing you to try it and potentially cause an addiction. No behavior is worth leading another Christian into sin.
Is this becoming an idol in my life?
An idol is anything we place in front of God. When you feel stressed or depressed or overwhelmed, do you turn to God to get peace and tranquility, or do you turn to weed to escape reality? No matter what it is, if there is something you turn to for peace and relief other than God, that is an idol that must be removed.
O God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you. My soul thirsts for you; My whole body longs for you in this parched and weary land where there is no water. I will praise you! As long as I live, lifting up my hands to you in prayer. You satisfy me more than the richest feast. I will praise you with songs of joy. I cling to you; Your strong right hand holds me securely.
Are you turning to weed in difficult times, or are you turning to God, to His word, to your Christian community?
Is this becoming an addiction in my life?
All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.
Is weed an addiction? If you tried to quit, would you be able to? If not, that’s an addiction. You don’t really know something is an addiction until you try to quit. If you smoke, I challenge you to try to go 30 days without it. You’ll find out pretty quickly whether it is an addiction in your life.
All that said, you may say you’re still going to smoke weed–and that’s between you and God. But hopefully before you do, you’ll consider these questions and decide against it.
For more helpful biblical Christian content from Allen Parr, visit his YouTube channel The BEAT or browse other topics on the Let’s Equip blog!