This is a response I made today to a thread on another forum asking if there were any Christian stoner's out there. This has a very clear gospel message to it, and it is great news that the good Lord will never forsake you just because you smoke and grow weed, so long as you are "in Christ".
Am I a Christian? Yes! Do I smoke weed? Yes!
First question. Am I a Christian? Yes! [the following explanation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is strongly supported by the Christian Bible]
I have received forgiveness for my sins through the substitutionary atonement of Jesus Christ on the cross over 2000 years ago, by faith alone in Christ, and on that basis alone. There is nothing I can "do" to merit or earn forgiveness because God's Laws have been broken by me, and because the Christian God is a just (as in justice) Deity, He must punish all of my sin.
Jesus Christ, the second Person who is God, became a human being; the orthodox position is that Christ was fully man and fully God in His incarnation. He lived the perfect life I failed to live and died the death I deserve to die because of my sins.
So as a Christian who is "In Christ" I do not have to "do" anything to receive forgiveness because Christ has already "done" everything that needed to be done to secure my salvation in his perfect life and sacrificial death on the cross.
"Imputation" is an important theological term that many Christians often overlook, but worth fleshing out. Let me explain....
On the cross all of my sins were "transferred" or "imputed" to the account of Christ, where God the Father poured out His wrath on Christ, and treated Him as every sinner deserves (yes, the Christian God is angry about sin!). On the cross, Christ paid the legal debt, the penalty that sinners like me deserve for breaking God's Laws.
Receiving forgiveness is by faith alone. That does not mean the Lord does not call us to action regarding our salvation. When we acknowledge that we have smashed all of God's Laws countless times every day, and that we deserve justice (Hell is God's eternal jail) we are only halfway to receiving forgiveness.
In order to receive forgiveness, we must individually bow the knee and entrust our lives to the Lordship of Christ (He is the beneficent King over all, including me and you, and marijuana plants!). We must realize that forgiveness can be granted to sinners only on the basis of Christ's work of redemption alone 2000 years ago.
When we come to the Lord and ask His forgiveness, acknowledging that we are broken and vile, rebellious traitors who dare to usurp the power and dominion that belongs to the Lord alone, and that we need Christ or there is no forgiveness, then we are forgiven. Christians are called to believe, and then keep on believing until the day the good Lord takes us home.
Another word about imputation, and this is very practical. Imputation is a two-way street. There is a very solid reason why the Lord Jesus had to keep God's Laws perfectly in His incarnation. As a Christian, I still have vast deposits of sin in my life. In fact, I would say that I really haven't gotten much better as a Christian. I still do the same stupid stuff; I fall into my ingrained sin patterns of thinking and behavior over and over again.
Fortunately, the righteousness that Christ accrued during His earthly ministry was "transferred" or "imputed" to my account upon my receiving Christ by faith, so that when I sin, the Lord does not see my sin, He only sees the perfect righteousness of Christ. In other words, I have not an ounce of my own righteousness, but I have been given the gift of Christ's righteousness simply by faith!
Therefore, since I didn't "do" anything to earn my salvation (Christ did it all for me), and that salvation is by "grace" (a gift that is totally undeserved and unmerited) there is no sin that I could commit that is not covered by the righteousness of Christ. I cannot "lose" my salvation because my salvation did not come through my "works" in the first place.
Now that doesn't mean that Christians can just live any way they please. What it does mean that when we (Christians) see the awesome work of redemption displayed in Christ, and the horrible lengths that the Lord took to save undeserving sinners, doesn't it make you want to do what is right and live for Him and Him alone? Genuine Christians are saved by faith alone, but not by a faith that is alone. Every genuine Christian demonstrates "fruit" that flows from their faith in Christ, and this fruit is evidence of a transformed life that was initiated and now sustained by the Lord.
Do I smoke weed? Yes! Does this contradict the character of a genuine Christian? No! There are only two facts that must be acknowledged.
1. I am a Christian.
2. I smoke weed.
So there are genuine Christians who smoke weed, and I am one of them.
I smoke weed primarily for medicinal purposes, but I also like to smoke weed for recreational use. Does the Bible specifically condemn smoking weed? No. Weed is a plant that was created by the Lord Himself, and I believe that as long as you are responsible in using it and it doesn't lead you down a path of destruction, there is nothing that is immoral or lawless about it.
IMO, it is the laws of the land regarding the illegal use and growing of weed that are immoral. I am growing it and I am smoking it regardless of the law. I know that the Bible says Christians are supposed to obey the laws set up by governments, and I am breaking the command, but I do this with a clear conscience, knowing that I need my weed for a medical condition that no other drug even comes close to comparing with.
I believe that, in the Lord's eyes, the sin of smoking and growing weed in a country where it is illegal is similar to driving over the speed limit. Everyone does it, even Christians, right? His grace is so amazing that He can now overlook my sin because of my faith in Christ. Weed is natural and good. Pharmaceutical drugs are unnatural and dangerous. And the Lord WILL forgive me because I am covered by the righteousness of Christ!
So Christian stoner? YES! I love the Lord, and I also need a great medicine to help me with my terrible medical condition, and the good Lord is so gracious and kind in providing me with a great medicine in weed. I also like the social aspects of weed smoking. Didn't Jesus Himself make the best wine in the world when all the guests at the wedding in Cana were already smashed and ran out of wine?
The Lord Jesus is a Person, and like most people, the Lord likes social gatherings where there is a festive, party-like atmosphere. Weed is a very special plant, much like wine is a very special drink, in that it is social and fun. Jesus understands this, don't you think?
Bottom line is, I am a Christian, and I smoke weed. I am 50 years old. I have been a Christian ever since January of 2000, but I have been smoking weed as a Christian since June of 2012. I used to do alot of drugs and drinking growing up and into my 20's, and all the stuff besides weed did nothing but screw me up.
I think there are many faulty, unbiblical ideas regarding Christianity. Many think that Christ and weed can never be mixed together, like water and fire. Well, I strongly disagree. I would encourage my fellow pot-smokers and growers who think that the Christian God is nothing but a hard-nosed killjoy who wants to rob you of all delight and refreshment and fun to rethink your position in light of the Scriptures, the Christian Bible.
Anybody agree or disagree with my position?
If anyone has any serious questions regarding Christianity, ask and I will answer to the best of my ability.
I know this thread is evangelistic in nature. I want to persuade you the reader that the Bible IS the Word of God. It is a serious book with a serious message, and I believe it with all my heart. I encourage everyone to read the Bible and take to heart it's message of forgiveness of sins through Jesus Christ alone. Believe Christ AND smoke weed...it's that simple
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Am I a Christian? Yes! Do I smoke weed? Yes!
First question. Am I a Christian? Yes! [the following explanation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is strongly supported by the Christian Bible]
I have received forgiveness for my sins through the substitutionary atonement of Jesus Christ on the cross over 2000 years ago, by faith alone in Christ, and on that basis alone. There is nothing I can "do" to merit or earn forgiveness because God's Laws have been broken by me, and because the Christian God is a just (as in justice) Deity, He must punish all of my sin.
Jesus Christ, the second Person who is God, became a human being; the orthodox position is that Christ was fully man and fully God in His incarnation. He lived the perfect life I failed to live and died the death I deserve to die because of my sins.
So as a Christian who is "In Christ" I do not have to "do" anything to receive forgiveness because Christ has already "done" everything that needed to be done to secure my salvation in his perfect life and sacrificial death on the cross.
"Imputation" is an important theological term that many Christians often overlook, but worth fleshing out. Let me explain....
On the cross all of my sins were "transferred" or "imputed" to the account of Christ, where God the Father poured out His wrath on Christ, and treated Him as every sinner deserves (yes, the Christian God is angry about sin!). On the cross, Christ paid the legal debt, the penalty that sinners like me deserve for breaking God's Laws.
Receiving forgiveness is by faith alone. That does not mean the Lord does not call us to action regarding our salvation. When we acknowledge that we have smashed all of God's Laws countless times every day, and that we deserve justice (Hell is God's eternal jail) we are only halfway to receiving forgiveness.
In order to receive forgiveness, we must individually bow the knee and entrust our lives to the Lordship of Christ (He is the beneficent King over all, including me and you, and marijuana plants!). We must realize that forgiveness can be granted to sinners only on the basis of Christ's work of redemption alone 2000 years ago.
When we come to the Lord and ask His forgiveness, acknowledging that we are broken and vile, rebellious traitors who dare to usurp the power and dominion that belongs to the Lord alone, and that we need Christ or there is no forgiveness, then we are forgiven. Christians are called to believe, and then keep on believing until the day the good Lord takes us home.
Another word about imputation, and this is very practical. Imputation is a two-way street. There is a very solid reason why the Lord Jesus had to keep God's Laws perfectly in His incarnation. As a Christian, I still have vast deposits of sin in my life. In fact, I would say that I really haven't gotten much better as a Christian. I still do the same stupid stuff; I fall into my ingrained sin patterns of thinking and behavior over and over again.
Fortunately, the righteousness that Christ accrued during His earthly ministry was "transferred" or "imputed" to my account upon my receiving Christ by faith, so that when I sin, the Lord does not see my sin, He only sees the perfect righteousness of Christ. In other words, I have not an ounce of my own righteousness, but I have been given the gift of Christ's righteousness simply by faith!
Therefore, since I didn't "do" anything to earn my salvation (Christ did it all for me), and that salvation is by "grace" (a gift that is totally undeserved and unmerited) there is no sin that I could commit that is not covered by the righteousness of Christ. I cannot "lose" my salvation because my salvation did not come through my "works" in the first place.
Now that doesn't mean that Christians can just live any way they please. What it does mean that when we (Christians) see the awesome work of redemption displayed in Christ, and the horrible lengths that the Lord took to save undeserving sinners, doesn't it make you want to do what is right and live for Him and Him alone? Genuine Christians are saved by faith alone, but not by a faith that is alone. Every genuine Christian demonstrates "fruit" that flows from their faith in Christ, and this fruit is evidence of a transformed life that was initiated and now sustained by the Lord.
Do I smoke weed? Yes! Does this contradict the character of a genuine Christian? No! There are only two facts that must be acknowledged.
1. I am a Christian.
2. I smoke weed.
So there are genuine Christians who smoke weed, and I am one of them.
I smoke weed primarily for medicinal purposes, but I also like to smoke weed for recreational use. Does the Bible specifically condemn smoking weed? No. Weed is a plant that was created by the Lord Himself, and I believe that as long as you are responsible in using it and it doesn't lead you down a path of destruction, there is nothing that is immoral or lawless about it.
IMO, it is the laws of the land regarding the illegal use and growing of weed that are immoral. I am growing it and I am smoking it regardless of the law. I know that the Bible says Christians are supposed to obey the laws set up by governments, and I am breaking the command, but I do this with a clear conscience, knowing that I need my weed for a medical condition that no other drug even comes close to comparing with.
I believe that, in the Lord's eyes, the sin of smoking and growing weed in a country where it is illegal is similar to driving over the speed limit. Everyone does it, even Christians, right? His grace is so amazing that He can now overlook my sin because of my faith in Christ. Weed is natural and good. Pharmaceutical drugs are unnatural and dangerous. And the Lord WILL forgive me because I am covered by the righteousness of Christ!
So Christian stoner? YES! I love the Lord, and I also need a great medicine to help me with my terrible medical condition, and the good Lord is so gracious and kind in providing me with a great medicine in weed. I also like the social aspects of weed smoking. Didn't Jesus Himself make the best wine in the world when all the guests at the wedding in Cana were already smashed and ran out of wine?
The Lord Jesus is a Person, and like most people, the Lord likes social gatherings where there is a festive, party-like atmosphere. Weed is a very special plant, much like wine is a very special drink, in that it is social and fun. Jesus understands this, don't you think?
Bottom line is, I am a Christian, and I smoke weed. I am 50 years old. I have been a Christian ever since January of 2000, but I have been smoking weed as a Christian since June of 2012. I used to do alot of drugs and drinking growing up and into my 20's, and all the stuff besides weed did nothing but screw me up.
I think there are many faulty, unbiblical ideas regarding Christianity. Many think that Christ and weed can never be mixed together, like water and fire. Well, I strongly disagree. I would encourage my fellow pot-smokers and growers who think that the Christian God is nothing but a hard-nosed killjoy who wants to rob you of all delight and refreshment and fun to rethink your position in light of the Scriptures, the Christian Bible.
Anybody agree or disagree with my position?
If anyone has any serious questions regarding Christianity, ask and I will answer to the best of my ability.
I know this thread is evangelistic in nature. I want to persuade you the reader that the Bible IS the Word of God. It is a serious book with a serious message, and I believe it with all my heart. I encourage everyone to read the Bible and take to heart it's message of forgiveness of sins through Jesus Christ alone. Believe Christ AND smoke weed...it's that simple