When the Smell of Marijuana Follows You Into Church
As marijuana becomes more accepted in our culture, have you considered what that means for the church? In this post, I look at the growing normalization of recreational marijuana use, the questions Christians should be asking about it, and the responsibility we have to live in a way that honors the Lord.
We are living in a time when some states and localities have approved the use of marijuana for recreational purposes, and what once seemed to be something kept mostly out of sight has become increasingly visible in our communities. I won't even get into medical marijuana here because I have my own views about it and how widely I believe that designation can be abused. But in light of the recent arrest of Senator Louise Lucas in connection with a marijuana-related business, and simply seeing how prevalent marijuana seems to be becoming, I thought this was a good time to talk about it.
But there is another reason this subject came to mind. Someone I know recently had an experience at church that got me thinking about what happens when marijuana use doesn't stay outside the church doors. The smell was strong enough to be noticeable while she was there worshipping, and it left me wondering about something Christians probably need to talk about.
Should Christians be using marijuana recreationally?
When It Follows Us Into Church
She was standing near the front of the church during the praise time when she suddenly smelled a very strong odor of marijuana. She recognized the smell immediately because, unfortunately, it has become all too familiar in her neighborhood.
There are neighbors who smoke, and it seems there is hardly a place anymore where she doesn't encounter the smell, whether she is driving, shopping at the grocery store, or simply going about her day.
What made this experience different was that the smell wasn't there when she arrived. It came later, and it remained strong for some time before she finally moved away. We can only assume that someone came into the area during that time, but whoever it was had brought that unmistakable smell with them. It was so strong that she actually began to feel a little sick and eventually had to move.
What upset her most was that church had been one place where she felt free from that sickening smell. She wasn't expecting to encounter it there, especially while standing near the front of the church and worshipping.
And honestly, it got me thinking. It seems that everything that becomes prevalent in our culture eventually finds its way into the church too. Divorce, adultery, drunkenness, drugs, and so many other things that once seemed far removed from the church have become part of the world we live in, and sometimes they walk right through the church doors with us.
Come As You Are, But What Comes With Us?
I know that many churches today have adopted the idea of “come as you are,” and to a certain extent, I agree with it. We don't want people to think they have to clean themselves up before they can walk through the doors of a church. Jesus came for sinners, and the church should never become a place where unbelievers feel unwelcome because they don't have their lives together.
But I also believe there needs to be a balance. The church is a gathering of believers in Jesus Christ, and for many of us, it is a place where we feel safe from some of the things we encounter throughout the week. It is where we bring our children, worship together, hear God's Word, and encourage one another in our faith. If we are not careful, in our desire to make everyone feel welcome, we can end up making the church look and feel just like everywhere else.
And that brings me back to marijuana. We don't know whether the person whose smell filled that area of the church was a Christian or an unbeliever, and I don't want to make assumptions about something I don't know. But there are Christians who believe using marijuana is perfectly acceptable, perhaps viewing it as no different from having a glass of wine to relax.
Is Marijuana the Same as Drinking Wine?
I don't believe we can simply compare marijuana to drinking wine. They are different substances with different chemical properties and effects on the mind. And when we are talking about recreational marijuana use, the purpose is to get high. We need to be honest about that rather than treating it as just another way to relax.
Now, I know some will point to wine in the Bible as justification for using substances today. We also need to look at what Scripture actually says about drunkenness and self-control. Wine was used for purposes beyond getting drunk, but Scripture clearly warns against drunkenness and the misuse of strong drink. Proverbs 20:1 (KJV) tells us, “Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.” The Bible calls us to exercise self-control, not to surrender ourselves to something that impairs our judgment. We cannot take the fact that wine is mentioned in Scripture and use it to justify recreational drug use.
So why would we take something specifically to get high and then argue that it is no different from drinking wine? I believe that is a question Christians need to take seriously. Rather than looking for ways to justify what our culture accepts, shouldn't we be asking what honors God and reflects the life He has called us to live?
What Are We Bringing Into the Church?
Maybe the bigger question isn't whether marijuana is legal, socially accepted, or even whether another Christian believes it is okay. The question is why we feel the need to indulge in something whose recreational purpose is to get high in the first place. As Christians, we are called to be different from the world, not because we think we are better than anyone else, but because Christ has called us to live differently.
We cannot use our freedom in Christ as an excuse to do whatever we want. We are called to turn away from sin, exercise self-control, and live in a way that honors the Lord. Just because something has become acceptable in our culture doesn't mean it belongs in the life of a believer. Our culture can subtly influence the way we think about right and wrong, sometimes without our even realizing it. I've written more about this in 5 Subtle Ways World Culture Replaces Christ in Our Thinking .We need to stop measuring our choices by what the world approves of and start measuring them by the Word of God.
And that brings me back to the church. I don't believe we should expect unbelievers to walk through those doors already living like Christians. They need Jesus, and they need a place where they can hear about Him. But those of us who claim to follow Christ should care about our witness and consider how our choices affect others. We should want our lives to reflect Christ, not simply mirror the culture around us.
Maybe before we ask, “Is it okay for me to do this?” we should ask a better question: “Does this honor the Lord I claim to follow?”
I'd Love to Hear Your Thoughts
How do you view recreational marijuana use as a Christian?
What principles do you believe should guide Christians in this area?
Join the conversation in the comments. I'd love to hear your perspective.
