"My focus has been on how smoking marijuana is a practice that is ungodly and unscriptural."
You may focus myopically on what you wish but you can't deny the master
you know that you serve in your support for this unholy war.
What do witchunts by DEAmen have to do with following the gospel of peace?
What is 'godly' about seeking eradication of a gift from God while you
persecute the possessors, propagators or protectors of this gift.
GOD MADE HERB
GOD SAW THAT IT WAS GOOD
GOD GAVE IT TO MAN
Genesis 1:11
Then God said, "Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb that yields seed, and the fruit tree that yields fruit according to its kind, whose seed is in itself, on the earth"; and it was so.
Genesis 1:12
And the earth brought forth grass, the herb that yields seed according to its kind, and the tree that yields fruit, whose seed is in itself according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.
Genesis 1:29
And God said, "See, I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food.
"Can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are of the gift of God?" --Thomas Jefferson: Notes on Virginia, 1782.
"Although that may be one meaning, other meanings are equally valid."
The validity of Thayer's first definition combined with your mindset would
have us at war with all pharmacies and pharmaceutical companies.
What are you? Some new form of extremist christian scientist?
I will address your use of Gal 5 later when I am in front of my Bible resources.
Mathew 15:11 means exactly what it says and is worth repeating.
Matthew 15:11 Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.
Your peace will not be found in the judgement of others as to their consumption of an herb. I should not have left out Matthew 14:4 before.
Matthew 14:2-4
For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs. Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him.
4Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.
"Herb" isn't pot, except in the mind of potheads."
An herb is a plant desired for its medicinal, savory or aromatic qualities.
Indeed it is an herb to 'potheads' but how does dietary law, traditionally a religious matter, become the purview of the federal government in the USA?
"Note that "drunkenness", caused by ingesting alcohol, defiles a man and keeps him out of the kingdom of heaven."
Who is talking about alcohol? Alcohol is a poison and people overdose from
it often. But, then the Lord turned water to wine. Do you want alcohol prohibition back too?
Your "modern" translation is reductionist as is modernism in general.
It denies the aspect of desire inherent in the word 'herb' by reducing it
to the modernist classification of vegetable.
Doubleplusungood comrade!
"Whoever thinks he understands divine scripture or any part of it, but whose interpretation does not build up the twofold love of God and neighbor, has not really understood it." St. Augustine
... the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God' (Romans 8:21)
I'm never sure if you marijuana advocates are joking when you start quoting God's support for misusing his creation.
Genesis 1:29 And God said, "See, I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food.
Clearly God is talking about FOOD to eat, not smoking pot. Nightshade is a deadly poison to man. God didn't create it as food. Marijuana is also a poison to the human body, one which messes with brain chemistry among other things.
Matthew 14:2-4 For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs. Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him.
That verse is actually from Romans 14. Are you under the impression that the bible is talking about marijuana whenever the old King James version refers to vegetables as "herbs"?? If you actually read the whole chapter then you will see that this verse in context is talking about eating practices, not smoking pot. Nearly every other verse in the chapter references food in some form or another.
Your "modern" translation is reductionist as is modernism in general. It denies the aspect of desire inherent in the word 'herb' by reducing it to the modernist classification of vegetable.
I'm totally baffled by this statement in relation to Romans 14.
"Whoever thinks he understands divine scripture or any part of it, but whose interpretation does not build up the twofold love of God and neighbor, has not really understood it." St. Augustine
Adhering and practicing God's law IS love. Preaching and teaching others to adhere to God's law IS loving others. Encouraging people to continue in self destructive behavior (like smoking pot) isn't love toward neighbor, but is a form of hatred toward God and others.
... the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God' (Romans 8:21)
I have no clue why you think this relates to smoking pot, but it's real meaning is that all of God's creation is waiting for his sons and daughters to be glorified.
Rom 8:16 The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God,
Rom 8:17 and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.
Rom 8:18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
Rom 8:19 For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God.