free forum make a forum for free message boards free forum hosting free phpbb forum phpbb create free forum

iris89 · Site Admin Joined: 05 Oct 2011 Posts: 4397

HERE IS VOL 611B – COMBINATION OF [1] THE SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY AND A VIDEO ON AN INTRODUCTION TO 2 CHRONICLES, [2] RECREATIONAL DRUG USAGE AND IMMODERATION IN USE OF ALCOHOL SIGNS OF A SICK SOCIETY

ALSO, VIDEO ON WAS THE EARTH CREATED, :CLICK OR POST IN ADDRESS:
https://www.jw.org/en/library/videos/#en/mediaitems/VODBibleTeachings/pub-ebtv_1_VIDEO

[1] SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY [611B]

For brass I will bring gold, and for iron I will bring silver, and for wood brass, and for stones iron: I will also make thy officers peace, and thine exactors righteousness. Isaiah 60:17, [authorized King James Bible; AV]

King Solomon was very wealthy as shown at 1 Kings 10:21, [AV] “And all king Solomon’s drinking vessels were of gold, and all the vessels of the house of the forest of Lebanon were of pure gold; none were of silver: it was nothing accounted of in the days of Solomon.” However, the Apostle Peter showed that Almighty God (YHWH) was not concerned with wealth, but having genuine gifts in men for the care of his flock as stated at 1 Peter 5:2, [AV] “Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;” This same thought was illuminated by the Prophet Isaiah centuries earlier at Isaiah 1:26, [AV] “Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;” clearly show that God was interested in His flock and not the wealth of individuals.

VIEW THE SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY AND A VIDEO ON AN INTRODUCTION TO 2 CHRONICLES, CLICK OR POST IN ADDRESS: https://www.jw.org/en/library/videos/books-of-bible-intros/book-of-2-chronicles/

[2] RECREATIONAL DRUG USAGE AND IMMODERATION IN USE OF ALCOHOL SIGNS OF A SICK SOCIETY

INTRODUCTION:

Use of narcotic type drugs for recreational use and alcohol used in an effort to escape from reality, i.e., the problems of life, to get a dreamy feeling, or a sense of well-being or of elation is a sign of a sick society. This article will deal with the wrongs of this type of use, but will NOT deal with substances that are used for medically necessary conditions.

Drugs as herein discussed are nonfood, mood-altering substances that are not being used for medical purposes. Alcohol usage will deal with the immoderate use of alcohol.

NARCOTIC DRUGS NOT SPECIFICALLY MENTIONED IN THE BIBLE:

The Bible does not specifically mention drugs per say; however, although it does not name such substances as heroin, cocaine, LSD, PCP [angel dust], marijuana, and tobacco. But it does provide the guidelines so that we can know what to do and what to avoid in order to please the true God (YHWH) of Abraham, Isaac, and Ishmael, creator of all there is. Similarly, the Bible does not say anything about the use of guns to kill someone, but it does forbid murder.

Now let's reason a little with respect Luke 10:25-27, "And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? 26 He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou? 27 And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself." (Authorized King James Bible; AV). Now is a person really loving the true God (YHWH) of Abraham, Isaac, and Ishmael, creator of all there is, with their whole heart and with their whole soul and with your whole strength and mind if he makes a practice of things that needlessly shorten his life and cause his mind to be blurred? Is he showing love for his neighbor if he steals from others to support his drug habit?

Also, consider 2 Corinthians 7:1, "Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God." (AV). Now can we expect to have the true God (YHWH) of Abraham, Isaac, and Ishmael, creator of all there is, approval if we deliberately do things that defile our bodies?

Also, consider Titus 2:11-12, "For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;" (AV). Now is the use of drugs that impair one's judgment or that cause a person to lose self=control in harmony with that counsel?

Narcotic drugs include everything from the common usage of tobacco to hard-core drugs. Now let's first look at the usage of tobacco and its detrimental effects on humans.

TOBACCO USAGE A SCOURGE ON MANKIND:

Now let's get back to narcotics that many Islamic governments and none Islamic governments permit, but are very harmful to the health. Specifically, I am speaking about the use of tobacco for recreational purposes. Now the subject of this thread is wrongful use of drugs, so consider the following with respect the most commonly used drug of all, tobacco.

Acts 17:24-27 says, "God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; 25 Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; 26 And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; 27 That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:" (Authorized King James Bible; AV). Now, per Science 80, <<<"The evidence that cigarettes shorten life is overwhelming; the causal connection is firmly established as any in medicine"[source - Science 80, September/October, page 42.]>>>.

Statistics show that in the United States, alone, the annual death toll from smoking is over 300,000 individuals; in Britain the annual death toll is over 50,000, and the same is true for Canada. The Journal [Toronto] says, <<<"More than one million people die annually because of smoking-related disease and the Third World, which accounts for 52% of world tobacco consumption, is making up a rapidly increasing proportion of these deaths."[Source - The Journal (Toronto), September 1, 1983, page 16.]>>>.

In fact, the former U.S. Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare, Joseph Califano, said: <<<"Today there can be no doubt that smoking is truly slow-motion suicide."[source - Scholastic Science World, March 20, 1980, page 13]>>>.

Now it is evident that committing suicide by slow-motion is no more approved of by the true God (YHWH) of Abraham, Isaac, and Ishmael, creator of all there is, than is suicide by becoming human bombs as some do in Islam. Romans 12:1 says, "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service." (Authorized King James Bible; AV).

The former surgeon general of the U.S., C. Everett Koop, said: <<<"Cigharette smoking is clearly identified as the chief preventable cause of death in our society."[source - The New York Times, February 23, 1982, Page A1]. The World Book Encyclopedia said, <<<"Medical studies show that...the average life expectancy of a smoker is three to four years less than that of a nonsmoker. The life expectancy of a heavy smoker-a person who smokes two or more packages of cigarettes a day-may be as much as eight years shorter than that of a nonsmoker."[source - The World Book Encyclopedia, 1984, Vol. 17, page 430.]>>>. Now is it proper for a person to present his life for service to the true God (YHWH) of Abraham, Isaac, and Ishmael, creator of all there is, and then slowly to destroy that life?

One university said, <<<"Smoking is so devastating, especially to the heart and lungs, that the other aspects of preventive medicine become comparatively insignificant if the person smokes." [source - University of Southern California News Service, February 18, 1982.]>>>. And Dr. H. Mahler, said, <<<"Smoking is probably the largest single preventable cause of ill health in the world."[source - Dr. H. Mahler, director general of the World Health Organization, in "World Health," February/March 1980, page 3.]>>>. Now, is it consistent for a person to present himself to the true God (YHWH) of Abraham, Isaac, and Ishmael, creator of all there is, for sacred service and then deliberately to ruin his health?

Let's face it, smoking is a violation of the divine requirement that we love our neighbor as pointed out by James 2:8, "If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:" (Authorized King James Bible; AV). How so? <<<"A recent study...revealed that the nonsmoking wives of men who smoke die on the average four years younger than women whose husbands are also nonsmokers."[source - The New York Times, November 22, 1978, page C5]>>>. Also, Family Health said, <<<"Smoking during pregnancy can cause congenital malformations so severe that either the fetus dies, or the infant does shortly after birth."[source - Family Health, May 1979, page 8]>>>. Thus, smoking constitutes unloving treatment of family members and others and is clear evidence that a person is not acting as a genuine (true) Christian, see 1 Timothy 5:8, "But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel." (AV).

<<<"Studies have shown that since the average smoker actively smokes his/her cigarette for only a small portion of the time it is lit, a nonsmoker may actually be forced against his/her will to breathe almost as much carbon monoxide, tar, and nicotine as the active smoker sitting next to him." [source - Today's Health, April 1972, page 39]>>>. Thus, a person who is thus unloving toward his fellowman does not give evidence of loving the true God (YHWH) of Abraham, Isaac, and Ishmael, creator of all there is, either.

HARD-CORE DRUG USE:

let's look at the facts with respect right uses of hard-core narcotic type drugs, but first let's consider 2 Timothy 3:1-5, "This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away." (Authorized King James Bible; AV). Clearly the inspired word of the true God (YHWH) of Abraham, Isaac, and Ishmael, creator of all there is, the Bible, warns against craving pleasure to such an extreme that we put it ahead of applying the righteous principles of the inspired word of the true God (YHWH) of Abraham, Isaac, and Ishmael, creator of all there is, the Bible, and the gaining of his approval.

Some narcotics bring relief from pain and can produce a feeling of contentment, but they are also addictive and can have very severe results such as death from an overdose or long term health effects. Also, sniffing of some solvents and other chemicals can produce a feeling of excitement, but it can also cause severe health problems so their use should NOT be indulged in for just feeling content or for so called recreational use.

However, these powerful drugs, narcotics, have a proper use also. This use is in the treatment of patients with severe pain under the strict control of a qualified medical professional. Properly used for medically legitimate purposes they can be very beneficial to man and makes one think of what King Solomon said at Ecclesiastes 3:1, "To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:" (Authorized King James Bible; AV).

This dual use for narcotics, one very bad, and one very useful, begs the question with respect to why did the true God (YHWH) of Abraham, Isaac, and Ishmael, creator of all there is, make plants from which drugs are derived. It is because he intended mankind to use them for his benefit and not his detriment. The true God (YHWH) of Abraham, Isaac, and Ishmael, creator of all there is, did not intend for man to abuse them, but to use them for proper and beneficial uses. It is true of both wine and Marijuana for example. Marijuana is made from the dried leaves and flowering tops of the hemp plant, but this plant also provides useful fibers for making rope and cloth. Same is true of tobacco leaves, which many abuse by smoking them for their narcotic effect, a wrong purpose, but the leaves of this plant can also be used for making disinfectants and insecticides. This is also with respect many of earth's resources such as sodium nitrate that can be used for making bombs to kill other humans or for mining and fertilizer. Even weeds are beneficial in preventing erosion and providing mulch when soil is not under cultivation.

DECEPTION WITH RESPECT MARIJUANA:

Some falsely say marijuana is harmless, but let's investigate what doctors have to say on the subject. David Powelson, M.D., formerly chief of psychiatry, Cowell Hospital, University of California at Berkeley, at one time advocated legalizing the use of marijuana, but later, after more evidence was available wrote,
<<<"I now believe that marijuana is the most dangerous drug we must contend with:1. Its early use is beguiling. The user is given an illusion of feeling good; he cannot sense the deterioration of his mental and physiological processes. 2. Its continued use leads to delusional thinking. After one to three years of continuous use, the pathological forms of thinking begin to take over the thought process." [source - Executive Health Report, October 1977, page 8]>>>.

Dr. Robert L. DuPont, former director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse in the United States, who in the past was quoted as minimizing danger from marijuana, more recently stated:
<<<"The real issue is the health danger posed by this epidemic [of marijuana use by the younger generation], danger of at least two kinds. One is the effects of the intoxication, ranging from the hazardous impact on driving to caring less about everything [including one's creator]. The other area is purely physical. Here the concerns range from the regular occurrence of chronic bronchitis among marijuana users to the very real possibilities of harmful hormonal effects, effects on the immune system and possibly even cancer." [source - Montreal Gazette, March 22, 1979, page 9]>>>.

Science Digest says,
<<<"Regular marijuana puffing may, in the long run, widen the gaps between nerve endings in the brain that are necessary for such vital functions as memory, emotion and behavior. In order for nerves to perform their functions, they must communicalt between themselves." [Then, commenting on the results of animal test, the article continues: "The most marked effects occurred in the septal region, associated with emotions: the hippocampus, concerned with memory formation; and the amygdala, responsible for certain behavioral functions." [source - Science Digest, March 1981, page 104.]>>>

IMMODERATE USE OF ALCOHOL:

Now let's deal with alcohol which is a different case from illegal drugs. Alcohol is a food and is metabolized by the body to provide energy; the end products are disposed of by the body. However, a psychopharmacologist said: <<<"Marijuana is a very potent drug, and the biggest mistake we make is comparing it to alcohol." "Molecule for molecule, THC [in marijuana] is 10,000 times stronger than alcohol in its ability to produce mild intoxication...THC is removed slowly from the body, and many months are required to recover from its effects." [source - Execitove Jea;tj Re[prt. Pctpber 1077, page 3]>>>.

The true God (YHWH) of Abraham, Isaac, and Ishmael, creator of all there is, knows how we are constructed, and his inspired word, the Bible, permits moderate use of alcoholic beverages per 1 Timothy 5:23, "Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake and thine often infirmities." (AV); and Psalms 104:15, "And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengtheneth man's heart." (AV). But he also strongly condemns immoderate consumption of alcohol, just as he condemns gluttony per Proverbs 23:20-21, "Be not among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh: 21 For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags." (AV); and 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, "Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God." (AV).

But some take an extreme ridicules view against alcohol that defies common sense. One individual said the following, <<<"Actually there are problems in hospitals today!! Muslims are refusing to use the hand-cleaner at patient's bedsides.

It has alcohol in it, so they say it is against their religion to use it.

Hand-washing is so important in disease control.">>>.

This situation, absurd and beyond reason actually occurred in a medical facility in Dearborn, Michigan. It clearly shows that some can not draw the distinction about the abuse of alcohol such as getting drunk from its immoderate use, and its correct use in moderation and for necessary medical reasons. So absurd religious views serve only to confuse the issue and not to solve the real problem, the immoderate use of alcohol.

CONCLUSION:

Use of illegal drugs for so called recreational usage by genuine (true) Christians is prohibited as the inspired word of the true God (YHWH) of Abraham, Isaac, and Ishmael, creator of all there is, the Bible, clearly show that works of the flesh including drug usage are not for genuine (true) Christians at Galatians 5:19-21, "Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these: fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousies, wraths, factions, divisions, parties, 21 envyings, drunkenness, revellings, and such like; of which I forewarn you, even as I did forewarn you, that they who practise such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God." (American Standard Version; ASV). An Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words by W.E. Vine, in commenting on the word "phar-ma-kia", is 'practice of spiritism' or 'druggery.' And Vine says, <<<"In socery, the use of drug, whether simple or potent, was generally accompanied by incantations and appeals to occult powers, with provision of various charms, amulets, etc., professedly designed to keep the applicant or patient from the attention and power of deamons, but actually to impress the applicant with the mysterious resources and powers of the sorcerer"[source - An Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words by W.E. Vine, Vol. IV, pages 51-52, London 1940] >>>.

Similarly today, many who use drugs are involved in spiritistic practices or associate with those who are, because of a blank mind or one that experiences hallucinations is easy prey to the demons, this danger is highlighted at Luke 11:24-26, "When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out. 25 And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished. 26 Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first." (AV).

Remember that a person's life and breath are in all things as brought out in Acts 17:24-25, "God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; 25 Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;" (AV). This fact was obviously forgotten by the Tobacco/Marijuana smoking Sunnis that attacked the Amani"s Restaurant in Dearborn, Michigan last week and the many youths in apostate (counterfeit) so called Christian groups that use drugs.

The inspired word of the true God (YHWH) of Abraham, Isaac, and Ishmael, creator of all there is, the Bible, does NOT prohibit drinking of alcohol if done in moderation, but it does definitely prohibit drunkenness which is over indulging.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE BIBLE AND RELIGION – BOTH TRUE AND FALSE – AT WWW.JW.ORG

Free Forum