Can you have Jesus and your Weed?

The Sin of Intoxication and your Walk with Christ.

I’ve never identified Elton John as an agent of morality, but even he sees the problem. He recently said,

"I maintain that [marijuana is] addictive. It leads to other drugs. And when you're stoned—and I've been stoned—you don't think normally. Legalizing marijuana in America and Canada is one of the greatest mistakes of all time."¹

As for myself, growing up with “Cheech and Chong”, and “Fast Times at Ridgemont High”, my generation is not unaware of the popularity and widespread use of marijuana. Unfortunately, with the passing of new laws opening up the free access to the drug—under the guise of medicinal use—this current generation is left stoned out of their minds with even stronger versions than we knew. Kevin Sabet, a former advisor at the Office of National Drug Control Policy said, “Legalization has led to a commercial industry promoting highly potent products, increasing youth access, and downplaying the risks. This is not the marijuana of the past; it's a new, more dangerous product."² Drug policymakers affirm, today’s weed is “four to five times more powerful than the marijuana of the 1970s, ’80s, or ’90s." The question for a believer is this: is this compatible with my new life in Christ? “What is the problem with me getting high?” “Can’t I have Jesus and my weed?”

Does the Bible Condemn Marijuana?

The primary Greek word for drunkenness in the New Testament is "μέθη" (methē—yes its where we get our word for meth!), which appears in passages such as Galatians 5:21 ("envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these...") and Ephesians 5:18 ("And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit"). The word "methē" refers to a state of intoxication, where one's mental and physical faculties are impaired, leading to varying loss of self-control and sound judgment. Biblically, drunkenness is consistently condemned as reckless behavior that leads to more reckless behavior (Proverbs 23:29-35), hinders spiritual alertness (1 Peter 5:8), and is listed among sins that identify false converts, and unbelievers. (1 Corinthians 6:10). Applying this understanding to modern marijuana use, we see a direct parallel: like alcohol, THC (the psychoactive compound in marijuana) alters perception, slows reaction times, impairs judgment, and leads to a loss of self-control.³ Since the Bible calls Christians to sobriety (1 Thessalonians 5:6-8), any substance that intoxicates —whether alcohol, marijuana, or other drugs— has enormous dangers that go beyond the chemical effects on the body. These are sinful things that affect your soul.

The Bible consistently warns against the dangers of intoxication and teaches that it breeds poor judgment, sinful behavior, and spiritual destruction. Ephesians 5:18 states, "And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit." Here, intoxication is categorized as sinful recklessness contrasted with being filled with the Holy Spirit (i.e. influenced), emphasizing that a Christian is to be led by God, and under the the influence of the Holy Spirit, not led astray by substances that impair judgment.

Proverbs 23:29-35 illustrates how intoxicating substances bring pain, confusion, and addiction rather than wisdom and godliness: "Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaining? Who has wounds without cause? Who has redness of eyes? Those who tarry long over wine; those who go to try mixed wine... In the end, it bites like a serpent and stings like an adder." Solomon saw the destructive consequences of intoxicating substances, and under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, his warning is a sober reminder to those holding their roach clip, or THC-infused “E-hookah”.

There is a consistency in the teaching from the Bible that also links intoxication with a loss of self-control, which is a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). Isaiah 5:11 warns, "Woe to those who rise early in the morning, that they may run after strong drink, who tarry late into the evening as wine inflames them!" Proverbs 20:1 states, "Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise." There is no alternative interpretation—intoxication leads to foolishness, strife, and loss of control. I’m afraid our generation has not heard or believed the words of Christ: In Luke 21:34, Jesus warns, "But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap." Weed is a trap leaving people habitually dulled, and spiritually unprepared for Christ's return.

Maybe the more sobering commentary is to hear the words of the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 6:10, where he lists drunkards among those who "will not inherit the kingdom of God." Habitual intoxication identifies you as being without Christ’s redemptive work. For the believer it is something to look at seriously, 1 Peter 5:8 commands believers to be "sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour." Intoxication dulls a Christian's spiritual alertness and opens them up to Satan’s destructive work. No…weed is not for the believer.

Biblical Teachers on Intoxication

Christian theologians have historically and universally condemned the sinfulness of intoxication. John MacArthur (The MacArthur Bible Commentary) reminds us:

"Drunkenness, whether from alcohol or drugs, is not merely unwise but sinful. The believer is commanded to be controlled by the Spirit, not substances that dull the mind and lead to moral failure."

This timeless problem has been addressed by every generation, Charles Spurgeon (Lectures to My Students) said in the late 1800’s:

"Anything that removes the believer from his proper state of sober-mindedness is an enemy to his soul. The man of God should abhor all that deadens his faculties and makes him less fit for prayer and holy service."

Believer, hear, and beware…

But lest we think this view is merely the effect of the temperance movement from generations past, we hear the church fathers speak clearly:

Clement of Alexandria (died c. 215): In his work The Instructor, Clement advises:

"Let us, then, flee as far as possible from wine, shunning it as we would the danger of fire."⁴

He further notes that "the soul itself is wisest and best when dry."

John Chrysostom (died c. 407): In his Homily on 1 Timothy 3:8-10, Chrysostom remarks:

"For wine produces disorder of mind, and where it does not cause drunkenness, it destroys the energies and relaxes the firmness of the soul."⁵

Application for Christians Today

1. Dump the weed (and other intoxicants)– It is sin.
   Galatians 5:19-21 – "Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God."

2. Flee temptation – Don’t put yourself in situations where this is being normalized.
   1 Thessalonians 5:22 – "Abstain from every form of evil."

3. Be filled with the Spirit – The only ‘high’ we should seek is the joy of the Lord. Fill your time with the things that will build your spiritual strength.
   Ephesians 5:18 – "And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit."

4. Confess your sins to God, and to other believers who can walk with you through it.
   James 5:16 – "Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working."

Conclusion

The Bible is clear: intoxication is a sin, and wisdom calls for complete sobriety. No Christian should allow any substance—whether alcohol, marijuana, or any other drug—to take control over their affections or minds. Instead, we are called to live sober, Spirit-filled lives that glorify God. You can’t have Jesus and your weed.

So, hear me if you are struggling with addiction, whether to alcohol, marijuana, or any other substance: you are not alone, and there is hope in Christ. The enemy wants you to believe that you are trapped, that change is impossible, and this is just who you are, but God's Word tells a different story. "If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed" (John 8:36). Memorize and meditate on this!!! Jesus Christ has the power to break every chain and restore everything that has been broken in you.

You are deeply loved by God, and He calls you not to a life of sin and shame, but to a life of victory. "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28). No matter how many times you have fallen, His grace is greater. Cling to His promises, fill your mind with His truth, and trust that "He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ" (Philippians 1:6). You are loved, and by God's power, you can overcome. Keep fighting—your story is not over yet. But kow this: You cannot have Jesus AND your weed.

1. https://time.com/7201151/icon-of-the-year-2024-elton-john

2. https://openparliament.ca/committees/health/42-1/65/dr-kevin-sabet-1

3. https://www.hazeldenbettyford.org/addiction/marijuana-symptoms

4. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_views_on_alcohol

5. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_views_on_alcohol