This edition of VOAT has been intentionally hard on those who think that drugs are an acceptable part of our society. Our hope is that you not only see that illegal drug use is wrong and completely incompatible with true Christianity, but that you also learn what true Christianity is. First, you should know what Christianity is not. It is not just abstaining from drugs and becoming a clean-cut, leave-it-to-Beaver type teenager. Christianity isn’t about making stuck-up brown-nosers. It is a radical life change that affects every part of who you are. When Christ changes someone (and it’s him who does the changing) they no longer want to do wrong. Doing drugs has absolutely no appeal to them. Neither does any other sin. So, saying “no” to drugs doesn’t save you from hell, it’s only Jesus Christ who can save you from that. We know that Christ has saved a person when their attitude toward sin has been changed. They hate sin because God hates sin (sins like drug use and rebelling against authority). Their desires have changed and now they want to obey Christ and live only for him. Examine yourself. Is your only purpose for living to obey Jesus Christ and please him? If not, you should be concerned. The Bible says that “If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth” (1 John 1:7). There is hope, however. You do not have to experience God’s wrath in hell! Jesus absorbed the wrath of his own Father for sinners so that they wouldn’t have to. That sacrifice is sufficient to save you! If you desire a life dedicated to the fame of God rather than your own fame, it is being offered to you. In this life you will join the church of God in making Jesus Christ known. To you, the benefit of eternal life would far outweigh temporary pleasures (like those offered through drugs). If you want this life and these desires pray and ask God for them. Join his church in making him famous. You can’t do it alone. Contact us if you would like to find a church and begin a life lived not for yourself, but for Christ. It’s true life; it’s eternal life!
What it’s Like: Confessions of a Converted Pothead Monday, Feb 25 2008
Drugs 12:57 am
What were your reasons for taking drugs in the first place? “Well it was very new and exciting to me, I never had experienced drugs before and it seemed kind of exciting. My friends pressured me to an extent, the peer pressure was there but it wasn’t very extreme.”
Did you ever think you were going to get addicted? “To be honest it never really crossed my mind, I was never really thinking about the future or consequences when I was smoking pot. I basically was just living for the moment.”
What was your daily life like while you used illegal substances? “First off I blew a lot of cash! I spent all my money on drugs and alcohol. Also, I took month breaks were I wouldn’t do or abuse weed I just recuperated and got my funds back up. My daily life, though, consisted of smoking, hanging with friends, listening to music, working, smoking on the breaks, getting off work smoking again, and then goin and getting drunk with my friends. All I ever really did was work my butt off for cash and then just going and blowing it on stupid things.”
What were the effects of your drug use? “The main problem for me was the constant consumption of cash; every little thing I did was a constant cash burner.”
Was the process of quitting marijuana difficult? “To be honest, no. I have to thank God for granting me the strength and ability to quit cold turkey. When I quit, my life flipped and all these new things just kind of popped into place.”
This former pot-head is now a Christian. He has dedicated his life to bringing glory to God and serving the church. He has absolutely no desire to go back to his old ways because he recognizes that they were only leading him to his death, both physical and spiritual.
Having a Good Time Monday, Feb 25 2008
Drugs 12:23 am
Why would someone want to roll up and inhale a dried leaf that is on fire? Why would someone enjoy crushing up a pill and stuffing it up their nose? Let’s discuss some of the motivations behind getting high: Some kid says that it’s fun and okay; To be cool; To be accepted; To fit in and not look like a dork; To hang with the popular kids; To get away from troubles; To rebel against parents; Don’t want to be made fun of. These are just a few of the reasons that teenagers give in and do drugs. As you’ve probably guessed, these motives come from “peer pressure”. No matter who it is, everyone suffers from peer pressure. But would you really consider doing drugs because some kid told you to? Along with social acceptance and the perception of being “in”, when doing drugs of any kind, you can get a delightful assortment of bodily enhancements such as: Memory loss at 25; The opportunity of losing a lung; Convulsions; Looking two decades older than your age; An increased heart rate; Mood swings; Paranoia (“Am I falling out of this chair?”); Exhaustion and weakness; Seizures; Cancer; and sometimes death (Talk about planning for the future….) If this isn’t enough, throw in some social graces including: Anxiety; Depression; School and work drop-outs; Becoming Homeless; Family and friend abandonment(No one wants to be around a druggie!); Theft; and possibly murder, caused by an uncontrollable addiction. Does that sound like a good life? Will drugs really make your life better? All because you want to be accepted and thought “cool”. Think about it…..
