Pharmakeia Part 1 - Drug Abuse Today

Galatians 5:19-21 “The acts of the sinful nature (the works of the flesh) are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.”

I wrote Pastor Tracy: “Could you write your thoughts on Christians & illegal recreational drug use and abuse. This is such a huge and "live" issue among Christian youth and adults today, which I'd like to have you write your biblical thoughts on. I think that Christians need to address this issue.” Here is his response …

Drug abuse in our culture is out of control.  We are surrounded by illegal drug use, prescription drug abuse, activity involving what we call “illicit” drugs or “recreational” drugs, etc., etc.  Adults, youth, and even children are “experimenting” with very dangerous stuff.  For a moment, let’s “be transformed by the renewing of minds” by the Word of God. Some Bible-based thoughts:

 

1. Consider Galatians 5:20 which states that one of the works of the flesh is “witchcraft”.  The Greek word for witchcraft is “pharmakeia”, where we get our English word “pharmacy”.  The definition involves “the use of drugs” and “poisoning”.  Drug abuse, not proper and wise use of doctor-prescribed medications, is akin to witchcraft!  Why and how?  Think about it.  The purpose of witchcraft is to “cast a spell” on someone to bring about the detrimental alteration of their life which leads to their destruction.  That’s exactly what drug abuse does. The purpose of witchcraft is also to “control” a life.  A drug abuser and ultimately a drug addict is certainly “controlled” by the drug, many times ruining their life, their marriage, their family, etc. and sometimes leading to death.  Drug abuse abuses and controls the person.  DUI even stands for:  Driving “under the influence”! 

2 Timothy 3:1-5 “But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.”

2.  So why do so many people “experiment” with and then use “recreationally” something that can destroy their lives?  The answer, I believe, is found in 2 Timothy 3:4.  God in His Word clearly states that people can and do become “lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God”.  Most people, young and old, abuse drugs because it makes them “feel good”.  The “high” takes the place of the “Most High”!  People feel down so they want to feel “up”.  Instead of turning to God, His Word, His Spirit, and His Son; they turn to what the world, and the god of this world, Satan, has to offer.  Drug abuse is simply one of the “pleasures” of this world, and sometimes people choose to be “lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God”.

Genesis 3:1-6 Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’” “You will not surely die,” the serpent said to the woman. “For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.

3.  One last thought.  Sometimes drugs are called “recreational” drugs.  Think about it and look at the word.  “Recreational” is from the words “re” and “create”.  Drug abuse alters one’s perception of life.  Drug abuse attempts to “re-create” life.  Could it be, a drug abuser is not satisfied with and/or un-thankful for the life the Creator Himself has given him and wants his/her own life the way he/she wants it.  Wanting to “re-create” their life, they use “recreational” drugs.  Wow, the very essence of wanting to “re-create” one’s life is clearly seen in Genesis 3:1-6 in the Bible truth of the fall of man!  The use of “re-creational” drugs is clearly based in deciding to “be my own god”.  It is a decision to be a god, a “re-creator” of life itself.

Tracy Hearnsberger – May 29, 2012

Senior Pastor @ Little Church in the Pines – Bass Lake, California
Listen to his Sermons @ the Church Web Address : http://TLCIP.multiply.com


In Christ, Brian
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