Drugs

Old Testament New Testament Book of Mormon Statements of Belief

Origins of the Topic

Are drugs a sin?

There are a lot of drugs - over-the-counter drugs, prescription drugs, controlled-substance and illegal drugs. Some people say that some illegal drugs are not harmful. Is it possible to determine what the scriptures say about drugs? The scriptures do not mention drugs by name, but they do mention the general act as a sin.

Commentary: This topic is very closely related to the topic on sin and is really one example of sin. Drug abuse follows the example of gluttony (eating to live is not a sin but eating for the pleasure of eating is a sin - a lust of the flesh). Taking drugs for the purpose of medicating an ailment is the purpose of the drug and is not a sin (myrrh was used for healing). Taking a drug for the pleasure of taking the drug (a lust of the flesh) is drug abuse and is a sin.

Old Testament

Drugs are associated with evil and unbelief
Deuteronomy 29:18-20 [18] Lest there should be among you man, or woman, or family, or tribe, whose heart turneth away this day from the Lord our God, to go and serve the gods of these nations; lest there should be among you a root that beareth gall and wormwood; [19] And it come to pass, when he heareth the words of this curse, that he bless himself in his heart, saying, I shall have peace, though I walk in the imagination of mine heart, to add drunkenness to thirst: [20] The Lord will not spare him, but then the anger of the Lord and his jealousy shall smoke against that man, and all the curses that are written in this book shall lie upon him, and the Lord shall blot out his name from under heaven. Commentary: "A root that beareth gall" refers to a poppy (opium - poison). The phrase refers to an evil heart of unbelief. The phrase, "add drunkenness to thirst" refers to indulgence in worldly gratifications. Drugs in the Old Testament are more aligned with poison than a substance that a person voluntarily uses on themselves.

Drugs are associated with evil and unbelief

Deuteronomy 29:18-20
[18] Lest there should be among you man, or woman, or family, or tribe, whose heart turneth away this day from the Lord our God, to go and serve the gods of these nations; lest there should be among you a root that beareth gall and wormwood;
[19] And it come to pass, when he heareth the words of this curse, that he bless himself in his heart, saying, I shall have peace, though I walk in the imagination of mine heart, to add drunkenness to thirst:
[20] The Lord will not spare him, but then the anger of the Lord and his jealousy shall smoke against that man, and all the curses that are written in this book shall lie upon him, and the Lord shall blot out his name from under heaven.

Commentary: "A root that beareth gall" refers to a poppy (opium - poison). The phrase refers to an evil heart of unbelief. The phrase, "add drunkenness to thirst" refers to indulgence in worldly gratifications. Drugs in the Old Testament are more aligned with poison than a substance that a person voluntarily uses on themselves.

New Testament

We are told to cast off the lusts of the flesh
Romans 13:12-14 [12] The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. [13] Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. [14] But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof

People that abuse themselves will not enter into the kingdom of God -
1 Corinthians 6:9-10 [9] 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.

The lusts of the flesh are contrary to the gospel. The list of lusts of the flesh are an example and extend to all lusts of the flesh.
Galatians 5:16-21 [16] This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. [17] For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. [18] But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. [19] Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, [20] Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, [21] Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

The lusts of the flesh are contrary to the gospel. The list of lusts of the flesh are an example and extend to all lusts of the flesh.

Galatians 5:16-21
[16] This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
[17] For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
[18] But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
[19] Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
[20] Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
[21] Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

A person that seeks the lusts of the flesh does not know God
1 John 2:15-16 [15] Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. [16] For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

Book of Mormon

No references
No references to drugs.

Statements of Belief

- No Found or Stated Position

- Consistent with Scripture

- Partially Consistent with Scripture

- Inconsistent with Scripture

Anabaptism

Anglican

Assyrian Church

Church of Christ

Church of Jesus Christ (Restoration Branches)

(Utah) Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints

Community of Christ

Eastern Orthodox

Islam

Jehovah's Witnesses

Judaism

Lutheran

Methodist

Pentecostal

Presbyterian

Roman Catholic

Seventh-Day Adventist Church

Southern Baptist Convention

Anabaptism -

Anglican -

Assyrian Church -

Church of Christ -

Church of Jesus Christ (Restoration Branches) -

(Utah) Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints -

Community of Christ -

Doctrine & Covenants, Section 152:4a-c [a] The Spirit saith further: I, God, have not forsaken you nor have I changed in regard to the great and important work of the Restoration which I have called you to do. Neither have I turned from you my people. This is true in spite of the fact that some of you have turned away from me and my purposes. [b] Some have been led to inactivity, yea and even lulled to sleep by the spirit of carelessness and indifference. Some have been overcome by the grosser sins of the world--the spirit of revelry, wanton living, use of drugs, drinking, and fornication--and have fallen away. And still others have turned away for personal aggrandizement, rejecting my leadership because of trivial offenses. [c] All who have done any of these things are counseled to repent with a contrite heart and heaviness of spirit while there is yet time. You are further admonished to covenant with me anew that you may again be clean men and women, and find peace.

Commentary: The use of drugs is described as a falling away (a sin) which is the reason that is consistent with the scriptures.

Eastern Orthodox -

Islam -

Jehovah's Witnesses -

Judaism -

Lutheran -

Methodist -

Pentecostal -

Presbyterian -

Roman Catholic -

Seventh-Day Adventist Church -

Chemical Use, Abuse, and Dependency: The Seventh-day Adventist Church ... adopted, in practice, a definition of temperance which urged "total abstinence from that which is injurious, and the careful and judicious use of that which is good."...The creation of hundreds of new drugs in laboratories, and the rediscovery and popularization of age-old natural chemicals, such as marijuana and cocaine, have now gravely complicated a once comparatively simple problem and pose an ever-increasing challenge to both the Church and society. In a society which tolerates and even promotes drug use, addiction is a growing menace...The church continues to believe that Paul's instruction in 1 Corinthians 6:19,20 is applicable today, that "Our bodies are the Temple of the Holy Ghost" and we "should glorify God" in our bodies. We belong to God, we are witnesses to His Grace. We must endeavor to be at our best, physically and mentally, in order that we may enjoy His fellowship and glorify His name.

Commentary: Declarations that chemical use, abuse, and dependency are consistent with the scriptures, but the reason why does not reflect the reasons given in the scriptures - that abuse of ones-self is unrighteous (i.e. selfish - a sin).