Tag Archives: spiritual discernment

Is Marijuana Spiritually Harmful?

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Someone recently asked, “Do you think marijuana is harmful spiritually?” Yes, marijuana can be spiritually harmful—especially for believers who seek to live under the influence of the Holy Spirit and maintain a clear mind for godly thinking and decision-making. While Scripture doesn’t mention marijuana specifically, biblical principles give us solid footing for evaluating its spiritual impact. Discernment in areas not directly addressed in Scripture requires us to align our choices with God’s revealed will for righteousness and spiritual alertness (Rom 12:1-2).

First, believers are called to be sober-minded and self-controlled (2 Tim 4:5; 1 Pet 1:13; 5:8). The Greek word nēphō (νήφω), often translated “sober,” literally means “to be free from every form of mental and spiritual ‘drunkenness’, from excess, passion, rashness, confusion—be well-balanced, self-controlled, sober” (BDAG, 672). The idea is about being spiritually and mentally clear, balanced, and in full control of one’s mental faculties. Marijuana, by design, alters perception, dulls mental clarity, and can impair judgment—directly opposing this command. To compromise sobriety, even recreationally, opens the door to spiritual vulnerability and poor decision-making.

Second, we are commanded to be filled with the Spirit, not controlled by any foreign substance (Eph 5:18). The contrast Paul makes between being drunk and being Spirit-filled implies that anything that dulls or displaces spiritual sensitivity—even temporarily—puts the believer at risk of quenching the Spirit’s influence. To be clear, the Bible does not prohibit drinking alcohol, but it does condemn drunkenness. Drunkenness impairs cognitive function and dulls spiritual perceptivity, making it harder to discern truth, respond to conviction, or walk in step with the Holy Spirit.

Third, our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 6:19-20). This principle calls us to honor God with our bodies, including our minds. Willfully impairing the mind for recreational purposes—even with something that’s legalized—can lead to carnal living and hinder spiritual growth. Respect for God’s indwelling presence should drive us to guard what we allow into both our bodies and our thought life.

Additionally, marijuana use can become a gateway to fleshly habits, feeding the sin nature’s desire for escapism, laziness, or emotional avoidance (Gal 5:16-21). This was true for me back in the 80’s when I used marijuana. While a believer doesn’t lose salvation for falling into such behaviors (John 10:28-29), spiritual vitality and fruitfulness are certainly diminished (1 Cor 3:1-3, 12-15). Carnality may satisfy the flesh for a time, but it always comes at the cost of spiritual momentum and eternal reward.

That said, there may be legitimate medical uses under proper supervision. But even then, caution is wise: anything that dominates your thinking or becomes a coping mechanism apart from the Lord can quickly become a spiritual crutch—or an idol. Christ must remain our ultimate source of strength, peace, and restoration, not any chemical substitute.

So, is marijuana spiritually harmful? For the Christian desiring to walk closely with God, yes—it presents a real danger to mental clarity, spiritual responsiveness, and godly testimony. As Paul put it, “All things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable… I will not be mastered by anything” (1 Cor 6:12). If we truly long to walk in the light and please the Lord, we must be vigilant to avoid anything that clouds our judgment or compromises our devotion.

Steven R. Cook, D.Min., M.Div., B.Sc.

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Walk in Truth and Wait for Justice

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As recipients of God’s persistent grace, we are mandated to reflect His character, not react according to our old sin nature. This includes how we handle our enemies—those who hate us, attack us, and slander us. The Lord Jesus Christ said, “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you” (Luke 6:27-28; cf. Matt 5:43-48). Elsewhere it is written, “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse” (Rom 12:14). Peter echoed the same command: “Do not return evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead” (1 Pet 3:9a). No excuses. No rationalizations. Revenge, retaliation, or payback are all off-limits. We are told, “Never pay back evil for evil to anyone…Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord” (Rom 12:17, 19). God sees everything and is “the Judge of all the earth” (Gen 18:25), and He “is a God who judges on earth!” (Psa 58:11). Sure, we want justice—that’s normal—but we must stay out of His courtroom. We must trust the Lord to administer justice in His time and in His way. And He will, for “it is only just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you” (2 Th 1:6). Meanwhile, our marching orders are non-negotiable: “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Rom 12:21). We are to stick with God’s plan and walk by faith and not feelings.

Loving our enemies doesn’t mean walking around with a target painted on our backs. God commands us to operate in grace and truth, but He also calls us to use sanctified reasoning. Jesus said, “be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves” (Matt 10:16b). Even the Lord Jesus Christ, who embodied perfect love, avoided unnecessary conflict. Twice we are told that Jesus “hid Himself” from hostile crowds who sought to harm Him (John 8:59; 12:36). His withdrawal was not based on fear but on divine discernment. On other occasions, Jesus defended Himself verbally, silencing His critics with truth and exposing their hypocrisy (Matt 22:15-45), so that afterward, “no one dared to question Him anymore” (Matt 22:46b). Paul followed the same pattern as Jesus. Sometimes he slipped away quietly, as when he evaded a plot against his life in Damascus (Acts 9:23-25). At other times, he stood his ground. He leveraged his Roman citizenship to protect himself from illegal abuse (Acts 22:25-29) and ultimately appealed to Caesar when corrupt officials refused him justice (Acts 25:10-11). Trusting God’s justice never meant surrendering good judgment. Yet even in these situations, Paul, like Jesus, refused to hate his enemies or take personal revenge.

Take Alexander the coppersmith as an example. Paul wrote, “Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm; the Lord will repay him according to his deeds” (2 Tim 4:14). Paul remembered his encounter with a hateful man, but he did not carry hatred; rather, he turned Alexander over to the Supreme Court of heaven and, at the same time, wisely warned Timothy, “Be on guard against him yourself, for he vigorously opposed our teaching” (2 Tim 4:15). Love warns others of potential danger in order to help them avoid unnecessary harm.

In summary, we live in a fallen world filled with hostility and injustice, and God calls us to a higher standard—one grounded in His persistent grace and governed by His perfect justice. We are never to repay evil for evil, nor allow hatred to fester in our hearts. Instead, we are commanded to love, bless, and pray for our enemies, trusting the Lord to settle all accounts in His time (Luke 6:27-28; Rom 12:17-21). However, biblical love is not synonymous with passivity or gullibility. Like Jesus and Paul, we must walk wisely, discerning when to avoid conflict (John 8:59; 12:36; Acts 9:23-25), and when to take lawful, prudent steps to protect ourselves (Matt 22:15-45; Acts 22:25-29). Love does not erase common sense; it refines it. We are called to be both gracious and strategic, forgiving without becoming fools, praying without abandoning prudence, and standing firm without being overcome by bitterness. As we follow the example of Christ, who is “full of grace and truth” (John 1:14), we live as lights in a dark world, representing the One who loved us when we were yet His enemies (Rom 5:8). Let us therefore love well, walk wisely, and leave the matters of justice to the only One perfectly qualified to judge (Gen 18:25; Psa 58:11; Rom 12:17, 19).

Dr. Steven R. Cook

If this article has enriched your understanding and walk with Christ, and you feel led to support my ministry, your generosity is greatly appreciated. Your gifts enable me to continue sharing the gospel of grace and providing in-depth biblical teachings. Thank you for partnering with me in this mission.

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Being the Good Boss

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Good BossGood character is never automatic but is consciously developed over many years through right learning and living amidst trials, storms, and conflicts. It is an inescapable truth that strong character—like a strong body—is forged through training and testing. As the adage goes, “No pain, no gain.” If we are willing, we can view life’s trials as opportunities to make us better rather than bitter. We can voluntarily submit ourselves to the furnace of affliction, which burns away the dross of weak character and cultivates those golden qualities that reflect the highest and best in humanity. Over time, we may even learn to smile at the storm, knowing the One who sends it and trusting that it comes with a purpose—one that includes developing the good character that could not mature by any other means.

But there are other forces at work in the world—other value systems that are harmful and may lead me down destructive paths. Any dead fish can float downstream with the current, but it takes someone who is alive and strong to swim against it. I want to be that person. I want to be the kind of person who desires to walk with God daily and who helps and encourages others to do the same. God has granted me the privilege of leadership in my marriage, in Bible class, and as a supervisor at work. I take these responsibilities very seriously because I understand that who I am and how I live influences the thoughts and actions of others. The following is a list of good character qualities I aspire to cultivate, though it is by no means exhaustive. I see a good leader as one who:

  1. Submits to God. “Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” (Jam 4:7). ”I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship” (Rom 12:1).
  2. Resists conformity to the world. “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect” (Rom 12:2).
  3. Lives by Faith. “But My righteous one will live by faith; and if he draws back, I have no pleasure in him” (Heb 10:38). “And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him” (Heb 11:6).
  4. Possesses integrity. God said of king David, “So he shepherded them according to the integrity of his heart, and guided them with his skillful hands” (Psa 78:72). “He who walks in integrity walks securely, but he who perverts his ways will be found out” (Prov 10:9). Having integrity means a person is not artificial, but is genuine in character, honest in speech and faithful to promises.
  5. Does not slander others. “The Lord states, ‘You shall not bear a false report; do not join your hand with a wicked man to be a malicious witness’” (Ex 23:1; cf. Psa 15:3; Pro 11:3; Tit 2:7-8).
  6. Associates with wise persons and listens to their counsel. “He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm” (Prov 13:20). “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man is he who listens to counsel. (Prov 12:15).
  7. Governs wisely. “By me [wisdom] kings reign, and rulers decree justice. By me princes rule, and nobles, all who judge rightly” (Prov 8:15-16).
  8. Does not befriend immoral persons. “How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers!” (Psa 1:1). “I do not sit with deceitful men, nor will I go with pretenders” (Psa 26:4).
  9. Prays often. “With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints” (Eph 6:18). “Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Th 5:16-18).
  10. Brings stability to those under his/her care. “The king gives stability to the land by justice, but a man who takes bribes overthrows it” (Prov 29:4).
  11. Cares about justice. “You shall do no injustice in judgment; you shall not be partial to the poor nor defer to the great, but you are to judge your neighbor fairly” (Lev 19:15). “He has told you what is good and what it is the LORD requires of you: to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God” (Mic 6:8).
  12. Searches to find the facts of a matter before rendering judgment. “He who gives an answer before he hears, it is folly and shame to him. (Prov 18:13). “It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, but the glory of kings is to search out a matter” (Prov 25:2).
  13. Preserves the rights of others by clear thinking. “It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to desire strong drink, for they will drink and forget what is decreed, and pervert the rights of all the afflicted” (Prov 31:4-5).
  14. Educates and delegates responsibility to trusted persons. Moses’ father-in-law, Jethro, told him, “select out of all the people able men who fear God, men of truth, those who hate dishonest gain; and you shall place these over them as leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties and of tens. Let them judge the people at all times; and let it be that every major dispute they will bring to you, but every minor dispute they themselves will judge. So it will be easier for you, and they will bear the burden with you” (Ex 18:21-22).
  15. Is compassionate, kind, humble, gentle, patient, forgiving and loving. “So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity” (Col 3:12-14) “I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love” (Eph 4:1-2).
  16. Looks out for the interests of others. “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others” (Phil 2:3-4).
  17. Encourages and builds others up. “Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for building someone up according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear” (Eph 4:29). “Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing” (1 Th 5:11).
  18. Pursues peace rather than strife. “Depart from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it” (Psa 34:14). “So then we pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another” (Rom 14:19).
  19. Recognizes his/her authority and uses it to serve others, not to tear them down. “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. It is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave; just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Matt 20:25-28; cf. John 13:1-17).
  20. Rebukes wickedness. “He who says to the wicked, ‘You are righteous,’ peoples will curse him, nations will abhor him; but to those who rebuke the wicked will be delight, and a good blessing will come upon them” (Pro 24:24-25). “We urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone” (1 Th 5:14).
  21. Is slow to anger. “He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit, than he who captures a city” (Pro 16:32). “He who restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding” (Prov 17:27; cf. 15:18; 19:11; 29:11).
  22. Is not argumentative. “The Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth” (2 Tim 2:24-25).
  23. Uses wise and gracious words. “The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks justice” (Psa 37:30).  “Words from the mouth of a wise man are gracious, while the lips of a fool consume him” (Eccl 10:12), and “Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person” (Col 4:6).

On a day-to-day basis, good leaders listen to their team, stand up for them, trust them, and refrain from micromanaging every aspect of their work. They communicate clearly, consistently, and collaboratively. They seek advice, listen to concerns, and consult their team on the best solutions for success. They set high expectations and encourage others to strive for excellence, operating according to agency standards and reaching for new heights. They also care about the well-being of their team outside of work, promoting good physical, social, and mental health.

Good leaders can be tough when necessary. They live in reality and understand that some individuals may not respond positively to their leadership. In such cases, they may need to use their authority to reprimand or even terminate staff; however, this is always a last resort, employed only after all other positive strategies have been exhausted. Ultimately, a good leader lives sacrificially for the benefit of others, always desiring the success of their team as well as the success of the agency.

Dr. Steven R. Cook

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