YaHooka Forums - View Single Post

MannyBoy · 10-30-2009, 07:34 AM

BibleGuy, can you provide some sources to back us some of these assertions? Look, my goal is not to flame you, but I need to challenge some assumptions here.

You seem to be implying that the Biblical story above is evidence that marijuana has Biblical precedent for our use. While this implication may be true, your proof (exegesis) is shaky. Incense was a pleasant smelling smoke used in worship by the Israelites. It was used to acknowledge God (YHWH). In this event God was using the smoke (the thing used in worship to remind the people of God, the thing that goes up to heaven) to kind of slap them out of there sinful stupor. Maybe to get between them on earth and God in heaven to stop the plague.

According to the New Bible Dictionary (Third Ed.) incense was very expensive as was usually frankincense. It came from the resin of the bark of several trees in NE Africa. S. Arabia, NW India. Frankincense (the same expensive stuff offered to baby Jesus by one of the wealth "Kings") would be far to costly to come from cannabis growing around wild as weeds in ancient Israel, Mesopotamia, and other lands.

Admittedly, my Biblical Hebrew is not real good, but I have only heard of "atonement" - an extremely important Biblical concept - as the idea of "reconciliation. " The idea being, we (I) have separated myself from the holy (sinless) God by sinning. Therefore, I need atonement - a way to restore -reconcile- the relationship. A Biblical precept is that I have no power to correct this thing because I now have sin. God (sinless) must take the initiative. (Like in the story you cite above.)

And your last point is valid. Yes in Revelation (the story of last things on earth as it is now and how God will recreate the earth). Part of the new earth will be a Tree of Life (the same one that was in the Garden of Eden back in the book of Genesis). The leaves of this tree will bring the healing of the nations. I think this partly means there will be no more reason for war.

My main point with this post: it does us no good to very loosely use the Bible to justify marijuana use. I am not saying the Bible speaks directlyagainst the use of pot or that it speaks directly for it's use. Like most things, the Bible needs interpretation on this question. When we use huge jumps in logic (incense was pot, leaves from the Tree of Life are pot) we only set our cause backward. The other side will easily tear our argument to shreds.

Let's face it. Much of the world thinks of pot users as ignorant, controlled by chemicals, and desperate to make our use socially acceptable so we can secure an easy next "fix." Let's work together to present facts and logical arguments to refute these biases. We can to it. Not to long ago society was firmly against gambling. Of course some still are, but you look at the change now! And who would have thought in 1999 we would have 13 states (I think) with MMJ laws! Keep it people. We can do this.

10-30-2009, 07:34 AM	#3 (permalink)
MannyBoy YaHookan Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 58 Thanks: 20 Thanked 16 Times in 10 Posts	BibleGuy, can you provide some sources to back us some of these assertions? Look, my goal is not to flame you, but I need to challenge some assumptions here. You seem to be implying that the Biblical story above is evidence that marijuana has Biblical precedent for our use. While this implication may be true, your proof (exegesis) is shaky. Incense was a pleasant smelling smoke used in worship by the Israelites. It was used to acknowledge God (YHWH). In this event God was using the smoke (the thing used in worship to remind the people of God, the thing that goes up to heaven) to kind of slap them out of there sinful stupor. Maybe to get between them on earth and God in heaven to stop the plague. According to the New Bible Dictionary (Third Ed.) incense was very expensive as was usually frankincense. It came from the resin of the bark of several trees in NE Africa. S. Arabia, NW India. Frankincense (the same expensive stuff offered to baby Jesus by one of the wealth "Kings") would be far to costly to come from cannabis growing around wild as weeds in ancient Israel, Mesopotamia, and other lands. Admittedly, my Biblical Hebrew is not real good, but I have only heard of "atonement" - an extremely important Biblical concept - as the idea of "reconciliation. " The idea being, we (I) have separated myself from the holy (sinless) God by sinning. Therefore, I need atonement - a way to restore -reconcile- the relationship. A Biblical precept is that I have no power to correct this thing because I now have sin. God (sinless) must take the initiative. (Like in the story you cite above.) And your last point is valid. Yes in Revelation (the story of last things on earth as it is now and how God will recreate the earth). Part of the new earth will be a Tree of Life (the same one that was in the Garden of Eden back in the book of Genesis). The leaves of this tree will bring the healing of the nations. I think this partly means there will be no more reason for war. My main point with this post: it does us no good to very loosely use the Bible to justify marijuana use. I am not saying the Bible speaks directlyagainst the use of pot or that it speaks directly for it's use. Like most things, the Bible needs interpretation on this question. When we use huge jumps in logic (incense was pot, leaves from the Tree of Life are pot) we only set our cause backward. The other side will easily tear our argument to shreds. Let's face it. Much of the world thinks of pot users as ignorant, controlled by chemicals, and desperate to make our use socially acceptable so we can secure an easy next "fix." Let's work together to present facts and logical arguments to refute these biases. We can to it. Not to long ago society was firmly against gambling. Of course some still are, but you look at the change now! And who would have thought in 1999 we would have 13 states (I think) with MMJ laws! Keep it people. We can do this.