Having looked into the tearful eyes of parents whose children have abandoned the Faith, I have learned there are a million miles between our children “going through the motions” in reference to their spiritual lives versus our children possessing hearts that dictate their actions. In this column, I plan to share with you what I hope to instill in the hearts of my own children and those whom I love.
 
The day was bound to come. In a society that is snowballing down the hill of immorality it was only a matter of time before our culture began to legalize drugs for recreational use. From there, it was only a baby step from legalization to Christian young people asking, “What’s the problem?” The emails began to hit my inbox a lot quicker than I had originally thought they would. When the legalization was announced I had thought it would take several months or even a few years before the church would have to wrestle with this question.
 
Unfortunately, in many Christian homes children are taught that if society says something is legal then it is acceptable. Likewise, anything illegal is something Christians should avoid. If our culture was one that looked to God for wisdom and strength this practice would be spot on. But our country abandoned God’s moral compass many decades ago. Parents can no longer simply leave the moral training of their children up to the state.
 
Young people are now taking spring break to places like Washington and Colorado in order to take advantage of legalized marijuana. Colleges and Universities in those states are seeing a spike in applicants from young people who want to come enjoy the “party.” This behavior does not stop with “worldly” people. Sadly, in many cases, young Christians are being more influenced by the world, rather than influencing it. And so now the church faces the question: “What should we do/say about legalized marijuana?”
 
Here’s what I intend to teach my children regarding legalized marijuana.
When I saw the “amnesty” bins in the Colorado airport I knew I would have to write to you about this topic. Let me begin with the obvious: You should be living your life for God, not for yourself or your own pleasure. That includes what you put into your body. (Much of what I’m about to say could also be true for harmful foods and/or drinks.)
If you’ve been crucified with Christ your body is no longer your own. Therefore you must treat it as such—you don’t have an option. Your body now belongs to God. Paul wrote, “For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.” (1 Corinthians 6:20). Repeatedly throughout God’s inspired Word it commands Christians to be “sober-minded” (e.g., 1 Peter 5:8; 2 Timothy 4:5; 1 Peter 4:7). In fact, it is a requirement for men who desire the office of an elder (1 Timothy 3:2; Titus 1:8).
Effects on the Brain
What most people do not talk about when it comes to marijuana are the negative aspects. Most people have bought into the lie that it is relatively harmless, and therefore not all that bad. In the Journal of Addictive Diseases, William Wilson and his colleagues demonstrated that using marijuana early in life (before age 17) will shrink the overall size of your brain. That’s right—they’ve proved it makes your brain smaller. Not only does it shrink your brain, it also alters the composition of your brain. John A. Matochik and his colleagues reported that using marijuana repeatedly results in structural differences in the brain as they reported in the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence.
If those were the only problems it would be bad enough. But we’re just getting started. The National Institute on Drug Abuse reported:
Researchers have found that THC changes the way in which sensory information gets into and is acted on by the hippocampus. This is a component of the brain’s limbic system that is crucial for learning, memory, and the integration of sensory experiences with emotions and motivations. Investigations have shown that THC suppresses neurons in the information-processing system of the hippocampus. In addition, researchers have discovered that learned behaviors, which depend on the hippocampus, also deteriorate. The worst finding is that marijuana causes neuronal death, which enlarges the ventricles (empty spaces) in your brain, which means you really are messing up your brain!
Effects on the Lungs.
Someone who smokes marijuana regularly may have many of the same respiratory problems that tobacco smokers have. These individuals may have daily cough and phlegm, symptoms of chronic bronchitis, and more frequent chest colds. Continuing to smoke marijuana can lead to abnormal functioning of lung tissue injured or destroyed by marijuana smoke.
Regardless of the THC content, the amount of tar inhaled by marijuana smokers and the level of carbon monoxide absorbed are three to five times greater than among tobacco smokers. This may be due to marijuana users inhaling more deeply and holding the smoke in the lungs (see http://www.drugabuse.gov/).
 
This doesn’t even include the effects that marijuana has on learning or social behavior. Among the known or suspected chronic effects of marijuana are:
 
1. Short-term memory impairment and slowness of learning.
2. Impaired lung function similar to that found in cigarette smokers. Indications are that more serious effects, such as cancer and other lung disease, follow extended use.
3. Decreased sperm count and sperm motility.
4. Interference with ovulation and pre-natal development.
5. Impaired immune response.
6. Possible adverse effects on heart function.
7. By-products of marijuana remaining in body fat for several weeks, with unknown consequences.
What you do matters. Your body is a temple. Paul wrote, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service (Romans 12:1; see also 1 Corinthians 6:19). During your life you will hear many people try to justify marijuana use or espouse the benefits of using it. If you truly desire to go to heaven and be Christ-like simply look at His pattern and ask yourself if Jesus ever used it? You belong to Christ–you are too good for drugs. Stay sober-minded!
 
Love,
Dad
By Brad Harrub, Ph.D.