Stop the Madness.

Deuteronomy 14:22-28 I'm just going to start off with one single, salient point that I believe is important to know: I grew up in a very “legalistic” church from the days of my youth. In other words, if you had a beer, you were “backsliding,” and someone was off to get the anointing oil to pray for you. The whole “I don't drink, smoke, or chew, and I don't hang with those who do” type thing (Do be mindful of the company you keep, but that is beside the point here. Also, tobacco is horrible.). Here's another good point to know. I questioned this “legalistic” thinking pretty much from the get-go. “If Jesus turned water into wine, you mean to tell me that I can't have a drink? How does that make any sense?” It just didn't seem right. And my instincts were backed up when I finally sat under a sermon concerning the Feast of Tabernacles (which is referenced in verses 22-27). In addition to the first tenth (tithe) which went to the Levites (the priestly tribe), another tithe of your increase was to be set aside for special fellowship with God's people at given places at given times during the year. During these holy times, people came from all over, some bringing fruit, vegetables, oxen, and sheep amongst other things. Yes, “other things” sometimes included wine and liquor. Why did/do people do these things? The text already tells us. “That thou mayest learn to fear the LORD thy God always.” To remind us that God isn't a total killjoy. He kind of got that rep for some reason. I feel my spider sense tingling. Someone out there is about to throw out 1 John 2:15-17. “Man, those passages seem to contradict each other.” No, they do not. Pay attention. First off, the Feast of Tabernacles, as stated, is a holy act of worship. This is not the same situation mentioned or described in 1 John. Not by a long shot. Second of all, the “love” used in 1 John means “in a social or moral sense.” As you would a living being, like God. In their proper places, as responsible adults, there is nothing wrong with these substances. You can like or enjoy a good Merlot but love God. Got it? I wanted to bring it back to verse 26 in Deuteronomy 14 KJV and the key word “whatsoever” (“whatever,” ESV) Just for clarification. Using such strong language in the literal sense would indeed conflict with other passages in the Bible, so I looked into the root of this word's presence in the text. There is no corresponding word in Hebrew, so the translators decided to pick the word up and use it. In keeping with the spirit (not the letter, obviously) of the text, with wine and liquor in the background (in addition to other things I know and have been told), is it a stretch to say that it'd be strange or outlandish to see an adult show up smelling like he just hunted, trapped, and bagged a skunk at one of these events? Absolutely not. Although the type of legalism I described above is a commandment taught of men, and is as filthy rags unto God, it may be this type of contortion, gaps in reasoning or logic, or (unintentional) dishonesty that sends many adolescents away from common sense and off the deep end when they do hit the age when they are able to make most of their decisions on their own. Recreationally, I believe that marijuana should be treated like alcohol. It also wreaks less havoc on the body. Medicinally? Don't even get me started on the DEA and its bold-faced lie of putting it in the same category as Heroin. It's an outright lie, and everyone knows it. Let's ignore the evidence and case study after case study of it alleviating symptoms of nausea, MS, migraines, Alzheimer's, etc. No medicinal benefit? For chronic pain management, I guess we'd rather shove opiates down patients' throats. Right?