Drugs

I despise the effect psychoactive drugs have on individual’s personalities. Last night was an excellent example.

Beloved Husband is taking a very strong pain pill, designed to at least allow him to forget how much pain is throbbing in his damaged shoulder. After leaving the hospital, he slept a good deal of the afternoon going about five hours between pain pills.

The doctor also prescribed a sleep aid – well advertised, a familiar name – to be taken at bedtime.

For him, it was hallucinogenic. It also caused him to talk in his sleep. Except it didn’t appear to be “sleep”, but the drug created constant activity in his mind that was reflected in action. He removed covers, tried to stand up, pulled at the protective sling in an attempt to remove it. This is not the action of a rational person.

A dear friend of ours abused alcohol. When he drank, he became so belligerent that he once struck out at his wife when we were together. This was not the action of a man I know loves his wife and whose family was extremely important to him.

Even the appearance of drunkenness is attention catching. Remember Eli and Hanna?

And Eli said unto her, How long wilt thou be drunken? put away thy wine from thee. (1 Samuel 1:14 KJV)

Our society has found a multitude of mind-altering collection of drugs. Some, such as alcohol and prescribed medications are legal. Others are not. For a Christian, there should be no question of their use except under a qualified doctor’s care, for a specific reason. They make us what we are not.

The Bible has much to say about this: Proverbs 23:31-35, Hosea 7:5, Isaiah 28:7-8, Ecclesiastes 2:3, Proverbs 20:1, 1 Corinthians 5:11 – you can find more yourself.

Why? Why does the Bible take such a dim view?

Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink; that continue until night, till wine inflame them! (Isaiah 5:11 KJV)

Not rising up to worship the one, true, living God, but seeking to alter their minds, wiping out the memory of the Lord who requires that there be none before Him.

Thou shalt have no other gods before me. (Exodus 20:3 KJV)

Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. (Matthew 22:37-38 KJV)

Drugs replace the mind’s ability to worship the Lord. Right now, under the influence of these medical marvels that ease his physical pain, Beloved Husband is not able to focus on serving the Lord. God willing, this will not last long (for either one of us!)

I have seen His work in the lives of new Christians who have traded their mind-altering addictions for the soul-cleansing work of the Lord. We pray others will do so, too.