Is It Scriptural for Christians to Use Non-Prescribed Drugs for Pleasure?

Whenever moral issues are discussed, we often descend into disorganized, often aggressive arguments. These arguments tend to be based more on what we think/feel is right/wrong. That is not what I want to do here. There are many who have strong opinions on the search and desire for pleasure and how a Christian should approach this area. Some will say, “Well, God wants me to be happy.” Others will say that it is only through suffering that we become holy. Some will say that our happiness is only determined by outside factors, while others will strongly affirm that it is by our own internal choices that our emotions are determined. The reality is both less and more complex than this. It is true that we have a choice in our emotions. In fact, Solomon taught that a lack of self-control is like a city without walls (cf. Proverbs 25:28). Paul listed self-control as a fruit (consequence/characteristic) of the Spirit. 

God ultimately has given us control over our own lives in the sense that we make choices and respond to stimuli. But what about those who can’t control their emotions the same as others? What about those who have depression, ADHD, OCD, Bipolar Disorder, etc? Is God simply telling them that they have to get it together without aid because it’s all a choice? Not at all. Rather, God gives us the tools needed to be able to gain control. In fact, the condition that God has given to us is to be self-controlled, or another word could be used: sober. Sobriety in the context of Scripture is that we are to be in control of ourselves as best as possible (1 Peter 5:8). The context of 1 Peter 5:8 expresses the urgency of the charge. We are to be sober (not on autopilot, lazy, etc) and in control of our responses because the devil is a roaring lion seeking opportunity to devour us. The question is not whether God expects us to use certain supplements to assist us, but rather the responsibility lies in us to ensure that we extend as much control over our own actions as possible.

So what does this have to do with the topic at hand? Why spend the first couple of hundred words of this essay to express these things? If we do not understand the purpose, we will not change the practice. If the ultimate goal is sobriety (self-control), then anything that works against that stated goal would be a roadblock. For instance, if someone is having surgery, the doctors will likely prescribe or provide a medicine to block, minimize, or aid in the treatment of the patient's pain. The goal of that medication is to help the healing process and hopefully remove the ailment of the individual. Now take that same medication and use it outside its purpose, and it can cause the individual and others immense problems. Some of the medications can cause drowsiness, dizziness, irritability, and ultimately, a lack of sobriety. This is the meat of the argument. It’s not, does God let us take drugs? It’s how do these things serve the ultimate goal of serving the Lord? Paul wrote that he was crucified (put to death) with Christ and that Christ lived in him (Galatians 2:20). Paul is stating here that the physical life that he was given would be sacrificed for the good of the Lord’s kingdom. This same sentiment is used in Romans 12:1-2: 

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. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Paul is stating to the Roman church that their lives do not belong to them any longer. In the same way, I married my wife, and my life is not just for me anymore. I no longer just make money for myself and my wants. That money is used for our mutual benefit. In the same manner, our time and bodies are resources, and they are finite at that. This means that the value of our time and bodies must be used for the ultimate good: Living Out the Gospel. So let’s deal with the question at hand. Is it scriptural to use non-prescribed drugs for pleasure? Are things like recreational alcohol, marijuana, opiates, etc okay for a Christian to use for pleasure? No. It is not accepted in Scripture because it violates the basic principles that God has provided for our lives and times’ use. Some might say, well, hold on, people do things for pleasure all the time that are neutral. For instance, we play games, watch movies, hang out with friends, etc. While it is true that we do some things for pleasure, such as movies, games, etc that can be neutral, neither the pleasure nor the time is the only factor. What separates them from drug use is that a movie, game, or hangout doesn't necessarily diminish your capacity to think clearly. While these other practices might have an effect if left unrestrained, intoxication does so explicitly. The idea of sobriety is violated by these substances because many of them remove our critical thinking. 

We are in a war for our very souls, and with that being the case, we must be wary and careful to ensure that we give ourselves and hearers the best chance to hear the truth. Remove the intoxication from these products, and what is left? That is the primary issue with this topic. Beyond this, most of the drugs that would be placed in the “recreational or pleasure” category are not legal under US law. Even drugs that have been made legal in some states, for instance, recreational marijuana, are still illegal under federal law. As Christians, God has instructed us to obey the laws of the land until they violate the laws of God (cf. Matthew 22:21; Acts 5:29; Romans 13:1-7).  

I want to make this point as well before closing: a letter from a doctor does not make something morally right. We have to be aware of what these things do to us before making decisions of such magnitude. A doctor’s job is to solve an issue, not worry about the moral conditions from a scriptural perspective. That is not to say that every doctor is evil, merely that this is not their primary responsibility. The question a Christian should ask is not whether a doctor signed for it, but this: Can I be sober without it? And can I still be sober with it? A man with severe mental issues may not be in control of himself without treatment, but in the opposite sense, a sober man taking one of these substances can take away that sobriety. It is up to us to ensure that our own lives are right with God, not anyone else’s. In short, let us not be focused on the things that hinder our walk with the Lord and the work that He has sent us out to do. Let us be sober, righteous, and faithful followers of the Lord.