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Coming Events
Friday October 7, 14, 28 6 – 9 PM Witnessing in San Francisco neighborhoods.
Sat. October 1 UN Plaza 12-5 PM 7th St. and Market, SF.
Sat. Oct 8 11 AM – 4 PM Fisherman’s Wharf (Jefferson St. and Mason)
Sat. Oct 15 11 AM – 1 PM Fisherman’s Wharf (Jefferson St. and Powell SF) 3 – 5 PM Union Square (Geary St. and Powell SF) New Life Christian Church Hayward
October 29- November 5 Love – San Francisco LoveSF247.com 415-637-9438
MARIJUANA
Dear Christian friends,
For many years, when Christians were asked about marijuana use, they would simply quote 1 Peter 2:13, which says we are to “submit yourself to every ordinance of man.” While marijuana remains illegal under the US Penal Code, 25 states have legalized “medical marijuana” and five plus Washington D.C. have legalized “recreational marijuana” with votes scheduled next month on legalizing recreational marijuana in California and Nevada. According to a recent Gallup poll, marijuana use in the US has doubled in the past three years, with 13% saying they are current marijuana users.
So what do Christian pastors and parents say to those who ask us why they shouldn’t use marijuana? Is it wrong to use marijuana? Does the Bible have anything to say about it?
The Greek word “pharmakia” is used five times in the New Testament, once in Paul’s letter to the Galatians (5:20) and four times in the last book of the Bible — Revelation (Rev. 9:21, Rev.18:23, Rev. 21:8, and Rev. 22:15). Three times we are told that those who engage in “pharmakia” will not enter Heaven. The first definition of the word “pharmakia” given in Thayer’s Greek lexicon is “the use or the administering of drugs.” Clearly, sorcery involves using certain kinds of drugs to open up oneself to the influence of Satan or demons.
Revelation 9:21 states that after God poured out his wrath on rebellious humanity through plagues, people did not repent of their “murders, sorcery, fornication or their thefts.” If Revelation has anything to do with the last days, these four sins will be prevalent at that time. While very few people today claim to be sorcerers, the use of mind-altering drugs is extremely common in our world today.
Marijuana has been used for thousands of years for religious purposes by people all over the world — India, China, Africa, Greece, ancient Germany, etc. The drugs used in sorcery are “mind-altering” — they change a person’s beliefs, personality and thinking. The change is long lasting and often permanent. In this respect, alcohol is different from marijuana. A person might use alcohol to reduce temporarily his moral aversion to some activity such as fornication (sex outside of marriage). However, once the alcohol wears off, the person is likely to have the same moral aversion to fornication.
In contrast, marijuana changes a person’s thinking and beliefs. A person who smokes marijuana will often find himself thinking and believing that fornication is not sinful, that the whole idea of “sin” is wrong, that he should no longer trust the Bible, that all truth is relative, and that there are many ways to God.
Many Christians today argue that only if a person intends to use marijuana for spiritual purposes is it “pharmakia.” But for what drug is the effect of that drug dependent upon the user’s intent in taking it? And if the effect of a drug is to deceive the user, how can the user be sure that his opinion that his drug use did not deceive him spiritually is not part of that deception?
If Satan wanted to use marijuana and other psychedelics to bring massive deception on the world in the last days, would it not suit his purposes for Christians to deny that this drug use is “pharmakeia” — a practice bluntly forbidden by God as one that will condemn someone to Hell?
“For by thy ‘pharmakeia’ were all nations deceived.” Rev. 18:23. “Now the Spirit speaks expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils” 1Tim. 4:1.
On the Streets
On Friday June 24, we witnessed at the Sony Metreon, 4th St. and Mission. We stopped witnessing there two years ago because every time we went, the Ambassadors (security guards) would tell us we couldn’t use an amplifier. When we didn’t stop, they would call the police who would order us to shut down. I reluctantly agreed to go back, and this time, we did not see any Ambassadors and were not shut down. So it looks like we have another place to witness on Friday nights. This is a great location, as there are many people going to movies and restaurants and shopping in the area. It is also next to the Moscone Center, which hosts large conventions.
This night, hundreds of scientists from all over the world attending a Stem Cell Research Conference passed by us. Dave witnessed to Machin, who was attending the conference from China. He also witnessed to Jaime, who grew up in a Christian family. He said he wanted to get right with God, but didn’t know how. Dave and James witnessed to Nina, who is from Jordan and has a Muslim background. Ben ministered to Karen, in her early 20’s, who was backslidden but wanted to get right with God.
The next day, we witnessed at 5th St. and Market. It was the day before the “gay parade” so a lot of homosexuals were wearing strange costumes. Jacob and Sean witnessed to Genaro, who had been studying near-death experiences and noticed that many people saw Jesus. They shared the gospel with him and Jacob gave him his phone number. He said he really wanted to talk more with him. He contacted Jacob two weeks later and said he really needed Jesus in his life. Jacob invited him to church and he attended. Afterwards Jacob and Cal went to lunch with him and ministered to him.
After we had been there for over three hours, Jacob was preaching and a man started heckling him. A woman started filming the encounter with her cell phone. The man knocked her cell phone to the ground. Immediately, three men attacked the heckler and knocked him on the ground. About a dozen police arrested the heckler and the woman. Because of the confrontation, a large crowd gathered and heard our preaching. A few minutes later, however, the police told us we couldn’t use our amp. Jacob and Mike preached without an amp for the rest of the day.
On June 28, a neighbor of ours, KM, came to our door. She grew up in the church and said she wanted to become a Christian. That Sunday, she attended Shiloh Church and committed her life to Jesus. Since then, she has been filled with joy and has faced some persecution from family members she has witnessed to. I met her on July 22 when she witnessed with us at Powell and Market. Please pray for her.
On Friday July 1, we witnessed at 24th St. and Mission. Mike, Jacob and Kathy all ministered to Lala. She said she had asked Jesus to save her but nothing happened. They shared with her about believing God’s word and not expecting certain feelings. Jacob also witnessed to Bill, a homosexual Muslim from Libya, and Tina, a Methodist who believes in reincarnation. Jacob and Cal also witnessed to Hector, who only speaks Spanish. Jacob used a translation app on his phone to witness to him. Hector seemed to be demonized and Jacob and Cal prayed for him.
The next day, we witnessed at Fisherman’s Wharf. About 20 Christians from “Taking it to the Streetz” ministry in Sacramento joined us. They were from several churches, including Victory Outreach. A group called “Prisoners of Hope” sang some rap songs. Most of them shared their testimonies. A Christian woman who was watching us also shared her testimony. She had been a lesbian for 30 years before getting saved. Dave ministered to Chou and Jade, from China. They had recently gotten married. Chou is a Christian but Jade was not. Dave shared the gospel with her and she was quite receptive. We also ministered to M—– who said she had tried to commit suicide the day before.
Ministry Needs
Thank you again for your prayers and financial support for this ministry. The past two months, I have been sharing about a special need we have. One of the founders of our ministry, Scott Crawford, has moved into our ministry house in Oakland and we will be helping him with his food and living expenses. He will be seeking to get churches to minister with us, helping train Christians in evangelism and also ministering on the streets with us. This will cost us an extra $850 per month. We appreciate any help you can give us with this additional expense.
I hope many of you will join an outreach this next month.
Yours in His love,
Larry Rosenbaum
