The Legal Drug Cult(ure) and the Christian

[lesjude]

My purpose in this post is to get you to look at the drug cult(ure) from a Biblical point of view. I do not intend to condemn anyone. Here is what the Bible says about healing: Isaiah 53:4-5 with Matthew 8:16-17, Psalms 103:1-5, 1 Peter 2:24 and MANY more.

Romans 8:1

King James Version (KJV)

8 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.




I recently received these notes from a Christian who had taken this university course on medical drugs from a recognized expert in the field. Below is my friend's introduction/explanation and then the verbatim notes.

"Here are my notes from the first day of "Drugs & the Brain." Dr. ______ doesn't require a textbook because he/she is one. All his/her exams are straight from her lectures and, knowing this, I used a digital voice recorder, then transcribed each lecture into my computer, and so what I've written is word-for-word."


January 23, 2006 - Lecture 1 - Introduction to Pharmacology



Neuropsychopharmacology – this is what Dr. ______ is – his/her PhD is in pharmacology – and Neuropsychopharmacology is a better name for this course than “Drugs and the Brain.”



Pharmacology comes from the Greek word, pharmakon. Pharmacology is the study of drugs. How do they work? What is the mechanism of action? Such as, why does Prozac make you feel better? Why does LSD make you hallucinate? What are their side effects? What is their history?



Pharmakon = “Magical Poison”: In Greek, it means “magical poison”; this is a concept that we’ll see all through the course.



“Magical Poison” = Pharmakon: Drugs are good, magical, and beneficial but they are all poisons – there is not a drug that won’t kill you – if you take enough of it, it will kill you. Magical poison is important in how drugs are designed, in how doctors use drugs, etc. – they are curing someone without killing them. (END OF NOTES)

Here is what the Bible says about the same term Pharmakon/pharmakia which is translated as sorcery. The Greek means primarily use of medicine, drugs, spells, then poisoning, then sorcery according to Vine's Expository Dictionary of Bible Words The same word is used in Revelations 9:21, 18:23. In the Greek Septuagint in Ex. 7:11, 22; 8:7, 18 Isaiah 47: 9, 12. No where in the Bible is this word EVER used in a positive way that would suggest a believer should be using this magical poison. The Greek word *sorcery in Acts 8:9 is mageuo which means "used sorcery" according to Vine's. It is clear that sorcerers use drugs. *Sorceries in Acts 9:11 is magia in Greek which is plural for the magic art or sorcery which includes the use of drugs.
Acts 8:9-13

King James Version (KJV)

9 But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used *sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one:

10 To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God.

11 And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with *sorceries.

12 But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.

13 Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.

All drugs, by definition, are poison and harm the human body no matter how small the dosage, even aspirin. Please see links below for more information.
Often drugs 'cure' nothing but relieve the symptoms, allowing the person to live with the disease, and become drug dependent. All drugs have side effects, many of which those that take them are not aware of, or find out about too late. It is a VERY costly way to possibly be poisoned when Jesus provides healing free of charge with no side affects.

Below are more notes from the college course that explain how those that develop and use this magical poison arrive at what is 'safe'.

January 25, 2006 - Lecture 2 - Introduction to Pharmacology



Therapeutic Index – Pharmacologists do Log-Dose Response Curves to get a mechanism of action to find out if the drug is an agonist or antagonist, if the lines parallel (same receptor), and another reason is to get a safety profile - how much good does the drug do before it accidentally kills you? The lethal curve is compared to the effective curve and that is the Therapeutic Index. The dose that kills 50% of people over the dose that works in 50% of people. It has to be 10 or the drug cannot be marketed. They don’t want you accidentally taking 3 or 4 and then dying, like people did with some barbiturates way back in the 1970s. Alcohol has a therapeutic index of less than 10 – it is very lethal. They don’t want dosing errors.



Another reason you need to have a therapeutic index is all drugs are made for a man that weighs 150 lbs. – all drugs are designed for men at that weight. So if you are female, a child, elderly, etc., the dose must be carefully administered – these biological differences (size, age, weight) really matter or one can overdose.



Another thing you have to take into consideration, particularly a drug working on the mind, is the placebo effect.



Placebo Effect: Placebo (sugar pill) is an inactive substance; it has no drug in it. Drugs are compared against a placebo – what you think will make you better. It’s in your mind. It is a powerful force working on the mind when you take a pill. Antidepressants, pain medication and anti-anxiety drugs have to be compared to a placebo. Your mind wants to get better – and it is powerful. You will get better with a placebo that’s injected instead of a pill, and a red capsule rather than a white pill. Or if someone in the Mayo Clinic gives it to you rather than someone in a community hospital. There are a few mental conditions for which this is not true – there is no placebo response with schizophrenia or OCD. But depression, pain, and anxiety have a big placebo response. (END OF NOTES)

It is still hit and miss guess work to a large extent as to dosage and which magical poison(s) (drugs) to use. People suffer irreversible damage and death all too often. This in NOT TRUE SCIENCE!

Here are the questions a Christian has to answer:
1. If the Bible presents drugs as magical poison and those that received salvation saw their true nature in Acts 8:9-13 what should be the position of believers today?
2. Even if one thinks that those that prescribe and develop magical poison have nothing to do with the occult should the believer take them in light of this scripture?
1 Corinthians 3:16-17

King James Version (KJV)

16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

3. What is the motivation of those that use cult brain washing techniques of mass media spending millions (which is added to the price of the drugs) to persuade people that the true source of life, health and healing is found in magical poison (drugs)? What is God's opinion on this?

4. How does Jesus feel about Christians that join the drug cult(ure) after He died a terribly death to provide physical healing with no drugs? (Jesus does give grace and mercy to be healed by several Biblical means: James 5:14-15, Mark 11:24, Mark 16:17-18)

5. Do legal or illegal drugs kill more people in the US per annum?


Third leading cause of death in America   http://www.health-care-reform.net/causedeath.htm


Death and Harm from Prescription Drugs
MORE. Death and Harm from Prescription Drugs. What happened to the Principal Precepts Taught in Medical School “First, do no harm? Award-winning medical ...
www.aaqm.org/Downloads/drugdeaths.pdf

Prescription Drug Dangers
Jun 17, 2010 ... Anyone taking a prescription drug will be harmed to some degree by these drug- caused diseases. Consider that disrupting even one cell ...
Prescription Drug Dangers



Aspirin Side Effects Can Be Serious-
There are many many aspirin side effects. Some of them are less harmful, but some of them are deadly. In fact, in the 1970's, aspirin side effects made it one of ...
http://www.side-effects-site.com/asp...e-effects.html

Table of Iatrogenic Deaths in the United
(Deaths induced inadvertently by a physician or surgeon or by medical ... conservative figures from our statistics we project the following 10-year death rates.
Table of Iatrogenic Deaths in the United States

Statistics prove prescription drugs are
Jul 5, 2005 ... Statistics prove prescription drugs are 16400% more deadly than terrorists. ... According to the groundbreaking 2003 medical report Death by ...
Statistics prove prescription drugs are 16,400% more deadly than terrorists

Anemia drugs cost taxpayers billions, but benefits were overstated, deadly effects overlooked

For years, a trio of anemia drugs known as Epogen, Procrit and Aranesp ranked among the best-selling prescription drugs in the United States, generating more than $8 billion a year for two companies, Amgen and Johnson & Johnson. But a Washington Post investigation shows that the benefits of the drugs — including “life satisfaction and happiness,” according to the FDA-approved label — had to be retracted and that potentially lethal side effects, such as cancer and strokes, were overlooked. Millions of patients were subjected to dangerous doses that might have had little advantage.

The multibillion-dollar rise and fall of the anemia drugs illustrates how the economic incentives embedded in U.S. health care can make the system not only inefficient, but potentially deadly. Through a well-funded research and lobbying campaign, the drugmakers won far-reaching approvals from the FDA. Doses tripled in size. The pharmaceutical companies conducted trials that missed the dangers and touted benefits that years later would be deemed unproven. The companies took more than a decade to fulfill their research commitments. And when bureaucrats tried to rein in the largest doses, a high-powered lobbying effort began until Congress forced the regulators to let the drugs flow.


Read more at:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/anemia-drug-made-billions-but-at-what-cost/2012/07/19/gJQAX5yqwW_story.html

[Kilika]

That's all a bunch of bs, and based on carnal works of the flesh.

Jesus clearly says that "NOTHING by any means shall harm them", and that nothing entering into the body can defile you.

The just shall live by faith. What you propose is a churchianity doctrine of works.

[lesjude]

That's all a bunch of bs, and based on carnal works of the flesh

.
Are you referring to the work of one of the leading researchers on drugs and the brain or what the Bible says about putting poison in a Christian's body knowingly and deliberately to get "healed" when Jesus provides drug/poison free healing?

Jesus clearly says that "NOTHING by any means shall harm them", and that nothing entering into the body can defile you.

This obviously does not apply to knowingly and willingly taking a substance that in any amount harms the body to be healed when Jesus provides healing.

The just shall live by faith. What you propose is a churchianity doctrine of works.

Exactly. Faith without works is dead. Trusting Jesus alone for what He promises to His disciples based on clear promises in His word is not churcianity works. Saying that healing has passed away is by Jesus' own definition:
Matthew 15:8-9

King James Version (KJV)

8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.

9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
 Do y'all practice paganism i.e. Xmas and Easter? These are perfect examples of verse 9.

[tennis shoe]

Do y'all practice paganism i.e. Xmas and Easter?

Actually both Xmas and Ishtar have been abandoned for me and my house.

Have you ever prayed for somebody and had he/she die anyways? If so, how did you reconcile that?

What about first responder drugs to alleviate pain? If a man is experiencing a heart attack, are you saying that he should not be given nitro or morphine or even an electric shock if the heart goes into fibrillation or tachycardia?

What about people that go to the dentist? Should they not be given a local anesthetic?

[Mark]

Do y'all practice paganism i.e. Xmas and Easter? These are perfect examples of verse 9.

That is so funny and hypocritical coming from a charismatic that practices pagan rituals. We expose those kinds of things here, we do not embrace them. Xmas and Ishtar have their own board in false religions.

[lesjude]

That is so funny and hypocritical coming from a charismatic that practices pagan rituals. We expose those kinds of things here, we do not embrace them. Xmas and Ishtar have their own board in false religions.

Just so I understand it seems you are saying that anyone who speaks in tongues today or after 100 AD is worshiping the devil and is under the power of the devil either knowingly or unknowingly. If this is the case please give scripture for this position. It seems you include messages in tongues with interpretation to edify the assembly and the other gifts of the Holy Spirit in this category as well. Is this the case?
  Are you saying that people here do not celebrate Xmas at all? Most amazing!

[Mark]

The Pagan Origins of Modern “Speaking in Tongues”

Yesterday, during our discussion of the phenomenon of speaking in tongues in my modular (intensive) course on the Holy Spirit, one of my students, a Vietnamese, related his experience as a Buddhist youth in his village. An uncle would visit their house and then start babbling unintelligible words and sounds in a trance. But when their dog started barking, he would fall asleep as his head would fall back, and then be silent. Then when the dog stopped barking, he would wake up and then point to various things in their house telling them that those things have evil spirits in them.

His story reminded me of the fact that unintelligible babbling known as “speaking in tongues” in the modern Pentecostal movement is widely practiced in cults and even in non-Christian and pagan religions. Richard Ganz, in 20 Controversies that Almost Killed a Church (p 212) says that this kind of babbling is practiced by Mormons, The Way International, Hindus, Muslims and many others.

But this practice is not only a recent phenomenon, but was common in pagan worship long before Christ came. Robert G. Gromacki, in The Modern Tongues Movement (pp 5-10), documents the history of “speaking in tongues” in antiquity. Some of these ecstatic babbling were reported in the “Report of Wenamon” (about 1100 BC), Plato’s Dialogues (5th century BC), and Virgil’s Aeneid (1st century BC). The Graeco-Roman mystery religions before and after the Christian era most probably practiced these babbling utterances.

Gromacki also documents this phenomenon in modern times among Muslims, Buddhists, and Eskimos. Worship rituals of Eskimos are an attempt to contact the spirit-world, and “are characterized by drum beating, singing, dancing, and nudity.” He cites a book by another author who observed an Eskimo ritual:

Suddenly one of the men, Krisuk, went out of his head. Unable to contain himself to the regular rhythm of the service he leapt to his feet crying like a raven and howling like a wolf. In ecstasy he and the girl, Ivaloo, began to yell in a tongue I could not understand… Certainly it was not the usual Eskimo language… and if there is such a thing as speaking in tongues I heard it then.
What well-known modern “revivals” does this account remind you of?

http://www.twoagespilgrims.com/doctrine/?p=5430


Volume 3 - Study 14
THE MODERN-DAY TONGUES-SPEAKING
PHENOMENON

http://www.biblicaltruthseekers.co.uk/uploadData/3-14.%20MODERN-DAY%20TONGUES.pdf


And yes, we do not celebrate xmas nor ishtar. Why would that surprise you?

[lesjude]

And yes, we do not celebrate xmas nor ishtar. Why would that surprise you?

I am surprised because I know VERY few Christians who do not. Usually the only thing they defend with more vigor than Xmas is their belief that God gives His bride the murderous occult based medical system. Also I can count on the fingers of one hand the number of Christians that believe nonresistance as Jesus taught it. Dying for La Patri is the usual norm.
  Your position on the Holy Spirit gifts is somewhat dangerous in light of this:
Mark 3:28-30

King James Version (KJV)

28 Verily I say unto you, All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme:

29 But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation.

30 Because they said, He hath an unclean spirit.

I recommend applying the principle in this attitude/position:
Acts 5:38-39

King James Version (KJV)

38 And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought:

39 But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.
 

[Mark]

I never said Jesus had an unclean spirit. So that doesnt apply to me at all. But those speaking jibberish and proclaiming it is the Holy Spirit some how doing it, well then that is a different matter. For the Spirit has already shown just what he shall do, when he did it at Pentecost, and just how it is different from the demon spawn pagan rituals.

1Cr 14:33  For God is not [the author] of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints. 

[lesjude]

Actually both Xmas and Ishtar have been abandoned for me and my house.

A blessing!

Have you ever prayed for somebody and had he/she die anyways? If so, how did you reconcile that?

Yes. I take the responsibility to seek Jesus to see where I missed Him because it is my responsibility and it was me that failed. Mark 16:17-18 is absolutely true and cannot be changed to fit anyone's experience.

What about first responder drugs to alleviate pain? If a man is experiencing a heart attack, are you saying that he should not be given nitro or morphine or even an electric shock if the heart goes into fibrillation or tachycardia?

I make no claim one way or the other. I do know that  people will call on the Physician they live closest to. For me and my house it is Jesus. He does not use any drugs to do anything.

What about people that go to the dentist? Should they not be given a local anesthetic?

Jesus heals and restores teeth and does not use drugs.

[lesjude]

I never said Jesus had an unclean spirit. So that doesnt apply to me at all. But those speaking jibberish and proclaiming it is the Holy Spirit some how doing it, well then that is a different matter. For the Spirit has already shown just what he shall do, when he did it at Pentecost, and just how it is different from the demon spawn pagan rituals.

1Cr 14:33  For God is not [the author] of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints. 

If the Holy Spirit gift of tongues were not real why would the devil bother to counterfeit it? He can and does.
The principle is saying anything the Holy Spirit does through a believer is of the devil in blasphemy and without forgiveness. It obviously does not just apply to saying that about Jesus.
I am sure you do not want to do this intentionally:
2 Peter 3:16

King James Version (KJV)

16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.

However the saying is true: If one keeps going in a direction they will eventually get there.

[Mark]

If the Holy Spirit gift of tongues were not real why would the devil bother to counterfeit it? He can and does.
The principle is saying anything the Holy Spirit does through a believer is of the devil in blasphemy and without forgiveness. It obviously does not just apply to saying that about Jesus.
I am sure you do not want to do this intentionally:
2 Peter 3:16

King James Version (KJV)

16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.

However the saying is true: If one keeps going in a direction they will eventually get there.

well, its quite simple really. When you speak in tongues, do you knwo your doing it and can everyone understand you? Especially do people hear you in their native tongue? If this isnt happening than it isnt the Holy Spirit doing it, regardless to what you may think. Its that simple. The Spirit did it one way and one way only, he isnt going to change it 1800 years later. sorry...

[lesjude]

well, its quite simple really. When you speak in tongues, do you knwo your doing it and can everyone understand you? Especially do people hear you in their native tongue? If this isnt happening than it isnt the Holy Spirit doing it, regardless to what you may think. Its that simple. The Spirit did it one way and one way only, he isnt going to change it 1800 years later. sorry...

What is Paul saying here?
1 Corinthians 14:13-17

King James Version (KJV)



14 For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful. (It is "unknown" to him and those that may hear him but it is a true language of men or angels as Paul says)

15 What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also. (Again it is an unknown language to Paul of men or angels)

16 Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest?  (the same idea again)

17 For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified. (Paul is saying you are speaking by the Holy Spirit in a language unknown to you but understood by God. However the other person does not understand it either, only God receiving perfect thanks)
Here is tongues used to speak to God and no one else using a Holy Spirit tongue of men or angels:1 Corinthians 14:2

King James Version (KJV)

2 For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.
Here is what "unknown" tongues are:1 Corinthians 13:1

King James Version (KJV)

13 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

[Kilika]

(We might want to do a topic split on the tongues dialog. The conversation is drifting! )

.
Are you referring to the work of one of the leading researchers on drugs and the brain or what the Bible says about putting poison in a Christian's body knowingly and deliberately to get "healed" when Jesus provides drug/poison free healing? This obviously does not apply to knowingly and willingly taking a substance that in any amount harms the body to be healed when Jesus provides healing.
Exactly. Faith without works is dead. Trusting Jesus alone for what He promises to His disciples based on clear promises in His word is not churcianity works. Saying that healing has passed away is by Jesus' own definition:
Matthew 15:8-9

King James Version (KJV)

8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.

9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
 Do y'all practice paganism i.e. Xmas and Easter? These are perfect examples of verse 9.

What a person puts in their body.

I know the researchers are full of it because they base their understanding on their own carnal knowledge of science, and not faith and thanksgiving.

Jesus tells us that nothing shall by any means harm us, though we shall suffer tribulations. However we also see scripture that tells us that it is our own freedom to eat or not eat a given thing, because it's still by faith.

That said, Jesus reminded Satan, "Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God".

Clearly we are not to tempt God by drinking Draino (or handling snakes!) or something. But we are to receive it with thanksgiving what we decide is clean and eatable. There is no custom one way or the other, it's a personal choice of what you deem clean or unclean, as we are no longer under the law to define what is unclean.

"It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, [they] are spirit, and [they] are life." John 6:63 (KJB)