Musing – Did the Bible Predict Growing Popularity of Psychedelic Drugs Use?

 

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Hebraic Musing – Did the Bible Predict Growing Popularity of Psychedelic Drugs Use?

The stock market jumped* and headline gave the reason – “Psychedelic Drugs (PD) Market Projected to Reach $6.85 Billion by 2027”   The stock market increase was due to anticipated growth in PD companies. 

Another article says “We can no longer ignore the potential of psychedelic drugs to treat depression.”  And we all recognize that the Covid lockdown has had a significant impact on mental health, depression and anxiety (in my own case, stir-craziness).  Pharmaceutical funds have been in focus ever since the Covid-19 pandemic caused a global lockdown.  Why?  PD are used for treatment of anxiety, depression and addiction, a re-emerging therapeutic paradigm. 

What is the Biblical perspective?  Revelation 18:23 describes the finality of Babylon's Fall.  “The light of a lamp shall not shine in you anymore, and the voice of bridegroom and bride shall not be heard in you anymore. For your merchants were the great men of the earth, for by your sorcery all the nations were deceived.”  NKJV   The Greek word “Pharmakeia” is translated to “Sorceries” 6 times in NKJV.  If you substitute the Gr. “pharmakeia” for the word “sorceries”, verse 23 reads “For by thy pharmakeia were ALL nations deceived”   BTW - “Pharmakeia” is where we get our English word “pharmacy”!

Are PD being promoted?  A quick, but unreliable, Google search reveals many articles claiming psychedelic stimulants are beneficial and even Biblically justified!  For example, articles explain “Moses encountered God 'because he was stoned - again.”  And they contend that Moses’ “Burning Bush” was an hallucination.  Many Bible accounts are explained away as visions and quotes resulted from PD influence.  So use of PD is now being justified as Biblical (by and for those who need to rely on Googled internet articles to justify their behavior).

Pharmaceutical companies are a well-organized and professionalized system benefiting from the large profits dependent in great part on sales of PD.  The Bible reveals that Babylon will deceive all nations by the use of pharmaceuticals that are connected to “magical arts” and idolatry; both have deep roots in witchcraft and the occult world.  

We don’t have to do a deep Bible study to know that Satan is directly behind the magical arts and mind alterations.  God’s people should have nothing to do with it.  Some professing but deceived Christians today use “magical arts” under the disguise of contemplative prayer, “Christian humanism”, meditation, yoga, etc.  These involve sorcery, witchcraft, and magic and rely on use of “magic” potions to “heal”, deceive, poison, control, or kill someone.  

BTW – An interesting Wikipedia comment – “Many Christian denominations disapprove of the use of most illicit drugs.  However many permit the moderate use of socially and legally acceptable drugs like alcohol, caffeine and tobacco.  And some denominations permit smoking tobacco, while others disapprove of it.”

So let’s ask the original question: Did the Bible Predict Growing Popularity of Psychedelic Drugs Use?
            (And you can peruse more Bible quotes to consider at the end of this musing.)

Points to ponder

What is the long-term cost of using PD for the immediate gratification?

What did Peter mean in 1 Peter 5:8 when he told us “Be self-controlled and alert.
Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”

♫ “Spirit of the living God, Fall afresh on me.
            Melt me, mold me, fill me, use me. Spirit of the living God, Fall afresh on me.. ♫

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                                      March 15, 2022
Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith”
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”  Weekly “Hebraic Musings”   insightsbyyosef.blogspot.com/

*  News Headline on February 26. 2021.

 

 

More Bible references to consider

Old Testament:

Leviticus 10:9   “Drink no wine or strong drink, you or your sons with you, when you go into the tent of meeting, lest you die. It shall be a statute forever throughout your generations.” ESV

Isaiah 5:11   “Woe to those who rise early in the morning to run after their drinks, who stay up late at night till they are inflamed with wine.” NIV

Isa 47:9    “But these two things shall come to you In a moment, in one day: The loss of children, and widowhood.  They shall come upon you in their fullness because of the multitude of your sorceries, (Pharmakeia) for the great abundance of your enchantments.”   NKJV

Isa  47:12   “Stand now with your enchantments And the multitude of your sorceries, In which you have labored from your youth—Perhaps you will be able to profit, Perhaps you will prevail…. Let now the astrologers, the stargazers, And the monthly prognosticators Stand up and save you From what shall come upon you.”  NKJV

Proverbs 20:1   “Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler; whoever is led astray by them is not wise.”  NIV

Proverbs 23:29-35   “Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaints? Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes?  Those who linger over wine, who go to sample bowls of mixed wine.  Do not gaze at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly!  In the end it bites like a snake and poisons like a viper.   Your eyes will see strange sights, and your mind will imagine confusing things.  You will be like one sleeping on the high seas, lying on top of the rigging.  “They hit me,” you will say, “but I’m not hurt! They beat me, but I don’t feel it! When will I wake up so I can find another drink?”  NIV

Proverbs 25:28   “Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self-control.”  NIV

Micah 5:12   “I will cut off sorceries from your hand, And you shall have no soothsayers.”   NKJV

Nahum 3:4   “Because of the multitude of harlotries of the seductive harlot, the mistress of sorceries, Who sells nations through her harlotries, And families through her sorceries.” NKJV

New Testament:

Acts 8:11 (Dealing with a deceiver)  “And they heeded him because he had astonished them with his sorceries for a long time.” NKJV

Galatians 5:19-21  “Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”  NKJV .

Ephesians 5:18   “Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.”

1 Corinthians 10:13  “No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.” NIV   This verse has to do with temptations and addictions, the key point that addicts and loved ones of addicts should take from this verse is the last sentence: 

1 Peter 5:8   “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”  NIV

Revelation 9:21  “And they did not repent of their murders or their sorceries (Drugs) or their sexual immorality or their thefts.”  NKJV