This outline may be used as sermon notes or as content that may be incorporated into a sermon on a related topic, eg, holiness and Christian living. It incorporates visual material which may be copied for use as OHP slides or PowerPoint projections. The Theology Hub offers additional material.

Passage: Select from amongst references in notes.

Introduction

Entertainment and excitement. Two things which most people crave for in their lives, at least at some time. The question then arises as to what is wholesome and acceptable, and what is damaging and unacceptable. Boundary lines are always difficult to draw, and for the Christian they should inevitably be drawn in different places from those for the non-Christian.

In their pursuit for unusual experiences the children of Hogwarts, the school of wizardry and witchcraft in the ‘Harry Potter’ books, eat with great delight the sweets called ‘Bertie Botts Every Flavour Beans’. The sweets are unique, their flavours can be enjoyed because you are not quite certain of what to expect. However the experience is not always a happy one, eating them can be a risky business, as Dumbledore, the wizard headmaster of Hogwarts, is only too well aware – the only two flavours he ever tried turn out to be vomit flavour and ear wax!

(At the time of writing ‘Bertie Botts Every Flavour Beans’ could be purchased from confectionary shops and supermarkets.)

People experiment with drugs for similar reasons. They want to experience excitement and, for many, taking risks is part of that excitement. Peer influence also plays its part, just as Hogwarts’ pupils would have influenced each other.

Alcohol, tobacco and illegal drugs all have mind-altering properties as well as physical effects. Their use could be viewed as an exercise in risk management – all dependent on the individual’s perception of cost and benefit.

What are the spiritual risks of choosing wrongly?

Distorted Vision

Image 1 – (Picture of a woman seated at a mirror which also resembles a skull)

Look at this picture. What do we see? Death or beauty?

How do we see ourselves, warts and all?

Do we ever feel the vulnerability of our own mortality?

Or do we see the perfection which will eventually be attainable in us if we choose to live our lives in God’s way?

(See Genesis 1:27. Notice the divine benediction which God pronounces over mankind in verse 28. Note the blessings and the instructions, do these have anything to say to us in this context?)

Our relationship with God has only been re-established only through Jesus Christ and we will not see him fully revealed in his glory until we go to be with him in heaven. Paul put it like this:

“Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.” (1 Cn 13:12)

Wrongdoing will mean not only that our view of God is hindered and our vision of Jesus distorted, but the way in which we see ourselves is also impaired. Notice that the mind-altering properties of legal and illegal drugs make it less easy to focus on God and more likely that the centre of attention will be oneself and the experience.

We must confront our own mortality,

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)

Restored Vision

Clarity of vision comes when we enter into the presence of God.

Moses couldn’t see clearly what God wanted him to do, or how he wanted him to do it.

His understanding was distorted. God invited him to come into his holy presence, “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground” (Ex 3:5).

We need to be clothed in holiness and cannot accomplish that ourselves. We need the holiness of Christ (Ephesians 4:24). Our vision can only be restored when we turn away from those things that distort our understanding of God and his holiness. We are tempted to walk away from God in our own footwear, rather than walk towards God with our feet naked, a sign of submission, humility and dependence. Do mind-altering substances pass this test?

We are invited to worship the Lord in the ‘beauty of holiness’ (Ps 96.9), only then will we be able to see more clearly.

(Refer to the letter to the Church in Laodicea, the area produced a famous eye salve and yet they are still described as ‘blind’ – Rev 3:14-22)

Distorted Understanding

Image 2 – (A bunny when viewed one way and a flying duck when turned 90˚.)

I invite you to understand this picture. Think about it for a moment – what do you think – perhaps it’s the Parable of the Easter Bunny!

Jesus continually challenged the understanding of those who would follow him. Certainly his parables challenged the understanding of his disciples as well as the crowds. But the teaching of Jesus had a purpose – to bring people to a complete understanding of his heavenly Father and the Kingdom of Heaven. So many of the parables speak about the love of God and give us a picture of his mercy (eg, the lost son, Luke 15:11-31).

Jesus meets us where we are, without prejudice or judgement, as he invites us to understand the Good News.

One of the problems with the social use of drugs is that they affect our minds – our understanding is distorted. We are not made to be ‘out of our right minds’.

Of course, some drugs have medical uses – and the amount of ‘mind-altering’ which occurs with social use is dependent on factors such as quantity, quality and expectation.

Improperly used, drugs distort our understanding, just as being too confident in our own ability can distort our understanding.

“Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight.

Woe to those who are heroes at drinking wine and champions at mixing drinks” (Isaiah 5:21,22)

The woes of chapter 5 deplore the condition of those described. Judgements follow – see verses 24 to 25. Are the woes and judgements of chapter 5 useful to help us understand what God requires of us in the 21st century?

Putting confidence in drugs is as misguided as putting confidence in our own efforts, neither puts us into a right relationship with God. Can we understand this? In effect, it seems likely that drug use makes it less likely for the user to acknowledge God’s claim on their lives.

Back to our picture….. Of course, a moment’s reflection, or even rotation(!), will show that we have been deceived, the picture is not of a rabbit at all, we are looking at it from the wrong angle. (show image 2 showing the ‘rabbit’ rotated through 90 degrees). From a different perspective you can readily identify it as a duck!

(The parable of the wise and foolish builders (Matthew 7:24-29) might be suitable here. The important thing is unambiguous communication with God.)

Restored understanding

Restored understanding comes when we enter into God’s presence with an open mind, not one distorted by either a sense of our own importance, or reliance on some other device to impact on our physical, mental, emotional and, inevitably, spiritual faculties.

Blessed Lord, to see Thee truly,

Then to tell as I have seen,

This shall rule my life supremely,

This shall be the sacred gleam.

Sealed again is all the sealing,

Pledged again my willing heart,

First to know Thee, then to serve Thee,

Then to see Thee as Thou art.

Albert Osborn

Distorted Service

Image 3 – Roger Hayward’s ‘undecidable’ monument (are there two or three pillars?)

Putting trust in wrong things will inevitably affect our conduct, our availability to serve God and the ways in which we can serve him.

To worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness we need each thought and each motive to be under his control.

Take time to be holy, be calm in thy soul;

Each thought and each motive beneath his control;

Thus led by his Spirit to fountains of love,

Thou soon shalt be fitted for service above.

From the classic holiness hymn ‘Take time to be holy’ by William Dunn Longstaff

The need for holiness is very clear.

“Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honour God with your body.” (1 Cn 6:19f)

The trouble is that people can rely on things which will distort our bodies, just as this picture of a temple is distorted – it is an impossible temple. (Using image 3)

(See also 2 Corinthians 6:16. Are mind-altering drugs the major idolatry of the 21st century? See also 1 Peter 2:5)

How can we serve God if we do not aspire to his standards of purity and readiness?

Is it more or less likely that a person will be ready to do the bidding of the Holy Spirit if his or her mind has been altered by the use of drugs, even for a short time?

Supposing God wants us to go and help someone we see in the street, but our mind is otherwise occupied. How can we do the Lord’s work under these conditions?

Restored Service

There are many things which would draw us away from a relationship with the living God. Inappropriate use of drugs is just one of a range of things that could effectively isolate us from serving him as he wants.

“Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm, let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labour in the Lord is not in vain.” (1 Cn 15:58)

We are restored to service when we are restored into full relationship with God. Jesus alone brings us restitution. Peter himself had to learn this lesson from Jesus (refer to John 21).

Conclusion

Train operators forbid their drivers to have any unauthorised drugs in their body when they are at work serving the public. Maximum concentration is needed because the world in which they work is hazardous.

Christians should be employed in the work of God 24 hours a day. The world is a hazardous place in which to be a Christian. God needs us to be alert to him at all times. Surely that is not too much to give to a God who sent his son as a once and for all sacrifice.

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:1,2)

(For an address dealing with temptations faced by the Christians Psalm 121 can be a good starting point)

Devised by Majors Carol and Martin Whybrow, Salvation Army