Originally posted by saturneptune:
No, that is NOT the issue. The issue is how does a born again believer say and I quote, "Drugs should be legalized....."
People are morally responsible before God unless their behavior directly infringes upon someone else's rights. Christians should not be in favor of putting government between God and men.
How does a born again believer say no help should be provided to help those on drugs get off of them.
I didn't say that... if you were answering me. I said that government has no business interferring in people's lives this way. I have also said that churches and private individuals should take care of these people because they will minister to the soul... the root of the problem... and not just the mind and body.
One of the biggest reasons gov't should not be involved is that such interference opposes the gospel by teaching people that they can either reform themselves or else be reformed by government sponsored doctors.
That is a fine stance to take when we are suppose to treat our body as a living sacrifice, love our neighbor, and help those in need. Romans 12:1 and the Good Samaritan, plus numerous other passages.
No where in any of those passages will you find a case for voting to take someone else's money so someone can "love" these people for a paycheck. The OPM principle certainly isn't found in the Good Samaritan story.
Moreover, you will not find in those passages that Christians should support the social gospel, doing "good" for the sake of good... much less for the glory of men.
Drugs are here, regardless of how or why they got here, or what it was like 50 years ago. People have to be responsible for their actions by law,
Yes... which means if they choose to destroy themselves through immoral and stupid behavior... gov't should leave them alone.
and we as believers should help, encourage, and do any thing we can to lead that person to Jesus and lift them out of the mess they are in.
Absolutely... and our gov't is not a Christian organization nor is it an arm of God's kingdom to fix everyone's life and baby sit them.
I am not sure that is the Libertarian view, maybe a distorted one, but the idea of letting people have drugs then letting them rot, violates both responsibility and compassion.
No it doesn't. And I didn't say we should just let them have them. We should warn them, evangelize them, and, yes, through the ministries of our churches rescue those we can. But this IS NOT a proper role for the government of a free society.
In fact, it is that underlying desire to evade the direct responsibility to help those around us that makes one support government action like you do. That voice says, "Someone should do something but not me... the gov't should do it... with other people's money of course".
You call turning these poor people over to the compassion of the federal gov't "Christian"?
I do not see one element of Christianity in this idea, in fact it turns my stomach, bordering on pure evil.
I do not see one element of Christianity in the idea that we should turn those in need over to a government and its religion of humanism that will perhaps save the body but also teach a person that human goodness can save them... that will tell them that their depraved, sinful behavior is subject to some "cure" contrived by materialistic science.
That combination is the worst our country could possibly experience.
Government dependency is worse... and one of the biggest causes for the continuing problems we have to include the drug problem.
But then again, this post is compatable to the common sense, love of this country, and love of others found in the other posts.
But then again, this is compatible with someone who thinks they have the infallible ability to read other's motives and thoughts without actually listening to them or considering what they say.