The great hymns of the church are on the way out. They are not gone entirely, but they are going and in their place have come trite jingles that have more in common with contemporary advertising ditties than the psalms. The problem here is not so much the style of the music, though trite words fit best with trite tunes and harmonies. Rather it is with the content of the songs. The old hymns expressed the theology of the Bible in profound and perceptive ways and with winsome memorable language. Today’s songs are focused on ourselves. They reflect our shallow or nonexistent theology and do almost nothing to elevate our thoughts about God. Worst of all are songs that merely repeat a trite idea, word, or phrase over and over again. Songs like this are not worship, though they may give the church-goer a religious feeling. They are mantras, which belong more in a gathering of New Agers than among the worshiping people of God.
James Montgomery Boice

Pharmakeia Narcotics In The B

Pharmakeia Narcotics In The B

From: David Canfil
To: Jim Bowman
25-Nov-87 08:36pm
Subject: PHARMAKEIA

Hello, Jim. Thank you for the message from Kansas City, and for the testimonial of faith. I hope this finds you abiding well in the Lord Jesus Christ.

In response to your question, *pharmakeia* is the Gk. word that’s translated ‘witchcraft’ or ‘sorcery’ in Gal. 5.20, i.e. one of the ‘works of the flesh’. This Gk. word is the source of our Eng. words like ‘pharmacy’, ‘pharmaceutical’, etc. Drugs are inferred.

The study of the origin and development of words (called ‘Etymology’) can sometimes mislead as much as clarify. But narcotics and hallucinogenic drugs were not uncommon in NT times. For instance, the Oracles of Delphi apparently used *Datura* during their quests for visions. This is the scientific, Latin classification of Jimson weed. It contains powerful alkaloids (biochemical bases of vegetable origin which include many other drugs, quite a number of which have narcotic or hallucinogenic effects: e.g. mescaline, cocaine, morphine, etc., etc.).

In Carlos Casteneda’s books about his anthropological research with a Yaqui Indian ‘brujo’ (Spanish for ‘witch’, or ‘sorcerer’), we encounter Datura being employed for vision quests. The sorcerer also uses mescaline, and various other substances.

Now, the majority of people abusing drugs today aren’t using the drugs as parts of deliberate supernatural rituals, but for ‘recreation’.

The supernatural, however, is inescapable whether a person believes in it or not.

One form of worship today which doesn’t seem like religion at first, but which is very common and which does in fact have supernatural significance, is Self. People love pleasures rather than God. When we are selfish it does no harm to God, it hurts us.

Much drug use today begins as a quest for self-absorbed pleasure, or escape. The drugs are not inherently evil in themselves. The evil emerges from unredeemed hearts and minds as they commit spiritual adultery.

The enemy tries to fuel these processes along, trying to bring people under physical, psychological and spiritual bondage. Satanists are often involved in chains of supply, and they are involved in two ways.

First of all, people covenanted with the evil one are often the actual suppliers of drugs. Noticed how it often happens that authorities arrest users, dealers and smugglers, but very seldom the actual, original suppliers? They seem ‘protected’, and are, by dark forces.

Secondly, just as Christians seek God’s will and blessings on their enterprises, satanists often dose drug operations and the drugs themselves with ‘energy’, i.e. spells, seeking their master’s purposes. People who are not believers in anything then obtain and use the drugs, and they are extremely vulnerable.

I’m not communicating speculations here, and share things not ordinarily suspected or understood. As we seek to serve our Lord Jesus Christ in the world, satanists seek to serve their master. We seek souls. They do too. We seek to free captives. They seek to captivate and bring souls under bondage.

Drugs can be ‘useful’ operations. Also grab lots of money. The mafia and others who help supply the drugs think they are getting power, but actually a power is using them.

Finally, it has to be said that kids are RIGHT to seek meanings beyond the ‘normal’ values of middle-class American life, beyond the values of personal affluence plus personal ‘happiness’ plus nothing. But drugs aren’t the answer. They aren’t a satisfactory alternative.

I hope my response to your question proves useful. See also, by the way, Rev. 9.21 and 18.23.

Rejoice, my brother, for our Lord Jesus Christ redeems His own. Yours always in Him,

David.
* Origin: Trinity 2 – Faringdon, Oxfordshire (511/113)