BiblicalInsights.net

Is everyone awake?  The apostle Paul used the word awake in a metaphorical sense in I Cor. 15:33-34.  “Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.  Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.”  Paul used the Greek word eknēphō which refers to a return to soberness of mind from the stupor consequent upon the influence of false doctrine.  The context shows that the false doctrine being taught at Corinth was that there was no resurrection from the dead (I Cor. 15:12).  Paul thoroughly answers this false doctrine in I Corinthians 15 showing the disastrous spiritual consequences of such a doctrine.
Stop Being Seduced
In I Cor. 15:33, Paul issues a negative imperative.  The KJV translates this phrase, “be not deceived.”  Paul commands that they cease to err, no longer be led astray, or stop being seduced. False doctrine seduces and deceives.  Evil communications is a direct reference to the associations, intercourse, or company that is kept with false teachers with whom they have become closely bound.  The warning is against allowing false teachers to influence their thought and their actions.  False doctrine corrupts godly character.  When truth is corrupted, character is corrupted (sin abounds).  The doctrine of the resurrection affirms life after death.  At death, the soul is separated from the body (James 2:26). When Jesus died, His body was placed in a tomb and His spirit/soul went to paradise (Luke 23:43; 23:53).  When He was resurrected, His soul and body were reunited (a miracle).  The doctrine of the resurrection implies the intermediate state of the soul.  This also indicates that human beings are a duality–body and soul.  Consequently, the doctrine of the resurrection proves that we have a soul.  The soul of man never dies.  To deny the resurrection, is to affirm a materialistic view of human anthropology.  It is the view of the atheist who affirms, “Let us eat, drink, and be merry for tomorrow we die.”  An atheist does not believe that there is any life beyond the grave and so advances a philosophy of hedonism.  This belief produces a spiritual stupor from which we must awake if we are going to be right with God.
Awake to Righteousness
Awake is a positive imperative.  The Greek word translated awake is found only here in the New Testament.  The word means to become sober.  It is used metaphorically in this context.  False doctrine inebriates the mind and causes a spiritual stupor or intoxication that puts us to sleep (unaware, ignorant, vulnerable).  The knowledge of God enlightens the mind and arouses us out of this stupor.  Awaking to righteousness is accomplished by turning to God and the truth.  Righteousness is truth lived out in godly conduct.  Righteous conduct is defined by God through the moral and religious precepts given in His Word.  Truth produces moral power and godly character.  Paul rebukes the brethren at Corinth because some did not have the knowledge of God.  This reminds us of a similar rebuke that Jesus gave to the Sadducees because they denied the resurrection from the dead (Matt. 22:29).  Jesus told them that they erred not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God.  Ignorance of God and His truth contributes to spiritual stupor.  The knowledge of God is essential to awaken us to righteousness.  Paul states, “I speak this to your shame.”  They permitted false teachers to deceive them.  All false teachers and those who follow them are ignorant.  They rejected the doctrine of the resurrection thus denying the fact that they had a soul and their own salvation.  They corrupted themselves in ungodly living.
Awake to righteousness is a positive imperative that powerfully leads to overcoming false doctrine by adhering to the truth of God’s Word.  False doctrine seduces the soul and corrupts the whole person.  The knowledge of God is essential to righteousness living.  This is a message that all people need to hear and heed.

A contemporary commercial from Spectrum uses a variety of descriptive terms to indicate words that are vain, empty and meaningless.  Words like:  hooey, balderdash, flimflam, flapdoodle, jibber-jabber, hemming and hawing, and hogwash.  Hooey is nonsense.  Balderdash is senseless talk or writing.  Flimflam is “deceptive nonsense.” Flapdoodle is nonsense, silly or stupid.  Jibber-jabber is senseless talk.  Hemming and hawing is to speak in an evasive, vague way to avoid the truth.  Hogwash is nonsense.  The terms are colorful and make a distinctive point.
In the New Testament, there are a variety of descriptive terms and phrases that indicate false doctrine.  Since all false doctrine is untrue, it is meaningless and vain.  What follows is a survey of some of these terms.
The traditions and commandments of men.  “But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?” And, “But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men” (Matt. 15:3,9.  See also, Col. 2:8 and 22).  In religious conduct and action, it is vain to follow the traditions and commandments of men.  Vain worship is the result of such blindness.
Vain jangling.  “Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned: From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling” (I Tim. 1:5-6).  Vain jangling is foolish talking.  When a person attempts to teach another person what they themselves do not understand, the result is vain jangling.
Blasphemy.  Paul speaks of Hymenaeus and Alexander whom he delivered to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme (I Tim. 1:20).  To blaspheme is to speak against God or that which is holy.  Paul, before his conversion, describes himself as a blasphemer (I Tim. 1:13).  At the time, Paul did not believe that Jesus Christ was the Son of God.  He spoke against Christianity and persecuted the Lord’s church.
Seducing spirits and doctrines of devils.  “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils” (I Tim. 4:1).  Seducing spirits are working through men who are filled with hypocrisy and speak lies.  Lies are pure vanity or hogwash.  Lies cannot save.  Only the truth saves!  Doctrines of devils describes the source and content of the lies delivered by men.  Satan himself is the father of lies (John 8:44).  When men lie, they do the work of the devil and his cohorts.
Lies.  “Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron” (I Tim. 4:2).  Some examples of lies:  (1) the first lie in the Bible, Satan said to Eve, “Ye shall not surely die” (Gen. 3:4); (2)  Hymenaeus and Philetus taught that the resurrection is past already and overthrew the faith of some (II Tim. 2:17-18); (3) Some Jewish Christians were teaching that Gentiles had to be circumcised and keep the Law of Moses which was not true (Acts 15:1, 24).  The apostles and elders wrote a letter to be distributed among the Gentile churches which, in part, said, “Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment” (Acts 15:24).  Yet, there are still religious teachers today who affirm that Gentiles have to keep the law of Moses (the Ten Commandments are part of the Law of Moses).  The Mosaical Law was fulfilled by Jesus Christ and, upon His death on the cross, a new law or testament went into force (Col. 2:14; Heb. 9:15-17).  Today, we are living under the law of Christ, not the law of Moses. All men are amenable to the law of Christ (Matt. 28:18-20).
Profane and old wives’ fables.  “But refuse profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness” (I Tim. 4:7).  The word “fable” is translated from the Greek word muthos.  A fable or myth is an account that does not align with the facts.  It is not grounded in historical reality. Hence, it is the opposite of the truth. These fables are profane, i.e. without sacred merit.  Superstitious stories such as are told by old women to children.  Timothy was to avoid these and reject them.
Profane and vain babblings.  “O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and opposition of science falsely so called: which some professing have erred concerning the faith. Grace be with thee. Amen” (I Tim. 6:20).  Profane babblings are worldly chatter or godless speaking.  Timothy is to hold to the gospel of Christ and not forsake it for such flapdoodle.
Oppositions from science falsely so-called.  This phrase does not refer to modern science as we know it.  The word “science” in this sense is not found in the New Testament.  Rather, this phrase refers to those who claimed a knowledge inaccessible to others (proto-Gnostics). This type of knowledge was a “falsely named” ideology.  It was not knowledge at all.  If you do not know the truth, you do not know anything. All false doctrine is classified as ignorance and is part of the darkness of this world.  Only the knowledge of God will dispel this darkness (I Cor. 15:33-34).
Folly.  In a list of nineteen sins which would characterize the last days (Christian Age), Paul names folly or senselessness.  These men were without understanding.  Consequently, they opposed the truth as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses.  The content of their teaching was flimflam.
Fables and Jewish fables.  Paul warns Timothy of Christians who would be turned away from the truth unto fables (II Tim. 4:4).  In Titus 1:14, he warns against Jewish fables.  As we have already seen, a fable is a myth and does not comport with the truth.  Jewish fables were likely stories based upon perversions of the Old Testament incidents. A current illustration of a myth would be Darwin’s theory of the origin of humanity or organic evolution.
Philosophy, vain deceit, rudiments of this world.  “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ” (Col. 2:8).  Worldly systems of philosophy must be rejected.  Acts 17:18 mentions Epicureans and Stoics at Athens.  These men were materialistic deists and pantheists.  Epicureans sought happiness through serene detachment.  Stoics sought salvation by aligning the will with the inherent Reason of the universe.  Happiness results when one does not want things to be anything but what they are.  Both forms of philosophy missed the truth of the gospel of Christ.  Paul called them to repentance in Acts 17:30.
Vain deceit is another way of describing lies.  The rudiments of the world were delusive speculations of Gentile cults and Jewish theories treated as elemental principles.  Both were devoid of truth.  A modern illustration of worldly rudiments would be the belief that the arrangment of constellations at the time of one’s birth makes you behave in a certain way or display certain characteristics.  This is a form of determinism and superstition.  It is pure hooey!
All of these words and phrases denote information that is contrary to the truth.  None of these things can save a person’s soul from eternal damnation.  Only the blood of Christ saves from the wrath of God (Rom. 5:8-9).  Jesus is the truth (John 14:6).  The doctrine of Christ frees the soul from the servitude of sin (John 8:32).  True freedom is found only in Christ and His truth.

Douglas A. Foster wrote a critical biography of Alexander Campbell titled A Life Of Alexander Campbell.  A review of this book is posted on this blog under the page Book Reviews.  The review is fourteen and one-half pages which is longer than normal, but it gives a thorough review of the book.  Foster attempts to give the good and bad aspects of Campbell’s character and life.   The book shows the complexities of Campbell’s life, his indefatigable efforts in advancing his ideas and biblical principles, his weaknesses as a man, his multitudinous controversies, and his intellectual strengths.  Foster points out that Campbell is the almost forgotten man in respect to the development of religious life in America.  Forgotten even among the heirs of his own efforts at the restoration of New Testament Christianity.  Campbell does leave a legacy that needs to be explored in respect to the principles that are Scriptural and applicable to our own day.  Hopefully, you will read the review and then, begin a more zealous pursuit of the principles that guided Alexander Campbell to carefully study God’s Word and follow it wherever it led him.  His efforts led to the most significant indigenous religious movement in American history.  That effort is worthy of serious study and reflection.

Some giants are hidden in plain view.  There is a giant Burr Oak tree that stands near the Walnut Woods Metro Park along Lithopolis Rd., near Groveport, Ohio.  The tree stands in plain sight near the road and is easily seen from the road.  However, it was just recently (May, 2018) recognized as a co-champion Burr Oak in the state of Ohio.  The tree is estimated to be between 150 and 200 years old.  It is 105 feet tall and its trunk is 18 feet in circumference.  It was discovered by Marc DeWerth of the Big Trees of Ohio organization and certified by Alistar Reynolds, the Ohio Champion Tree coordinator for the Ohio Division of Forestry. Its co-champion tree is located in Pickaway County on the south bank of Giffery Run.  The tree near the park has been struck by lightning and it lost a large branch just this year, but it is still standing.  Wounded, yet standing, it towers above every tree nearby.  The Bible uses a tree to illustrate the strength and prosperity of the righteous who follow God’s Word.  In Psa. 1:1-6, a tree standing by the water is prosperous and fruitful.  Speaking of the righteous, the Psalmist states, “And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.”  The righteous are contrasted to the ungodly.  The ungodly are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.  The ungodly shall not stand in the judgment.  The righteous are like a tree planted by the waters that cannot be moved.  The apostle Paul indicates that one of the characteristics of the righteous is that they are steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord (I Cor. 15:58).  Through word association, let’s explore what it means to be steadfast.
Steadfastness:  Its Meaning and Uses
There are three adjectives and two nouns that indicate steadfast/steadfastness.  The adjectives are: bebaios meaning: firm, secure; hedraios, meaning: seated, steadfast or metaphorically, fixity.  It is used of moral fixity in I Cor. 7:37 (steadfast in his heart); and stereos, meaning:  firm, resistance (I Pet. 5:9).  The nouns are: stereōma, meaning: a support, foundation, denoting strength (Col. 2:5); and stērigmos, meaning: a setting firmly, supporting, fixedness (II Pet. 3:17).  (see W. E. Vine, Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words, IV, 73).
The Main Concepts Involved in Steadfastness
Steadfastness involves resistance to change when that change would take us away from Christ or place us in opposition to Christ.  I Peter 5:9 directs us to resist (stereos) the devil.  We must resist satan, when he tempts us to forsake Christ or place us in opposition to Christ.  We must resist any person when that person attempts to move us away from Christ or place us in opposition to Christ.  Steadfastness is not merely a passive trait. Inward strength helps us resist evil just like a tree which has the strength of life in it can withstand the winds and storms that rage against it.  A Christian must be strong and resist anything that would separate him/her from Christ.
Steadfastness involves being unmovable from our spiritual oneness with Christ.  In I Cor. 15:58 (hedraios), Paul marries steadfastness with being unmovable.  The idea is that of being in a fixed position.  Jesus indicates this very thought in John 15:1-10, where He instructs His disciples to “abide in me.”  Our spiritual life and vitality come from Jesus Christ. He is the vine and we are the branches.  As a result of being in Christ and abiding in Christ we are: purified, productive, will not be purged (cast out and burned); have our prayers answered, and remain in partnership with the Lord through love and obedience to His Word.
Steadfastness involves fixedness.  A permanent spiritual position that results in moral purity.  In Col. 1:23, Paul describes one who is grounded, settled and cannot be moved away from the faith which is in Christ Jesus.  Hedraios is used metaphorically of moral fixity (I Cor. 7:37).  To be steadfast in one’s heart means that we remain true to ourselves and the Lord Jesus Christ with regard to His teachings.  This is an inner spiritual strength and toughness in keeping our hearts pure.
Steadfastness involves being anchored.   Hope is an anchor to the soul (Heb. 6:19-bebaios). An anchor is another metaphor.  A ship requires an anchor in order to remain in one position or a fixed position while the winds and waves attempt to move the ship in various directions.  Faith and hope are two necessary aspects of steadfastness.  Faith is the foundation of hope.  If we do not have faith in God and His Word, we do not possess hope.  If we have faith (Heb. 11:6), then, we have hope.  Hope secures the soul in the midst of the storms of life.  Hope is confident expectation of good things to come.  No matter what the circumstances of life may be, when we have a foundation of faith in God, we have optimism that it will be well with our soul.
Steadfastness involves being grounded and settled.  Our lives as Christians are firmly placed upon a sure foundation.  “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ” (I Cor. 3:11).  Jesus describes the wise man as the person who hears His sayings and doeth them (Matt. 7:24-25).  He builds his life upon the rock.  Sterēoma is used in Col. 2:5, “For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ.”  We are the temple of God “built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone” (Eph. 2:20).  Consequently, we are not toss to and fro by every wind of doctrine (Eph. 4:14).
Steadfastness involves firmness.  The word of God cannot be broken (John 10:35).  The word of angels was stedfast and the word of Jesus Christ is even more so (Heb. 2:2-bebaios). God’s word stands like the rock of Gibraltar.  It is impregnable.  Thus, it provides security for the soul.  God’s word keeps us from being led astray by the error of the wicked whereby we would fall from our own steadfastness (II Pet. 3:17-stērigmos).
The truly wise among us will enter into God’s grace, love and mercy and stay there!  Do not be moved away from the faith that is in Christ Jesus.  Be steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord!  Perhaps you can be a spiritual giant hidden in plain view.

Thomas Zurbuchen selected the name Perseverance for the space rover sent to Mars following a nationwide K-12 student “name the rover” contest.  The contest attracted over 28,000 proposals.  A seventh grade student from Virginia, Alexander Mather from Lake Braddock Secondary School in Burke, VA, submitted the winning entry at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory.  He and his family were invited to Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in FL to watch the launch of the rover.  Mather wrote in his winning essay, “Curiosity, Insight, Spirit, Opportunity.  If you think about it, all of these names of past Mars rovers are qualities we possess as humans.  We are always curious, and seek opportunity.  We have the spirit and insight to explore the Moon, Mars, and beyond.  But, if rovers are to be the qualities of us as a race, we missed the most important thing.  Perseverance.”
It Takes Perseverance to Go to Mars
How far is it to Mars?  The average distance to Mars is 140 million miles.  How long would it take to get there?  If you were walking (about 4 mph) it would take 4,000 years!  By car at 70 mph it would take 228 years. By jet plane, it would take 32 years.  By space ship (the Apollo Ten space craft flew 39,896 km/h) it would take 8.4 months.  By space craft now at 58,599 mph…about 6 months, 18 days).  (distances provided by distancescalculator.com). If you want to track the rover, go to: eyes.nasa.gov and you can track the location in real time.  Wednesday, December 2, the rover had traveled 196,353,000 miles at 55,677 mph, with 96,172,000 miles to go.  67% of the trip has been completed (the trip is nearly 300 million miles).  Perseverance launched July 30, 2020 and will land on Mars Feb. 18, 2021. It takes perseverance to go to Mars.
The Definition of Perseverance
The apostle Paul in Eph. 6:18, states, “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.”  The Greek word translated by the English word perseverance means, “strong towards.”  It is an intensive form.  Thus, the word means, “unremitting, steadfast.” The Oxford English Dictionary gives the following definition to perseverance: “persistence in doing something despite opposition, difficulty, or delay in achieving success.”  The opposition can take many forms: enemies oppose, difficulties arise, and delays hinder.  Some quotes capture the essence of this word: “too determined to be defeated” and “Perserverance is the hard work you do after you get tired of doing the hard work you already did” (Newt Gingrich).  Perseverance is a character trait.  Some synonyms are: endurance, patience, steadfastness, unremitting, unrelenting, persistent and determined.
The Context of the Struggle
In Eph. 6:10-18, Paul establishes the need for perseverance in the context of the spiritual struggle that characterizes the Christian warfare.  The Christian life can be viewed as having:  a beginning, i.e. conversion; a goal, heaven; a journey, day to day living; opposition and obstacles, i.e. enemies; support and help, God, the armor of God, godly character, prayer, fellow Christians; and an end, i.e. victory.  We live our lives as Christians in the context of spiritual struggle.  When we become a New Testament Christian and are baptized into Christ (Gal. 3:26-27) we depart from iniquity.  We take a stand against evil and for righteousness.  Consequently, all evil forces will oppose us.   We must keep our eyes on the goal–heaven.  Like Paul, we must stay focused on the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus (Phil. 3:13-14).  Opposition will come from many sources.  In Eph. 6:12, Paul mentions the spiritual principalities, powers and rulers of the darkness of this world.  Satan and his allies will assail each Christian.  In Christ, we must face our enemies with courage and perseverance.  Satan opposes everything that is true, good and right.  He uses deception skillfully to ensnare the minds and hearts of people.  Christians are not defenseless.  We can and must equip ourselves with the whole armor of God.  This involves: truth, righteousness, the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God (Eph. 6:14-17).  With these spiritual instruments, we can fight and win decisively.  “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds, Casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalted itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ” (II Corinthians 10:4-5).  If God be for us, who can be against us? (Rom. 8:31).  Christians have the power of prayer.  Christians have godly character and stay attentive to the circumstances that they find themselves confronting.  They watch with all perseverance.  Dear Christian, never let down your guard.  Always be prepared to advance the faith and defend the faith which was once delivered to the saints (Jude 3).  We are assured the victory through Jesus Christ our Lord.  “But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through Jesus Christ our Lord” (I Cor. 15:57).  “Greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world” (I John 4:4). “Fight the good fight of the faith, lay hold on eternal life” (I Tim. 6:12).

In 2019, Alex Berenson wrote, Tell Your Children The Truth About Marijuana, Mental Illness and Violence. The book contains a warning about the harmful effects of marijuana especially that it causes psychosis and leads to violence.  I blogged on this book several months ago.  The warning has largely gone unheeded and many states have pushed to legalize marijuana as a medicine and as a recreational drug even though the Food and Drug Administration has not approved it as such.  Marijuana did not undergo rigorous testing by the FDA before being made available to the public as a medicine.  This by itself is outrageous.  Now, the harmful effects warned about in 2019 by Berenson are coming to fruition.  The gut-wrenching story of Johnny Stack is evidence of that fact.  This story appeared in The Epoch Times, Oct. 14-20, 2020 and was written by Charlotte Cuthbertson.  The title of the article is, High-Potency Marijuana, Psychosis, and Suicide: Johnny Stack’s Story.  I am going to give the highlights in this brief blog.
Johnny was 19 and addicted to high-potency marijuana.  His mother, Laura Stack, remarked to the Epoch Times, “I just can’t believe that he had to grow up in Colorado–the first state to legalize it–and my son has to be the victim.”  Johnny started smoking marijuana in 2014 after the state legalized its commercial use.  He was 14.  The real problems started in 2016, when Johnny started taking “dabs” (high potency marijuana) which could contain more than 80 percent tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main psychoactive ingredient in the cannabis plant.  Dabbing is a fairly new and popular way to consume concentrated THC. The THC is stripped out of the cannabis plant most commonly using butane (making butane hash oil) or propane.  A further process then strips away the butane, leaving a dabble concentrate, which is vaporized–via glass rig or vaping device–into smoke that’s inhaled.  It can be odorless.  Other forms of butane hash oil include waxes, shatters, and budders–which are similar, but have different textures. In 1995, the average potency (THC level) was around 4 percent. Now, even regular marijuana buds sold at a dispensary can have 25 percent potency.  The state (Colorado) that went all-in on marijuana is facing the ugly side of a drug that’s now so potent, it’s triggering cannabis-induced psychosis, especially in teens.  After Johnny started dabbing, he went from being a happy teenager with a 4.2 GPA to failing classes and becoming withdrawn.  Eventually, he dropped out of all the activities he was involved in.  He stopped associating with previous friends and became more defiant.  His father, John Stack, attributed the change in behavior to teenage rebellion.  Neither parent connected the changes to marijuana.  They knew nothing about dabbing.  By 18, Johnny moved away from home.  He told his parents that he loved marijuana.  By August, 2018, Johnny was attending Colorado State University in Fort Collins and was dabbing every day.  He was addicted to high-potency marijuana.  Two weeks into college, Laura received a text from Johnny saying he was nervous about not making friends.  Laura responded that it was perfectly natural to be nervous about not making friends.  Johnny replied, “Is it perfectly natural to think about killing yourself every day?”  Laura and John immediately went and got Johnny and  disenrolled him from school.  He was placed in a hospital and was suicidal.  The hospital held Johnny for 72 hours and released him.  He told his mom while on the phone with her that when they let him go, he was going to try and kill himself.  Later, Johnny tried to hang himself in his dorm room.  Laura called the police and they were able to reach him and stop him.  His parents took him to the hospital.  He was suicidal, psychotic.  This time Johnny stayed in the hospital for two weeks until all of the marijuana was out of his system.  Marijana can be detected in a chronic users urine for more than 30 days after his/her last hit.  Over the next three months, Johnny sobered up.  He got a job working at a kennel.  He attended classes to help with his anxiety.  He told his parents that he was ready to go back to college.  So, they sent him to the University of Northern Colorado.  A few weeks later, Johnny started dabbing again.  By April, he was delusional.  Laura related, “He called me at 3 o’clock in the morning and said his phone was bugged, his dorm was bugged.”  Johnny was 19 and his parents were blocked from his medical information.  His parents grew frustrated with the system and they were not able to find out about his medical condition.  Johnny was at UNC and he thought the mob was after him and his parents were helpless.  Johnny ended up in another mental hospital for several weeks.  He was put on antipsychotic medications and his parents were told that it might take six to 12 months to recover.  Johnny left the hospital and went to a program center in Denver called Urban Peak.  They really helped him.  He became sober, got a place to rent and started working at Panera.  By June, Johnny seemed to be doing well.  He was working at PetSmart and his parents bought him a dog for support.  However, he stopped taking his medications and started dabbing again.  Then, all of sudden he told his parents he was not going to do weed anymore.  In November, he went to his parents house and opened up about his addiction.  He admitted that his parents were right about marijuana and said that the drug had ruined his mind and his life.  He told them he was sorry.  He told his mother that he loved her.  Then, three days later on Nov. 20, 2019, he jumped off a six-story building and ended his life.
The vast majority of youth in Christian Thurstone’s substance treatment program are obtaining marijuana through the medical route.  In Colorado, youth can obtain a medical marijuana card at 18.  The legal age for recreational use is 21.  50 percent of 18-year-olds are still in high school and any of these can easily become a dealer for the whole high school.  Thurstone states that “historically, only 6 percent of adolescents who need substance treatment get it.”  The link between marijuana and suicide is evident.  In Colorado, suicide was the leading cause of death among youth aged 10 to 18 between 2013 and 2017 according to the state’s health department.  In 2004, 26 percent of young people had alcohol in their bodies at the time, while 15 percent had marijuana. In 2017, 9 percent had alcohol and 32 percent had marijuana.
Johnny Stack’s story is being repeated across America.  His parents are attempting to spread the word about the dangers of marijuana.  They want others to know what Johnny said himself, “that marijuana ruined my mind and my life.”  I have dedicated this blog to helping them reach others with this message.  Hopefully, we can help other families avoid a grief that is “unimaginable, deep, raw, and ever present.”

The greatest sermon ever delivered was given by Jesus Christ and recorded in Matthew 5-7.  The sermon is often designated, “The Sermon on the Mount.”  In this sermon, Jesus reveals the identifying traits of true discipleship.  A study of this sermon will help anyone differentiate between the authentic disciple of Jesus who possesses integrity and the hypocrite who makes claims to be a follower of Jesus, but whose heart is far from Him.  Please consider some of the qualities that belong to that authentic disciple who walks with integrity as given in Matthew 5.
Godly Character Counts in Discipleship
In Matt. 5:1-12, Jesus lists eight beatitudes.  Each of these beatitudes reflects part of the godly character that must be evident in the life of a disciple.  They are:  the poor in spirit (humble), those that mourn (godly sorrow), the meek (inner strength), those who hunger and thirst after righteousness (a passion for right living and to be like Christ), the merciful (lovingkindness), the pure in heart (free from the admixture of evil), the peacemakers (seek oneness with God and man), and the persecuted (willingness to suffer for righteousness sake).  Those who possess this righteous character are truly blessed.  The word blessed indicates that they stand in the grace of God and will receive the rewards that are associated with each beatitude. The word describes the spiritual standing in Christ that brings all spiritual blessings (Eph. 1:3).
Salt and Light
“Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savor, wherewith shall it be salted?  It is therefore good for nothing, but  to be cast out, and to be trodden under the foot of men” (Matt. 5:13).  Salt retains its value only if it maintains its distinctive character.  Jesus desires that His followers maintain righteousness as a distinctive aspect of discipleship.  Faithfulness in pursuing and displaying Christlikeness is a mark of discipleship.  “Ye are the light of the world.  A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid” (Matt. 5:14).  Jesus’ disciples must “burn as lamps lit from His fire” (He is the light of the world, John 8:12).  Light pierces the darkness and makes sight possible.  The world lies in sin and ignorance.  Enlightenment comes through truth taught and practiced.  Light must not be hidden.  Let your light shine!  Through moral purity, moral integrity and good works our lives exert a positive influence in the world.  When we act like Christ, God is glorified (Matt. 5:16).
Obedience to the Commands of Christ
A disciple of Jesus Christ is not a disciple of Moses.  Jesus came to fulfill the law and to establish a new covenant that would permit all people to have access to God’s redemptive power. The prophet Jeremiah prophesied of this transition to a new covenant in Jeremiah 31:31-34.  The new covenant was necessary because the old covenant (the Mosaical Law) was not faultless (Heb. 8:8).  The old covenant was weak because the blood of bulls and goats could not take away sin (Heb. 10:3-4).  The blood of Christ does provide complete atonement for sin (Heb. 9:14-15) even for the sins under the first testament.  The New Testament is a universal law that gives access to God for all people through Jesus Christ (Matt. 28:18-20; John 14:6).  Later, in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus emphasizes that His commandments must be obeyed (Matt. 7:24-27).  A true disciple of Jesus Christ respects His authority and heeds His commands.
Six Areas of Focus in Righteous Living
The righteousness of Jesus’ followers must exceed the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees (Matt. 5:20).  Righteousness is conduct approved by God and in harmony with His Word.  Jesus lists six areas of concern and contrasts His teaching with that of the Mosaical Law.  The first is murder (Matt. 5:21-26).  Murder is the premeditated killing of a human life. Murder is often preceded by uncontrolled anger.  Such anger was present in Cain when he killed his brother Abel in the first recorded murder in the Bible (Gen. 4:6-12).  Jesus teaches that we must seek reconciliation with our brother before anger gets the best of us.  Anger can be an obstacle to worship.  Anger can backfire on us and lead to self-destruction.  Second, Jesus addresses adultery (Matt. 5:27-30).  Jesus commands His disciples to walk in sexual purity.  Sexual purity involves both the mind and the body.  Remember, Jesus had taught in the Beatitudes that the pure in heart shall see God.  Third, Jesus mentions divorce (Matt. 5:31-32).  Jesus sanctioned the sanctity of marriage against powerful cultural forces in His day.  Jesus prohibited indiscriminate divorce (divorce for any and every cause) and allowed divorce only for fornication.  Jesus taught that entering into a marriage after unjustified divorce constitutes adultery.  Fourth, Jesus addresses oaths (Matt. 5:33-37).  Oaths are often attempts to mask deception.  Oaths are irreverent and blasphemous.  Oaths are unnecessary for those who are completely honest.  An honest person cannot improve on the veracity of their speech by an oath.  Fifth, Jesus teaches against retaliation (Matt. 5:38-42).  An “eye for an eye and tooth for a tooth” was given in order to protect the rights of persons and property by an equitable judicial settlement.  The Lord’s way involves non-retaliation in personal relations.  Christians do not render vengeance through acts of violence.  Nor do they render vengeance through withholding acts of kindness (absence of love).  Finally, Jesus teaches about the detrimental aspect of hate (Matt. 5:43-48).  Hate is malicious and unjustifiable feelings toward others including one’s enemies.  Loving others is essential to God’s Will. Loving others demonstrates God’s character in practical ways by doing good.  Loving others is important to being wholly consecrated to God.
A true disciple of Jesus Christ disciplines his/her life according to the teachings of Jesus and conforms to those instructions.  A true disciple of Jesus Christ exhibits Christlikeness.  A true disciple of Jesus Christ pursues, both in knowledge and conduct, all of the commandments of the Lord Jesus Christ.  Anything less is hypocrisy.