"I cannot understand why he continues to go on this tirade about flying to save your soul." Arnold Murray and the Shepherd's Chapel

----- Original Message -----
From: Paul Stringini
Sent: Friday, September 02, 2011 11:02 AM
To: Name Withheld
Subject: Re: I'm not a Shepherd's Chapel supporter any more myself. Let's talk

Hi Name Withheld, Thanks for writing.

Smoking marijuana has to be considered a matter of conscience. I don't smoke pot, but I did smoke pot heavily until about six years ago (Until March 21, 2005). The bible says nothing against smoking medicinal herbs to relieve pain or discomfort, but it does say that we should be "sober minded." I can personally attest that pot can leave us with a mind that is not sober. Of course, that depends on how much of it you smoke.

I can't condemn people who smoke marijuana for medical purposes because there is no law against it (in the bible). But, I can condemn the excess of recreational drug use. Why? because I am not really the one condemning it, the word has already condemned it, the word has already judged it. I judge nothing, I listen to the judgment God has already pronounced.

Titus 2:1 But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine:
Titus 2:2 That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience.

Titus 2:6 Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded.
Titus 2:7 In all things showing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine showing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity,

Titus 2:11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
Titus 2:12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

Temperance, sobriety, and moderation, those are the words from the bible by which we must judge marijuana smoking. My own conscience testified to the sinfulness of my former marijuana use, I don't smoke marijuana at all anymore, but I don't judge others whose consciences may be pure in their use of the drug.

If some person has cancer and is taking powerful prescription painkillers. I have never seen a Christian condemn that behavior. People are buying into the idea that righteousness comes from the law. That if licensed doctors say it is ok to drug yourself to another dimension it is "ok," but if someone inhales the fumes from the burning of a plant to relieve a little pain or nerves, it is a sin in their view.

There is a bit of a sham in the whole "medical marijuana" issue. Massive amounts of fraud are likely being committed. I have a Personal Relationship Withheld who gets medical marijuana" whose "medical condition" can only be said to be "marijuana addiction." But I really think it is silly because I am a libertarian and I believe people ought to be free to make their own decisions. The country is wasting all this money imprisoning drug dealers and fighting the cartels.

"Also snipers are essentially right? ... Lie in wait to kill with one round. .., is it OK because it is war?"

Most of this is my opinion, but as far as snipers go, specifically, I don't know that their actions are more or less sinful than other soldiers at war. We need to avoid killing and avoid war as much as possible. War should only be used as a last resort to protect the lives of our people from imminent threats. War is just the result of a whole lot of sin allowed to grow and fester. Soldiers are sinners for us all. The sniper kills for me. If the sniper is a sinner then so am I for sending him.

I'm personally sick at all the wars we keep fighting. I think it is time to bring them all home and roll back our forces to defend our own shores only. By meddling in the affairs of other countries we are making ourselves a target and an object of perpetual hatred. We can't control the world and we are hurting a lot of innocent people in the process of trying to manipulate the world.

We lost more people in the wars since 2001 than we lost on September 11th and that does not include the many more physically maimed and shattered lives, it was not worth it. Our leaders embarked on campaigns of torture-by-another-name and committed horrors and atrocities which they ought to be brought to account for. The Geneva conventions were something America once forced other nations to follow. We treated human beings with dignity because they are humans created in God's image, it is shameful that our tough-guy leaders cast aside our heritage so lightly. Every man deserves the due process of law. Without the due process of law, any one of us can be declared "unlawful combatants." This is a very dark development in American History.

Anyway, I hope that answers you question,
Should you have any other questions or like to ask a follow-up question,
I am at your service,

Sincerely,
Paul Stringini