TFT: Cannabis and Your Teen
Dear LEFC Parents,
Here are some things to keep in mind as you lead your family into the next week:
Save the Date for Family Bible Week!
Family Bible Week will start on July 10th this summer! Make sure to mark your calendar, arrange your work schedule, and schedule your vacation around it. ? See Holly Crumrine to find out about this year’s theme and get involved in the advanced planning.
Snack and Yack Every Sunday
We are pleased with the involvement of the young people in Snack and Yack after worship on Sundays. We have between 2 and 5 boys and girls (grades 3-7) participating every week in a brief discussion of the sermon in Pastor Matt’s office with one of the church elders. This ministry will continue throughout Pastor Matt’s sabbatical. If you would like to help host the discussion by providing the snack, see Holly Crumrine to get involved. Parents, don’t forget to have your student fill out a handout during the sermon to prep for the conversation.
The Gospel Project at Home
Today’s Bible Study is “God Gave Solomon Wisdom” (Volume 3, Unit 12, Session 1). Ask your kids what they learned in children’s church this morning and/or do the family devotional you can find at this link.
And for Dessert…
Our family discipleship resource of the week is a book about what the Bible says about marijuana.
April 20th comes this week (ask your teen if you don’t know what the significance of 4/20 is), and it is becoming more and more important for Christians to think biblically about marijuana. The best resource that Pastor Matt has run across is Cannabis and the Christian by Todd Miles. Miles is a professor at Western Seminary in Portland, Oregon and an insightful and engaging writer (Pastor Matt also highly recommends his book on Christology that references Marvel and DC superheroes!).
The book is described online:
“What does the Bible say about marijuana? If it doesn’t directly address marijuana, how can Christians know what to make of the legalization of recreational cannabis and the advocacy of medical marijuana?
In the past, Christians could easily answer the question of whether or not it was permissible to use cannabis by deferring to state prohibitions. We could simply say, “it’s against the law.” Today, that answer is no longer possible. Christians are now forced to do what they should have been doing all along: Think like disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ and bring to bear the wisdom of the sufficient Word of God.
Since cannabis is not explicitly mentioned in the Bible, we must understand what it is and how it affects the user. We also must understand what the Bible says about discipleship, healing, suffering, and what it is to be human. Only then can we answer the critical questions regarding the recreational use and the medical use of cannabis.
In Cannabis and the Christian, Todd Miles gives readers:
– Biblical wisdom applied to the question of recreational cannabis
– Biblical wisdom related to the medical use of cannabis
– A grid to think through other ethical questions that aren’t directly addressed in the Bible
– Confidence to respond to challenging issues standing on the sufficient Word of God”
Pastor Matt listed Cannabis and the Christian as one of his top books in 2021. He said that Todd Miles “tackled a highly-relevant topic (pun intended) with a concise, winsome, even-handed, well-informed, nuanced, readable, thoughtful book. Miles avoids easy answers and hasty conclusions but also pulls no punches either. I wish more Christian books were like this.”
More:
Sean McDowell interviews Todd Miles
Ryan Lister interviews Todd Miles
Watch a video of the author answering questions about the book.
Read a sample chapter.
Access a discussion guide to use with your teen.
You are welcome to borrow Pastor Matt’s copy. We need to help our young people think through these issues biblically. We hope your family eats it up.
Matt Mitchell, Pastor
Holly Crumrine, 2023 Family Ministries Coordinator