I used to smoke marijuana every day.

Sixteen years ago, when I was in my late teens, cannabis was a big part of my life. Today it continues to confront me as a pastor in a city where recreational marijuana is legally celebrated. Our church office is directly across the street from a dispensary where I can legally buy a pre-rolled joint for seven dollars.

How are we to think about recreational cannabis use in the church? A growing number of Christians today believe that it is biblically permissible to use cannabis recreationally. Are they right?

Cannabis Versus Alcohol

Quick, pat answers to the question of recreational cannabis use are often unhelpful. Responses without nuance will not best serve the church in the long run. To say that alcohol is permissible and cannabis is not because “Christians drink beer and wine for the taste, but people only smoke pot to get stoned” just won’t do. Such a simplification distorts the truth.

For one, Christians don’t drink beer and wine only for the taste. Even moderate drinking, which is biblically permissible, has lubricating psychoactive effects. From a biblical perspective, this lubricating effect can be acceptable. While drunkenness is clearly prohibited (Ephesians 5:18), God has given “wine to gladden the heart of man” (Psalm 104:14–15).

However, evangelical churches sometimes have prohibited the use of alcohol among members because the Bible forbids drunkenness. This is a mistake. The Bible warns us against such extra-biblical prohibitions (1 Timothy 4:3; Colossians 2:16–23). Scripture permits the moderate use of alcohol, when it can be enjoyed in faith, even though it has psychoactive effects.

Does God, then, also permit the recreational use of cannabis? Should we treat cannabis like alcohol in the church? Is it OK to light up around the campfire just like it may be to enjoy wine at a wedding?

Similarities and Dissimilarities

Let’s examine this commonly used comparison between alcohol and cannabis. The following are ways that cannabis and alcohol are similar and dissimilar.

Ways that cannabis is like alcohol:

• Cannabis, like alcohol, is an organic substance.
• Cannabis, like alcohol, has the potential to intoxicate and distort reality.
• Cannabis, like alcohol, has different effects on someone who uses it regularly than someone who uses it occasionally. (In other words, tolerances can be built up with regular marijuana use similar to the way tolerances can be built up with regular alcohol use.)
• Cannabis, like alcohol, can be habit-forming (see 1 Timothy 3:8).

Ways that cannabis is unlike alcohol:

• Unlike alcohol, you can’t blackout or die from an overdose of cannabis.
• Unlike alcohol, there are many different strains of cannabis. The same amount of cannabis smoked or ingested from two different cannabis plants can have different effects on an individual—even if both plants have the same exact amount of THC (the primary psychoactive chemical in cannabis).
• Unlike alcohol, marijuana has many different effects on an individual due to its complex chemical makeup. There are at least 113 different chemical compounds (cannabinoids) inside the cannabis plant that combine to cause a variety of effects on an individual when smoked or ingested.
• Unlike alcohol, cannabis has not been a staple in cultures all around the world for use in celebrations and ceremonies (like John 2:9).
• Unlike alcohol, regular cannabis use is strongly correlated with mental health disorders such as schizoaffective disorder. While heavy drinking (alcohol abuse) has also been linked to mental health disorders, moderate drinking has not.
• Unlike alcohol, cannabis has been a cultural symbol of rebellion for a large part of the last century.
• Unlike alcohol, cannabis was not used by Jesus in his Last Supper, which is to be regularly commemorated by the church (Mark 14.23–25″ data-version=”esv” data-purpose=”bible-reference”>Mark 14:23–25).
• And perhaps most importantly, unlike alcohol, cannabis is not directly addressed in the Bible.

It is unhelpful to make direct correlations between cannabis and alcohol, as if all the Bible’s teaching on alcohol applies to cannabis. Not only are cannabis and alcohol vastly different chemical compounds, with vastly different effects, but the Bible gives us clear and direct permission for the moderate use of alcohol while never directly referencing other psychoactive compounds such as marijuana.

Last night, we had a sweet time of singing God’s praises and praying together as a church—prior to eating a meal. We do this once a month at New Covenant. This gathering serves as a monthly prayer meeting. The other times of prayer in the life of our church occur in our morning worship service and during our weekly/bi-weekly small groups. Most of the time, our monthly prayer meeting is fairly well attended. I suspect that it is, at least in part, due to the fact that we have a meal. However, it is a sad reality of the church in the Western world that the prayer meeting is “the least attended church gathering.” I have experienced this sad reality firsthand as a member of a church of 1000+ where eight to 10 people would show up for the weekly prayer meeting. It didn’t take me long to realize that prayerlessness is one of the foremost sins and symptoms of an anemic church. I fight against this sin in my own heart and life. The end result of a prayerless church is that it inevitably becomes a powerless church.

God has ordered things in His church in such a way that prayer is one of the foremost means by which He gives His people spiritual power and vitality for the advancement of His Kingdom through the preaching of the Gospel and the carrying out of deeds of love and mercy. So why does the church in the Western world fail so miserably at coming to the throne of grace in order to receive the grace and mercy needed on a daily and weekly basis (Heb. 4:16)? I would offer the following four reasons:

1. The Church in the Western World Is Far Too Rich. Just as is true in marriage, money can mask deficiencies and defects in the church. If the money wasn’t there, we would see just what things really look like. Having enough money and resources can keep churches and ministries going for a very long time. Being able to build big enough buildings, staffing well-enough and paying a man who can preach skillfully enough can subtly send the message that everything is healthy. One of the most dangerous places to be as the church is in a place of material prosperity. It is not sin for a church to have large buildings, a robust staff and a gifted pastor(s)—but it is laden with dangers. If this is true of the church in the Western world, then we need to emphasize just how important a prayer meeting is for the life of the particular local church of which we are a part.
2. The Church in the Western World Is Far Too Ambitious. Prayer is, in one very real sense, a pulling away from the busyness of life and bowing before God the Father and at the feet of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is the cessation of work and the entering into the presence of the living and true God in order to call on Him to “work for us” (Isaiah 64:4). Our culture is one of relentless production. Many of the churches in our culture are fueled by the quest for more. The end result of such a culture is that the church is infected with a restlessness. Another outreach event, another music production and another special service or service project takes the driver’s seat while we kick the prayer meeting out of the car. We need to put the prayer meeting in the passenger’s seat directly beside the worship service.
3. The Church in the Western World Is Far Too Frenetic. Arguably, we live in the most active time in human history. When there are hundreds of events happening simultaneously, professing believers often give in to the social pressure of being at the next social event in their community rather than being with the people of God in worship and prayer. The prayer meeting is a glorious corrective to the frenetic culture around us. The prayer meeting helps quiet our minds as we direct our thoughts and prayers up to the God of heaven. After all, He has promised to keep at perfect peace those who keep their minds on Him (Isaiah 26:3).
4. The Church in the Western World Is Far Too Earthly-Minded. The allure of the frenetic culture is often driven by the fact that the members of the church in the Western world are often far too earthly-minded. There is a serious lack of heavenly-mindedness in our lives. Those who are heavenly-minded long to be with the people of God as they gather to be in the presence of God. They recognize that this world is passing away and that the events of the culture around them are meaningless in comparison with the eternal significance of worshiping and praying to the eternal God who is our everlasting home. They are pressing onto Zion with songs and prayers accompanying their pilgrimage. As the saying goes, we need to become so heavenly-minded that we’re finally of some earthly good. Heavenly-mindedness is fostered and manifests itself, first and foremost, in worship and at the prayer meeting.

There is much more that could be said about this subject, but I would simply raise an appeal to those who read this: Don’t neglect the prayer meeting. Make it a point to recognize that we have the enormous privilege and responsibility of coming together as the people of God to call on the God of all grace for the power we lack to participate with Him in seeing His Kingdom advance through the ministry of the word, prayer and worship. We have a God in heaven who has given us the unparalleled privilege of “casting all of our cares on Him” knowing that “He cares for us.” May He give His church—especially in the Western world—the grace to enter in on this most precious means of grace for His glory, our fruitfulness and the advancement of His Kingdom.

Ministry can attract workaholics because working non-stop in ministry can feel holy and attract applause. But being a workaholic in any role is never holy, and it always leaves one hollow. Families suffer. Relationships are harmed. No one wins.

Ministry leaders, like all leaders, are prone to either laziness or workaholism. On your worst days, on days when you are not living in submission to Christ, you either move toward being lazy or move toward finding your meaning in work. By God’s grace, we don’t need to live in either. But how do we recognize workaholism in ministry? What does it look like in our hearts? Here are three indicators:

1. Misplaced identity

If we find our worth in our work, we are workaholics. If my outlook on life is wrapped up in how “work is going,” in how I feel I am performing, then my identity is fully found in my job or career. If our rejoicing is based on the fruit of our ministry, our identity is found in what we do for Christ and not in what Christ has done for us. When identity is in work, working more and more is the logical response. Think about it: Why would you not give more to the place or role that defines you? A way to recognize workaholism is to evaluate how much of our outlook and perspective is formed by how ministry is going.

2. Cluttered mind

If our minds are continually focused on our roles and our jobs, we are unable to focus on family, friends and other important aspects of our lives. If my mind is constantly on work, it has become primary for me. If a ministry leader cannot enjoy dinner with a spouse or wrestling with kids because ministry responsibilities are constantly on the mind, then workaholism is gaining traction in the heart.

3. Unloved family

The best way to detect workaholism in our hearts is to ask the ones closest to us. If our spouse feels the ministry is hurting the family, we should listen closely. Ask your wife. Ask your husband. We should never serve and love others without first serving and loving our families.

OK, we’re already making our way through the new year. We can move on. Onward and upward, right? We can avoid burnout in the new year.

By the way, how are you doing on your new goals…your resolutions? Are you on track or have you already given up. Either way, there’s grace here for you! Whether you set goals or not, whether you’re after some new plateau of your life like a tenacious animal or you’ve already limped away like an injured koala bear who fell off the top branch trying to reach that last leaf, and whether you’re expecting big things in the new year or you’re resigned to just handling whatever comes your way best you can—it’s all OK. No judgment here! Enjoy the new year and I hope that this year is the best yet for you!!

But I’ve been thinking a lot lately about a phenomenon that happens to far too many leaders—and it often catches them by surprise. In other words, it’s a tragedy that most of us can only react to—rather than proactively take steps to avoid it altogether. The phenomenon, or tragedy, is burnout. Leaders will at some point in their career reach the point of burnout—and it’s a dangerous place to be.

Burnout can lead to health problems, errors and other issues in your business/organization, and a host of other things that can wreck your life and career. I believe, however, that we can avoid burnout—but it takes intentionality. We must be proactive in combating it. And,  I want to encourage you to take a journey with me to avoid it. Here are 10 ways that I’ve identified to help us avoid burnout:

1. Know when to say “no.” As a leader, there are many things that come your way. Most of them are really good things. And, it can become difficult to say “no” to them. Especially if you’re a “high-capacity” leader, the idea that we need to say “no” to something becomes even more difficult. But saying “yes” to too many things can cause us to fail and enter into the arena of burnout. Narrow your focus and you will experience health and prosperity in the new year.
2. Take time for you. It can seem selfish to take time for ourselves. We’ve got a big job to do, a family to take care of and spend time with, and other obligations that we’ve got on our plates—so finding time for ourselves can seem like quite the chore. But it’s completely necessary. Taking time for yourself can look different for everyone. For me, it’s alone time on Friday mornings with my computer, writing. Find what it means to you and do it!
3. Don’t own things you can’t control. There are many things that we face in life that are outside of our control. There’s absolutely nothing we could have done and nothing we can do to change the outcome. We need to be OK with that. But, we also need to find ways to not take ownership when those things happen. In other words, don’t take the blame, don’t beat yourself up and don’t radically change your organization because of something happening that you couldn’t and can’t control.
4. Give yourself grace. This is a big one for me. I struggle with being too hard on myself when I make mistakes or when I don’t quite meet the expectation I had for myself. My inner dialogue is damaging and detrimental. I want to have more grace for myself. I want to have the mindset that when I miss the mark, it’s OK. It’s not the end of the world. So, I am completely focused on grace…for myself—the hardest person, I’ve found, to extend grace to.
5. Spend time with peers. This is an important distinction. Peers—not friends, not co-workers, not bosses—peers. These are people who are doing what you’re doing in some way. They are folks that can sympathize with your struggles, honestly say that they’ve “been there, done that” and even help you find a way through the difficulties that you’re going through. Spend time with them, let them encourage you and take time to encourage them.
6. Cling to compliments and dismiss criticism. I tend to dismiss compliments and cling to criticism. Can you relate? I somehow find myself thinking that the compliments aren’t as important or aren’t true, but the criticisms are truth that I need to immediately fix in some way. I want to keep thank you notes and emails and delete/throw away critical ones. I want to internalize the good things people say about me and about my work and quickly let go of the criticisms that others hurl my way. Are you with me?
7. Focus on the important more than the urgent. One of my biggest struggles day-to-day is this one. I can easily find myself responding to the “urgent” things in my day at the detriment of the important things. And, far too often, the “urgent” things are brought to me by others—it’s usually a by-product of their negligence or lack of organization. This year, I want to be able to focus myself on the important and not let others dictate the use of my time.
8. Set realistic expectations for yourself. One of the hardest things that I’ve seen both in the workplace and in the family is the list of unrealistic expectations. These are either things that are wildly unrealistic or expectations that are just over the line of what can reasonably be accomplished. I don’t want to get caught up in the place where I am constantly disappointed because either I or others didn’t meet an expectation that was never going to happen from the beginning.
9. Reward yourself often. How hard is this one?! What ways do you regularly reward yourself? Maybe you’re good at this. I’m not. But this year, I want to reward myself when there’s a “win” in my life. This can be in tangible ways like purchasing a treat for myself. Or it can be in the form of spending time “patting myself on the back” in my own mind for the things that I accomplish. I can far too quickly move on from a win in my work and family life and begin focusing on the next thing—but I want to intentionally focus on the things I’ve done well.
10. Use all of your vacation time. This one is not a problem for me at all. But I hear it far too often and it makes me think that it’s a major problem. I’m not sure what’s at the root—but my guess is that people who don’t use all of their vacation time in a year feel like they can’t take the time off because something bad will happen if they’re not at work for that time. I would say that regardless of that feeling or reality, your health and sanity are far more important than anything that “might” happen if you’re gone for a week. It’s a benefit that your organization gives to you as part of your compensation—so, use it!

Ministry leaders are often tempted to love ministry more than Jesus. For this reason, we must continually guard our hearts from loving the work of the Lord more than the Lord of the work. Ministry idolatry is common and it crushes ministry leaders as they run feverishly to achieve more and more in hopes of their egos being stroked. Instead of finding identity in who Christ has declared us to be, ministry idolatry invites us to find our identity in what we do for Him. In our book, Designed to Lead, Kevin Peck and I challenge ministry leaders to flee from ministry idolatry:

Jesus knew the temptation to commit ministry idolatry would be very real. After He sent out His disciples to minister to people in towns, they returned filled with joy. They were thrilled because they had experienced the great joy of God working through them. “Even the demons submit to us in Your name,” they declared (Luke 10:17). Jesus affirmed the authority He had given them but also gave them a caution: “Don’t rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven” (v. 20). In other words, be careful what ultimately causes you to rejoice.

If we only rejoice in God because of what He is doing through us and not because of what He has already done for us, we cherish our ministry more than Him. If our awe for what He is doing through us surpasses our awe for what He has done for us, we have made ministry our god.

The renowned pastor Martyn Lloyd-Jones battled cancer and poor health in his final months. His biographer, Iain Murray, asked him how he was coping with his shrinking influence, the inability to be used by God to minister to the thousands that he had previously been serving. Martyn Lloyd-Jones responded: “‘Don’t rejoice that spirits submit to you. Rejoice that your name is written in heaven.’ I am perfectly content.”

If ministry success is our god, we are likely to take the shortest path to greater and greater “victories,” but preparing and developing people is never on the shortest path. If ministry idolatry plagues us, we are hesitant to relinquish the ministry that fuels and drives us. We want to be the one, the man, the hero. We are only perfectly content to equip others if our hearts are filled with awe and wonder that we belong to Jesus.

Martyn Lloyd-Jones demonstrated the cure for ministry idolatry well. Rejoice that your name is written in heaven and you can be perfectly content.

Valentine’s Day.

Love is in the air, and that means church signs are awkwardly communicating the love of Jesus, teenage boys are cowering before their girlfriends’ fathers, and married couples are waiting two hours for mediocre Italian food while their kids terrorize their babysitters.

However, for some, Valentine’s Day isn’t all chocolates and roses. It is a difficult day for some as it reminds them of a recent breakup or difficult divorce.

When it comes to marriage and divorce, people are drawn to shocking statistics.

But what do the stats really say? Do Christians divorce as often as the rest of the world or even more? Is happy marriage even possible? How can anybody actually be happy in marriage?

Let’s look at some research:

What the Research Shows About Marriage and Divorce

One of the most common statements that I’ve seen is “Christians divorce at the same rate as non-Christians,” undoubtedly giving the world another opportunity to shout “Hypocrite!” This is controversial statement that is surely going to attract eyes and pageviews, but how accurate is it? Some sociologists are even reporting that religious conservatives divorce more than the rest of society.

Furthermore, we’ve all heard that you have a 50 percent chance of getting divorced, because, you know, 1 in 2 marriages end in divorce.

Yet research found in Christians Are Hate-Filled Hypocrites…and Other Lies You’ve Been Told shows that couples who are active in their faith are much less likely to divorce. Catholic couples were 31 percent less likely to divorce; Protestant couples 35 percent less likely; and Jewish couples 97 percent less likely, which in itself is quite impressive, I must say.

But, many news outlets breathlessly reported that being a conservative Protestant increases your chances of divorce—even being near those conservative Protestants does so.

In a recent article on Canon and Culture that I featured in my Morning Roundup yesterday, Andrew Walker interviews Dr. Bradford Wilcox, Director of the National Marriage Project, and asks him the question, “Are religious conservatives really divorcing more than religious liberals, or more than people who have no religious affiliation at all?” Dr. Wilcox answers,

Up to a point, yes. The article finds that conservative Protestants, and counties with higher shares of conservative Protestants, are indeed more likely to divorce—compared to Americans in other mainstream traditions, from mainline Protestantism to Mormonism to Catholicism. But I’ll mention two caveats that have gone unrecognized by popular media treatments, such as Michelle Goldberg’s article in The Nation:

1. This study also finds that religiously unaffiliated Americans, and counties with higher shares of unaffiliated Americans, are the most likely to divorce. So, religion per se is not the problem and, indeed, secularism seems to be more conducive toward divorce than conservative Protestantism.

2. A new article by sociologist Charles Stokes in www.family-studies.org suggests that the problem here is mainly with nominal conservative Protestants—those who attend rarely or never. It’s these nominal conservative Protestants—e.g., the Southern Baptist couple in Texas who rarely darken the door of a church—who are much more likely to divorce.

And, while we are addressing stats, let me add that no reputable study has found that 50 percent of marriages end in divorce—ever—though that does not stop it from spreading because people love bad stats. (The New York Times explains a bit on that stat here.)

Keep in mind that when you hear a stat that does not make sense—like going to church makes you more likely to divorce, contrary to many other studies—don’t rush to assume it’s true. It is often more complicated that the initial news reports.

So is a happy marriage even possible? Can anyone, Christians or not, be happy in their marriages?