BIG PHARMA AND THE BIBLE

 

Wednesday, February 19, 2025

 

BIG PHARMA AND THE BIBLE

 

Rev 9:20-21

20 And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk:

21 Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.

 

Rev 18:23

23 And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; [in spiritual Babylon] and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived.

 

          Interestingly, the Greek word for “sorceries” here is pharmakeia or pharmacy. Our usual understanding of a sorcerer is a Harry Potter character or perhaps a woodland witch but perhaps it belongs more to the local drugstore. Does the Bible indicate a widespread drug use in the last days? Maybe so.

 

          “The shift from plant-based drugs, like heroin and cocaine, to synthetic, chemical-based drugs, like fentanyl and methamphetamine, has resulted in the most dangerous and deadly drug crisis the United States has ever faced,” said DEA Administrator Anne Milgram. (U.S Drug Enforcement Administration)

 

          Pharmaceutical companies and advertising agencies are constantly tantalizing us with the possibility of a quick chemical fix for a host of problems. What would happen if we actually did ask our doctor if this or that drug is right for us?

 

          The Bible does not directly address drug use, but it provides principles that indicate drunkenness, addiction, and substance abuse are dangerous and should be avoided. The Bible emphasizes self-control, sobriety, and taking care of our bodies. While the term “drug” may not have been used in biblical times, these principles can still be applied.

 

Prov 23:29-30

29 Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes?

30 They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine.

 

Lord, we live in a we live in a drug-buzzed world. Help us to be clear-eyed and purposeful in our dealings. AMEN