We're in our final week of ASK ANYTHING and I'm tackling three more questions that have been submitted. Let's jump in!

1. Are unicorns real?

Yes folks, this is a real question and it's not completely outrageous. The word "unicorn" can be found in several places throughout the King James Version. One example is Numbers 23:22: “He hath the strength of a unicorn.”

I was going to answer this in one of our services, but I realized it wouldn't be a good look for me to dash the hopes and dreams of children fervently clinging to these verses in the hopes of unicorns existing (including my own 7-year-old daughter). The reality is, the word "unicorn" is almost solely found in the KJV, which was translated in the middle ages. That's why it's full of "thees, thous" and all sorts of medieval language common at that time. Also common at that time? The belief in mermaids, dragons, and you guessed it, unicorns.

Now let's be charitable to ol' King James. It's unlikely that his translating team intentionally wrote their belief of unicorns into the Bible. The Hebrew word in those passages is r'em and it refers to a horned animal. Most other translations use the word ox or bull, but it's possible it could be any number of animals that has a horn, including a rhino. So, naturally, if you believe unicorns exist and you come across a Hebrew word describing an animal with a horn, you can see why they went with their inner-child.

At the expense of ruining every little girl's dreams (as well as the creepy dudes who are fascinated with my little pony) I think it's fairly safe to say these verses are not alluding to the existence of a fairytale creature. Modern science and archeology is pretty settled on the fact that there is no sign of unicorns in the fossil record.

2. What does the Bible say about marijuana use?

I have gotten this question a lot over the years, especially with the push for legalization. The person who submitted this question went on to say, "I have adult children who justify the use of marijuana because they say the Bible doesn’t specifically say not to use marijuana and God put it here."

This is a great question given that marijuana use is so prevalent in our society and it's quickly becoming a legal and regulated substance across our nation. At last check the recreational use of marijuana has become legalized in 24 states so far.

Let's first begin with the idea that if the Bible doesn't say anything about it, it must be ok. This is extremely flawed logic to say the least. The Bible doesn't say not to eat a cactus, yet I would bid you to try and see how that goes. The Bible doesn't explicitly say a lot of things. That's because it's not a rule book. Sure, it includes rules, there are commands in it, but it's sole purpose is not to give us "dos and don'ts" but rather to point us to the person of Jesus Christ.

The Bible is not a history book, but it includes history. The Bible is not a poetry book, but it includes poetry. The Word of God is inspired, infallible, inerrant, and must be IN US. By knowing the Word, we come to know the heart of God. So while there are no specific verses that speak directly to the use of marijuana, there are many which speak to the will and ways of God that guide us on how to live a life that pleases Him.

I've heard people over the years quote Genesis 1:29 to justify marijuana use. "And God said, 'Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food.'" The idea is that, because God made the plants, they all have a purpose and a design for our good. But that logic quickly falls apart. First of all, this was before the fall of man and before all of creation fell under the curse of sin. When man fell, all of creation became broken.

Do you realize there's a tree in South America with sap that burns human skin and fruit poisonous enough to kill you if you eat it?! God gave us that plant too. I've often reminded people who have used this argument to reacquaint themselves with the joys of poison ivy.

So, what scriptures might we reference in order to think about marijuana Biblically?

A. The call to be sober and clear-minded.

• 1 Peter 1:13, 1 Peter 4:7, 1 Peter 5:8 (Peter was serious about this), Romans 12:1-2, 1 Thess. 5:6, 1 Thess. 5:18, Titus 2:2 and the list goes on.

• To be of sober mind is not just to abstain from drunkenness but any substance that would distort and cloud our ability to think and act.

B. The call to take care of our bodies.

• 1 Corinth. 6:19-20, Romans 12:1, 3 John 1:2, Eph. 5:29, Proverbs 3:7-8 and the list goes on.

• We are to be good stewards of our bodies. The negative effects of marijuana use to our long term health as well as to our short term cognition is indisputable.

C. The call to glorify God with our minds.

• 1 Corinth. 2:16, Romans 12:2, Phil. 4:8, 1 Corinth. 2:13-16, 2 Corinth. 10:5 and the list goes on.

• When we fully submit our mind to any substance, be it alcohol, psychedelics, or psycho-actives (the official classification of marijuana) then we are forfeiting the mind of Christ.

Marijuana promises a peaceful mind. It guarantees a "high" that many people use as an escape from the real world, whether it be to cope with difficulties or simply to find happiness. The problem is, if you need a drug to be "high" by default, the rest of your life becomes low.

The Bible tells us there is a peace that passes all understanding. It's not a peace that comes by way of a puff or a swig, but rather by the blood of Jesus. Substance abuse is a peace that we can easily understand and for that reason it's fleeting; it comes and goes and it always comes up empty on its promise. Everyone who turns to substances for peace believes it will serve them in some way. But drugs are never servants, they're only masters. What you thought was serving a purpose in your life becomes master over your life. It will not serve you, it will enslave you.

Final word: I wouldn't be a former youth pastor if I ended without making at least one cringey one-liner. If you're looking for a high, turn to God, He is the Most High. You're welcome.

3. How do we navigate holding friends accountable?

Such a great question. There are so many layers to this, so allow me to share the rest of what was submitted: "I have a friend who has been raised in the church, but has become heavily involved in the party scene. I know that they know better than how they are living. I want to correct them, but I don't want to push them away."

There's nothing more heartbreaking than watching someone you love make reckless decisions and seemingly spiral in their faith. There's a very real tension in how we confront the people we love with the truth. If we come off too harsh they may push us away and spiral further. On the other hand, if we say nothing at all, they may continue in the wrong direction and we could be an accomplice to their foolishness.

First, I think the degree to which you can hold someone accountable largely depends on the relational equity you have with them. In other words, how much you have invested in this relationship will play into how they perceive your words and guidance in their life. If this is someone who you have shared many experiences with, including your spiritual walk, then you have a strong foundation to rely on in the difficult conversations that will take place in this coming season.

Second, your position in their life plays a significant role as well. Is this simply a friend or are there layers to how you relate to one another? I.e. we attend the same Church, we work together, etc. As a Pastor, there are times when I seek to have a conversation with someone as a brother or a friend, not realizing they actually still perceive me as their Pastor. What you say in love as a dear friend, they may perceive as judgement from a co-worker or Church member. Evaluate the dynamics of your relationship with this person so you don't approach them in one way while they perceive you in another.

Third, check your motives to make sure you're coming from a place of love and not judgement. Matthew 7 tells us that to the measure we judge others, we will also be judged. Seek counsel about the possibility of a plank in your eye. Jesus says that if we will be intentional to remove the plank from our own eyes first, then we can see clearly to remove the speck from our brother's eye. Simply put, if you truly want to hold someone accountable, make sure you're being held accountable by others along the way.

Accountability is one of our core values at Breezewood. We often say, "check your blindspot." No one is capable of rightly assessing their own motives, behaviors, and decisions. Jeremiah 17 tells us that the heart is deceitful above all things, so we can't make it in this world alone! We have to have the cooperation of others in the body of Christ to keep us on the right path, and it's our high calling to help others as well.

There are so many layers to this, so I can't just give a blanket answer as to how you should approach these conversations with your friend but seeking the counsel of some spiritual brothers and sisters in your life (whom you can share details with) will definitely help you feel more confident in your approach.

I will, however, offer this advice: go the way of Ephesians 4:15, speak the truth in love. Ephesians tells us speaking the truth in love is what brings about spiritual maturity. It's most likely that your friend is making these decisions because they lack spiritual maturity, and if I'm reading the Bible correctly, the main culprit of spiritual stagnation is an unwillingness to hear and receive the truth. Give your friend some credit, they can hear hard things! We're all capable of hearing the truth, its what we do with it that determines our trajectory. Their reaction is not your responsibility, but your commitment to loving them is.

Seek out some counsel to make sure your thinking in the right direction. Ask the Holy Spirit for the right words and the right moments to share those words. Be the friend they need, not the friend they may want. If you truly love them, that will come through in your words.

CONCLUSION

I've thoroughly enjoyed this season of navigating questions. It always stretches me in so many ways. I'll be tackling some of our most difficult submissions this Sunday for our final week, so if you want to see me sweat, I invite you to join us for one of our services! Remember, questions are not the enemy of our faith, not when we serve the God in whom we find all the answers. God bless!