What do you consider to be unclean or unholy? Is it a certain food, alcohol, drugs, etc.? What makes it unclean to you? What if I told you that since Jesus Christ came and died for our sins that He might have just made it to where almost nothing is unclean unless He says it is? Because what is okay for someone to take or do is not okay for someone else, like pork or alcohol. One person might be dependent on that substance or might have beliefs that that food is not okay to eat. Paul clarifies for us in Romans 14:14-18 about what is acceptable and what is not but also goes on to talk about not being a stumbling block for other people when it come to things we can or can’t eat.

“I know and am convinced [as one] in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean [ritually defiled and unholy] in itself; but [nonetheless] it is unclean to anyone who thinks it unclean. If your brother is being hurt or offended because of food [that you insist on eating], you are no longer walking in love [towards him]. Do not let what you eat destroy and spiritually harm one for whom Christ died. Therefore do not let what is a good thing for you [because of your freedom to choose] be spoken of as evil [by someone else]; for the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking [what one likes], but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. For the one who serves Christ in this way [recognizing that food choice is secondary] is acceptable to God and is approved by men.” – Romans 14:14-18 (AMP)

           I actually came along this passage when I was about to visit a friend and I had been drinking. They had recently gotten sober from other things and the Holy Spirit pointed out to me that they were not ready to be exposed to someone who had been drinking and that it might not be the best idea to go around them then. This passage also showed me that other substances like marijuana, kratom, other substances and foods are not bad to take as long as you’re taking them for the right reasons and not taking them all the time. For instance, cake tastes good but it is not something you can eat all day every day unless you want to gain an extravagant amount of weight in a short time. I would not recommend eating cake for breakfast, lunch, and dinner because it will deplete your nutrient stores and cause other major health issues if you eat cake all day every day. I feel the Holy Spirit impressing upon me to say that everything is okay in moderation and nothing is okay to substitute His presence in order to receive peace and comfort, whether that be from comfort food or drugs.

           I am not saying to go out and get stoned because God says it’s okay. What I am saying is that conferring with the Holy Spirit about what is acceptable for you is what you should do when you are on your walk with God. I cannot replace God and His plans for you but I can tell you about some of the things He says works for me and I strongly suggest that before you start doing something or taking something you think is questionable, pray about it because nothing beats the council of God and His knowledge of what is okay for you. I used to be a drug addict and an alcoholic and God has freed me from the bondage of addiction, not once but twice, and has made it possible for me to partake in drinking alcohol again without it turning into a daily habit and occasionally smoke marijuana after a long day. I have talked to other friends who have received Jesus in their lives and they have told me they cannot drink even though God is with them, so my case is not the same for everyone. God frees some people from addiction where other people might keep their “thorn in their flesh.”

“Because of the surpassing greatness and extraordinary nature of the revelations [which I received from God], for this reason, to keep me from thinking of myself as important, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan, to torment and harass me – to keep me from exalting myself! Concerning this I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might leave me; but He has said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you [My loving-kindness and My mercy are more than enough – always available –regardless of the situation]; for [My] power is being perfected [and is completed and shows itself most effectively] in [your] weakness.” –2 Corinthians 12:7-9

           As you can see, if God kept Paul with that thorn in the flesh, He knows what is best for each individual and has the power to save you from your weaknesses or exalt you above them. He knew what worked best for me and in doing so, made it possible for me to drink and take substances again without them turning into a daily habit, though at one time, He had to correct me on when it was acceptable to drink and when it wasn’t; when it was acceptable to smoke and when it wasn’t.

           Overall, it is ultimately up to you on what you think is okay for you and what is not. It is not your job to judge someone for what they do or don’t do. Our hearts need to be filled with the love of Jesus to show others the way to Him. Only Jesus can save. Our job is to point people in the direction of who can save them. So talk with your personal God and He will show you the way to a new life of freedom in Him, not depending on any substance, any action, or anything other than the Holy Spirit.