Cannabis & Faith: Finding God's Will

I'm trying to get a grasp on just how a person knows they are following the will of God. God's nature was explained in parables by Jesus Christ, but he didn't really give any commandments except to love God, love one another, and try to get together for communion once in a while. There's also something about going out to all the world preaching and teaching what we learned from him, which is basically just that God is our Father and all men are brothers. The whole thing seems vague and not particularly demanding, but people come up with all sorts of ways to make this overcomplicated. I am always dismayed to see a person honestly seeking God who is confronted by a well-meaning person citing Bible verses that stress the need for repentance in order to escape punishment. On a recent family visit, my aunt clarified her position that Jesus may be Savior of the whole world, but it is necessary for each individual to accept salvation. I asked how you do that and she said something about accepting a conventional understanding of his atoning sacrifice, which sounds to me like knowing what you believe because you believe it. What level of intellectual understanding is sufficient to judge that one person has believed properly? My own understanding is that faith requires you to act out with confidence that the Holy Spirit is leading you. I pray for guidance and wisdom, but rarely specific gifts, and try not to go around telling other people they are wrong or in danger of hell. There are some people who would tell me I am believing wrongly because I smoke weed a lot and waste money, I don't attend church services in person or give regularly, and in many other ways I feel that I am walking the twilight edge instead of embracing the light. I can only say that my hope and faith is that God will guide me to the position He desires me to occupy as I step out uncertainly this New Year.

The user explores the challenge of discerning God's will, questioning the emphasis on specific doctrines and rites over core tenets of love and brotherhood. They reflect on their aunt's view of necessary individual acceptance of salvation and contrast it with their own belief in faith as acting with confidence in the Holy Spirit's guidance. Despite engaging in behaviors (smoking weed, not attending church) that others might deem 'wrong,' the user expresses hope that God will guide them to their rightful place, highlighting a personal, introspective journey of faith.

@reporterchris Two scriptures came to mind while reading this: 1) Mark 12:28-34 and, 2) Mark 9:38-41 In Mark 12, a whole slew of individuals tried in vain to ensnare Jesus in his own words so they could accuse Him of blasphemy. It was a scribe who asked Jesus what was the first commandment of all. Jesus was saying that as long as you loved God, and your neighbor as yourself; you’d be golden. This story was paralleled in Matthew 22:34-40. Jesus said “on these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets”. Mark 9:38-41 tells the story of how John told Jesus of a man who was casting out devils in His name, and how they forbade him because he didn’t follow with the rest of them. This was nothing short of pride on the disciples part if you ask me, and Jesus called his followers out on it. He chastened them by basically telling them to leave the guy alone. He wasn’t just not doing anything wrong, he was doing miracles in Jesus’ name! I’m a former Apostolic Pentecostal, and let me tell you; if you weren’t with us, you were against us and you’re going to burn for all eternity. I had a heavy burden for lost souls after I was saved. It didn’t take long to figure out that there was no one-all salvation plan. Divorce was strongly discouraged in the church I was in because remarriage was a big no-no. Remarriage was equal to adultery, and adultery equalled eternal damnation. I remember feeling so disheartened when I found out that the guy I’d been witnessing to and reaching was divorced and engaged to be married to another woman. To me, this man couldn’t be saved. I definitely share in your frustrations. I think it all comes down to staying busy with judging ourselves; you worry about you and I’ll worry about myself. “Judge not, that ye be not judged”. Matthew 7:1 Thank you for your post! Religion pique my interest! Have a blessed day, my friend!