These 600 Churches Want to Stop Fighting the Good Fight

President Richard Nixon launched the battle in 1971. President Ronald Reagan passed the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1986 during his office. And of course, his wife Nancy made the words “Just Say No” popular with her campaign.

Although the war on drugs hasn’t ended drug abuse, I have to believe it has made a difference. Nevertheless, at a time when some churches are capitulating on gay marriage, other churches are suggesting we give up the battle against barbiturates, marijuana, crack, heroine and the slew of newfangled highs hitting the streets today.

The New England Conference of United Methodist Churches passed a resolution calling for an end to the war on drugs. Why? Because they say it’s not effective. That’s ridiculous! We must not bow and allow the spirit of pharmakeia to take over the next generation! We’re already seeing marijuana legalized in several states. If anything, now is the time to fight harder, not shrink back.

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It’s one more sign of the times, in my opinion. Legalizing drugs sends the wrong message to a generation trying to fill the void in their heart only Christ can fill.

These Methodists argue, “Many more lives have been lost to overdose because there is no regulation of potency, purity or adulteration in the production of illicit drugs.” That’s tragic, but are these Methodists really calling for the legalization of hard drugs for the sake of regulation? Even if we lay down our weapons—even if we made it all legal for adults—there will be drugs sold on the black market to underage consumers looking for a quick fix at any cost.

These Methodists argue, “Our prisons are overcrowded with persons, many of whom are nonviolent, convicted of violation of the prohibition laws.” So we should stop the war on drugs because folks don’t want to pay the price for selling them? I agree that we should not house non-violent criminals with violent ones but we don’t have to end the war on drugs to solve that problem.

These Methodists argue: “Many lives have been lost as a result of the violence surrounding this criminal enterprise, including innocent citizens and police officers.” Again, how does ending the war on drugs save lives? The criminal element will not vanish just because we stop prohibiting drugs, and let’s not forget that intoxicated drivers killed over 10,000 people in 2013 alone, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

I’m scratching my head over this one. From the world’s perspective, I suppose it makes sense. The war on drugs has cost trillions of dollars, sent addicts into hiding and put many people of color behind bars for selling a few grams of pot. From that perspective, it has failed. We have not defeated drugs.

On the other hand, from a spiritual perspective, to stop battling against the principalities and powers and spiritual wickedness in high places and rulers of darkness is not an option. We cannot lay out weapons down and expect the enemy to call a truce. No, the enemy will press in harder to kill, steal and destroy (see John 10:10).

With all that said, the best way to wage war against drugs is by preaching the gospel, delivering the addicts from the demons that have entered their soul by welcoming the spirit of pharmakeia, and praying that the generation susceptible to these spirits will fail in tempting its targets. We may have lost the war on drugs in the natural, but we can win the war on drugs in the spirit with the power of God that brings salvation.

Jennifer LeClaire is senior editor of Charisma. She is also director of Awakening House of Prayer in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and author of several books, including The Next Great Move of God: An Appeal to Heaven for Spiritual Awakening; Mornings With the Holy Spirit, Listening Daily to the Still, Small Voice of God; The Making of a Prophet and Satan’s Deadly Trio: Defeating the Deceptions of Jezebel, Religion and Witchcraft. You can visit her website here. You can also join Jennifer on Facebook or follow her on Twitter.