Mr. Know-It-Some

We'd barely walked in the door of the poker tournament when a young man came alongside us with an unusual request.  Would we go to a certain part of town and buy him some "spices"?

We sensed it was a trick question, but we didn't know exactly what he meant.  So we took the humorous route in responding.  "Like cinnamon?"

No, that wasn't quite it.  The young man then asked if we'd ever been to one particular part of town -- an area which admittedly doesn't have the best reputation.  Yes, we had been there several years ago.  "I went to church with a couple of men, who had Bible studies in their homes."

That wasn't quite the answer that man expected, either.  He moved on -- and then we asked someone sitting nearby if "spices" was a slang term for marijuana.  He said it was not, but explained the word can refer to other things people smoke.  (We found a very different use of the word online.)

So we're admittedly not up on the current drug and pseudo-drug slang.  And to be honest, we don't mind that.  It means we're following some Biblical advice....

Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord.  Touch no unclean thing and I will receive you. - II Corinthians 6:17

We know some Christians who refuse to go to certain locations to play poker, because they have a "bad reputation" -- for illegal drugs or other reasons.  We understand their concern.  Others say you should go "all out," and not visit poker tournaments at all.  But we think Jesus advised a more balanced approach:

My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.... As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. - John 17:15, 18

Jesus left a "sin-free zone" at God the Father's right hand, and came to a sin-scarred Earth to deliver us from our sins.  In a similar way, believers should go out and tell other people about what Jesus has done -- and what He can do for them.  But in the process, be careful....

Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be you therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. - Matthew 10:16 (KJV)

Don't let yourself get lured or trapped into something which will cause regret (or even sin) later.  Follow Jesus's instructions to be "the salt of the earth" (Matthew 5:13) - not necessarily the spice.