Is it a sin to take prescribed medications?
It is NOT sinful to need professionally prescribed medicines. In Ezekiel 47:12, when describing the perfect conditions of God’s kingdom, the prophet says, there will be water to drink, fruit to eat and leaves for medicine. Proverbs 17:22 describes the effects of a happy personality and says “A merry heart doeth good like a medicine.”
The Apostle Paul told this to Timothy. “Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach’s sake and thine often infirmities.” (1 Timothy 5:23) Luke was a physician who undoubtedly used medicine to treat his patients.
In Galatians 5:20 the word “witchcraft” is the Greek “pharmakeia.” However, based on the above texts, Paul did not have prescribed medications in mind when he wrote that. He was referring to sorcery and other forms of witchcraft. If medications were considered sinful, then the Bible would be advising us to practice sin.
On the other hand, the scriptures tell us that our bodies are “the temple of the holy Spirit.” (1 Corinthians 6:19) The Lord knows our fallen condition and our weaknesses. But He requires us to care for our bodies as best we can. If that means taking proper medication, then that is what we should do, especially if not taking them puts us in a condition where we are less capable of serving Him.
To learn more about sin is listen to,
“Are Some Sins Worse Than Others?”
“Are We Sure Sin is Really Sinful?”
