Is Smoking and Drinking Sin?

Svt4Him · Apr 13, 2004

I think we've lost what the meaning of sin is. Sin will send someone to hell. Will someone be sent to hell for smoking? I don't think so.

ChiRho · Apr 13, 2004

Baptistgal said:
What's up with this? A perfectly legitimate question was asked and it gets turned into a bashing session against one person who was honest enough to say what they really think? I thought as a Christian forum that we were SUPPOSED to give each other honest, kind answers, which I find refreshing.

For my own part, I'm a complete teetotaler. I don't smoke and I don't drink any kind of alcohol. Personally that is because if you don't ever take a drink of alcohol than you won't ever become an alcoholic. And the smoking part? I saw a picture once of a lung that belonged to a smoker, and I don't want my lungs looking like that. I've seen what smoking and drinking can do to people, and I don't want to open myself up to that. I'm not looking at you or anyone else and determining what you should be doing when I say what I will or will not do.

These two issues are ones that I've seen get taken care of as the person gets closer to God. The deeper relationship with Jesus Christ lets all that stuff fall away.

Frankly, (and I know this will probably get me a good, stiff insult or two) if you have to go to the point of defending yourself so stringently that you call people names for NOT doing what you do......than methinks thou protest too much.

This kind of angst usually comes up because you are yourself being convicted by the Holy Spirit and are fighting against it. I cannot judge your heart, nor would I try, but your words speak volumes, and lead others to certain conclusions which they cannot help but make.

Completely devoid of brilliance as well! Show me with Scripture.

ChiRho

Mary_Magdalene · Apr 13, 2004

TwinCrier just gave you scripture.

Aluther22 · Apr 13, 2004

TwinCrier said:
I Corinthians 10:31, "Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God:". When you use tobacco, can you give God the glory for using it?
Let's say for the sake of purpose that smoking isn't a sin. If you can't stop, if everything in your life revolves around getting to your next cigarette, then it has become an idol. WWJD? I just can't picture the Lord sitting around lighting up with the apostles.

I Corinthians 10:31, "Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God:".
Story Example: A man who smokes does not join a church because he thinks that smoking is a sin whether it was taught to him by his parents or some TV evangelist. Therefore another man who does smokes meets this same guy, and tells this man what Christ did for us on the cross. Is this done for the glory of God. Who says a smoker can't stop, if I truely thought it was sin, I would stop.
Anyway who is in more sin, that one who eats to much, or the one who smokes a cigarette?

OnederWoman · Apr 13, 2004

I believe drunkeness is a sin... but I do not think having a glass of wine or 2 (or a mixed drink, or a beer, or even one shot of whisky for that matter, if that's what you like) with a meal or in celebration is a sin. If one knows they cannot have even one glass without going beyond that to the point of drunkeness then I would say the best personal choice for that person would to be to refrain altogether... after all, it's not a sin not to drink alcohol either.

On smoking... I'm not sure. With all the crude they put in cigarettes that cause illness I do think it's best to never start and that it would be great for those who have to stop (including my husband). But I don't know that tobacco in its pure form is harmful (except maybe for those who dip, if they like having a tongue and a jaw) like the commerical mix they sell today is. I don't think smoking would be a hinderance from serving God though, not like being drunk all the time would. My husband wants to quit because it's an addiction (even though not like illegal drugs where they alter ones reality and can cause one to fall into a life of crime) and he sees that letting anything have a hold on him is a sin (he sees the addiction, not the tobacco itself as the sin).

Mary_Magdalene · Apr 13, 2004

Aluther22 said:
I Corinthians 10:31, "Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God:".
Story Example: A man who smokes does not join a church because he thinks that smoking is a sin whether it was taught to him by his parents or some TV evangelist. Therefore another man who does smokes meets this same guy, and tells this man what Christ did for us on the cross. Is this done for the glory of God.

yeah, thats why i smoke crack-so i can bring other crack users i meet in the alley to Christ. (insert sarcasm smilie here).

Aluther22 · Apr 13, 2004

I'll be right back, gonna go out and get a cigarette from my car while I ponder on the way down, how many will insult me.

InnerPhyre · Apr 13, 2004

Moderation in all things

ChiRho · Apr 13, 2004

TwinCrier

I Corinthians 10:31, "Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God:". When you use tobacco, can you give God the glory for using it?

Do you give God the proper glory for anything you consume? Infact, can anyone give glory to God, or is He completely glorious without the futile attempts of men?

Let's say for the sake of purpose that smoking isn't a sin. If you can't stop, if everything in your life revolves around getting to your next cigarette, then it has become an idol. WWJD? I just can't picture the Lord sitting around lighting up with the apostles.

Smoking is not a sin. Do you know if I cannot stop? Are you not assuming to know me and my weaknesses? We make numerous things our idols everyday. When we fail to love God with our entire heart, mind, body, and soul, we worship something else. We violate this commandment always. Christ kept this perfectly and His perfect obedience is reckoned to us. We are Holy because He is Holy.

WWJD? It is bad enough that you assumed to be inside my head, but now you pretend that you can acually put yourself in the mind of God and determine what He would do! Regardless of what you can or cannot picture, we are bound to the objective truth of Scripture, not your relative truth or feelings.

"It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.
2 Behold I, Paul, say to you that if you receive circumcision, Christ will be of no benefit to you."
Galatians 5

Physical circumcision is no longer commanded nor forbidden. It is an adiaphoron, much like smoking. Are we to boldy insert the clause into salvation that we are saved by Grace through Faith in Christ AND avoiding smoking?

Pax Christi,

ChiRho

ChiRho · Apr 13, 2004

Godschosengirl said:
TwinCrier just gave you scripture.

And I answered.

ChiRho

Aluther22 · Apr 13, 2004

Godschosengirl said:
yeah, thats why i smoke crack-so i can bring other crack users i meet in the alley to Christ. (insert sarcasm smilie here).

Will cigarettes alter your reality as crack does?

Aluther22 · Apr 13, 2004

InnerPhyre said:
Moderation in all things

Give me SCRIPTURE

Mary_Magdalene · Apr 13, 2004

Aluther22 said:
I'll be right back, gonna go out and get a cigarette from my car while I ponder on the way down, how many will insult me.

im not trying to insult you-just saying that your story is not logical.

Baptistgal · Apr 13, 2004

There are some issues that are not laid out clearly in any one verse. They are principles that are taught. Such as the principle that our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit and we should treat them with respect and care. Also the principle of not leading yourself into areas that are known stumblingblocks and can be stumblingblocks for others around you. These are principles that are to be discerned by each of us as individuals.

What I posted originally was not "garbage", it was my opinion about how one person was responding in this thread. This is a volatile issue because people like their smoking and drinking an awful lot, and don't like to be challenged on it. If God has convicted a person about smoking and drinking then that person needs to stay away from those things.

Sinfulness is not really what sends us to hell anyway.....its a result of the condition of our soul. Not believing in Jesus Christ as our saviour is what sends us to hell.

InnerPhyre · Apr 13, 2004

Aluther22 said:
Give me SCRIPTURE

Hey, I'm on u'r side, chief

Drinking in moderation is not a sin because we all know that Jesus drank plenty of wine, and didn't mind supplying it to those who were rejoicing in the marriage of their friends. Smoking in moderation is neither a sin unless you allow yourself to become a slave to cigarettes. I smoke cigarettes occaisionally.....I'll buy a pack of 20 cigarettes.....that will last over a month....then I won't buy another pack for 2 or 3 months. If you eat mcdonalds every day, you're going to die faster than smoking a cigarette every day. If I went nuts and started smoking every day, that could turn sinful very quickly because I'd become addicted.

Mary_Magdalene · Apr 13, 2004

smoking is an addiction. period. i smoked for almost 20 years- it took me about 4 months to quit after i was saved.

am i perfect-no! i ate 3 ding dongs yesterday. i love chocolate! But i felt sorry i overindulged afterwards (those things will kill ya). As believers we should all strive to glorify God in all we do. We should make ourselves unlike the world and cut out any bad habits we can.

No, me eating a Ding Dong is not sinful-but me being addicted to Ding Dongs is. Me eating 3 Ding Dongs-i over did it, knowing they are not good for the Holy Spirit's temple (my body). Will i strive to change? Yes. I will not eat a Ding Dong today. :prayer:

Its not a "have to" "can't" issue. Its a "I want to please God" issue.

Aluther22 · Apr 13, 2004

Baptistgal said:
There are some issues that are not laid out clearly in any one verse. They are principles that are taught. Such as the principle that our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit and we should treat them with respect and care. Also the principle of not leading yourself into areas that are known stumblingblocks and can be stumblingblocks for others around you. These are principles that are to be discerned by each of us as individuals.

What I posted originally was not "garbage", it was my opinion about how one person was responding in this thread. This is a volatile issue because people like their smoking and drinking an awful lot, and don't like to be challenged on it. If God has convicted a person about smoking and drinking then that person needs to stay away from those things.

Sinfulness is not really what sends us to hell anyway.....its a result of the condition of our soul. Not believing in Jesus Christ as our saviour is what sends us to hell.

16Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you? Go back to page 1 and read what ChiRho about this verse. No one has ever told me that this was a stumbling block for them. I am convicted on many things I do, smoking and drinking is not one of them! Conviction would be going 57mph in a 55mph zone-Submit to Authority!

Plan 9 · Apr 13, 2004

PaladinValer said:
You know, I'm basically being called a hypocritical, psuedo-Christian because I do believe smoking and most forms of drinking is sinful. I give my own honest opinion based on what was asked by the OP, and I get my head bitten off. I'm completely insulted and I find your fruits extremely poor. You want to disagree? That's fine and dandy, but you need a lesson in how to constructively disagree.

This happens here at times. It could have been me, rather than you, had I posted that I smoke without feeling the slightest guilt whatsoever. In your case, it makes me especially unhappy that other posters have jumped to presonal conclusions about you because you're a newer member, but people sometimes do get far too excited and post things they shouldn't.
Please try not to take it too seriously, although I can't say that I'm always able to take my own advice.

As a smoker, and someone who drank in moderation before I began taking medication for a health problem which makes that a bad idea, I would like to welcome you again to CF.

Harry Houdini, the famous Jewish escape artist and illusionist, was also a teetotaler and non-smoker for health reasons, and in his business good health could make all the difference to his continued survival. I sincerely doubt that he practiced pre-marital sex, either, and he enjoyed one happy, life-long marriage.

Aluther22 · Apr 13, 2004

InnerPhyre said:
Hey, I'm on u'r side, chief Drinking in moderation is not a sin because we all know that Jesus drank plenty of wine, and didn't mind supplying it to those who were rejoicing in the marriage of their friends. Smoking in moderation is neither a sin unless you allow yourself to become a slave to cigarettes. I smoke cigarettes occaisionally.....I'll buy a pack of 20 cigarettes.....that will last over a month....then I won't buy another pack for 2 or 3 months. If you eat mcdonalds every day, you're going to die faster than smoking a cigarette every day. If I went nuts and started smoking every day, that could turn sinful very quickly because I'd become addicted.

I'm sorry brother, I ask for your forgiveness-I would still like a verse on addiction. Is it more of a sin to be addicted to coffee or ciggars, ciggarettes or pop?

InnerPhyre · Apr 13, 2004

Aluther22 said:
I'm sorry brother, I ask for your forgiveness-I would still like a verse on addiction. Is it more of a sin to be addicted to coffee or ciggars, ciggarettes or pop?

No prob. Addiction, is addiction. We are called to be slaves to the Lord. When we are addicted, we are slaves to our addictions. That is not to say someone who is addicted to something means he isn't a Christians. Show me someone who is without sin. We should strive to be free of addictions though.

Is Smoking and Drinking Sin?

Legend

Confessional Lutheran Catholic

AKA..Godschosengirl

Active Member

Charismatic Calvinist

AKA..Godschosengirl

Active Member

Well-Known Member

Confessional Lutheran Catholic

Confessional Lutheran Catholic

Active Member

Active Member

AKA..Godschosengirl

Active Member

Well-Known Member

AKA..Godschosengirl

Active Member

Absolutely Elsewhere

Active Member

Well-Known Member

Similar threads