is it a sin to smoke?

Define sin?

While I admit it's not the most becoming thing for a Christian to do, it's not necessarily a sin.

Did you ever read Corrie Ten Boom's THE HIDING PLACE?

She recalls how her father, a man totally sold out to Jesus, enjoyed cigars.

You are free to smoke, but you
will end-up being a slave to it.

Just like inappropriate content, free to look,
but you will become a slave to it.

This is not freedom, it's enslavement.
You will also pay physically for this sin.

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. —Romans 12:1-2

Surrendering control is the first step. Not our will but His will be done. Asking the question is next. Seek the matter in prayer with an open mind will bring clarity.

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. —1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Consider your meditation in light of these words. As stewards of a holy temple, would the practice glorify the Lord or not?

All things are lawful, but not all things are helpful. All things are lawful, but not all things build up. —1 Corinthians 10:23

Is it easy to set aside?

All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be dominated by anything. —1 Corinthians 6:12

It is a sin to Smoke if you believe that it is wrong and that you are hurting yourself in some way by doing so.

Why?: "And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin."

Semper-Fi said:

You are free to smoke, but you
will end-up being a slave to it.

Just like inappropriate content, free to look,
but you will become a slave to it.

This is not freedom, it's enslavement.
You will also pay physically for this sin.

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There is a difference between sin and a mere cultural taboo.

The Gospel of Christ is not a case of drink not, smoke not, dance not.

No, smoking is not a sin unless you believe it to be. All things are permissible but all things are not beneficial. Smoking defiles and destroys the body, the temple of the Holy Ghost.Besides, it is addictive and takes away your will.
1 Cor. 6:12 All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.KJV
1 Cor. 6:12 “I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but I will not be mastered by anything.NIV

So be persuaded by your own mind.

lambofgod43985889 said:

why?

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I think like anything done to excess it's sinful. We are called to be stewards of the body God has provided us, and to use our body's, where God's spirit resides.

It's to a certain degree like drinking, a glass of wine with dinner is not sinful in and of itself, now if it triggers you to then polish off the bottle, and then some, and start beating your wife, and spend the rent at a bar, then that is sinful.

I'm the case of tobacco though, it really has no redeaming qualities. But perhaps a cigar now and then may not hurt you.

Then there is the cost, smoking is expensive, and as far as stewardship goes the money could be better spent.

Additionally, smoking, and smokers have been demonized in every aspect of society, and if someone knows you are a person of faith, and they see you smoking, particularly cigarettes, it could cause that person to stumble. I have observed that cigar, and pipe smokers are not viewed as harshly as those who smoke cigarettes, chew, or dip.

doing something that you now will harm the body that God has given you is sinful, so excessive drinking, overeating, illicit drug use, tobacco use, and probably one cup of coffee after another every day should probably be added to the list as well

Handmaid for Jesus said:

No, smoking is not a sin unless you believe it to be. All things are permissible but all things are not beneficial. Smoking defiles and destroys the body, the temple of the Holy Ghost.Besides, it is addictive and takes away your will.
1 Cor. 6:12 All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.KJV
1 Cor. 6:12 “I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but I will not be mastered by anything.NIV

So be persuaded by your own mind.

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I am not tempted to smoke.

Nor am I tempted to gamble or take recreational drugs.

This does not make me more holy than anyone else.

We don't all have the same temptations or besetting sins.

Dixibehr50 said:

There is a difference between sin and a mere cultural taboo.

The Gospel of Christ is not a case of drink not, smoke not, dance not.

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Biblical laws regulate health, farming, diet, child rearing and marriage. If people would follow these laws, they would live an abundant life.

The Bible does not say, “Thou shalt not smoke.”
But He emphatically states, “Thou shalt not murder”

Does smoking harm people?
To put it simply, smoking is slow suicide.

There exists a direct relationship between smoking and lung cancer. Lung cancer does kill people.

If you smoke, then you are deliberately subjecting your body to serious physical harm.

Also proven that the secondary smoke produced by smokers is just as lethal for the non-smoker living in a smoker’s environment.

Smokers not only ruin their own health but the health of others as well. Harming others is another definite violation of the Sixth Commandment.

There are many examples in the Bible where Christ showed people that their health problems were caused by sin.

Is there any justification to defile God’s temple with a destructive habit like smoking? Does the use of tobacco glorify God? Does smoking please God, honor God or serve God’s purpose?

Semper-Fi said:

Does smoking harm people?
To put it simply, smoking is suicide.

There exists a direct relationship between smoking and lung cancer. Lung cancer does kill people.

If you smoke, then you are deliberately subjecting your body to serious physical harm.

Also proven that the secondary smoke produced by smokers is just as lethal for the non-smoker living in a smoker’s environment.

Smokers not only ruin their own health but the health of others as well. Harming others is another definite violation of the Sixth Commandment.

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Do you feel the same concerning drinking? Which can cause health issue and hurt family and the occasional bystander on the street when one decides to drive after?

I haven't had a smoke for about 7 months now. I started to pick it up again, but I smoked a Kool and became sick for several days...that was it for me. That's not to say that I won't ever smoke again,but I believe that the cost outweighs the benefits for me personally, at this time.

I agree that the various scriptures given apply to the OP, especially Romans 14:23.

RaymondG said:

Do you feel the same concerning drinking? Which can cause health issue and hurt family and the occasional bystander on the street when one decides to drive after?

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yes

1 Corinthians 6:10 (KJV)
Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.

The "body is a temple" comes to mind, but if that is so, mine is old and crumbling, so we need to factor 'time' into this discussion.

Semper-Fi said:

yes

1 Corinthians 6:10 (KJV)
Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.

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Just as every bite of food is not necessary an act of gluttony, so is not every drink of beer, wine, or spirits an act of drunkenness.

Don't forget that there are laws concerning beer offerings in the OT. Or did you know that?

Deuteronomy allows you to spend your tithe money on booze, too.

Dixibehr50 said:

Just as every bite of food is not necessary an act of gluttony, so is not every drink of beer, wine, or spirits an act of drunkenness.

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But only need A few drinks that can lead someone to Alcohol addiction, also known as alcoholism, a disease that affects people of all walks of life.

Don't forget that there are laws concerning beer offerings in the OT. Or did you know that?

Deuteronomy allows you to spend your tithe money on booze, too.

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I do not remember those two things, can you point to
the scripture verses. Did they drink beer? or was
it just used as an offering?

Which part of the tithe money, they had several.
Was that for wine to help with merryment,
on one of Gods ordained feast day?
Thanks

LaBèlla said:

Is it easy to set aside?

All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be dominated by anything. —1 Corinthians 6:12

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Another translation says,

"but I will not be brought under the power of any." (in 1 Corinthians 6:12)

It is thoroughly reported how people can become nicotine addicts > under the power of it. And ones even claim that nicotine addiction is harder to kick, than cocaine addiction.

So, then, in case you use nicotine and decide you need to stop and God has you succeed, now like all of us you need to not let anything else get you under its power! I think, by the way, of food abuse > it seems this can be extremely hard to overcome. And how about arguing and fighting? Yes, it seems a number of people can not stop their arguing and fighting. So, nicotine is not the only thing which can get us hooked and cooked. And only God is able to change us so we get free in the right way, so we do not just switch to other sensation and control seeking behaviors.

And God's peace is almighty to guard our hearts and minds, so we don't give in to nasty and negative things in us. He makes our personalities so anger, unforgiveness, bitterness, addictions, hurts, and boredom and loneliness can't get the better of us, and we become loving, instead, more and more maturely.

So we need, then, how God changes our hearts and personalities to be gentle and humble and all-caring in sharing with Jesus.

And this brings us to what John Ashton said:

The "body is a temple" comes to mind, but if that is so, mine is old and crumbling, so we need to factor 'time' into this discussion.

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I offer I understand you mean this in humor But I will offer a serious answer >

We need to factor in example, even if nicotine might not make much of a difference for our own selves.

If we are going around showing how great we are doing, and we smoke, this can help younger ones to consider smoking to be desirable. And with their being influenced, like this, ones can be spending even ten dollars a day on a pack of cigarettes, and they might be addicted, and ones are claiming nicotine causes various sorts of cancer. So, our example can help young people to get in trouble, or help them to see they have no need to be cool by going along with what people are doing which can be harmful.

Also, it is reported that second-hand smoke can harm others, even if they don't smoke. And we have newscasts about how vaping is connected with young people having deadly lung trouble. I can see why > a young person's lungs are still developing; so certain chemicals entering a developing lung process can have a much more harmful effect, than how these same chemicals might effect an older person with developed lungs. I think it could be like throwing sand into a medical instrument while it is being assembled, versus throwing sand at the device after all the parts are in place. During assembly the sand can be much more of a problem.

And a younger person's personality is developing. It is good for the young person to learn how to live in love, not to depend on pleasures and peer influence. So, of course, then, a young person needs to stay clear of smoking, not only because of peer pressure not to smoke, but because of depending on God to personally guide what he or she does.

I find wine to be nice, but a sip is enough to enjoy it. With God, we can be perfectly content . . . with a sip or a sniff. But I personally have found that second-hand smoke is nasty and very inconsiderate.

And, like I offer > how is our personality developing while we do different things? I see how some number of people are going a very selfish way, with their smoking. They are letting themselves be under the power of it, and this is away from God's love which keeps us from being controlled by pleasures and being dependent on substance things and peer approval. Jesus makes us free, plus we are discovering how to relate in love as His family with various other Jesus people. But ones in an isolating personality can get isolated with pleasure and sensation things which they can relate with, while they are not able to relate well with a variety of people.

So, are we becoming like Jesus while we do what we do? There are many sorts of lusts > dominating emotional drives and dictatorial ways of relating. The bondage of nicotine is not the only sort of lust. So, even if we see it is wise to stay clear of nicotine, still we need to become strong in Jesus so other things and people and pets do not become our idols and control us away from God. God's peace is almighty to keep our personalities functioning in His love >

"And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful." (Colossians 3:15)

com7fy8 said:

So, then, in case you use nicotine and decide you need to stop and God has you succeed, now like all of us you need to not let anything else get you under its power! I think, by the way, of food abuse > it seems this can be extremely hard to overcome.

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I had that perspective before I came to faith. Honoring my temple was important. That’s why I was abstinent, didn’t smoke or use drugs, believed in a moderate diet and so on.

And how about arguing and fighting? Yes, it seems a number of people can not stop their arguing and fighting.

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True. I don’t like arguments or strife and have begun blocking those who engage in that behavior. It never leads to a good end and isn’t edifying. My connections outside of this medium are peaceful and I aim for the same here.

I offer I understand you mean this in humor But I will offer a serious answer >

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I wasn’t being humorous. I don’t think smoking is beneficial. But that’s my conviction. I shared verses to help others decide for themselves.