Do any of you smoke?

[CounselorForChrist]

While some may think others are judging, fact is smoking is a bad thing. While its not a sin per say, God does not to not damage our temples.

 

[Jonathan95]

A sin? about the same as eating donuts every morning.

Smoking is sin, yes.

The Bible never directly mentions smoking. There are principles, however, that definitely apply to smoking. First, the Bible commands us not to allow our bodies to become "mastered" by anything. "Everything is permissible for me—but not everything is beneficial. Everything is permissible for me—but I will not be mastered by anything" (1 Corinthians 6:12). Smoking is undeniably strongly addictive. Later in the same passage we are told, "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body" (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). Smoking is undoubtedly very bad for your health. Smoking has been proven to damage the lungs and the heart.

Can smoking be considered "beneficial" (1 Corinthians 6:12)? Can it be said that smoking is truly honoring God with your body (1 Corinthians 6:20)? Can a person honestly smoke "for the glory of God" (1 Corinthians 10:31)? We believe that the answer to these three questions is a resounding "no." As a result, we believe that smoking is a sin.

Source: What is the Christian view of smoking? Is smoking a sin?

 

[Living in the Light]

Remi, I no longer smoke but I did so for a long time in the past. I'm really glad I'm not a slave to this addiction. Addictions, impede our spiritual growth and I'm glad I quit with the help of God.

 

[TruthSeeker2012]

It seems some people will try to find any excuse and any justification so they can smoke. They rather lie to themselves than admit the truth. They also try to blame "external forces" for forcing them to smoke as if you dont have free will to freely choose.

I gave up when I came to Christ the SAME DAY, made a decision to STOP and I did!

Did Jesus smoke? Could you see Jesus walking around with a smoke in his mouth?

Anyone who claims to be a Christian and follower of Christ, yet disrespectfully poisons the temple of God with smoke, needs to come to Christ sincerely and be born again.

If someone approached you and said, "I will give you $1,000,000 if you stop smoking, then I am sure they will stop. It comes down to motivational reasons, and if you don't want to stop for Jesus, but you would for $1,000,000, then you need to examine your commitment to Jesus if you have one or not.

God bless.

 

[like eagleswings]

ok bro
smoking is not good for health,and a bad habit BUT
please explain how smoking defiles the temple of the holy spirit.should i refuse to go in a poluted city becuase of air pollution,as it might defile me, and how do you know how commited a christian is by judging out ward apperances.

i thought defiling the temple of the holy spirit was about sexual immorality.

god bless

 

[Justin91]

It seems some people will try to find any excuse and any justification so they can smoke. They rather lie to themselves than admit the truth. They also try to blame "external forces" for forcing them to smoke as if you dont have free will to freely choose.

I gave up when I came to Christ the SAME DAY, made a decision to STOP and I did!

Did Jesus smoke? Could you see Jesus walking around with a smoke in his mouth?

Anyone who claims to be a Christian and follower of Christ, yet disrespectfully poisons the temple of God with smoke, needs to come to Christ sincerely and be born again.

If someone approached you and said, "I will give you $1,000,000 if you stop smoking, then I am sure they will stop. It comes down to motivational reasons, and if you don't want to stop for Jesus, but you would for $1,000,000, then you need to examine your commitment to Jesus if you have one or not.

God bless.

I have NEVER smoked, and I do not feel that in itself is a sin. Good job on quitting when you were saved. If you felt condemnation to quit, that is fine. Not everyone is going to feel this way. You really need to be careful when you are being judgmental and insinuate that someone really is not saved if they still sin. WE ALL FALL SHORT. I bet even you.

 

[whitetiger1]

I do. Secretly. Why is it we have to hide this from other Christians? Is it a sin?

I snus which is far more safer than snoking

 

[PaladinValer]

Smoking isn't a sin, although that doesn't mean we should do it. "All things are lawful," etc. The fact that it has been proven to lead to death is reason enough to quit.

You should, at the very least, do all you can as to not be intrusive in your habit: avoid public areas and never around others unless they say it is fine.

 

[Nanopants]

It seems some people will try to find any excuse and any justification so they can smoke. They rather lie to themselves than admit the truth. They also try to blame "external forces" for forcing them to smoke as if you dont have free will to freely choose.

I gave up when I came to Christ the SAME DAY, made a decision to STOP and I did!

Did Jesus smoke? Could you see Jesus walking around with a smoke in his mouth?

Anyone who claims to be a Christian and follower of Christ, yet disrespectfully poisons the temple of God with smoke, needs to come to Christ sincerely and be born again.

If someone approached you and said, "I will give you $1,000,000 if you stop smoking, then I am sure they will stop. It comes down to motivational reasons, and if you don't want to stop for Jesus, but you would for $1,000,000, then you need to examine your commitment to Jesus if you have one or not.

God bless.

So now you appear to be insinuating that people are lying. I'd be careful with that.

According to your logic aren't coal miners, who are known to develop black-lung disease, unrepentant sinners? That's an absurdity, and therefore your claim is false.

But I'm not condoning smoking. There's nothing good or moral about it. I'm just saying it is not necessarily immoral.

If it betrays your conscience then to you it is sin, so don't do it.

 

[ConfusedJimmy]

I smoke like a chimney.

 

[wayfaring man]

ok bro
smoking is not good for health,and a bad habit BUT
please explain how smoking defiles the temple of the holy spirit.should i refuse to go in a poluted city becuase of air pollution,as it might defile me, and how do you know how commited a christian is by judging out ward apperances.

i thought defiling the temple of the holy spirit was about sexual immorality.

Well, in the context of 1st Corinthians Chapter 6, it appears to be mainly referring to sexual immorality as that which defiles our bodies/His Temple.

But in 1st Corinthians Chapter 3:16+17 we find the warning -


Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are. <-----> 1st Corinthians 3:17

And here the context is more general, being in reference to how our "works will be tried by fire".

And if smoking, or overeating, or excessive drinking, is callously, greedily, inconsiderately done to our bodies, exerting also a pronounced, destructive/ unhealthful effect, than that would certainly appear to fit with "defiling", would it not ?!

As far as air pollution in a city, yes we should avoid it if at all possible...but if we cannot for some reason, there's a huge difference between suffering harm due to what many others are doing, and suffering harm because of what we are directly doing to our self.

Yet, the same rule of destruction for those who bring it applies - whether we bring it on our self, on others, or both.

And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou should give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and should destroy them which destroy the earth. <-----> Revelation 11:18

Because The Lord is - longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. <---> From 2nd Peter 3:9

He is, to a great degree, holding off His wrath against us who are yet unrepentantly causing destruction to His earth and His Temple/our bodies.

But that's all going to change before long...and His Temple is where He begins !

See - EZEKIEL CHAPTER 9 - Especially verse 6.

And none of us can say, He didn't warn us !

wm

 

[znr]

Well, in the context of 1st Corinthians Chapter 6, it appears to be mainly referring to sexual immorality as that which defiles our bodies/His Temple.

But in 1st Corinthians Chapter 3:16+17 we find the warning -


Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are. <-----> 1st Corinthians 3:17

And here the context is more general, being in reference to how our "works will be tried by fire".

And if smoking, or overeating, or excessive drinking, is callously, greedily, inconsiderately done to our bodies, exerting also a pronounced, destructive/ unhealthful effect, than that would certainly appear to fit with "defiling", would it not ?!

As far as air pollution in a city, yes we should avoid it if at all possible...but if we cannot for some reason, there's a huge difference between suffering harm due to what many others are doing, and suffering harm because of what we are directly doing to our self.

Yet, the same rule of destruction for those who bring it applies - whether we bring it on our self, on others, or both.

And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou should give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and should destroy them which destroy the earth. <-----> Revelation 11:18

Because The Lord is - longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. <---> From 2nd Peter 3:9

He is, to a great degree, holding off His wrath against us who are yet unrepentantly causing destruction to His earth and His Temple/our bodies.

But that's all going to change before long...and His Temple is where He begins !

See - EZEKIEL CHAPTER 9 - Especially verse 6.

And none of us can say, He didn't warn us !

wm

Are you saying that God distinguishes between greedily doing something and being addicted to something, one having a lessor penalty? Could you explain what you mean here:

And if smoking, or overeating, or excessive drinking, is callously, greedily, inconsiderately done to our bodies, exerting also a pronounced, destructive/ unhealthful effect, than that would certainly appear to fit with "defiling", would it not ?!

Actually I didn't understand most of what you meant in your post.

 

[Nanopants]

I think most of us would agree that twisting the scriptures to justify behavior is wrong. But is that very different than reading the scriptures in a way that they were not meant to be read in order to classify behavior as sin?

 

[znr]

I hope you didn't answer the question simply by hunting down an article that supports your assertion that smoking is a sin. In other words, I really hope that you already had full knowledge of the argument you just used to support your assertion, because otherwise we would all be relying on Google to answer life's questions instead of our own experience and hard won insight.

Smoking is sin, yes.

The Bible never directly mentions smoking. There are principles, however, that definitely apply to smoking. First, the Bible commands us not to allow our bodies to become "mastered" by anything. "Everything is permissible for me—but not everything is beneficial. Everything is permissible for me—but I will not be mastered by anything" (1 Corinthians 6:12). Smoking is undeniably strongly addictive. Later in the same passage we are told, "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body" (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). Smoking is undoubtedly very bad for your health. Smoking has been proven to damage the lungs and the heart.

Can smoking be considered "beneficial" (1 Corinthians 6:12)? Can it be said that smoking is truly honoring God with your body (1 Corinthians 6:20)? Can a person honestly smoke "for the glory of God" (1 Corinthians 10:31)? We believe that the answer to these three questions is a resounding "no." As a result, we believe that smoking is a sin.

Source: What is the Christian view of smoking? Is smoking a sin?

 

[wayfaring man]

Are you saying that God distinguishes between greedily doing something and being addicted to something, one having a lessor penalty? Could you explain what you mean here:

And if smoking, or overeating, or excessive drinking, is callously, greedily, inconsiderately done to our bodies, exerting also a pronounced, destructive/ unhealthful effect, than that would certainly appear to fit with "defiling", would it not ?!

Actually I didn't understand most of what you meant in your post.

I'm sure God distinguishes everything.

"Greedily", was mentioned because bad habits are often begun/fueled by unrestrained appetite or greed.

Addiction to something bad/harmful may explain why it's hard to stop, but it doesn't make continuing therein an inconsequential non-offense either.

Jesus preached that through Him/His Spirit we can overcome and be free from all that defiles and binds us in slavery.

So now it's our move, do we seek and call upon Him for the victory, or do we disbelieve, and "make the best of what's left of our unliberated life".

If you love someone, do you have objections over them doing things which inflict damage to themselves ? I think so.

And if our health is one of God's gifts in life, is it fitting that we continue to do things which significantly damage our health ? I think not.

And it is possible to go too extreme with the "every things bad for me", perspective...but surely the things which are most obviously bad for us deserve addressing.

Remember second hand smoke is bad for putty cats too !

Prayers and Healing in Christ.

wm

 

[Avniel]

I think most of us would agree that twisting the scriptures to justify behavior is wrong. But is that very different than reading the scriptures in a way that they were not meant to be read in order to classify behavior as sin?

Good point it seems to be a big issue with the church, we take a scripture and apply it to everything. An example is drinking a sin???? Many people teach that it is when at a wedding Jesus made water into wine. Other issues include self defense, smoking, divorce, luxury and even genders roles. These scriptures are clear as day however we put our own twist to deny our imperfections even if it means creating sins fir others so we can be more "holy" then our brother.

 

[wayfaring man]

I think most of us would agree that twisting the scriptures to justify behavior is wrong. But is that very different than reading the scriptures in a way that they were not meant to be read in order to classify behavior as sin?

But who gets to decide when Scripture is being twisted or read in an inappropriate way ?

Do not each of us, either to our glory, honor, and peace...or our misery, shame, and confusion.

Personally, if I have to err 'cause I'm imperfect, I'd rather err on the side of staying further away from "bad stuff", than I had to...than err on the side of being more involved with the "questionable" than I should be...

A healthy conscience tells us when we're bad and good.

An unhealthy conscience either only tells us when we're bad, or only tells us when we're good.

This is how this pilgrim hears, how about you ?

wm

 

[Angeldove97]

I don't believe smoking is a sin because God never mentions such a thing in the Bible. He does mention over-eating~ so I'm assuming that if you're a chain smoker that might be a sin, but one or two a day shouldn't be that bad (all things in moderation).

I use to smoke and I only hid it from my family and friends because my Grandfather died from smoking and I know my parents would have flipped out about it. I smoked throughout my college years and the moment I realized I was craving a smoke I stopped except for some social group smoking (out at a bar with the ladies and I'd go have one with a friend type deal).

My husband hates them so that's motivation enough for me to never touch them again. It's clearly not good for our bodies, so its best to avoid it, but I don't really consider it a sin since we don't have any input from Scriptures or Church teaching.

 

[Nanopants]

But who gets to decide when Scripture is being twisted or read in an inappropriate way ?

Do not each of us, either to our glory, honor, and peace...or our misery, shame, and confusion.

Personally, if I have to err 'cause I'm imperfect, I'd rather err on the side of staying further away from "bad stuff", than I had to...than err on the side of being more involved with the "questionable" than I should be...

A good conscience tells us when we're bad and good.

A bad conscience either only tells us when we're bad, or only tells us when we're good.

This is how this pilgrim hears, how about you ?

wm

I allow my heart to be purified through faith. To the pure all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure.

 

[znr]

I'm sure God distinguishes everything.

"Greedily", was mentioned because bad habits are often begun/fueled by unrestrained appetite or greed.

Addiction to something bad/harmful may explain why it's hard to stop, but it doesn't make continuing therein an inconsequential non-offense either.

Jesus preached that through Him/His Spirit we can overcome and be free from all that defiles and binds us in slavery.

So now it's our move, do we seek and call upon Him for the victory, or do we disbelieve, and "make the best of what's left of our unliberated life".

If you love someone, do you have objections over them doing things which inflict damage to themselves ? I think so.

And if our health is one of God's gifts in life, is it fitting that we continue to do things which significantly damage our health ? I think not.

And it is possible to go too extreme with the "every things bad for me", perspective...but surely the things which are most obviously bad for us deserve addressing.

Remember second hand smoke is bad for putty cats too !

Prayers and Healing in Christ.

wm

I don't nec. disagree with you, that is for the most part.

What I do disagree with isn't coming from you at all. It's with those who condemn others. Do we not have a God who can identify with our struggles? then who here has the right to condemn a fellow believer for having a struggle? but I see a lot of that here in particular, on this board. Not so much in other areas on CF. That's interesting. Or maybe the condemnation is just doled out in more educated terms.

Anyway, you get no disagreement from me that smoking is harmful and should be avoided. However being someone who has struggled with this addiction to a great extent I have a lot of compassion for people who also struggle with it.