Hi All,
Do you consider smoking cigarettes to be a sin?
Yes/No?
If you believe smoking is a sin, why? If you believe smoking is not a sin, why?
Does the Bible cover smoking tobacco in principle? If so, where?
If you are an ex-smoker, how did you manage to quit?
I am an ex-smoker. I smoked from the age of 17-22; about three packs a day.
I quit at age 22 because I started to attend church, and the pastor told me that he would ask me not to attend if he knew I was smoking. I went cold turkey and stopped smoking immediately. At that point, I was going through a lot of depression and anxiety, and really desired a relationship with God.
However, I don't think pastors should issue ultimatums like this. I know that some organizations disfellowship over smoking tobacco, though.
Anyways, what are your thoughts? What advice would you have for Christians who are smoking, if you have quit?
It would be wrong to smoke tobacco for the fact that it is unhealthy for the body therefore it does not follow the general rule of doing good, and abiding by goodness.
But smoking tobacco is not as serious as some other things that are wrong, and do not have the many negative consequences that alcohol and drugs have such as car accidents, families falling apart, divorces, people acting stupid, and people getting hurt.
But the pastor should not tell anybody that they cannot attend Church if they smoke for that is what the house of God is for so people that are sinners can go there to get saved, and attend Church to help them to overcome their sins by support from people, and to get strengthened by worshipping and praising God, and hearing the word of God.
Especially when smoking is such a mild thing to do that is wrong, and basically only hurts the person that does the smoking.
The Bible says that love works no ill towards their neighbor, therefore love is the fulfilling of the law, and out of faith, hope, and charity, love in action, charity is the greatest.
Loving people is the greatest thing we can do, and offending people is the worse sin we can do except for idolatry, following a false god, or no god, or blasphemy against the Spirit.
Smoking is a drop in the bucket compared to a lot of other sins.
Which loving people includes feeding and clothing people.
Which Paul said that he could have all faith so that he could remove mountains, but if he did not have charity then he is nothing.
And Paul said if anybody preaches that God blesses with money and material things above their needs from such withdraw yourselves having food and clothing be content.
For the love of money is the root of all evil for it neglects the poor and the needy, and if anybody covets after money for their wants above their needs has erred from the faith.
Which James said if they do not have charity then their faith is dead.
And John said if they do not have charity then the love of God does not dwell in them, so do not love in word and in tongue only, but love in deed and in truth, charity, love in action.
This is a big problem in America among the saints, and among many preachers, which is a more terrible wrong than smoking.
But then the preacher wants to cry about smoking when so many saints are involved in their wants, and possibly the preacher.
Also how can the preacher say a person cannot attend Church because they smoke when it is God's house.
Also the Bible says we grow in Christ so we are not going to be perfect the very first day, and if we are not perfect a preacher is going to say they cannot attend Church.
The more serious sins that people will not get rid of God said do not keep company with them but does not include smoking.
I would rather have people in my congregation that smokes than people that love money and go by their wants which is a more serious offense.
2Ti 2:20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.
2Ti 2:21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.
God said that there will be people in the Church not acting Christlike totally but it appears as if God allows them to still be at Church for in a great house there are some to honor and some to dishonor.
I do not understand how a preacher can tell a person they cannot attend Church unless they stop smoking if God says it is alright if they are there, and it is His house.
Also you say that a persons addictions does not identify them in Christ so you would think it would be alright to smoke and attend Church.
But you do not go to a Church that believes the same for if the pastor believed that he would not say you could not attend Church, for if your addiction does not hinder your identity in Christ then you are right with God, so why would the pastor go against that.
