Is smoking tobacco a sin ?

[GoldenEagle]

 

1Co 6:18-20

(18)  Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.

(19)  What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

(20)  For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

 

the context here is fornication, not what physically goes into a man's mouth.

 

again, the context in both is about spiritual defilement; whether of wrong doctrine or the lust of fornication; not what physically goes into a man's mouth

 

 

Exactly!

[Guest shiloh357]

After review and consideration as stated in here's what conclusions I've come to... As far as the passage in Romans 12 this is probably the strongest argument presented. That said, holiness is not an outward but an inward state of being. Smoking a pipe or a cigar once a year doesn’t make me less holy. To me, it is more about an attitude that reflects Christ’s love, mercy, grace, kindness, gentleness, goodness, and self-control.

 

Except the Bible isn't talking about inward holiness.  It says to present your "bodies" as living sacrifices.  That isn't a spiritual or inward state of being.  Furthermore, the Bible makes a strong connection in many places to how our inward state of holiness affects what we do and how we live. The Bible doesn't merely call us to inward holiness.  It calls us to allow what we are on the inside to be reflected in the things we do and don't do.  

 

 

I agree with disciplehelovestoo in from 1 Cor. 6:19-20 is about sexual immorality in context. So this passage is not a very good argument towards the issue of smoking. Smoking is not sexual in nature.

 

That is the context.  But what i have mentioned before and you don't seem to understand is that the Bible gives us a behavioral paradigm that runs across the full spectrum of human behavior.  The Bible doesn't list every sin that could possibly be committed by a person.  So what the Bible does is provide us with principles from which we judge things that are not mentioned directly in Scripture.

 

The Bible doesn't have to say, "smoking is a sin."   The Bible doesn't say that "wathing pornography is a sin," either.  But we can deduce from the light the Bible has given us that watching porn is a sin.  

 

So while the verses i provide are addressing a different kind of sin, what we have is a principle, namely that  our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit and in light of that we are to glorify God in our bodies.  That is a principle that transcends sexual immorality.   Is there any context in whcih we should NOT glorify God in our bodies?  And I would again point out that is is NOT a focus on inward holiness.  it is a focus on outward, practical purity.

 

 

I think in context reviewing Romans 6 that it would really apply more towards what I’ve already mentioned – habitual sin that is in essence pride and idolatry. Being consumed by anything besides God seems to me to be indication of sin.

 

But Paul is talking about yielding the "members" of your body as instruments of sin.  In fact the context is about not letting sin reign in our mortal bodies to obey the lusts thereof.  (Read vv. 12-19) And those lusts are any wrong desires, not just sexual lust.  We are not let those things rule our bodies. Again, this is not a focus on inward morality or spirituality, or holiness, but outward.

 

Again, I still think smoking is one of those permissable but not beneficial issues as seen in 1 Cor. 6:12. There is no doubt (and with cigarettes in particular) that smoking is very bad for your health. Smoking has been proven to damage the lungs and the heart. That said much like the arguments made about gambling it may be a sin to some and not to others.

 

The paradigm commandment that we are to glorify God in our bodies would indicate activities  that are harmful to our bodies are sinful in that they detract from and destroy what was meant to glorify Him and what He expects to be glorified by in our lives. God expects to be glorified in every aspect of our lives.

 

Shiloh I think the bottom line is too many times you try to win the argument (by proving your point or being right) and you end up losing your audience. I suppose if that is your intent then so be it. Not really sure the point of that or how effective it is in pointing others to the truth. Something to consider for sure brother.

 

 

The question was asked, "is smoking a sin?"   I gave the person asking the truth. I am defending the truth because it is important to do so. Some will not like it and I will lose them.  So be it.  But some will see the truth and some do as evidenced on the thread.

[disciplehelovestoo]

ok, since you insist, here ya go:

 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/science-news/9209597/Exhaust-fumes-are-twice-as-deadly-as-roads-study-claims.html

 

(http ://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/science-news/9209597/ Exhaust fumes are twice as deadly as roads study claims.html - from MIT btw)

 

there's nothing completely safe or pure in this physical world; there's germs on your doctor's rubber gloves from the factory; there's pollutants in the cleanest air you can find on the planet.  so if smoking is a sin because it defiles your physical body with some degree of pollutants, then by that reasoning, breathing is a sin because that also defiles your physical body with pollutants - the argument that science hasn't linked breathing with lung cancer is no justification that smoking is a sin simply because they HAVE linked smoking with lung cancer - science does not interpret scripture (and many people die of lung cancer that never smoked, or were around smokers, or were around automobiles, or asbestos, etc.)

 

whenever you focus on actions, you are in error because your focus is on what you perceive through your senses and not on what God is leading you to do or not do - the only way to walk by the Spirit is to be led by God.  to ask the question 'is smoking a sin' is error to begin with; as we aren't smart enough to decide this for ourselves - we MUST be led by God; to be led by anything else (including scientific studies) is the essence of sin.

 

 

 

[disciplehelovestoo]

well, we obviously don't agree, but i still love you Brother!

[Guest shiloh357]

 

we all drive cars, and it's a convenience; we could become like the Amish; but when you're driving down the road, you're breathing a mix of gasoline and diesel exhaust (as every car circulates some outside air to the interior), so saying that smoking is a sin because the fumes are destructive also condemns anyone who rides or drives on the highway (or rides a bike or walks).  

 

This is fallacious logic.  I agree that driving cars pollutes the air and we breathe pollutants, but there is a moral distinction we make between smoking which one is knowingly and purposefully ingesting toxins and poisons which is a completely necessary act the necessary act of driving a car.  The ingesting of fumes while one is driving to work or to church is the unintended consequence of driving.   In the act of smoking one is performing that act for the purpose of ingesting toxins that they know will make them more likely to incur emphysema  or lung cancer.

 

So this is really not a valid comparison.

[disciplehelovestoo]

well, we also obviously don't agree, but i still love you too Brother!

[Jerry1023]

@disciplehelovestoo,

you have a very strong believe that,

smoking is not a sin,

even to the extend in saying that the person that asked the question is wrong,

if it happen that the question goes like this,

does it make sense for a believer to smoke?

Does bible support smoking?

can Holy Spirit ask a believer to smoke?

can Holy Spirit ask a believer to stop smoking?

generally we know that tobaco is dangerous to our health,

why then supporting what is not good for our health,

if any believer that newly gave his life to christ,

and he is struggling to quit smoking,

just because it is not generally supported,for a believer to smoke,

and the Holy Spirit directed him on this site,

and he look into this thread and the replies,

he will simple believe that,

it is wise to smoke,

the last thing i will do is to encourage a believer to smoke,

God forbid,

i will only encourage a believer to quit,

with God all things are possible,

anything that has a begining will surely have an end.

it is just a matter of time and prayers,

whether smoking is a sin or not,

whether it is right or wrong for a believer to smoke,

but all of us know that it is very bad to our health.

even the person that asked the question know that,

know where in the bible that says,

smoking tobaco is a sin,

that was why he ask the question,

the bible said that anybody that knows what is good and refuse to do it,the bible said it is a sin to that person.

[disciplehelovestoo]

@disciplehelovestoo,

you have a very strong believe that,

smoking is not a sin,

even to the extend in saying that the person that asked the question is wrong,

if it happen that the question goes like this,

does it make sense for a believer to smoke?

Does bible support smoking?

can Holy Spirit ask a believer to smoke?

can Holy Spirit ask a believer to stop smoking?

generally we know that tobaco is dangerous to our health,

why then supporting what is not good for our health,

if any believer that newly gave his life to christ,

and he is struggling to quit smoking,

just because it is not generally supported,for a believer to smoke,

and the Holy Spirit directed him on this site,

and he look into this thread and the replies,

he will simple believe that,

it is wise to smoke,

the last thing i will do is to encourage a believer to smoke,

God forbid,

i will only encourage a believer to quit,

with God all things are possible,

anything that has a begining will surely have an end.

it is just a matter of time and prayers,

whether smoking is a sin or not,

whether it is right or wrong for a believer to smoke,

but all of us know that it is very bad to our health.

even the person that asked the question know that,

know where in the bible that says,

smoking tobaco is a sin,

that was why he ask the question,

the bible said that anybody that knows what is good and refuse to do it,the bible said it is a sin to that person.

 

 

Jerry - you are misquoting me -  i never said that smoking is not a sin, nor did i say it is a sin - i said that Romans 14:21-23 applies - that there is no clear cut answer to this question from scripture.  others offered scripture to support the belief that smoking is a sin, and i looked at those scriptures in context and believe the context proves that they don't mean what tradition says they do about physical things defiling the temple of the Holy Spirit which is the body.  

 

please be more careful; if you think i said something, then copy it out of my post(s) and quote it to me, don't assume you know what i mean - you can't see my heart nor read my mind.  

 

you have made a number of assumptions and accusations in this post - but where is the scripture???  not a verse taken out of context, but clear scripture taken in context that deals with this subject?  

 

those who say that smoking is clearly a sin are focused on actions, not heart intent.  God is focused on heart intent, because as the heart changes the actions change automatically.  to say that smoking is a sin is to actually strengthen it, because you are laying down a law, and sin revives when the law comes.  i'm sorry you don't see this.

[Guest shiloh357]

Jerry - you are misquoting me -  i never said that smoking is not a sin, nor did i say it is a sin - i said that Romans 14:21-23 applies - that there is no clear cut answer to this question from scripture.

 

that is poor hermeneutics.  Smoking destroys the body.  Romans 14 21-23 doesn't apply to something self-desructive.

 

 

others offered scripture to support the belief that smoking is a sin, and i looked at those scriptures in context and believe the context proves that they don't mean what tradition says they do about physical things defiling the temple of the Holy Spirit which is the body.  

 

Those Scriptures you posted are part of a behavioral paradigm that deals with anything that are adverse to our bodies as temples of the Holy Spirit.  It transcends sexual immorality and easily applies to self-destructive actions.

 

those who say that smoking is clearly a sin are focused on actions, not heart intent.  God is focused on heart intent, because as the heart changes the actions change automatically.  to say that smoking is a sin is to actually strengthen it, because you are laying down a law, and sin revives when the law comes.  i'm sorry you don't see this.

 

That is completely false.  Sin brings nothing but destruction and smoking is destructive to the body. One cannot present their bodies as living sacrifices that are acceptable to the Lord as they destroy their bodies.   God is as much concerned about what we do as He is about what is in our hearts.  You draw a false and unscriptural dichotomy.

[disciplehelovestoo]

 

Jerry - you are misquoting me -  i never said that smoking is not a sin, nor did i say it is a sin - i said that Romans 14:21-23 applies - that there is no clear cut answer to this question from scripture.

 

that is poor hermeneutics.  Smoking destroys the body.  Romans 14 21-23 doesn't apply to something self-desructive.

 

 

others offered scripture to support the belief that smoking is a sin, and i looked at those scriptures in context and believe the context proves that they don't mean what tradition says they do about physical things defiling the temple of the Holy Spirit which is the body.  

 

Those Scriptures you posted are part of a behavioral paradigm that deals with anything that are adverse to our bodies as temples of the Holy Spirit.  It transcends sexual immorality and easily applies to self-destructive actions.

 

those who say that smoking is clearly a sin are focused on actions, not heart intent.  God is focused on heart intent, because as the heart changes the actions change automatically.  to say that smoking is a sin is to actually strengthen it, because you are laying down a law, and sin revives when the law comes.  i'm sorry you don't see this.

 

That is completely false.  Sin brings nothing but destruction and smoking is destructive to the body. One cannot present their bodies as living sacrifices that are acceptable to the Lord as they destroy their bodies.   God is as much concerned about what we do as He is about what is in our hearts.  You draw a false and unscriptural dichotomy.

 

 

Rom 11:1-36

(1)  I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.

(2)  God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel, saying,

(3)  Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life.

(4)  But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal.

(5)  Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.

(6)  And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.

(7)  What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded

(8)  (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day.

(9)  And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompence unto them:

(10)  Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway.

(11)  I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.

(12)  Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness?

(13)  For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:

(14)  If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them.

(15)  For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?

(16)  For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches.

(17)  And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree;

(18)  Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.

(19)  Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in.

(20)  Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:

(21)  For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.

(22)  Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.

(23)  And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again.

(24)  For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be graffed into their own olive tree?

(25)  For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.

(26)  And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:

(27)  For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.

(28)  As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes.

(29)  For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.

(30)  For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief:

(31)  Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.

(32)  For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.

(33)  O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!

(34)  For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?

(35)  Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again?

(36)  For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.

 

Rom 12:1-3

(1)  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

(2)  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

(3)  For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

 

the word therefore links this verse, to which i assume you refer, to what has been said in the verses prior to it - there is no mention whatsoever of physical habits here - the context is faith versus unbelief - the context is the state of the heart, not the physical body.  

 

you can voice all the opinion you wish, but mark this - in your next response, you will either respond with clear scripture taken in context to justify your view, or prove yourself to be in error by the lack of clear scripture taken in context to justify your view