Is Smoking Tobacco a Sin?

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Is smoking tobacco a sin?

  • Yes, smoking tobacco is a sin.

    Votes: 10 47.6%
  • No, smoking tobacco is not a sin.

    Votes: 11 52.4%

  • Total voters
    21

UnitedWithChrist

Well-known member
Aug 12, 2019
3,739
1,928
113
#1
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?
 

JaumeJ

Senior Member
Jul 2, 2011
21,195
6,508
113
#2
Nothing by entering the body corrupts the body. It is any evil which proc eeds from the heart…………..

Smoking is not a practical thing to do, but to say it is a sin is a little over the top in my essteem……….but that is just my esteem. I hate cigtaret smoke anywhere near me, and it does anoy me, but I love the people regardless...It is my due.
 

Melach

Well-known member
Mar 28, 2019
2,022
1,506
113
#3
i voted no and no im not a smoker myself. because the bible does not say anything about smoking. and people smoked in bible days too. they were smoking something a bit stronger than tobacco too.
 
Jun 10, 2019
4,304
1,659
113
#4
One more post before I take a break for awhile anything can be idolatry smoking three packs day is idolatry being on chat rooms to much is idolatry, if I mow my grass to much and make it look the best in the neighborhood it’s idolatry. world is full of idolatry and everyone has to look at what is in their life their making idolatry of, its appears the simplest things in life can become idolatry saved or not saved.
 

Heyjude

Active member
Sep 7, 2019
277
121
43
#5
i voted no and no im not a smoker myself. because the bible does not say anything about smoking. and people smoked in bible days too. they were smoking something a bit stronger than tobacco too.
Really? What were they smoking?
 

Melach

Well-known member
Mar 28, 2019
2,022
1,506
113
#6
Really? What were they smoking?
hahahaha.

probably shrooms and all other plants. we know that all thru history people have been using everything. same in bible days and before. its not a new invention at all. some shamans in the jungles still do it in 2019. and they have no technology they are stuck in stone times pun is intended did you catch it?
 

Heyjude

Active member
Sep 7, 2019
277
121
43
#7
hahahaha.

probably shrooms and all other plants. we know that all thru history people have been using everything. same in bible days and before. its not a new invention at all. some shamans in the jungles still do it in 2019. and they have no technology they are stuck in stone times pun is intended did you catch it?
Hahaha I get it...I guess those guys back then if they really liked what they were smoking they must have been "double jointed"!
 

TheLearner

Well-known member
Jan 14, 2019
7,856
1,447
113
67
Brighton, MI
#8
I voted no because it is common sense to want to stay on earth to share Jesus. One could appear to the bible on gluttony or over eating to say it is. But, I do not see the connection, there is also our body as temple of God that will likely be quoted.

1 Corinthians 6:12 ESV
“All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be enslaved by anything.

Common sense wise, it wastes your money, shortens your life and causes rotten medical problems.

It boils down to how long do you want to live on earth.

Aside: on the new earth, will there be plumbers?
 

Dino246

Senior Member
Jun 30, 2015
24,555
13,320
113
#9
About once a month, someone starts a new thread entitled, "Is (x) a sin?"

The answer is always the same: whatever is not of faith is sin (Romans 14:23).

It really is that simple.
 

Nehemiah6

Senior Member
Jul 18, 2017
24,167
12,761
113
#10
Do you consider smoking cigarettes to be a sin?
Since the Christian's body is the temple of God, polluting that body would be a sin. If there was a literal temple on earth, polluting that temple would also be a sin.

Does cigarette smoke contain numerous poisons which are poisonous to the body? Absolutely. Even non-Christians will tell you that.
 

maxwel

Senior Member
Apr 18, 2013
9,261
2,386
113
#11
Since the Christian's body is the temple of God, polluting that body would be a sin. If there was a literal temple on earth, polluting that temple would also be a sin.

Does cigarette smoke contain numerous poisons which are poisonous to the body? Absolutely. Even non-Christians will tell you that.

So... eating fast food is an actual sin?

Eating at Burger King is a genuine act of moral depravity?

.
 

maxwel

Senior Member
Apr 18, 2013
9,261
2,386
113
#12
Glad I didn't buy that franchise.
 

jacob_g

Active member
Sep 1, 2019
346
160
43
#13
I smoke. I don't believe smoking will send me to hell, but I sure smell like I have been there.... I think smoking is just like any other addiction (alcohol, drugs, gambling, so on). Even if the act of something in and of itself is not a sin but causes you to sin you should not be doing it.... Example if drinking alcohol causes a person to have premarital sex or commit adultery, that person should not drink because they sin when drunk. This will sound crazy but I do believe smoking is a sin (for me anyway). I am the king of quitting; do it all the time. I never stay stopped because my flesh wanting a cigarette is more to me than standing in faith and waiting on God's deliverance. I did that once and was free from smoking for 3 years then one day instead of praying about everything, when I smelled my friends smoke and how good it smelled, I took one from my friend and smoked it.... I know smoking is a sin for me because I would rather be smoke free but I do not want to fight my flesh.... I do not sin otherwise from smoking but if I could not buy a pack I think I would and steel off of a friend after I bum one... Sad but true....
 

breno785au

Senior Member
Jul 23, 2013
6,002
764
113
39
Australia
#14
It's a horrible addiction, makes you smell like a bushfire, it's harmful for your body, it's not a good thing to go to when under pressure but I wouldn't make it a black and white sin. It's not what God wants for us, we can do better for ourselves.
The awareness of smoking harm is saturated in our society so to go up to a brother or sister and say, don't you know you shouldn't smoke? Of course they know!
But let's be humble about it and gently walk it through with them.
I think all Christian smokers know they shouldn't do it, some of them are trapped and find it hard to break. That's where mercy steps in, kindness, understanding, finding out where they are at. Pray for them to have a desire to quit if they currently don't.
Is it a sin? It could be, I really don't know. But I think it's how we approach people and how we treat those who do smoke that matters more than the label.
 
Apr 15, 2017
2,867
653
113
#15
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.
 

tourist

Senior Member
Mar 13, 2014
41,243
16,252
113
69
Tennessee
#17
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?
Was this pastor implying that the entire membership was without sin? For the record, I smoke but Paul said that all things are lawful but not all things are profitable. I include smoking in this as well as moderate alcohol consumption (have abstained since 1992). If it were me I would find another church to attend,
 

Nehemiah6

Senior Member
Jul 18, 2017
24,167
12,761
113
#18
So... eating fast food is an actual sin? Eating at Burger King is a genuine act of moral depravity?.
Now that would be really S-T-R-E-T-C-H-I-N-G it. Burger King does not serve up poisons. And fast foods have received a bad rap unnecessarily. There is a time and a place for these foods.

On the other hand, tobacco = poisons. So this is not depravity but STUPIDITY.
  • Nicotine (the addictive drug that produces the effect people are looking for and one of the harshest chemicals in tobacco smoke)
  • Hydrogen cyanide
  • Formaldehyde
  • Lead
  • Arsenic
  • Ammonia
  • Radioactive elements, such as uranium (see below)
  • Benzene
  • Carbon monoxide
  • Nitrosamines
  • Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)
Many of these substances cause cancer. Some can cause heart disease, lung disease, or other serious health problems, too. Most of the substances come from the burning tobacco leaves themselves, not from additives included in cigarettes (or other tobacco products).

https://www.cancer.org/cancer/cance...er/carcinogens-found-in-tobacco-products.html
 

jacob_g

Active member
Sep 1, 2019
346
160
43
#20
I posted earlier about smoking cigarettes... What I wrote still stands true for me, but what all these post makes me think about....
Is smoking THC a sin (pot)... It was "nature" /(God's) plant, just like tobacco until people... messed with it....
Now that pot is legal in so many states, is it a sin?
Soooo many people are dying from clogged arteries, a consequence of fast food... People die from smoking and THC in vaping....

Why do you think God made these plants? Heck, why do you think God created the poppy seed? Not that so many could end up living/dieing on poppyseed waist!?!
Interesting... NO!?! WHY DO YOU THINK? Maybe it is part of the fall!?!


just questions in my head.....