Is smoking a mortal sin?

1Co 3:16-17 say, “Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you. If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him; for God's temple is sacred, and you are that temple”. Some Christians say that these verses mean that people who smoke tobacco will end up in hell because they are destroying God's temple. If that was true then we would have to tell a person who is fat from overeating that they are heading for hell too because being overweight is also bad for our health. When 1 Cor. 3 is examined closely it will be found that these verses are not saying that God will destroy people who destroy their bodies but rather that He will destroy people who destroy His church.

1 Cor. 1:11-13 and 1 Cor. 3:1-8 tell us that the Corinthians were fighting about which man they should follow. Paul said that they should follow Jesus rather than follow men like himself or Apollos. He goes on to say that they were just servants with God-given tasks; one man plants, another waters but God makes things grow and each man will be rewarded according to his own labour. Then in 1 Cor. 3:9-11 he says that we Christians are God's building and that he has laid a foundation as an expert builder and each of us must be careful how we build on that foundation, which is Jesus Christ.

Then 1 Cor. 3:12-15 talk about how we build the church and warn that fire will test the quality of each man's work. The verses say that we can -
a) Build with gold, silver or costly stones and receive our reward or
b) Build with wood, hay or straw and, although we will still be saved, our work will be burned up.
Building with gold, silver or costly stones represent good leadership and sound doctrine while wood, hay and straw represent poor leadership and unsound doctrine.

So far, the chapter has spoken about building the church with good or poor leadership but there can also be bad leadership which destroys a church. Back in 1 Cor. 3:9, we Christians were referred to as God's building and 1 Cor. 3:16-17 continue with that picture, calling us God's Temple - “Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him; for God's temple is sacred, and you [plural] are that temple”. God's temple is referring to the church, not individuals. When these verses are taken in the context of building the church, we see that they are saying that God will destroy bad leaders who destroy His church rather than build it up.

From this we can see that 1 Cor. 3:16-17 is not referring to destroying our body but to destroying the church. 1 Cor. 3:18 to 1 Cor. 4:6 continue on to further warn us not to follow the wisdom of men and in 1 Cor. 4:6 we are told, “Do not go beyond what is written. Then you will not take pride in one man over against another”. So, if we follow what is written and not follow men then we will build well and not be corrupted by false teaching which will destroy a church.

So, we can see that this chapter is telling us to be careful how we build and to build on the foundation of Jesus because our rewards will be according to the way we build.
If we build well then we will be rewarded.
If we build poorly then we will still be saved but lose our rewards.
If anyone destroys the church then they will be destroyed.

If we take 1 Cor. 3:16-17 out of context and tell a smoker that he is going to hell then we ourselves will be guilty of poor doctrine. Also, the smoker may have little faith and poor self-control and what we say may destroy the little faith he has. Feeling hopelessly lost, he may turn to wine, women and song … which will certainly lead him to hell.

There is no doubt that smoking is bad for our health and people are in bondage to it but nowhere does the Bible say that smokers will go to hell. When the Bible is silent on something then we should be also but of course smokers should be encouraged to quit the habit.

"Mortal sin" is a Catholic concept, not a biblical concept.

Biblically, any sin is enough to exclude you from God's eternal rest. We are all sinners, and every single one of us deserves God's wrath. However, He poured out His wrath on Jesus at the cross. By trusting in the Person and finished work of Jesus Christ, we are redeemed from judgment and our sins are considered "paid for" by Jesus.

As for smoking, I have compassion for my brothers and sisters who are caught in this addiction. It certainly does damage to the human body, as do most other addictions, and as such, is sinful. However, dealing with it is between the smoker and God.

Regarding 1 Cor 3:16-17, I recall reading that the verse is referring to the Church corporately rather than to individual Christians.

Mortal as in it can kill you or mortal as in some strange cultish concept?

And of course smoking increases the mortality rate (or so we've been told).

It is not a mortal sin. but a very bad habit which is totally incompatible with Christian witness.

BTW for the OP, the Bible does NOT have to state everything explicitly for it to be true. That is a current fallacy.

I am sure that most smokers have had their share on encouragement to quit.

All things are lawful, but not expedient.....smoking sends no one to hell, nor does the bible say it is a sin.......and NO....I do not smoke.

The flesh would commit even the most blatantly known sin

Therefore, legalism is useless

Jesus is not a sufficient sacrifice for the petty vices of man, sounds like blasphemy to me.
Smoking outside of being addicted isn't even a moral lapse. All things are lawful, not all things are beneficial, but I won't be controlled by any thing.
So if you are addicted to cigarettes, it's gonna be a hard fight for a couple of weeks but well worth it.
If you are having a cigar with your friends when you're out fishing, golfing, hunting, ... What ever.

I had to deal with this when I found the scripture about the temple the op quoted after I was addicted to those cigarettes. I would always ask the Lord for help with it a I fell asleep and was assured I would wake up free of the addiction. Next morning, soon as the kids left for school, my body simply screamed for more nicotine. One morning it was 10 below zero outside and there were no cigarettes in coat pockets, stuck in the cushions of chairs, in any drawer so I stormed and scolded myself as I walked and nearly froze for five blocks to buy some.

A group of Quaker ladies prayed me out of that addiction.

Perhaps my work was sinful as I harmed my body with cigarettes, but my will certainly was to not make my body smell bad and do it harm.

Smoking, over eating, using salt/sugar, drinking alcohol, habitual speeding when driving, fried food consumption, etc., etc.... None of these will send you to hell...........but, they aren't especially healthy things to do.

Paul said (paraphrased) If for you it's a sin, then it's a sin. So, clearly, the individual must approach all things as to what they consider a sin, and what they don't. If they think anything is a sin, they should abstain.

The Scripture about the Temple is speaking of our hearts.............this is where the Holy Spirit resides........

If I may paraphrase also frommemory…...It is written if a brother sins but is not aware of his sin, it is not held against him. This goes in line with what you have shred here I believe. God bless all this beautiful morning, amen.

Can you recall what verse you are paraphrasing about Paul?

I want to do some homework.

In response to the title, first there is only one mortal sin, if I understand you correctly this must be from rCC teaching. Second Jesus, Yeshua, made the subject clear when He teaches us that nothing by entering the body corrupts the body,; it is what proceeds fromthe heart that corrupsts the body, not extending the mercy received from God, murders, thefts, and all types of coveting…..these corrupt the boty only.l

Now if anything controls the person this is possibly a sin for it takes us away from our Lord when we are overcome by it, however He is our Mediator always for our sins, and we do yet sin, otherwise we would not need a Mediator...…..you know. God bless you.

Sure


Romans 14

14 I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean.

15 But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died.

16 Let not then your good be evil spoken of:

17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

18 For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.

19 Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.

20 For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence.

21 It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thingwhereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.

22 Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth.

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

Well it can kill you if you keep doing it all the time. I dont know of any sins that are immortal.

So using the term "mortal sin" makes you Catholic?

It is an RCC dogma.

I know this question wasn't to me...

No, using any particular term doesn't make you Catholic, but as Christians, we don't distinguish between "mortal sin" and "venial sin". In other words, sin is sin, period. The effects of sin in this life differ, but the wages of [any] sin is death.

Thank you!

This confirms many previous lessons I have learned in other verses.

I would say God is against smoking, and against drugs, and alcohol, for it is bad for our body, and common sense that we should not do it.

What if smoking, drugs, or alcohol, is the cause of someone dying before the time they would of died not doing those things, or if doing those things caused the death of their child in the womb, or the baby being born with health problems, or deformed whether mentally, or physically.

Some people will also justify drinking alcohol, but it does not make sense that we can drink a little alcohol, but not a lot, for would it not be a temptation to be allowed to drink a little, but do not drink a lot for some people are not going to quit with a little once they start drinking.

The Old Testament says do not drink the wine when it ferments, which wine in the Bible can mean unfermented, or fermented grape juice, and wine is a mocker, and strong drink is raging, and whoever is deceived is not wise, and it is not for kings, and princes to drink wine, which the saints are kings, and priests unto God the Father.

Also the Spirit is our Comforter, and gives us peace, joy, power, love, and a sound mind, so how can alcohol be justified to make us feel good when the Spirit is our Comforter, and why would a person need alcohol, and why would God allow fermented alcohol when we are spiritual with spiritual comfort, not a fleshy comfort that has nothing to do with our spiritual walk with God, and not a necessity.

I can see in the Old Testament drinking alcohol for they could not have the Spirit, but not drinking alcohol in the New Testament for we can have the Spirit.

But some people will justify being rich like Kenneth Copeland saying that Abraham was rich, and we have the promises of Abraham, but the Bible says those that preach the prosperity Gospel that God blesses with money above their needs for their wants withdraw yourselves from them, having food and clothing be content, for the love of money is the root of all evil for it neglects the poor and needy, and love is the fulfilling of the law.

And when the Church started the saints sold all they had that was not a necessity, and gave to those that were in need.

I do not know if a person will go to hell for smoking, but the Bible says whatever we think is sin, wrong to do, and we do it, then it is sin, and all sin is unrighteousness.

Do the people that smoke say that it is bad to do, and if they do then it is sin to them, for what person would actually say it is good to do for it would seem they would not for it is damaging to the body, so it is sin to them, but they do not care about the bad about smoking, but want to do it, which many do it for it became a habit before confessing Christ, and they have not gave it up, like people that liked to drink alcohol before confessing Christ, and they still want to do it.

Like it is alright to eat pork in the New Testament for all meat is clean now if it is received with thanksgiving, for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer, but if a person believes that eating pork is still wrong, and do it, then it is a sin to them even though it is not a sin to those that know it is alright to eat pork.

So smoking is a sin to the people that smoke for they would say it is bad for them, and we know for sure that it is better not to smoke than smoke, and all sin is unrighteousness.

Unless they say that smoking is actually good, and clean, and wholesome for them like the spring waters of a lovely valley uncontaminated by people, and the good fruits, and vegetables uncontaminated by things of man, then I suppose they beat the rap, found a loophole, off the hook, and it is not a sin to them.

But who would say that, and believe that, then it is a sin to them for it is bad, and whatever we think is sin is a sin to us, and all sin is unrighteousness.

Sin is sin whatever the age, and age does not apply when it comes to sin, for sin covers both children and adults the same, so why do they say it is wrong to smoke for a child, but not an adult.

Is there is something in the Bible that adults can do, and it is alright, but the children cannot do when it comes to something bad for them, but sin covers both children and adults the same.

And the drinking age is 21 years old, as if nobody 21 years old and above ever acted stupid when drinking, or done something stupid.