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Hey there everyone.  I am a new Christian and I am a smoker.  I would like to quit and I am working on doing so.  I wanted to know if smoking is a sin?  One of the main reasons I ask is because a few Christian friends of mine have told me I am going to hell whether I accepted Christ or not because I do smoke cigarettes.  I definetly do not want to appear to be a hypocrite.  Can someone give me some feedback as to whether this is a sin or not?

Thanks in advance,

Amanda

Hi emt,
I also smoke and I believe that smoking is a sin. I think it falls into the sin of gluttony, but that's just my opinion. Paul said; "everything is permissible for me-but not everything is beneficial...food for the stomach and the stomach for food, but I will not be mastered by anything." I have asked God to tak away my smoking many times but to no avail. Paul als had a thorn which he asked God to remove also but God's answer was that His grace was sufficient for Paul. In either case, it can't be good for us. The best thing to do is pray about it. God will meet you where you're at and only give you what you can bear. Good luck!

I was an ex-smoker.  :'(
Now I'm a soon to be ex-smoker.  ;)
Maybe we could be stop smoking buddies?  :)
Smoking is a sin and I like Heidi's comparision to gluttony.

I wonder what kind of friends you are hanging out with who would make you think that you are going to hell for smoking?
It sounds a lot to me like the WOF or name it and claim it crowd.

We don't get saved and suddenly have our sins disappear. If we did I would have been sin free for over a decade now.

I like the saying I once heard a preacher say on the topic of smoking:
Smoking won't send you to hell, it'll just make you smell like you've been there.  ;)

Yeah, the friends i'm talking about are sadly the only friends I have in the area who are believers however I do think their doctrine is a bit off.  They attend the International Church of Christ and their church is very legalistic.  They already think i'm going to hell because I don't believe that Baptism saves me.  I believe it is a command and I have gotten baptized but not with the belief that baptism is what saved me.  
So... the fact that I am not a believer in their doctrine as well as a smoker I apparently am major sinner who believes false doctrine as well regarding salvation.  Oh well.  I know the truth.
Thanks for the input on smoking.  I do agree with the glutteny theory.  
The way I look at it is this...  If Jesus was physically standing right next to me... would I light up a cigarette?  Nope.  Why should it be any different right now even though I can't see him.
:)

Thanks again,

Amanda

I don't believe that Baptism saves you either.  Grace is what saves, Baptism is one of the instructions Jesus gave us as a means to show our loving obedience and true belief in Him by embracing His teachings.


Sin requires more than the act it requires intent to do something you know to be wrong.  If you did not think smoking was bad for you and you did not think it was against the instructions of our Lord Jesus Christ then it would not be sinful.  But it sounds as if you know both of these things so I would think it is a sin for you.

Hi Amanda-
I would encourage you to look at other churches and to read God's Word daily.
You are right on the baptismal issue. I'm sure there are threads addressing this issue.
I will pray for you.
You can reach me on aim as Hischild1994.
Roberta

So something is only a sin if one thinks it's a sin?  ???
Thats an interesting theology.

Ok how can you sin if you do not think it is wrong?

If you run someone over in your car but didn't intend to are you sinning?  But if you intend to hurt the person and aim at them then the same act becomes a sin.  It is not the act it is the intent behind the act.

Paul extends this concept to eating food offered to idols.

1Co 8:4  As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one.

So it is not a sin if you realize there is no reality behind the idol.

However we should be careful not to lead those to sin who have not made the more mature assessment of the situation.

1Co 8:7  Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge: for some with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled.

So yes if you do not think something is an offense to God (a sin) then you mean no offense by it and therefore it becomes not a sin for you.

That is why nothing is unlawful for us as long as we are not under its power.

1Co 6:12  All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.

There's a verse in the Bible that says we can sin in ignorance. It happens. However, you are partly right - most sin is because of heart condition - what your intent is.

For an example of a sin in ignorance, say gossip. That sin can easily work it's way into somebody's life - almost all of us do it. We drop little mean, critical statements about our family members or boss or somebody else that we wouldn't have said to the person's face. We don't even really think about it. It's still a sin.

-Matt

I have a co-worker who really gets on my nerves. She gets on most everyone's nerves. Next time she opens her mouth I think I should smack her.
I don't think it's a sin and most of my co-workers wouldn't either. Therefore, it can't be a sin.

I've decided that housework is a sin, therefore I will not do it anymore.

Sorry Micheal- your analogy doesn't work very well.

If you REALLY feel that smacking someone is not a sin then it is not.  There is justified violence in the world - though I don't suspect your example qualifies because I think you are being sarcastic when you say that you think it would not be a sin to smack someone who gets on your nerves.  But say that person was someone you caught moleting a child then smacking them would be entirely justified and it would not be a sin because you might not feel it was not an offense to God (some still would not strike even in this situation but that is up to the person).  Your co-workers are not involved in this decision - it is how you see the act yourself not how others see it.  That is the whoel point to fulfilling the spirit of the law through love.  If you believe you are acting out of love for God and man then your act cannot be wrong even though it appears to violate the letter of the law, like when Jesus healed on the Sabbath.

I don't know if housework is a sin or not for you - I have never seen how badly you keep house ( ;Dducking and running for cover ;D)

Believe me, you don't wanna see my house.  :)

My co-workers would have a party if someone would put this annoying co-worker in her place.

As far as the child molester- it's different when defending or protecting someone.

Hebrews 9:7 "But only the high priest entered the inner room, and that only once a year, and never without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance."

I know that this was under the first covenant, but it still remains that sin committed in ignorance exists.

-Matt

I smoke every now and then. It is a social thing for me. On top of that, if you can find out when your profs smoke, it really helps your grade to become his smoking buddy.

No, it is not a sin, I see nothing that would make it a sin. Last person that told me it was a sin because it was hurting my body was drinking a coke at the time, if you get what I'm saying... ;)

Is being anarexic a sin? I mean, if you eat enough to keep yourself alive? The answer to that one is pretty obvious to me.

Now, here's a more reasonable question, and I really do want to know what all of you think.

What's the difference between smoking and being anarexic? In both cases, the person does it to make themselves feel beter. In both cases, it's bad for one's body.

I'd like to be corrected on this view, and I'm waiting for the rebutal :)

-Matt

I personally feel they are both sins.
As long as mankind has free-will, mankind will be inclined to sin.
That doesn't make it right.

So you think you have a choice to sin, Hischild? Then be perfect, right now and forever. I, for one, would love to be perfect.

We make a lot of choices in this world, including the choice to sin.
The flesh is weak therefore I do not believe that we will ever be free of sin before we reach Heaven.
Does the word repentance ring a bell?
When we sin we should repent and try to abstain from that sin. God does not make us sin. He is perfect and holy and pure.

Why should I even try to be perfect, Heidi, if I can't make the right decisions no matter what I do? What would be the point in trying? Btw, I'm still waiting for you to answer my other questions.

-Thank you, Matt

Actually, my comment was not in reference to smoking being a sin, it is in reference to those who say smoking is a sin on the basis that it hurts your body, and yet still eat McDonalds. I think you are a little confused. I do not believe either is a sin. However, is one was to call smoking as sin on the basis that it is unhealthy, then that person also my treat their body with respect. This includes injecting only health things.

But, to asnwer your question. If, hypothetically, smoking was a sin, the difference is the type of sin. Anorexia is vanity, and smoking can be gluttony.

And just who do you think TAKES AWAY YOUR SINS, Matt? You or Jesus's death on the cross? Do you even have a clue WHY he suffered agony and torture? Do you have ANY idea WHY HE WENT THROUGH ALL OF THAT? Romans, 7:7, "For I would have not known what coveting really was if the law had not said; "Do not covet". But sin, SEIZING THE OPPORTUNITY AFFORDED BY THE COMMANDMENT, PRODUCED IN ME EVERY KINd OF COVETOUES DESIRE." Paul is saying that we not only CANNOT obey the law but can in fact, ONLY do the OPPOSITE! That is precisely WHY we NEEDED Christ's death on the cross! This is basic Christianity! ALL of us are TRAPPED in our sins and ONLY Christ's death can free us! Therefore, instead of TRYING to love our neighbor, which isn't real because it's forced, ALL we can do is admit the TRUTH, that we do NOT love our neighbor, ask for forgiveness and it is God's forgiveness, love, and mercy that we give to our neighbor! That is how Jesus takes our sins away! As we confess them, one by one, he REPLACES THEM with his spiritof forgiveness, love, and mercy, until one day, all that's LEFT in us is the spirit. That is how christ FULFILLED the law for us. IT IS FINISHED. that is also why ALL we have to do is BELEIEVE that we are forgiven and from that comes thankfulness, forgiveness, and genuine love! It ALL comes from God! Not one bit comes from me!  

Heidi- Is God perfect and holy and pure?

The sacrifice they made for the sins made in ignorance was to try to fulfill the letter of the law.  It was like trying to cover all the bases, so no it does not apply any more.  We fulfill even the laws we don't realize we are breaking through love for it fulfills all the law.  That is why we don't worry about the specifics of whether a thing in and of itself is offensive to God - only whether we intend it to be offensive.  If we are trying to offend God or man we obviously aren't loving them and if we are intent on loving them then we aren't possibly intending to offend them.

The biggest exampe of sin in ignorance is PRIDE. ANY time we glorify OURSELVES instead of God, we are engaging in the sin of pride. ANY time we try to extract attention for ourselves instead of giving it to others, we are engaging in the sin of pride, which is everyday! Any time we boast, saying that WE do good instead of that it is GOD who does good THROUGH us, we are indulging in the sin of pride. Without God's unconditional love in us, we have no CHOICE but to boast about ourselves because thatt's the only way we feel loveable! Those who DO have the unconditional love of God in them have no CHOICE but to be humble because we KNOW that whatever good in us comes from God alone! That is PRECISELY why when addressed by the rich man as "Good Sir", Jesus said; "Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone." Humility comes from the Holy Spirit and Jesus was LOADED with it, NOT arrogance! Jesus was COMPLETELY FILLED WITH GOD'S SPIRIT IN HIM and he knows more than the rest of us just where his good works come from! Boasting comes from the sin of pride which is from the devil.

One thing that I keep in mind (and this is also in the Bible) is that our bodies, they are the temply of God. Even though the bible does not mention smokeing to be a sin, that one has to at least say something about it though. in the meanwhile i'll try to find that verse for you.

I always make a decision on whether or not a sin is a sin by this:  Will it ruin my whitness?  I don't think there's a better way to make a judgement.  WWJD used to be the popular thing, and it's still valid in my opinion.  But I believe we are on earth for 2 (main) reasons.  1 - Worship god with all our lives (Mark 12:30) 2 - Help bring others to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ (Matthew 28:19).  If we are doing things that hinder our worship or our ability to whitness to others, we aren't glorifying God.  Whether you call it sin or not, that's up to you.  God gave us all the ability to judge the difference in right and wrong.

Hiya Amanda,

I will Pray for you! I know this is hard on you, with God anything is Possible.

Blessings to Amanda!!  \o/

KristiAnn

PS. I have never smoked in my life. With my birth defect, I already have very weak lungs..  :-\

I'm an Ex-Smoker, smoker.  ;D I've failed quitting more times than I can count, but I think it did start again at least one more times than I quit.  Otherwise, I'd be NOT smoking right now.  So, I lost count of the times that I've quit and I've lost count of the times that I started again, but I know I started one more time than I quit.

 ;D  If I don't stop this, they're going to have to create one of those smilies with YELLOW teeth.   ;D

Good luck!

Smoking only ruins your witness to judgmental folks.  The church is full of judgmental people so don't worry, we wont miss out on them if they don't join because of your smoking.   ;D

That was a joke!

 ;D   ;D    ;D    ;D    ;D     ;D    ;D    ;D    ;D    ;D

I think I'm going to be smoker's rights advocate, and I'm going to start by suing because they don't make these smilies with Yellow Teeth.  

 ;D  I think us smokers are being misrepresented on the web!

More jokes . . . ;D

Romans 14:13.  Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.
 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 thing whereby 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.

To all...

 "Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If any man destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him, for the temple of God is holy, and that is what you are (I Corinthians 3:16-17)."

"Therefore I urge you, brethren, to by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable work of service (Romans 12-1)."

God bless and keep you.

I don't believe smoking, by itself is a sin.  We are told that our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit and that we are to care for them.  As a christian, you are going to feel the need to quit because of this fact.  This also goes for overeating or overdoing anything.  But, no you are not going to hell if you have accepted Jesus in your heart and would happen to die today and you haven't quit smoking yet!  I'm sure your friends mean well but they are incorrect.  

Hhhhmmmm....
Very interesting question. I'll share a short (?) story. I was a smoker and a christian, for some time, about five years ago I was listening to a series of teachings and although I can't seem to recall most of the teaching now, I was impacted by a story about a man that was urged by the Holy Spirit to pray for his daughter that was in a tribal village on a missions trip. He went about his business and eventually was so pressed to praythat he could no longer ignore the beckoning of the Lord. He and his wife prayed for two days. Aftera period of time they were contacted by the daughter's husband and he told them of the two days that their child's life hung in the balance with a life defying infection!
For me, I never really prayedwhen I smoked, I always njoyed smoking but felt that God probably didn't smoke, and Him, being a non-smoker it didn't seem very respectful. I was so moved and I so wanted the Lord to use me in a real way, and becuse of my habit, I felt somehow seperated from Him. I wanted to be available at any time that God anted me, not just when I wasn't smoking. I never smoked again. I had asked the Lord many times and also felt the He hadn't "done it for me yet", that's a lie, He did it, remember the cross, He did do it.  It's like having an umbrella ans standing in the pouring rain. It does take work  (open your umbrella)and effort on our part, I know, believe me I know it IS hard, REALLY hard. I pray that you will be strenthened and encouraged in a real way that you will feel strong enough...
but, He DID do it already.

Hi Amanda,
Interesting question. Smoking is definitely bad for your health. So is over eating and drinking to much. God knows our weaknesses. I would pray for help for anything thing that the Holy Spirit is convicting you about.
I have met Pastors that smoke. The Bible does say that the drunkard will not inherit the Kingdom.
If you feel that you should quit, the Lord will help you.
I quit years ago, but I did it because I knew it was bad for me and that I wasn't presenting a christian witness. It really doesn't look nice to see a lady with a cigarette in her face.

Lord God, please help Amanda to stop smoking. This we ask in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen  :)

bluelake