Christians: Is it ok to smoke cigarettes?

Question

I don't really know what to think about the subject. I'll give my own answer in a minute. By the way, I do not smoke, nor do I intend to smoke..I find the smell itself disgusting. In Sunday School, this question was asked, and one little girl perked up, "Yes! The Bible calls our body the temple...(short rant)...and we're supposed to take care of it, while cigarettes damage the body, etc." - I suppose she is right, but confrontation comes to the argument when I think about my grandpa. My grandpa was nearing 80 before he passed away, and smoked cigarettes almost his entire life. I refuse to believe that he sinned every time he smoked a cigarette, because had he dropped his habit, the withdrawals would have killed him at his age. Now, I understand there are substitutes, and I don't really know what the answer is concerning those.

My answer: There's not clear-cut answer. It's one of those things that more about conviction, in my belief. Who am I to judge?

At any rate, what do you think?

Answer 1

My opinion is that it's not ok to smoke--or gossip, or eat fatty foods, or ruin the environment. I think I've hit just about everyone alive now, but, in case I haven't, you get the picture. We all do/have done things that are not ok. Does God still love us? You bet. That's what that whole Christ thing is about. You love your grandpa whether he smoked or not, right? Enough said.

Answer 2

Hi sarcrl,

Generally speaking i would say it's an unhealthy and unwise habit.

There is no specific Scripture that says thou shall not smoke, however, the little girl in your Bible class that is right in that the Body is the Temple of the Holy Spirit so we do have to take good care of ourselves. Another passage to keep in mind is the Greek word for witchcraft- is Pharmocologica (which suggests that drugs, and illegal substances are viewed unfavorably by the Lord) i'm not sure if cigarettes fall under that category.

One principle to also keep in mind- is if it causes my brother to stumble i won't do it. Definitely kids smoking at church would be a stumbling block to many people. Unbelievers would say what kind of church is this?

I know some churches have smoking areas- and i myself have hung out there to talk to some of my friends who smoke (even though i personally don't).

Many people smoke to deal with stress (ie: car salesmen), so it's also consideration as to why it's done. Are we just holding on to our stresses, do we need to learn how to give that up to the Lord?

So no explicit commandment, but wisdom and other Scriptures seem to suggest it's not a good idea and we need to really consider others in all we do...

Hope that helps,

Nickster

Answer 3

The Bible does say that our bodies are temples and should be treated with respect. However, almost anything we can conceive of to ingest into our bodies can be harmful. I am reminded, for example, of a college student who died a year or two ago in California because he was force fed gallons of water as part of a fraternity hazing. Therefore, I think that Christians should avoid anything in doses large enough to hurt us. For some things, like dangerous chemicals (cleaning fluids, for example) any dosage is probably too much. For other things, I think we need to be smart. The actual act of smoking is not the issue, I think, but our intentions when we do it and the effect it has on our bodies could be. I personally have no desire ever to smoke, but that is my decision and since the Bible is not explicit about the subject, we need to exercise wisdom and discernment. May God bless and keep you.

Answer 4

This is another one of those. Smoking is the SMOKERS business, you or none of these answerers have any right to tell someone that they shouldn't smoke cigarettes. I understand cocaine or heroine because as well as the danger of hurting yourself you are at high risk of hurting someone else when you do one of those. Smoking cigarettes on the other hand, you are only hurting yourself and much more slowly than if you were drinking alcohol, which I may add I don't see you addressing in your question. Don't you think that alcohol does more damage in the short and long term than cigarettes or would you rather ignore that.

Answer 5

I can not see any positive thing that one would get from smoking them. They are addictive, so that would put you under the influence of them. For this reason alone they should be avoided.
They are not illegal, so that is not an issue. Illegal = sinful because Romans tells us to abide by government laws that do not violate Gods law.

So, I could not dogmatically say no, but they are not healthy so the girl in class has a good point! Cigarettes may get you to heaven faster, but they will make your life miserable if God's will is for you to be here a while!

Answer 6

all things in moderation. we are not to be a drunkard nor a glutton. that means don't drink so much you become an alcoholic, and don't eat so much you become obese.
also we are not be lazy or a sluggard. Again do not become a workaholic, nor be a lazy bum who won't pay their own way.
All things in moderation, is the thing you have to see in your question.
I think the reason you should consider something that would be a do not do in the eyes of God, is if it led another to become one of the excesses I described.
And the most important do not do this in the eyes of God would be if you taught a child by imitating you to harm themselves by excesses.
God protects and cherishes the little children of this world and expects the adults to do the same.
So if you think by imitating you smoking a cigarette might led another especially a child into an excessive way of life, then no you should not smoke and it would be considered a sin by God.

Answer 7

I don't think you should. The Bible does teach that your body is a temple to the Lord, created in his own image, and that you should treat it accordingly. You should not damage what God has given you.

Is it a sin? I do not know. If you follow the above there are alot of other things that damage the body. Are those sins also? Things like being overweight. Taking drugs. Smoking. Drinking too much (alcoholism).

The answer is within yourself. Your body is a temple and it is pretty much proven that if you take care of it it will last longer. If you damage it over time it will break down and die sooner.

Things to ponder...

Answer 8

REPOSTED WITH CORRECTION

I don't think it's right to smoke cigarettes. The girl at your church was wrong in her rant, but she is right in the fact that smoking is not right.

I don't classify it as sin to smoke, but I do think of it as a weakness. Even the apostle Paul in the Bible had his weaknesses. He called it the thorn in his flesh that he could not get rid of even after prayer. Paul had great faith, enough that he ended up getting bit by a poisonous snake and lived to tell the tale.

But I think this is like any other weakness. God understands our struggles and realizes that we will all have barriers in our lives. And I'm sure that every person on here struggles with one weakness or another (mine is engaging my mouth before my brain kicks in).

But you are right, it is about conviction. Evidently, your grandfather had a habit he could not kick. And I do believe that you will find some people who smoked in heaven!!

Answer 9

I don't think it is "ok" to smoke for anyone. But, is it a sin? With the train of thought that our bodies are our temples and we should take care of them, then, well, every person who eats too many calories is sinning, or the people who refuse to exercise are sinning, every person who has one too many coffees is sinning.... You see my point.

I do think you can smoke and be a Christian. Being Christian has to do with the condition of your heart. Only God knows what is in your heart.

Answer 10

If you condemn people for smoking, then you also have to condem people for eating fatty foods or refusing to exercise (How come American Pastors quit talking about the sins of gluttony and sloth?).

I don't know about your Grandpa or his relationship with Jesus, so I refuse to speculate as to whether he is a sinner or not (and it probably is a moot point now anyway,since it is too late for him to change), but I do believe that we have an obligation to take reasonably good care of our bodies as a gift from God.

If anyone you know who is still alive is smoking, I would encourage him to stop, eat right, and get some exercise.