Question For Jehovah's Witnesses?

Question

Please do not get me wrong , I am asking this question only out of curiosity as I am not a smoker or belong to the Kingdom Hall. I have a friend that is a witness and my girlfriend is an Ex - Witness and we had the subject arise that years ago JWs were at one time alowed to smoke but the rule changed at some time and they where no longer alowed to smoke. I was told that positivaly ....NO JWs SMOKE AT ALL!!! Is this possible that all who did smoke quit? She said there are 6,000,000 JWs in the U.S. and this does not at all seem possible that none smoke ....so ....Do any of you smoke and just hide it , Do any of you know any JWs that smoke????
Remember please this question is not at all judgemental I just want to know???

Answer 1

Jehovah's Witnesses understand the bible to teach that all humans have inherited "sin", that is, a tendency toward behavior which displeases God.

(Romans 3:23) For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God


Sadly, even a devout Christian may occasionally commit a sin such as lying or disrespecting his spouse or disobeying some traffic law. Godly humans do not pretend that they know exactly what level of sin is tolerated by God and Christ. However, the Christian congregation recognizes that each Christian has a personal accountability to heaven.

(Galatians 6:5) For each one will carry his own load.


Thus, relatively "minor" sins are left to individuals and family heads to resolve; congregation elders do not become involved unless and until such sins begin to affect worship by the person or congregation. Very rarely, but occasionally, a preponderance of seemingly "minor" sin conglomerates to become a "serious sin" such as may disqualify a purported "Christian" from continued fellowship with practicing Christians. For example, an otherwise healthy "Christian" who patently refused to practice even a minimal level of hygiene could eventually be disfellowshipped by the Christian Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses.

(2 Corinthians 7:1) Let us cleanse ourselves of every defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in God's fear.


In fact, cigarette smoking was always included in this understanding by Jehovah's Witnesses. Smoking was always "frowned upon" in the same way that any blatantly unhealthy practice is "frowned upon" by those who value the gift of life, and perhaps more so because smoking is a decision which requires planning and preparation in a way that neglecting hygiene does not.

(Acts 17:24,28) The God that made the world and all the things in it...by him we have life and move and exist

(Psalm 139:14) I shall laud [God] because in a fear-inspiring way I am wonderfully made. Your works are wonderful


For most of its history, society in general viewed smoking as at worst "unhealthy"; some even contended that smoking might have a handful of therapeutic uses. However, it was not until the 1970s that it became undeniable that smoking was far more than merely "unhealthy". In fact, the evidence had become undeniable that smoking disrespects life itself, and the giver of life.

(1 John 3:3) Everyone who has this hope set upon him purifies himself just as that one is pure.

(Romans 6:23) The gift God gives is everlasting life


The scientific evidence enabled Jehovah's Witnesses to reason that smoking is incompatible with the will of God and Christ. In fact, smoking 'flies in the face' of the command that the Christian congregation must be clean and holy and without blemish. Unlike simple neglect, smoking involves a 'planning ahead for the desire'.

(Romans 12:1) Present your bodies a sacrifice living, holy, acceptable to God, a sacred service with your power of reason.

(Ephesians 5:25-27) Christ also loved the congregation and delivered up himself for it, that he might sanctify it, cleansing it with the bath of water by means of the word, that he might present the congregation to himself in its splendor, not having a spot or a wrinkle or any of such things, but that it should be holy and without blemish.

(Romans 13:14) But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not be planning ahead for the desires of the flesh


Learn more:
http://watchtower.org/e/rq/index.htm?article=article_09.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/19961022/article_01.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/19990708/article_01.htm

Answer 2

i have been a disfellowshiped JW for over 25 years now.
when i was young i recall they have two meetings on a sunday,one straight after the other.they use to have a five minute break and many of the brothers went out for a smoke.
Anyway as i recall it was becomeing apprent in the world that smoking was bad for your health(many people both JWs and almost everybody else didn,t know smoking was bad for you).
Our bodys are a wonderful gift for god it only makes sence to look after it(a JW would be able to give you scpiptures to support this...it's been to long for me to remember any).
When the decission was made that JW,s should not smoke after prayful concideration and deep study of the bible by the governing body of the time.They made sure all the brothers & sisters knew about it and why.
The smokers where given a period of time to quit (6 or 12 months something like that)
those that need guidance where helped and encoruged
those who didn't want to give up departed the religion
If you can show me one JW who smokes then he is not a JW.
If there is a JW who smokes behind closed doors he will know that god will observe him or her..anyway i always tell my wife i have quit but she knows...when i have quit for a few day i can smell a smoker a mile away...it stinks.so i don't belive they would get away with it for long
NOW i want you to fully understand i am not a jw anymore nor have i been one for over 25 years,so don't use me as an example of a smokeing jw.
Are they not and outstanding religon to have the courage and forsight to make a tough decision and save there members from the adiction of smokes and all the health problems
I wish i was strong enough to quit
other religions should stand up and follow their lead if they truely love their followers
bye i'm off for a smoke after all that

Answer 3

My JW father-in-law smoked cigarettes from being a young man, before he became a JW, and continued to smoke thereafter. Although smoking became a disfellowshipping 'crime' and his JW wife scolded him something awful for not being able to give up the drug addiction, he continued to smoke in private, in his shed where he did woodwork. He was not a happy chappy, however. Nobody 'shopped' him, I'm glad to say, otherwise he would have been disfellowshipped. Addicts cannot stop just because they are threatened with some punnishment, or because they are correctly told that it is harmful to themselves. Addicts need help and encouragement and an acceptance of themselves as persons, despite their bad habits. Doesn't sound like JW smokers get much of that.

But the theological point here is serious. Because nobody can be baptized as a JW if they smoke, JWs are saying, "You cannot be a Christian if you smoke." Because a baptized JW caught smoking will be kicked out if s/he doesn't repent in sackcloth and ashes (as long as those are not tobacco ashes, of course) JWs are saying "We judge you to no longer be a Christian." Ah well, "With the judgment you judge others, you will be judged," Jesus said. Some of them have got it coming to them.

P.S. There are less than 7 million baptized JWs in the WORLD, not the US.

Answer 4

I have Traveled the world and NEVER met one of Jehovah's Witnesses who is a SMOKER. But i have met many who used to smoke before it became clear that it was wrong for Christians.

The Watchtower, in its issue of March 1, 1935, made it clear that no one who was a user of tobacco could be a member of the headquarters staff of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society or be one of its appointed representatives.


After all servants in the congregations of Jehovah’s Witnesses were appointed by the Society (which arrangement began in 1938), The Watchtower of July 1, 1942, stated that the prohibition on tobacco use also applied to all these appointed servants.

The majority of Jehovah’s Witnesses responded favorably to the Scriptural counsel and the good example of those taking the lead among them

None who were still smoking were accepted for baptism from 1973 onward. During the following months, those who were actively involved in tobacco production or in promoting the sale of tobacco were helped to realize that they could not continue to do that and be accepted as Jehovah’s Witnesses. The counsel of God’s Word must be applied consistently in every aspect of life.

Answer 5

Hi I think there was a break down in communication, there are roughly 6000000 of us Globally, not just in the US.

There may be some who decide to live a double life, smoking and claiming to be a Witness, however to be a Christian, one would not smoke, as smoking is VERY harmful to the body. Also it can be very addictive. The bible tells us you cannot be a servant to 2 masters. If someone lets an addiction into their lives, they become servant to that addiction, and thus cannot be devoted to God

Answer 6

I have JW friends...believe it or not!! lol They are human and prone to everything just as everybody else is....alcoholism....drug addiction....etc etc etc. dont see why tobacco would be any different....now I'm gonna ask the halls elder next time I see him, we always have interesting conversations!! Matter of fact...I'll offer him one to see what he does!! lmao 8o)

Answer 7

this is the most stupidest question that i have every seen posted. get a life and think for your self don't let the JW think for you.

Answer 8

I'm pretty sure some of them sneak in bathrooms to burn one.....