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

No thumbs Down Sara but FYI Child Molestation is a disfellowshipping offence the thing is because there is no supervision into the members of the Jehovah's Witness faith some temporarily may get away with something they may do that is not observed by the Elders, I say temporarily because even though the Elders may not see the wrong Jehovah sees all and he will punish those who do such thinngs when the time comes that his judgement is exercised, just like all mankind will be judged Jehovah's Witnesses do not escape it, no-one escapes the Judgement of God.In the same vein the questioner asks if any Jehovah's Witnesses smoke secretly or if All Jehovah's Witnesses are non-smokers well I cannot tell you that except that I know that smoking is a disfellowshipping offence as is Child molestation, and I do not know every single Jehovah's Witness so I cannot say if there are any who smoke secretly or if all of the 6,000000 of us are totally smoke free. But it is a requirement for witnesses not to smoke, I was a smoker before I became a witness and I know how hard it is to give up, I also know that I could never have done it without Jehovah's help. Smoking is a very strong force to be reconed with, it is a strong addiction. Therefore there may be some who call themselves Jehovah's Witnesses who may be smoking secretly especially those weak spiritually or not depending on Jehovah's help, but Jehovah sees them doing this, and he knows that it is being done, and he will deal with it in his way, the only just way.Because Jehovah knows the problems we face when someone has succombed to this addictive vice, as he knows also if these ones have done anything to try to stop doing these things or not. I cannot tell you that all who did smoke did quit for sure the only thing that I can say is that I did smoke, and I did quit with Jehovah's help.

Answer 3

Well, they did smoke at one time, but no longer do. There are 6 1/2 million plus baptized Witnesses worldwide...active Witnesses do not smoke. I smoked for 38 years, but quit right before I started studying with them...June 1, 2003 was my last cigarette ever. I was baptized 2/25/06 and have never once wanted a cigarette. The life that Jehovah gave me is precious and to do something intentionally that I know will harm it, just seems like a slap in the face to the giver of that life!

As far as hiding it, most Witnesses have a personal relationship with Jehovah and nothing can be hidden from him...what would they be gaining from trying to hide it? Some have not quit and they have become inactive because they are choosing the things of this world, rather than doing the right thing, but who knows, in time, they may quit and come back. I think it depends upon how much faith you have in God's Word.

Answer 4

Any faithful Christian JWs know that smoking is against Bible principles. A lot of the active JWs do not smoke or have quit smoking. Others though, who because of weaknesses or blatant disregard to Bible principles, do smoke. Those people who smoke are helped by the elders and friends in the congregation. If they do not want to stop smoking and repent, they are disciplined by either reproof or disfellowshipping. That means you can only have a good standing in the Christian congregation if you do not smoke.

Answer 5

Not only would u not be approved for baptism, through your Elders...but, since we have a personal relationship w/ our God Jehovah...it is the sincere desire of n/e1 wanting to be baptised, to not bring reproach upon Jehovah's ppl.

It is the sincere desire to Not defile the congregation of God.

It is a genuinely fulfilling love of Jehovah and His Son, to not cause Him pain.

btw--smoking is NOT something that U Can Hide....
IT STINKS!!!!!!!!!
ur breath, hair, clothes, car, house.
I'm in the truth, my hsbnd is not, everytime I come home from the Kingdom Hall...I can smell it BEFORE I even get in the house. Sometimes I stink; I smell it on myself. And it stinks up my service bag n the Kingdom Hall. Finally, I've gotten my hsbnd., to stop smoking in the house.

Nobody could say with a certainty, that no Witness smokes...on the down low, but, those in your congregation would know by the wretched stench! Also, Jehovah knows.
I know plenty enough Witnesses' that used to smoke, they were the 1's to help me quit.
So, for the lady that said we get no support to help a smoker quit...U R talking out the side of ur neck!!!

Answer 6

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 7

The no smoking rule came in in the 70s, I think. There were approximately 3,000,000 JWs in the early 1990s, so there were a lot fewer than that again when the no smoking rule came in.

Answer 8

(i want to clarify... child molestation is a disfellowshipping offense!!!)
____________________


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 9

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.

Answer 10

Jehovah God wanted us to use his name. Matthew 6:9, Jesus told us that we should pray: "Our Father in the heavens, let your NAME be SANCTIFIED." Also Isaiah 43:10 also brings out that Jehovah said, "You are my WITNESSES." God is a Title. Even with Arabs. A good dictionary will show you, “Allah” is a shortened form of the Arabic term meaning “the god", this is not a name. The title “God” is neither personal nor distinctive. In the Hebrew Scriptures the same word (ʼElo‧him′) is applied to Jehovah, the true God, and also to false gods. The Imperial Bible-Dictionary says: “It is everywhere a proper name, denoting the personal God and him only; whereas Elohim partakes more of the character of a common noun, denoting usually, indeed, but not necessarily nor uniformly, the Supreme. . . . The Hebrew may say the Elohim, the true God, in opposition to all false gods; but he never says the Jehovah, for Jehovah is the name of the true God only. He says again and again my God . . . ; but never my Jehovah, for when he says my God, he means Jehovah. He speaks of the God of Israel, but never of the Jehovah of Israel, for there is no other Jehovah. He speaks of the living God, but never of the living Jehovah, for he cannot conceive of Jehovah as other than living.” Hope This Helps