2007-08-09 07:58:36 · 19 answers · asked by ? 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
The Baptist church doesn't condone smoking or encourage it, but they don't sit there and kick people out of churches for doing it either. There are other churches that are the same way. They do not stand by the act of smoking, but they will still love fellow members of the church that happen to be smokers.
Edit: The question shouldn't be if you have good standing in a particular church, it shoudl be if you have good standing with God.
2007-08-09 08:09:26 · answer #1 · answered by One Odd Duck 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Far as I know, yes. I'm a member of a church that is covered by the Southern Baptist Convention (but operates more like a non-denominational church) and I don't recall reading anything about specific behaviors leading to a loss of "good standing" (perhaps something about becoming "inactive" if you stop attending but I think that was a legal requirement related to required maintenance of membership rosters for non-profit status...it read like legalese).
2007-08-09 08:04:11 · answer #2 · answered by KAL 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Baptists, pride tthemselves in not following a hierarchy. Each Church is very independent and can set their own rules. Some would reject you as a MEMBER for smoking, but you could still attend services and such.
As far as I know, none would ban you entirely.
I'm a Baptist. And my Church is a Soul-Winning Bible-Believing Church that's growing and growing.
2007-08-09 08:02:31 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
They do allow it.
Interesting story... most Baptists moved with the Western expansion to evangelize the American West. They noticed that the primary gathering place for people in the small towns of the west were... saloons. And in the saloons were... drinking, smoking, playing cards and dancing.
Hence the Baptist aversion to drinking, smoking, playing cards and dancing was rooted in that feature of life which they saw as creating moral decay and destroying normal family life for settlers in the west....
2007-08-09 08:05:27 · answer #4 · answered by Bryan A 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
As far as I know, yes. I knew a very faithful Baptist deacon who smoked right up until his death, and nothing was said to him about it. He did mention once that he was asked to smoke behind the church, though, and not out in front of it.
2007-08-09 08:06:32 · answer #5 · answered by solarius 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Depends on which Baptist you are talking about... there are more kinds of Baptists than you can shake a sitck at, Baptists, by definition, are independent.... none of the ones I know... and I is one... would keep out a smoker... we just do not allow smoking on our property... got a lot of folks with health issues who attend.
2007-08-09 08:03:06 · answer #6 · answered by ? 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
As far as I can see you can do just about anything and some Baptist congregation somewhere will regard you as being in good standing. The old rigor is long gone
2007-08-09 08:03:46 · answer #7 · answered by Tony B 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Some do, some don't.
What's more important, is understanding 1) I won't be perfect until I am with Him, 2) I am still a work in progress, 3) to follow what God is laying on my heart.
I know in my case, it was anger and drinking that God wanted to work on most when I first came to Him. Later, it was another area in my life. Through His wisdom, He knew I wasn't going to be able to handle all the changes He wanted all at once... He would know what would be best.
2007-08-09 08:03:32 · answer #8 · answered by Last Stand 2010 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Yes
2007-08-09 08:01:02 · answer #9 · answered by logan28 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Baptists are allowed to smoke, they just can't enjoy it. Sex is allowed too, but we aren't allowed to enjoy that either. Do we smoke after sex? I have never checked.
2007-08-09 08:00:42 · answer #10 · answered by Steve C 7 · 6⤊ 2⤋