For follow-up discussion and general commentary on the topic. Comments are sorted chronologically.
Opeyemi Olotu
My opinion is that smoking is not healthy for the body.smoking damages the lung functions and thereby reducing the life span of the addict.imagine someone that could have lived more fruitful years dying prematurely due to this habit.well I will also say that every habit including heavy drinking,gluttony, shouldn't be encouraged because the side effect is toxic to body functions.
Lynn Willis
It is my view that smoking IS a sin because it is expressly harmful to our bodies in which the Holy Spirit resides, creates in us disease which is what satan wants, and it does not honour our bodies as we are told to do in scripture.
Recently, the Lord showed me that every time I lit a cigarette I was engaging in WILLFUL SIN against Him. Sin is a rebellious act against God and harming one's body is definitely a rebellious act against God.
I never saw smoking in this way until the Lord clarified it in this way for me in a recent hospitalization. In His strength and my weakness I now have ZERO desire to ever smoke again! Everyday NOW I thank the Lord for taking my addiction away and giving me the strength to remain in Him in this and all things.
But be on guard! If the evil one comes at you with something you have overcome, be blessed because he's running out of ideas, but he doesn't give up easily and just turn to the Lord once again, always!
Blessings.
Stephen Capers
Your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost. Fill it with clean living, or smoky carcinogens?
Jennifer Rothnie
Good point, however a Christian who smokes is far better off than a Christian living in secret, unrepentant sin.
While matters like smoking are great to discuss for practical living (good health, resisting addictions, financial stewardship, etc), the act of smoking in itself has little impact on spiritual living.
It is the underlying factors; motives, addictions, possible rebellion or emotional imbalances, etc; that are the problem, much as if someone were addicted to chocolate, rich foods, or unsafe hobbies that dented finances and vastly increased risk of dying young.
Lynn Willis
"...the act of smoking in itself has little impact on spiritual living"
Sorry Jennifer we have to agree to disagree on this one! One pastor on youtube said a few months ago that if you smoked, you were not saved and were going to hell. I thought to myself 'ok that is just an over the top opinion with no justification whatsoever!'
But as I opined above, smoking is in my view willful sinning .... and ALL sin has an impact on spiritual living. Perhaps one sin done openly, unabashadly, leads to another and another and so forth.
Anything done to harm oneself aside from God's commandments is a sin and is harmful to our spirit, or so I think! Smoking as a habit is usually done unrepentently, unconsciously and when the Lord showed ME how He saw it (as willful sinning) I no longer desired it because of that.
Just my newfound perspective!
Blessings.
Opeyemi Olotu
Yes I totally agree with you Lynn Wills. Every sin definitely has impact on spiritual living. I would also agree that smoking is a sin against one's own body just like sexual sin. I would love to add that every time we do things that don't glorify God or don't present His light in us to the world, we are definitely going the wrong way. As much as it takes the help of the Holy Spirit for us to turn around, it also involves our consciousness too. I'm talking about our will...we must consciously be responsible too.
Lynn Willis
Thank you for elucidating what I was trying to say better than I could Opeyemi!
What you described is how I feel when I fall ... eg., get angry or swear or am lazy or just unproductive... like I haven't done God's will in ALL things. I repent, and move on and TRY to be conscious the next time and do better and by and large, with His help, I do!
Carry on courageously brothers and sisters!
Blessings,
in HIM,
Lynn
Opeyemi Olotu
Exactly, this is how it should be. It shows that you have the hunger and thirst to be better. I would love it if all believers did the same. God bless you, Lynn Wills.
Ed Besselman
Cigarette smoking won't send you to hell... but it will sure make you smell like you've been there.