is smoking a sin

[Never thirsty!]

Obviously if you're underage it is that's illegal but if you are of age to smoke is it legal btw i don't smoke as i am seventeen but i have a lot of Christian friends that do smoke it's legal for them though as the law in my state says. but if it's a sin i definitely want them to quit. I know as humans we have free will but I don't want them to die because of it i wouldn't ever be able to forgive myself. I doubt that if if is a sin they'll stop but it's worth a try and I already tried the “it is written that your body is the sanctuary of the Holy Spirit” line didn't work . so i don't know what to do if you tell me to give up and there's nothing more i can do you're probably right .

[Xeno]

Obviously I can't say whether it is a sin or not for someone to smoke (by the way I'm guessing you're talking about tobacco and not cannabis, because when it comes to that the legality of cannabis is really grey in the states where it is legal). But I can say that it certainly is not a healthy habit for someone to have. Let me detail some reasons why


As you can see, smoking really isn't the best thing in the world to pick up. So whether it is a "sin" or not really isn't the question I'd say, the more important thing is that it's terrible for the body and is just generally something people shouldn't do since there are literally zero health benefits to it, as opposed to something like moderate alcohol consumption.

[K. Ayato]

You can't force your friends to change their minds about it, even though you're concerned for their health. Respectfully let them know your feelings on the subject, then leave the decision in their hands.

As for whether or not it's a sin, not everyone sees it as such. Including people like your friends. I feel Paul summed it up pretty well in I Corinthians 6:12, which reads "All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any."

Bottom line, it's a personal decision.

[Lynna]

It's not a sin, but as the others have noted, a very unhealthy habit.
You're taking the "Your body is a Sanctuary for the Holy Spirit" verse out of context, as I believe that verse was talking about prostitution, however it's not a stretch to say that I think that God wants us to try to be healthy. Still, you can't force them to stop. It has to be their decision.

[Vilo159]

I consider smoking to be a sin, but I have different doctrine that specifies it as such as part of the Word of Wisdom.
https://www.lds.org/scriptures/dc-testa ... 9?lang=eng

[goldenspines]

Fact of life: All people will die from something, someday. But speeding the process along is not really...encouraged.

But basically I agree with everyone else and especially with Xeno who gave a nice chart explaining all the interesting ways smoking affects the human body. In all honesty, most people that smoke are also more susceptible to a common cold escalating into something worse like bronchitis or even pneumonia (which can be life threatening). It can be much more dangerous and miserable to be sick if you're a smoker.
I personally don't think any sort of addiction to a drug is good (from caffeine and nicotine to something more severe like methamphetamine) and like anything can turn into a "sin" if you end up serving the addiction rather that God (basically, there's a line to cross before it becomes a sin/something that separates you from God). Depending on the addiction, it can severely affect a person's judgement and drive them to the point of choosing the drug over food or other necessities.
One of my friends, who smokes, once said that if she only had 10 bucks to spend, she would probably by a pack or two of cigarettes over groceries. Smoking is kind of an expensive habit. XD;

Even if it was a sin, you can't really force someone to stop sinning (they need to choose for themselves). I mean, you can tell them, but it's not really going to make them magically stop because you did.

[Atria35]

I know as humans we have free will but I don't want them to die because of it i wouldn't ever be able to forgive myself. I doubt that if if is a sin they'll stop but it's worth a try and I already tried the “it is written that your body is the sanctuary of the Holy Spirit” line didn't work . so i don't know what to do if you tell me to give up and there's nothing more i can do you're probably right .

I'm going to echo Goldie here: Everyone dies at some point. Smoking is a decision that has the potential to end it earlier, but it's only one of many decisions that could do it. One of your friends could get up early, slip, and die from knocking their head on their dresser. Are you going to make sure they never get up early? Would you feel guilty for their death? One of your friends might decide to go to the store, walk there, and get hit be a car in the crosswalk. Are you going to try to make sure they never walk anywhere? Would you feel guilty for their death? What about if they decide to go to college and get shot in class like at Virginia Tech? ANY decision a person makes can affect their future and - however innocuously - potentially cause their death. You can't put people in plastic bubbles or stop them from making certain life choices.

At the same time, all these things apply to yourself. Are you never going to get out of bed because you could potentially fall and die? Never walk somewhere because you might get hit by a car? You can't live in a plastic bubble either, and I'm sure you'd resent someone who tried to dictate the choices you make in life simply because something has the potential to kill you, be it putting up Christmas lights (16 deaths a year) or driving in a car (40,000 per year).

So please try not to feel guilty about not being able to force people to listen to you about their lives. You can't do it. No one can.

PS- the line about the body being the temple of the Holy Spirit is out of context. That's only talking about sexual immorality. Though again, if you extend that to smoking, you also have to extend it to doing anything at all... and that's abusing the intention of it.

[AndrewinIce]

I use 'you' but I am not referring to anyone, except possibly some of my...*Shudder*...relatives...

I would have to say yes. Everyone does die eventually, but we are not supposed to to just live however and expect God not to let us get sick or hurt. It's kind of like saying, "God has a plan and he won't let me die till then, so I'm going to go jump off the top of a building." Smoking WILL kill get you cancer, and you WILL waste away slowly while your family has to take care of you, watching you. If purposely doing that to them is not sin, knowing that it will, then what is?

I lost both my grandfathers to smoking, and as such, some of their kids (Thankfully neither my mom or dad) smoke, and now Their kids are smoking. It's kind of like a avalanche. No matter whether you think Second-hand smoking is bad or not, you smoking means your kids most likely will. If you think second-hand smoking is bad, then that opens up more reasons not too.

[Xeno]

Smoking WILL kill get you cancer, and you WILL waste away slowly while your family has to take care of you, watching you.

This is an incorrect statement. Smoking CAN increase the risk for cancer dramatically, and is the direct cause of some forms appearing in some cases. But not everyone who does smoke gets cancer, and not every one with certain kinds of cancer has smoked. Is it unhealthy? Yes, I think I already established that, but don't make it sound worse than it really is please.

[Atria35]

Smoking WILL kill get you cancer, and you WILL waste away slowly while your family has to take care of you, watching you.

This is an incorrect statement. Smoking CAN increase the risk for cancer dramatically, and is the direct cause of some forms appearing in some cases. But not everyone who does smoke gets cancer, and not every one with certain kinds of cancer has smoked. Is it unhealthy? Yes, I think I already established that, but don't make it sound worse than it really is please.

This. I had a great-uncle that smoked until the day he died (age 92) from a car accident. He never showed any signs of illness or disease from smoking. Ever.

It would be more accurate to liken it to eating junk food and fast food all the time: some people will gain tons of weight and have all the health problems associated with it, while other people stay skinny as a rail and fit regardless. It's more *likely* to up the probablility of a premature death, but then again so is skydiving. None of these things guarantee premature death, however.

[AndrewinIce]

Smoking WILL kill get you cancer, and you WILL waste away slowly while your family has to take care of you, watching you.

This is an incorrect statement. Smoking CAN increase the risk for cancer dramatically, and is the direct cause of some forms appearing in some cases. But not everyone who does smoke gets cancer, and not every one with certain kinds of cancer has smoked. Is it unhealthy? Yes, I think I already established that, but don't make it sound worse than it really is please.

Smoking WILL kill get you cancer, and you WILL waste away slowly while your family has to take care of you, watching you.

This is an incorrect statement. Smoking CAN increase the risk for cancer dramatically, and is the direct cause of some forms appearing in some cases. But not everyone who does smoke gets cancer, and not every one with certain kinds of cancer has smoked. Is it unhealthy? Yes, I think I already established that, but don't make it sound worse than it really is please.

This. I had a great-uncle that smoked until the day he died (age 92) from a car accident. He never showed any signs of illness or disease from smoking. Ever.

It would be more accurate to liken it to eating junk food and fast food all the time: some people will gain tons of weight and have all the health problems associated with it, while other people stay skinny as a rail and fit regardless. It's more *likely* to up the probablility of a premature death, but then again so is skydiving. None of these things guarantee premature death, however.

From what I've read, smoking WILL give you cancer. Some people just take longer that other, depending on how good your body is at repairing the damage done by the smoking. But it will happen.

I concede that Perhaps jumping off a building is too strong, but eating junk-fast food is too weak.

[Xeno]

From what I've read, smoking WILL give you cancer. Some people just take longer that other, depending on how good your body is at repairing the damage done by the smoking. But it will happen.

I concede that Perhaps jumping off a building is too strong, but eating junk-fast food is too weak.

1. Whatever you have read is not based on science, thus it is not correct. Tobacco contains nicotine, which is a drug , it also contains a large number of carcinogens which it actually doesn't contain in its natural form. But just because you smoke tobacco does not mean that you are doomed to eventually have cancer.
2. Eating nothing but junk food/fast food CAN also kill you due to how the food is made. I'm not talking about how they piece it together in the restaurant, but it's all processed food, with loads of things in it that your body either doesn't need, or excessive amounts of what your body typically should get on a daily basis. Junk food/fast food is a direct part of why people are, in general, becoming more and more overweight and/or obese. And again, this is based off scientific research , so whether you like it or not, thems the breaks.

[shooraijin]

Xeno and Atria's statements are the most medically accurate.

As far as junk food/fast food, they certainly have more refined sugars and saturated fats, and both of those have independent associations with diabetes and heart disease (both will raise your risk). On the other hand, a recent study of mummies with CT scans showed that even 4,000 years ago 47% had arteriosclerosis and there weren't probably any McD's in downtown Cairo, so it clouds the picture on how much contribution diet makes. That said, no one is disputing that it does make an impact.

[K. Ayato]

*Bows to Shooby-sama* He brings up a good point. Cigarettes (or junk food or excessive amounts of alcohol, to name a couple more) more than likely have a contributing factor or two in regards to how they can effect a person's health. The problem lies in saying those things cause results like heart attack, stroke, or cancer, when it's more accurate to say there is a strong connection between smoking (or another unhealthy habit) and any health troubles that may show up later on in the person's life.

[AndrewinIce]

Okay...Let me start over on why I think smoking is a sin;

"All things are lawful for me, but I will not be mastered by anything." 1 Corinthians 6:12b
Rough verse... it means not only is it a sin to voluntarily start a habit that is addictive, it is a sin to continue under the influence of the addiction. No matter what that substance is. Addiction is measured by several characteristics, including how bad the withdrawal symptoms are, difficulty in quitting, etc. Although studies differ—heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, alcohol, and caffeine often fighting for the #2 position—the most addictive drug is nicotine—the active ingredient in tobacco. Starting smoking is kind of like playing with fire, as the saying goes.

"Let no one seek his own good, but that of his neighbor." 1 Corinthians 10:24
The American Cancer Society estimates that in the United States 50,000 people die from secondhand smoke-induced ailments each year. Up to 300,000 kids get lung infections, like pneumonia or bronchitis, and up to 1 million get asthma from of secondhand smoke. These are victims that are close to the smoker, whom the smoker most likely cares, Husband, wife, child, etc. We are called to love each other, men are supposed to protect there family's, not give them sickness. Women are supposed be a nurture to the kids, not a disease factory. Smoking, like most sins, hurts those around us, as well as ourselves.

Many of you argue that smoking is fine by pointing to the fact that many people eat unhealthy foods, too much food, the wrong foods, etc. which can be just as addicting and just as bad for the body. For example, many people are so helplessly addicted to caffeine that they cannot function without their first cup of coffee in the morning. True, addiction to caffeine is sin. Addiction to eating unhealthy is sin. But how on earth does that make smoking right? It is my belief that Christians should avoid gluttony and unhealthy eating, we should be as healthy as possible. Christians are often hypocritical by condemning one sin and condoning another, and I do the same thing sometimes, but this does NOT make smoking right.

Another argument against smoking as sinful, (while not stated here...yet), is that many Christians have been smokers. Such as a British preacher named C.H. Spurgeon, who smoked cigars. But this is completely irrelevant. Spurgeon was wrong for smoking. Was he otherwise a Godly man and good preacher? Sure. Does that make all of his actions, habits, thoughts, etc. honoring to God? No. Of course not.

While I AM saying that smoking IS a sin, I'm NOT saying that smokers are unsaved. There are many Christians who smoke. There are many Christians who are gluttons, many who was addicted to caffeine, porn, spending money, etc. But Smoking nor the other things are not keeping a person from being saved. It doesn't make a person lose their salvation. Smoking is no less forgivable than any other sin, whether for a person becoming just becoming Christian or a a older Christian confessing his/her sin and asking for forgiveness.

There...I'm done. Said my peace and all that...I don't really ave anything else, so I'm done...Now, someone help me off this soap box...

[Zeldafan2]

No. At least, in my opinion, smoking's not a sin. Is it wrong to get addicted to anything? Yes. Does that make smoking in moderation wrong? No. Is it very unhealthy (as many people have pointed out already)? Yes.

The difficulty is, as Andrew already pointed out, is that it is incredibly easy to get addicted to smoking because of nicotine. And not only is it incredibly unhealthy to get addicted to something like smoking, it can also be rather bad for your spiritual life in general. An addiction of any kind gets in the way of a stable relationship with God, and that is ultimately not a good thing. So, in general, smoking isn't really a good idea, but is not necessarily sinful.

[armeck]

I would like to add to the original qiestion. is smoking weed a sin? (aside from the fact that it is illegal in most states)

[Xeno]

I would like to add to the original qiestion. is smoking weed a sin? (aside from the fact that it is illegal in most states)

Being an atheist, I, again, cannot say if something is a sin or not, but Romans 13:1-7 does say that Christians are supposed to follow the laws of where they reside. Thus, if smoking cannabis is illegal where you reside, I would assume that it would be considered "sinful" by those standards since you'd be violating a rule saying you're supposed to adhere to the law saying you're not allowed to smoke it.

Although studies differ—heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, alcohol, and caffeine often fighting for the #2 position—the most addictive drug is nicotine—the active ingredient in tobacco. Starting smoking is kind of like playing with fire, as the saying goes....Now, someone help me off this soap box...

No, please continue.

[amplifiez]

Honestly, I don't think any verse will "work." We all know the ninth commandment, but that doesn't stop anyone from lying all that much. A lot of my family members died from lung cancer, yet my sister, brother, dad, uncle, and cousin all smoke regardless. I'm sure the majority of people on here have similar examples. Smoking is probably the most accepted addiction on the planet. It's odd how people still smoke even though we're taught since grade school how bad it is for our health. Well, we all pretty much know why people start smoking. The generation doesn't matter; grandpas and grandkids all tried it to be cool. If you think smoking is disgusting, you'd change your mind after seeing someone chew tobacco. I have a friend who does it constantly. It's so gross. By the way, cool avatar. If you haven't heard, there's a new DBZ movie in the works. The villain looks like an evil easter bunny recently unwrapped from mummification. He's purple, too. The color of pure rabbit evil. He has the original goal of trying to destroy the earth haha. I hope Goku screams Trix is for kids when he finishes him. Anyway, good luck with your friends. They'll probably grow out of it. If not, by the time they're in their sixties, cancer might already be cured so they'll be in the clear. There's a whole conspiracy theory about how it already is, but that's a whole other topic lol.

[Atria35]

Many of you argue that smoking is fine by pointing to the fact that many people eat unhealthy foods, too much food, the wrong foods, etc. which can be just as addicting and just as bad for the body. For example, many people are so helplessly addicted to caffeine that they cannot function without their first cup of coffee in the morning. True, addiction to caffeine is sin. Addiction to eating unhealthy is sin. But how on earth does that make smoking right? It is my belief that Christians should avoid gluttony and unhealthy eating, we should be as healthy as possible. Christians are often hypocritical by condemning one sin and condoning another, and I do the same thing sometimes, but this does NOT make smoking right.

There...I'm done. Said my peace and all that...I don't really ave anything else, so I'm done...Now, someone help me off this soap box...

Okay.

None of us have said that smoking is -right-, only that it's not necessarily a sin. Why? Because it's not necessarily addicting, and will not necessarily kill someone. If someone can keep it under control (like not overindulging in food or keeping the caffeine under control), then then that person is not committing idolatry or gluttony, and if they do it responsibly then it's also not going to affect other people. And if someone's adhering to all that, then it does not fall under your scripture references and could not be considered a sin.

[rocklobster]

Yes, but you're still poisoning your body, which is a temple of the Lord.

[Davidizer13]

Yes, but you're still poisoning your body, which is a temple of the Lord.

What, exactly, counts as "poisoning my body?" I work for a mining company - almost every day I'm exposed in some way to silica dust, diesel exhaust, traces of heavy metals and a witch's brew of toxic chemicals. Sure, it's all at low levels, but the risks of all these things are well known, just as the health risks of smoking are. Am I poisoning my body by working there, and therefore sinning? Gasoline is 1% benzene, a strong carcinogen; charcoal smoke likewise has toxins in it. Does that make it a sin to fill up my car or eat a burger grilled over the barbecue?

[Atria35]

Yes, but you're still poisoning your body, which is a temple of the Lord.

A) What Davidizer said.

B) The Biblical reference you are using is in Corinthians.

18 Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body. 19 Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.

If you read through ALL of that, then the phrase that your body is the temple of the Lord deals *only* with sexual immorality. The bolded section actually outright says that any other sin that can be done isn't against the body. As far as I know, smoking doesn't involve sex with prostitutes or sexual immorality, which means that the particular verse you're thinking of cannot be applied in this situation.

[Xeno]

There seems to be a bit of a disconnect for some people in understanding that just because something might not be wrong, doesn't mean it's being advocated. Atria, David and I are not saying "Smoking is fine, smoke 'em if ya got 'em!", what we're saying is that it's not as horrible or "sinful" as it is made out to be by scripture being used out of context. If people want to smoke, it's their own business, and the bible says not one thing about it.

[goldenspines]

Short version:
- Agreeage with Atria, Xeno, and David on their points.
-Sexual immorality and smoking are not very comparable imho.
-Trust God to change the heart, and don't be a jerk about what life choices people make. It's okay to be concerned, but don't go on a righteous mission to "save people from themselves" because you think they're sinning. Only God knows for sure. Or for lack of a better example, worry about the plank in you own eye before going crazy about a speck in your brothers. XD (see: Matthew 7)

Long version:
Actually, while I agree with Atria, I can see the why people are making the connection between those verses and smoking. But something doesn't quite fit with that.... This may drift slightly off topic, but looking at that particular section in 1 Corinthians at a different angle may be something to ponder on.
When Paul talks about sexual immorality as a sin against your own body rather than against someone else (like say, stealing or murder would be against a "victim"), he may be referring to the mental, emotional or spiritual part of your body. I can't really say whether sexual immorality is as harmful physically as smoking is, but I'm fairly certain it's more harmful mentally and spiritually to oneself on a general level. It's a lot more serious, at least.
It's true that sexual immorality (or the example Paul gives) usually involves two people, though, so why does he say that it's you sinning against yourself only? (excluding rape from this because someone might bring it up and that's not the sexual immorality Paul is talking about. I believe rape falls under the definition of murder in many ways.)
It's because you are catering to your own carnal desires rather than serving God (e.g. "screw trusting in God, I'm going to rely on what I want to do to satisfy my own needs."). Actually, an interesting verse comes up in that section that may be worth thinking upon (make sure to look it up for yourself and read in context, though!)

15 Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never! 16 Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, “The two will become one flesh.” 17 But whoever is united with the Lord is one with him in spirit.

Hence why I mentioned it may make more sense to think of this in the sense of spiritual or mental act/sin rather than physical.

Could smoking fall under the category of putting your own desires before God? Maybe in some contexts, but you'd have to stretch your definitions pretty far for it and frankly, that's not worth it and your time would be better spent asking God directly about it. Though, comparing smoking to sexual immorality really downgrades the seriousness of the latter. I personally think that mental/emotional/spiritual damage is much worse than physical in the long run.

Beyond that, I have no personal opinion on it since whether or not smoking is a sin, only God knows the heart fully and it's best to consult with Him on whether you are sinning or not (if you are somehow not sure. I guess if you don't want to consult anything with God, that might be a sign you're sinning, maybe? XD; )

As a final-ish note, don't be so quick to assume that you know if someone is trusting in God or not just because they do X, Y and Z (though, I have a rather large pet peeve of someone judging my faith when they have no freaking clue about my relationship with God, nor is it any of their business unless I choose to share it with them, so the topic is a bit touchy for me personally).
Granted, if you know a fellow Christian well and think they are sinning, you can bring up the topic to them out of concern, but don't push it beyond that out of some righteous purpose to save them from themselves or some crap. God saves, not us. Perhaps I put too much of the work on Him, but since I often feel worthless of convincing anyone of anything, He is the only one I can rely on to change someone's heart.

Note: If for some insane reason, you want to respond in length to my post, please do so over PM so we don't both becomes jerks and derail this thread.

[Xeno]

[Mr. SmartyPants]

As a casual smoker, I don't think it's a sin. I'm going to die some day anyway. Sure it may speed up the process, but also being human means we're going to die. And living in America means we're speeding up that process anyway. Why are are we so concerned about extending our life span. The end is inevitable anyway. And shouldn't we more concerned about spending an afterlife in Heaven or whatever?

[Red_web_city]

The Holy Spirit through Paul taught that ANYthing you do that can cause one to stumble, be offended or weak in the faith is sin, and not the love of God. Not only this but all things are lawful but not all things are beneficial, nor edify. Be not held ubder the power of any, and if there is any scripture that pinpoints to answering your question it would be the concerning the body would be that God will destroy those who destroy their temples. Therefore if you sin a sin that leads to death than itis a grave matter,and you need to repent or perish. If you sin a sin that does'nt lead to death than pray, and confess to a brother for prayer to help you to resist. II use to smokebut God stopped the cravings thank God for His grace, and wilm power in me to resist. But I would'nt let it eat up my conscience for it is what comes out of them mouth that defiles us.

[Crossfire]

snipped

Context, context, CONTEXT. If you think the simple act of smoking is going to "send you to hell"... well, that's already been covered in this thread. Not that you take the time to read or anything.

[Mr. SmartyPants]

You're focusing too much on your "body" being a temple. If you want to cherish and make meaning of anything, then make meaning out of your own existence. It's not about the physical but about who you are and what you do for people around you.

If longevity is so important to someone then that person should cut out all unhealthy things in his or her life. No more McDonalds. No more red meat. No more excess carbs. No more soda. The minute we were born we were destined to die one day. But at the end of the day everyone is going to make *some* sort of compromise because everyone realizes their finiteness and that death is inevitable. We all just compromise on slightly different levels because we still want to enjoy what existence we have.

So you don't smoke. That's totally fine and I'm cool with that. But you're also going to eat that greasy hamburger because it's delicious.