robert derrick
Well-Known Member
"The Bible does not mention smoking, or other means of using tobacco."The Bible does not mention smoking, or other means of using tobacco. However, it contains principles showing that God does not approve of unhealthy and unclean habits and thus views smoking as a sin.
Respect for life. “God . . . gives to all people life and breath.” (Acts 17:24, 25) Since life is a gift from God, we should not do anything that would shorten our life, such as smoking. Smoking is one of the main causes of preventable death worldwide.
Love of neighbor. “You must love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:39) Smoking around others does not show love. Those who are routinely subjected to secondhand smoke are at higher risk of some of the same diseases that smokers often suffer from.
The need to be holy. “Present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God.” (Romans 12:1) “Let us cleanse ourselves of every defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” (2 Corinthians 7:1) Smoking is unnatural and incompatible with being holy—that is, clean and pure—because tobacco users intentionally consume toxins that seriously damage their body.
How do you feel about it?
That's how we know it's not a sin. If the question needs be asked, we know it's not, otherwise we can just quote the Scripture saying so.
When it comes to law, byte which there is transgression, God uses great plainness of speech.
Which of these is sin and which not:
Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor smokers, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor nor drinkers, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, not gamblers, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
"However, it contains principles showing that God does not approve of unhealthy and unclean habits and thus views smoking as a sin."
There is no 'however' with God. If He wants to label sin, He does so. He doesn't leave it to speculation and confusion, to determine what sin is and who is a transgressor of His law.
And using the 'spirit' of the law to make law only adds letters to the law to judge and kill faith with.
Law of God does not take a paragraph of explanation to declare it.
Obedience to the common faith (Rom 1:5) pertains to the law of Christ. Personal faith is worked out with God personally:
Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth. And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin. (Rom 14)
"showing that God does not approve of unhealthy habits"
Where is that written? "Thous shalt not do unhealthy things" Or "Thou shalt only do that which is healthy"
ONe man's pleasure is another man's unhealthiness, and one man's healthiness is another man's despair.
That is why God has His law objectively for all, and we don't make law subjectively for others by ourselves.