IS SMOKING CIGS A SIN?

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Hi,I was discussing with some friends of mine, about ciggerates, and if smoking them would be considered sin.I know the bible doesnt specifically say "smoking ciggs is a sin"But i believe the bible has many scriptures that would support that smoking is a sin.Im wondering if their is a tie with drugs and whats called pharmachia in the bible, related to witchcraft which the heathen nations did.If anyone has some good scriptures that would help me find the truth that would be great?thxjoshuaP.S NOT JUST CIGGS BUT ANY DRUGS FOR THAT MATTER, AND WHAT WOULD BE THE DIFF BETWEEN, SUGAR, AND CAFFEINE AS DRUGS COMPARED TO , CIGGS, AND ILLEGAL DRUGS.?

I have smoked in the past.I do not mean to put you on the spot but do you smoke?I know many people that participate in the forums here at SI smoke. I also recall this discussion talked about before.May God lead us by His Spirit by faith.

what does your conscience say?

I do not smoke, God saved me about 2003 from a life of drugs and much wickedness. He delivered from all those addictions. Havent touched any that stuff since He delivered me. I believe that for whatever is not from faith is sin.Romans 14:23 "But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin."I believe our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit, we are not our own. We are to be Holy(set apart) for Him. Set apart from the world.We cannot say we love God if we love the world. I believe smoking ciggs is Idolatry.I put this post up, i was intersted to see what others convictions where.

Heres some good scriptures:1john1:5 "This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. 6If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin."1john2:3-4 "Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. 4He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.""15Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. 17And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever."1john3:4 "Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness. 5And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin. 6Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him. 7Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. 8He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. 9Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God.10In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother.""23And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment.24Now he who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. And by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us." 1john5:17 "All unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin not leading to death.18We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him. 19We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one. 20And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life. 21Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen."1Cor5:9"I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people. 10Yet I certainly did not mean with the sexually immoral people of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. 11But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner—not even to eat with such a person. 12For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? 13But those who are outside God judges. Therefore “put away from yourselves the evil person.”Romans8:13 "For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live."

adonaisarmy wrote: I believe that for whatever is not from faith is sin.Romans 14:23 "But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin."This is what really made me to stop smoking. I could not have a pure conscience and I would doubt. That doubt would turn to sin because it was not of faith. That is what drove it home for me.I also enjoyed these quotes of yours:He delivered from all those addictions. Havent touched any that stuff since He delivered me.Romans8:13 "For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live."

dohzman wrote:what does your conscience say?I really like this one dohzman :-) easpecialy if someone is smoking and they ask someone else this. It means that God is speaking to them to stop. Here is a verse that comes to my mind.2 Peter 1:3,4 as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lustThe more we have faith in God's promises the more we will partake of the divine nature and escape lust. And it is through lust that there is all the corruption in this world. As D.L Moody prayed "Give me faith God" and was directed to the verse in Romans 10:17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. D.L Moody believed this verse was an answer to his prayer. "I did not ever ask God for faith again God told me where to get it. He soaked himself in the word of God. D.L Moody read the bible over 400 times through. I believe that the more that we hunger and thirst for God's word that these things like smoking and other thing will naturally shed from our conduct as God's divine nature is imparted to us by faith.

Here I found the other thread. I do not know if there are any other threads out there on this subject but there is a lot of good verses in this thread and some really good discussion. It also reminds me of KrispyKrittr and I just want to say that I miss him and his posts. Also that reminds me how much I enjoy the SI forum. Praise God! This is a wonderful and unique fellowship we have here. May God keep our lamps burning brightly for Him.Here is the linkSmoking in the Ministry

2 Peter 2:19 ...for by what a man is overcome, by this he is enslaved.People who are addicted to anything, including caffeine, cigarettes, etc are overcome by it, and thus enslaved. I've yet to meet a person who smokes who is not enslaved to it. And some of those people, like any drug addict, say "I can stop anytime I want to." Some know better than that though, and will admit they cannot stop. I find it interesting that people often give up some of the hardest drugs out there such as crack and harion, yet cannot ever manage to give up cigarettes. As a friend of mine suggested, it is perhaps because there is less stigma attached to smoking cigarretes because it is quite the common idolatry that people don't have such a big problem with (c.f. 2 King 17, and the traditional/common idols). Like you said, I believe smoking is idolatry. I was observing once the place where my Dad regularly smokes at in the kitchen (next to the exhaust fan over the stove), for that is the only place my Mom will let him smoke in the entire house. As I sat there and looked at it, I noticed his smoking chair, and the fragrance candle that he lights to cover the smoke smell, and saw the ash tray. God spoke to me then and said "This is a modern day altar." Modern day idolatry is so much more subtle than the "primitive" idolatry of the past and distant lands. Abortion clinics serve as the place where people offer their child to the god of prosperity. Ash trays are where people burn incense to the god of pleasure.

I don't know if smoking will send you to hell but I know it will make you smell like it.

Breaking somewhat of a self impossed giving of opion...Trying to withdraw a bit and ponder much...But this is a target of personal area as it was mentioned in the prior thread. The only problem that I see here with couching this in terms of 'idolatry' is that of willingness. Perhaps I am in denial to that idea and it has yet to been brought to bear down hard enough to break the stubborness and so I am still open to this possibility. This surely will sound contrary and maybe of an excusing, but what if there is something of greater importance that is needed first? As an example and has been mentioned earlier, the alcholic, the drug-addict or in an another area, bitterness, anger, gossip, gluttony, a divisive spirit... a mentality.When I am getting at is first... and then, thenSigh, this is by no means of excussing but there is a problem it seems in lopping off the head without killing off the nature. To make things arbitrary is the wrong idea just in as much as making outword things replacements for core exosures.Being one of these smokers I find it not something I long for or treasure or have made an 'idol' to. It is that which Paul speaks of here Rom 7:25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin. Again, that is not to dismiss but to state. This is something ingrained into the flesh after 25 years of repetition. There is nothing in it other than shear stupidity, goodness it is something you have to learn to do in the first place as your body naturally rejects it.That the Lord has delivered this fool from other more spiritualy damaging vices, some in an almost decidely quick 'instantanious' moment and others by long painful extraction, this too must go. I know it and as it seems there is some progress towards it. The amount is being reduced day by day and to focus all the engeries towards this one area while balancing a multitude of family, financial, work issues... besides there is no inert power to cease this from within my own strength...But for all that it is not is the only thing I wanted to bring forth here, at least to my particular situation.Another example, right now my wife is struggling with a pot addiction and also had been unfortunately 'advised' to take up smoking ciggarettes to 'counter' this (wisdom of the world for ya). Which to go first? Believe me the amount of damage to all areas of life from the former is much, much greater than the later. What I am attempting to drive at here is that to couch this often times in well intended but curious language that this is always a case of idolatry and that certainly may be the case, not disputting that, but as a kind of blanket statement from those who are not right smack in the thick of it... Some may have been, I undrstand that, but often there can be a mindset of 'the Lord dealt with me in this way and so it naturally follows that He will do it in like manner with the next person'... my own addiction to the herb was a slow withdrawing over time even as I grew and learned more and more of the things of the Lord. I tell you it was one of the most significant spiritual battles I have been through and it probably start to finsh carried out over the better part of two years. I recall specifically wanting so bad to be delievered from it and standing in the shower the words coming into my soul; "Slowly, I will take this from you". And of course I bucked that as mere fleshly imaginations. The only problem....That is exactely how it came to pass. The procees went from conviction to small scale skirmishes inwardly, to sorrow and a small victories as so many other things were being processed. But it kept building steam until all out war broke out inwardly. It came to such an intensity that I had to decide whether the weed goes or the Holy Spirit goes, meaning I just give up and go back to wallowing in the mud. But, that I found to be an impossibilty...Thou He slay me was ingrained by now and slain it was. Victory, finaly, at last... the relief was beyond expression and I will never forget it, nor the battles and the intensity.Maybe this say's it better:Luk 11:42 But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. Pray for my wife, please.

pharmakeia is generally translated as sorcery and means "a spell binding potion." We get our word 'pharmacy' from this word. It seems to me to indicate a mind altering drug (hallucinogenic) or a drug under which one can come under the influence of it (narcotic). There are ties to sorcery and witchcraft with these drugs. I personally believe that mind altering drugs open a person up to demonic activity. We read of it in Revelation as causing deception (Revelation 18:23). People refused to repent of this sin. It is also a "lust of the flesh" (Galatians 5:20). I don't know that we could characterize nicotine in this list or not. It has no narcotic effect that I am aware of and does not alter the consciousness. However, it does appear to be 'quite addictive'. I am not sure, however, if the addiction is the nicotine or a manifestation of the lust of the flesh. For example, generally when people quit smoking they take up some other type of thing such as eating sweets or the like. It is as though the lust merely shifted into a different category (smoking to gluttony). I would say it is the lust for forbidden experience that is gratified by smoking and genuine deliverance from such a thing would not have the effect of a transferance of one thing to another (ie. smoking to excessive eating, etc.). Again, this is not a popular line to take, but I think it is important to try and understand what is really happening so we can tackle the issue biblically. Certainly we could say smoking violates biblical principals. Finney was probably one of the first that tackled smoking and for him it was a matter of poor stewardship. When ever Christians would turn to Christ in years past and they smoked- many quit as if that were the crowning affirmation of their born again experience. Pretty soon born again comes to mean you have given up a "few bad habits." This is not so. Smoking is one thing that has taken a lot of heat over the years. I think in eternity we will find that there were many sins ignored and smoking spot lighted. Smoking will kill you. it has killed many of our friends and family. I have seen people not quit knowing it was killing them. At this point I cannot help but think that if one had come under the power of the thing to that level- that it would have to be sin. God Bless,-Robert

The bible does not forbid smoking cigarettes directly. Most generally, the case is made that we should be good stewards of our bodies.1 Cor 6:19-20 (NIV) Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honour God with your body.1 Cor 3:16-17 (NIV) Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him; for God's temple is sacred, and you are that temple.

When i was saved i was delivered from cocaine and marijuana..... DELIVERED !!!!!!! i never smoked cigs until i was rebelling and backslidden anmd married a unsaved man... he smoked my sister smoked whom i was livign with.. So i started.. at 23 yrs of age... The dumbest thing i ever did well one of them lol....well after many yrs knowing it was wrong.. but never real deep conviction, last yr i started to get very convicted so i thought.... I set them down for the fist time ever.. Im not a person will any will power... I lasted 9 hrs... then i started to feel very weird and freaked and started back up > :( Evere since then almost every day everypuff i beg the lord to set me free like he has from so many other things..... Yet no answer yet..... But much to my surprise like a brother said on that other thread there was a bigger issues in my life than cigs.... So God has dealt with me over that one this past yr... and PRAISE GOD SET ME FREE FROM THAT DARK SIN........ NOW THE CIGS WELL I AM IN BONDAGE TO THEM I HATE IT .... I BEG THE LORD EVERYDAY HELP ME...I have seen his deliervance so many times.... The last thing was something that haunted me for all my yrs as a christian.... so i just dont know what and how this whole cigs thng will trasnpire but i trust him to set me free....... I been told i need to do it on my own...... But then i can boast in my own efforts....Help me ppl .. :( I dont want to be in bondage to these nasty things...... I started chewing coffee straws to cut down but ......:( I just need freedom...

I used to be bound to pornography and lust, but the Lord set me free from that. However, I did not get some special "zap" which took away my desires. Rather, I picked up my cross and died daily. I still die daily. Daily I have to crucify my flesh and take every thought captive and present it to Christ for obedience. One thing we have to realize about the crucified life is that it hurts. Dying to self is painful, as crucifixion is painful. Such is why Paul spoke of in Phil 3 of partaking of the sufferings, death, and resurrection of Christ. If you are looking for an experience to set you free from whatever addiction you might have, don't wait for some post-conversion zap to do so (though I am not denying the reality of such experiences). Instead, pickup your cross and follow Christ. You will experience much pain, but you will experience true freedom. True experience comes in the walk.

KingJimmy very well said thank you brother.. I know what its like to crucify my flesh in another area... So i guess that is what needs to be done with my cigs...... I did start a bible study from http://settingthecaptivesfree.com it was very good... Guess its time to start again