|
When
it comes to smoking, the bible says very little, if
anything about it. The main most popular scripture
in the bible that all the righteous folks like to "beat
you" with concerning smoking is:
1-Corinthians
6:19
Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the
Holy Spirit
who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you
are not your own?
1-Corinthians
6:20
For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify
God in your body.
1Corinthians 6:19
& 20,
does not pertain to drinking or smoking. It pertains to
immorality. Specifically, it pertains to "sleeping with
prostitutes".
If you have a
problem believing this, read it for yourself. Go to 1
Corinthians 6:19, then back up 4 verses to 1 Corinthians
6:15 to put it in context. As you will see, Paul clearly
says that "all" other sins are outside of the body. (1
Corinthians 6:18)
Matthew 15:11
- "It is not what enters into the mouth that defiles
the man, but what proceeds out of the mouth, this
defiles the man."
The
sin here is "not" the person lighting up a
cigarette, it is the person telling you that "God said",
when "God did not say!"
Please do
not misinterpret me, I do not disagree with the American
Cancer society or any of the other organizations that
claim smoking is dangerous or unhealthy for you,
However, I
highly disagree with those who tell you that God said
you'll go to hell if you smoke. God did "not"
say that! It is dangerous to say "God said",
when "God didn't say!" (That is a sin!)
As
far as I'm concerned, enjoy that last cigarette five
minutes before you go to heaven, because they probably
don't sell them up there!
And
as far as the (quote) "church people" in the restaurant
and other public places, complaining to the management
or who ever, not because they can actually smell your
smoke from fifty yards away, but because they can "see"
you smoking, well,
I'm
dubious as to whether you will run into them up there
anyway.
Fact
is: If you don't smoke, don't start! If you are stupid
like I was and started smoking when you were 17 years
old, if you can quit, DO IT! There's no benefit in it.
(and they are about six bucks a pack!) But absolutely
don't let any preacher or well meaning Christian weigh
you down with guilt that keeps you out of church over
it!
The
truth is, smoking won't send you to hell, It will just
make you smell like you've been there!
A Personal Story about Smoking
I'll
share a short story with you. Short but true. Some years
ago I was a musician in the praise & worship group at a
very large church. Behind the dressing rooms were two
large metal doors leading outside, but rarely used.
One
morning after the music part of the worship had ended, I
was standing outside those doors smoking a cigarette
with my fingers wedged between them so I would not be
locked out and have to go around to get back in.
Well,
one of the choir ladies walked by, opened the door
(nosey) and saw me smoking a cigarette. Needless to say,
the look on her face was either the look one would give
if you were standing there naked, or if you had
just ran over
their puppy. I'm not sure which, maybe a combination of
the two.
A few
days later I was asked to report to the pastors office.
The pastor mentioned that one of the choir people saw me
smoking. For one thing, I was not hiding it, I was
simply standing outside to have a cigarette.
I saw
where he was headed with this conversation and told him
I was quite aware of all the arguments concerning
smoking (your body is a temple of the holy spirit
etc...) and had noticed that almost everyone I had heard
preach them was overweight or had some other vise.
I
mentioned that I also enjoy having a beer now and then.
(it was actually more "now" than "then") I don't think
he liked that very well. The meeting ended. He did his
duty by calling me to his office, *Grin* and I went and
had another cigarette.
He
did mention during the meeting, "what if the children
saw me smoking". I told him I would smoke in my car.
After pondering it for a few days, I realized that if
any children "were" wandering the parking lot during
that hour in the midst of the service to see me smoking,
maybe he should call "them" to his office.
THE POINT
My
point is, the bible has nothing to say about smoking,
good or bad. On the other hand, the bible has a lot to
say about gossip and is very blunt about it!
To
this day, you could not convince me that this "choir
girl/lady" had my best interest at heart when she
reported me. Neither did the pastor by calling me to his
office. The reason was not to be a blessing to me, it
was not to sincerely try to save my soul.
Lets
face it. The reason was plain, old fashioned "Gossip!",
and though God says nothing about smoking, God
clearly condemns Gossip! To my knowledge, this choir
person was never called to the pastors office concerning
this.
The
pastor did however, go the the music director and tell
him that I drink beer! Although I'm sure the intention
was to have me removed from the praise & worship group,
to the music directors credit, I was not.
The Ministry of Jesus
According to historical accounts, the ministry of Jesus
only lasted a few years here on earth. Unfortunately,
Jesus had to spend a considerable amount of that time dealing
with ridiculous problems like the one above.
Jesus
had to deal with people who were ready to condemn him
for even "healing" on the Sabbath. Because God said it
was a day of rest! Well, you can see things have not
changed much, except for getting worse.
The
church accepts the word of the American Cancer
association as Gods written word. And it is not!
Furthermore, to be politically correct, does not make
you scripturally correct!
Don't
misinterpret me, if you smoke, quit now! I'd be a fool
if I told you that cigarettes were good for you. But
worse than smoking, is pretending to be holier than
anyone else because you don't! This will destroy your
soul. Smoking, on the other hand, will only destroy
your body.
God Bless You
Dan Douglass
.
If you drank the
wine, pay the bartender! Your gift is needed and appreciated |
