Will Smoking Send You To Hell

[rgcraig]

Originally Posted by Praxeas

1Co 6:12 "All things are lawful for me," but not all things are helpful. "All things are lawful for me," but I will not be enslaved by anything.

Ya think chocolate would be considered "anything"?

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by Praxeas

that is like saying sex is sex, if one form of sex is sin all forms of sex is a sin. Your assertion needs to be supported. You can't just make assertions like that and expect it to stand on it's own

Wow. Good point bro. But most "sexual sins" are conditional to circumstance. Sex isn't sinful...the abuse and misuse of sex is sinful.

Do we see any "substance" absolutely forbidden in the Bible? The closest we have is the prohibition against "drunkenness". I think if something will take you "out of your mind" it should be forbidden as is drunkenness. But tobacco and caffeine are stimulants. I'd say if the addiction gets in the way of living a functional life it's definately an issue. For example I know a preacher who is an absolute bear without his morning coffee. He can be downright verbally abusive.

For me the issue is addiction. No saint of God should be addicted to anything. I'd say an occasional smoke on special occasions (for example, a cigar after the birth of a baby) isn't a sin. But chain smoking until you're in need of a ventilator is a stronghold that must be broken.

[Praxeas]

Originally Posted by rgcraig

Ya think chocolate would be considered "anything"?

Yes if you are truly addicted to chocolate

[Praxeas]

Originally Posted by Aquila

Wow. Good point bro. But most "sexual sins" are conditional to circumstance. Sex isn't sinful...the abuse and misuse of sex is sinful.

Do we see any "substance" absolutely forbidden in the Bible? The closest we have is the prohibition against "drunkenness". I think if something will take you "out of your mind" it should be forbidden as is drunkenness. But tobacco and caffeine are stimulants. I'd say if the addiction gets in the way of living a functional life it's definately an issue. For example I know a preacher who is an absolute bear without his morning coffee. He can be downright verbally abusive.

For me the issue is addiction. No saint of God should be addicted to anything. I'd say an occasional smoke on special occasions (for example, a cigar after the birth of a baby) isn't a sin. But chain smoking until you're in need of a ventilator is a stronghold that must be broken.

And so would be the use of drugs or medicine. It's the exact same analogy you used just changing words. In other words your analogy is flawed, not to mention you did not prove it.

If using a drug for mind altering purposes is a sin that does NOT make taking an aspirin a sin too. It's about how, why and intent etc etc just as it is with regards to sex

[Praxeas]

Originally Posted by Aquila

It was just a cultural and customary thing. In the Middle East it's been customary, and still is, to share a pipe or chew a leaf (can't remember it's name) after a meal. It's a lot like the "peace pipe" customs of the American Indians. These things may have just been taken for granted in the biblical writings. Many customs are like this. The "eye of the needle" reference by Christ and the "tears" (tear bottles) the woman used to wash Christ's feet...all of these refer to things and customary practices that are not really meantioned in the Bible.

Brother "in the middle east" covers the entirety of a semetic and chaldean culture...that does NOT necessarily mean Jews did it.

SO again why is it not in the bible? Drinking is as cultural and customary too

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by Praxeas

And so would be the use of drugs or medicine. It's the exact same analogy you used just changing words. In other words your analogy is flawed, not to mention you did not prove it.

If using a drug for mind altering purposes is a sin that does NOT make taking an aspirin a sin too. It's about how, why and intent etc etc just as it is with regards to sex

I think we're in agreement. My point is that the Bible speaks against anything that would cloud one's sobriety. I'd classify mind altering drugs under "drunkenness". Things that do not alter the mind are not specifically condemned. Although alcohol can alter the mind, moderation is taught in Scripture, not absolute prohibition.

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by Praxeas

Brother "in the middle east" covers the entirety of a semetic and chaldean culture...that does NOT necessarily mean Jews did it.

SO again why is it not in the bible? Drinking is as cultural and customary too

Actually some rabbis wrote of using tobacco as part of the "havdalah" ceremony at the conclusion of he Sabbath, where a blessing is customarily recited over a burning fragrant herb or spice. It was also used in "shmeck tabak". In some regions it's still customary.

Judaism never strictly forbade smoking tobacco or any other substance. Rabbis have debated over the possibility of smoking violating ceremonial law by allowing fire in one's home on the Sabbath or high feast days where tradition prohibited it. Also you have to consider the use of the water pipe (narghile) , some Jewish authorities feared the possibility of putting out a flame when ceremonial law required it.

[Aquila]

Biblically speaking the Bible does say....

Genesis 1:29
And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.

Nothing bearing seed is strictly forbidden in Scripture, in fact God makes the point of saying that "every" herb bearing seed is for our use.

Now, of course this doesn't mean that something can't be abused. Wine can be abused...as can tobacco or other substances that have been smoked since ancient times.

Those are just some scattered thoughts on the subject. lol

[Baron1710]

Originally Posted by Aquila

Actually some rabbis wrote of using tobacco as part of the "havdalah" ceremony at the conclusion of he Sabbath, where a blessing is customarily recited over a burning fragrant herb or spice. It was also used as "shmeck tabak". In some regions it's still customary.

Judaism never strictly forbade smoking tobacco or any other substance. Rabbis have debated over the possibility of smoking violating ceremonial law by allowing fire in one's home on the Sabbath or high feast days where tradition prohibited it. Also you have to consider the use of the water pipe (narghile) , some Jewish authorities feared the possibility of putting out a flame when ceremonial law required it.

I think tobacco was limited to the Americas until fairly recent history.

http://www.tobacco.org/History/Tobacco_History.html

[Rico]

So, what did we decide. Are we all getting together to enjoy some high priced cigars and pipe tobacco?