Questions on Smoking
Q: In spending some time today with the family, we came across another Christian, who we know (that goes to another church), and found out that person smokes cigarettes. He lit one up right in front of me. Should Christians smoke vapes, cigarettes, cigars, or pipes?
I ask this because I want to know others godly believers thoughts on it, not just my church. No, I have not got my mind made up yet. Most of my thoughts were on the fact that people said if it’s not in the Bible, then it’s OK. That is bad hermeneutics. Just because it’s not in the Bible does not mean it’s OK. I think as a policy of theology, we should be silent where the Bible is silent and we should speak where the Bible speaks. That doesn’t mean something is OK to do because it’s not mentioned in the Bible. Never said it was seen.
Sometimes, it has been my experience, we get stuck in our own theological world, and we need to expand our horizons.
I think smoking, chewing, and dipping are dirty habits. That said, so is anything to excess. I remind the brethren that the tithes of many tobacco farmers built many church buildings in Kentucky, Virginia, Tennessee, and North Carolina while feeding many a pastor and his family. At least they weren't drinking shine. Let me add that so many in a generation now gone became hooked on cigarettes while serving in World War 2. I don't smoke. I hate the smell. I hate that it shortened people's lives, so in a way it is sin if it harms others, causing them illness, disease or death. Many alive today still remember "the back porch fellowship", that's where the deacons smoked between Sunday School and service. They need our prayer and fellowship, our love and service, and discipline/admonishment/exhortation in love. We dont need to be silent on matters that follow biblical principles. Marijuana falls into the category of pagan wirship to gain a experience with a god. This month I actually had someone ask if its ok to smoke mushrooms a little to get closer to God. I had to explain that which wasnt outright obvious in Scripture. But also theres holy principles in Scripture we should be pursuing to become more like Christ. Q: if Jesud didn't do it, neither should we. That's a good enough principle when it comes to that thought. And befire anyone says anything about marriage, its God's design for us, humans, but was not the purpose of Jesus mission here. So dont lose sight of that truth.
Did you know Charles Spurgeon smoked. He smoked cigars and a pipe. I’m not saying that to justify it, just to make the point that it’s not any worse than gluttony. Sin is sin. We don’t call out preachers who are a little overweight, but we ahould counsel them in love, just as we should with believers who smoke.
Spurgeon operated within a congregational church structure, which typically emphasizes the autonomy of the local church. At the Metropolitan Tabernacle, where he served as pastor, he did have a group of deacons and elders who assisted him in church governance and ministry.
While Spurgeon was a prominent figure and held significant authority, he was not entirely without accountability. He worked closely with the deacons and elders, who were responsible for various aspects of church life, including financial matters and the spiritual oversight of the congregation.
Yet never once did I hear Spurgeon was disciplined by or counseled by the elders at his church for sins in his life, not smoking, not gluttony, nothing. Perhaps they saw him as a celebrity pastor, or were fearful to upset this man God used to reach folk in London back then. His church was responsible for physically saving the lives of that city, and exist today due to that church.
But again that's no reason not to address sins, as goud Shepherds do so we can mature and live holy lives more resembling Christ.
Another fun fact about Spurgeon, a local tobacco company got word that he enjoyed their brand of tobacco so that put up a big slogan that said, “The Brand That Spurgeon Smokes!” Spurgeon saw the sign and "was immediately convicted" that his smoking could potentially be a stumbling block to other Christians… so he started cutting back from smoking in public and only smoked privately from then on. Unfortunately he didn't give it up.
Some say if the Bible doesn't forbid something, then it's not my place to tell them they can't. But that's not biblical. And, as somebody who lost a grandma to emphysema and know others whose father lost his life to lung cancer from being a lifetime smoker, I would hope Christians stop smoking or are discipled and counseled early in their youth or discipled as older new believers to dont even start smoking. Personally I dont hang around or fellowship with folk who do smoke as its not just that they smell very awful (and are unaware of it), byt that I dont want 2nd hand smoke to harm me or give me other cancers.
With that said, if you are in a solid biblical church, then yes you should be getting your shepherding and counsel from there as the Shepherds are accountable to God to teach you what's in biblical orthodoxy, keeping you within the bounds of Scripture for holy living, and lead you into maturity. Don't curcumvent what God has called you to do (stay under the church's authority) to try to run out and sin as you wish. That is a faith destroying mentality, and God wont be pleased with such sin attitudes. I dont think that is your particular intention, but it might be of others who read this post, so I put that here to warn. Always get counsel from your church Pastors on these kinds of matters, even within what many might call or put this topic in the category of Christian Liberty. As we dont want to sin nor flippantly do so to feed our sinful fleshly desires. We should kill it so it has no temptation nor draw in our life ever again.
If you are not in a solid biblical church, or not sure you are, you can look more into smoking, vaping, and Marijuana here, with good resources to educate.
God bless.
