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Ronnie wrote:
I have a question. What does the Bible say
about someone that smokes?
Thanks
Our Answer:
Hi Ronnie:
Thanks for your question.
As with many things, the Bible does not give a specific instruction.
What it provides is general principles. For example, 1 Corinthians
6:19 says:
"Don't you know that your body is the temple
of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God?
You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price.
So you must honor God with your body."
This says that: since smoking is not good for your body, you should
not be smoking. But now I have to ask myself, what about the donuts
I eat every Friday morning? I'm not overweight, but I get out of
breath walking up the stairs. Should I stop eating donuts and start
getting more exorcise?
There is a difference.
Smoking, even in moderation, is harmful to your health. By smoking
you are harming your body and not honoring God. Thus smoking is
not Biblical.
Donuts, in moderation, generally are not harmful to most people's
health. So having an occasional donut is okay. Eating a dozen a
day probably is not good.
By the way, it makes no difference what someone else is doing.
If I'm a couch potato who eats a dozen donuts every day, that does
not mean you can smoke. How other people behave should not influence
your relationship with God. We each need to strive to have the best
possible loving relationship with God.
FYI: I've chosen to greatly cut down on the number of donuts on
Fridays and I'm trying to get more exercise by walking regularly.
God has given you your free will, so it's your choice as to how
much you wish to show your love for God, and honor God, by how you
take care of your body.
Yours in the Love of Christ,
Steve
Mission to America
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