[Parson]

Top of the Morning to All!


Thanks for your responses.

I quite agree Sherri that it is inconsistent to “doom a person to hell” because he inhales smoke, and yet ignore gluttony…which IS listed in the Bible as being wrong.

At a conference hosted by my brother’s church, a pastor/evangelist consumed 4 plates of food along with 3 plates of desert. Then asked for a plate to go…as he wanted to have something to snack on at the motel. (My brother was one that served his table and brought the food.)

My husband always says that smoking may not send you to hell,

The question that I am trying to ascertain is whether or not we have been accurate in our stance that smoking WILL send you to hell. There is no question as to the health issues that tobacco brings, nor of the dependency it creates.

Hi Praxaes!

Great answers.

I agree that the statement by Christ was prompted by the Pharisees displeasure that Christ’s disciples had violated one of their pet teachings. In the Pharisee’s view, touching one’s food with unwashed hands MADE the food unclean, thus making the body unclean when eaten.

Jesus’ response can be interpreted as to mean that what is considered to be UNCLEAN FOOD does not make the body unclean. Put more simply, IT IS NOT WHAT YOU INGEST, but what is in your heart.

Please allow me to quote more of the passage.

Mat 15:15 Peter replied, "What did you mean when you talked about the things that make people unclean?"
Mat 15:16 Jesus then said: Don't any of you know what I am talking about by now?
Mat 15:17 Don't you know that the food you put into your mouth goes into your stomach and then out of your body?
Mat 15:18 But the words that come out of your mouth come from your heart. And they are what make you unfit to worship God.
Mat 15:19 Out of your heart come evil thoughts, murder, unfaithfulness in marriage, vulgar deeds, stealing, telling lies, and insulting others.
Mat 15:20 These are what make you unclean. Eating without washing your hands will not make you unfit to worship God.

The focus seems to be on the EFFECT of food within the body, and not just about whether one washes his hands before eating.

This precept regarding food seems to be continued by Paul.

Rom 14:14 I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean.

This passage, of course, has to do with eating meat deemed unclean by Jewish Christians.

It is quite apparent that God is more concerned of what comes out of your heart than He is of what goes into your mouth.

Now the bible says to come out from amoung them and be separate. So at some point we need to decide of what they are doing is something we have to separate from. And in those matters only the word is our guide.

Excellent point on the need to be separate from the world. The question remains as to what is listed within the Bible—THE WORD—as what should separate us from the world.

I have often wondered as to why it is always EXTERNAL things that we focus upon in our separation, and not INTERNAL things.

Christ pointed out that evil thoughts, murder, unfaithfulness in marriage, vulgar deeds, stealing, telling lies, and insulting others. ..makes one unclean.

We should be separated from the world in THESE matters.

This separation is noted by Paul

Gal 5:19 People's desires make them give in to immoral ways, filthy thoughts, and shameful deeds.
Gal 5:20 They worship idols, practice witchcraft, hate others, and are hard to get along with. People become jealous, angry, and selfish. They not only argue and cause trouble, but they are
Gal 5:21 envious. They get drunk, carry on at wild parties, and do other evil things as well. I told you before, and I am telling you again: No one who does these things will share in the blessings of God's kingdom.
Gal 5:22 God's Spirit makes us loving, happy, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful,
Gal 5:23 gentle, and self-controlled.

Your best argument against tobacco has to do with CONTROL. Whatever you cannot control will control you. Tobacco is very habit forming, and very difficult to quit.

But will it send you to hell…as lying does?

Tobacco usage is a filthy and costly habit. But will it send you to hell?



Thanks much for your thoughts!!



Parson