Jesus and Tobacco

[Parson]

Greetings all!

I am currently doing a study of our most cherished holiness standards. My focus is to determine if the principles are placed upon solid a biblical foundation or whether the principle is more of a cultural issue.

In my study, I came across a very interesting challenge. I would certainly like to get your thoughts upon the matter.


Tobacco has been regarded as a vile practice that not only is bad for one’s health, but also one that will doom a person to hell. I cannot remember how many references to the sins of smoking, dipping, or chewing.

(Before I continue, I must assure all that I am not advocating a change in our position. I simply wish to know what is biblically correct. Truth matters. Quoting a friend from the FFC, “If truth does not matter, then nothing matters.)”

As one passionate exhorter stated, tobacco juice will never stain the streets of that (Heaven) city.

The scripture that is used to justify the anti-tobacco stance is that our bodies are the temple of God. (1 Corinthians 6:19) and must not be defiled.

Paul states 1Co 3:16-17) Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

We are holy, serving a Holy God, and must not allow anything to DEFILE our bodies, the temple wherein the Spirit resides. It all seems pretty cut and dried until one considers what Christ stated.

Mat 15:10 And he called the multitude, and said unto them, Hear, and understand:
Mat 15:11 Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.
(Please pay particular attention to verse 11. I repeat the first portion for emphasis.)

NOT THAT WHICH GOETH INTO THE MOUTH DEFILETH A MAN.

The Good News Bible reads it this way.
It is not what goes into your mouth that makes you ritually unclean; rather, what comes out of it makes you unclean."

The NIV reads it this way: Matthew 15:11 (NIV)
What goes into a man's mouth does not make him 'unclean,' but what comes out of his mouth, that is what makes him 'unclean.' "

The GW states Matthew 15:11 (GW)
What goes into a person's mouth doesn't make him unclean. It's what comes out of the mouth that makes a person unclean."

Was Jesus mistaken? After all, we preach that putting tobacco in our mouths defiles (or makes us unclean) the temple

If WHAT GOES INTO A PERSON’S MOUTH DOESN’T MAKE a person UNCLEAN, how then can we state that something does…such as tobacco?

Is there a more accurate biblical foundation in which to continue the stance against tobacco than “defiling the temple?”

Thanks in advance for you input



Parson

If it is what comes out, just don't exhale and you will be ok.

[Sam]

How about the Scripture that says:

Tobacco is a filthy weed,
and from the devil doth proceed.
It stains your fingers, burns your clothes,
and makes a chimney of your nose.

[Praxeas]

Originally Posted by Parson

Greetings all!

I am currently doing a study of our most cherished holiness standards. My focus is to determine if the principles are placed upon solid a biblical foundation or whether the principle is more of a cultural issue.

In my study, I came across a very interesting challenge. I would certainly like to get your thoughts upon the matter.


Tobacco has been regarded as a vile practice that not only is bad for one’s health, but also one that will doom a person to hell. I cannot remember how many references to the sins of smoking, dipping, or chewing.

(Before I continue, I must assure all that I am not advocating a change in our position. I simply wish to know what is biblically correct. Truth matters. Quoting a friend from the FFC, “If truth does not matter, then nothing matters.)”

As one passionate exhorter stated, tobacco juice will never stain the streets of that (Heaven) city.

The scripture that is used to justify the anti-tobacco stance is that our bodies are the temple of God. (1 Corinthians 6:19) and must not be defiled.

Paul states 1Co 3:16-17) Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

We are holy, serving a Holy God, and must not allow anything to DEFILE our bodies, the temple wherein the Spirit resides. It all seems pretty cut and dried until one considers what Christ stated.

Mat 15:10 And he called the multitude, and said unto them, Hear, and understand:
Mat 15:11 Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.
(Please pay particular attention to verse 11. I repeat the first portion for emphasis.)

NOT THAT WHICH GOETH INTO THE MOUTH DEFILETH A MAN.

The Good News Bible reads it this way.
It is not what goes into your mouth that makes you ritually unclean; rather, what comes out of it makes you unclean."

The NIV reads it this way: Matthew 15:11 (NIV)
What goes into a man's mouth does not make him 'unclean,' but what comes out of his mouth, that is what makes him 'unclean.' "

The GW states Matthew 15:11 (GW)
What goes into a person's mouth doesn't make him unclean. It's what comes out of the mouth that makes a person unclean."

Was Jesus mistaken? After all, we preach that putting tobacco in our mouths defiles (or makes us unclean) the temple

If WHAT GOES INTO A PERSON’S MOUTH DOESN’T MAKE a person UNCLEAN, how then can we state that something does…such as tobacco?

Is there a more accurate biblical foundation in which to continue the stance against tobacco than “defiling the temple?”

Thanks in advance for you input



Parson

First of all Jesus was speaking about eating food with unwashed hands. Second, defilement was speaking of the soul and sin. Sin is an action one does. Fornication is a sin. Lying is a sin. Stealing is a sin. And in the OT doing such things that the pagans did like cutting, is a sin.

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.

Is shooting up a sin? Is it wrong? One can make the argument perhaps from the greek word for sorcery which was a reference to drug use particularly in a religious metaphysical way...to enchant or whatever. One can see a parallel in payote use by Shamans for religious ecstatic experiences.

Other drugs were used in similiar ways.

The bible then says to be sober minded...to be right minded. Paul too speaks of not being under control of anything. So we have to ask if taking anything intentionally that alters our emotions, personality, cognitive ability or ability to think rationally is right according to the word.

Tobacco is not just cancer causing, but it's is addictive, physically and emotionally and as such means there is an alteration in our mind and bodies that are detrimental not just physically but also emotionally.

People addicted to tobacco have to have it, they have no control.

As for the cultural thing...we know this stuff is bad for you physically and emotionally and even economically now. We also know that smoking can hurt someone else via second hand smoke. Are we to be held guiltless for being a cause of someone else dying from lung cancer?

Should we, as Christians, be on the forefront of rejecting such vices and to each others? Or should we appear as unconcerned uncaring people? Would we be selfless if we did not take a stand on such things?

This seems to be sort of like the alcohol question. Remember Paul said that unto him all things are lawful but they are not all necessarily good for him either

[Sherri]

My husband always says that smoking may not send you to hell, but it will make you smell like you've been there.

Seriously, I hate smoking, and I think Christians should overcome anything that has them in bondage, but some do that immediately upon salvation and others struggle for years. It's a nasty habit to kick. However, I don't think you can use the Scripture for defiling the temple and then say it's ok to overeat, or even to eat globby greasy stuff which also defiles the temple. Eating stuff like that may be more socially acceptable among church folks, but it's probably just as wrong as smoking.

[RevDWW]

Originally Posted by UltraLib

If it is what comes out, just don't exhale and you will be ok.

Or spit!!!!

[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

[DividedThigh]

Originally Posted by Sherri

My husband always says that smoking may not send you to hell, but it will make you smell like you've been there.

Seriously, I hate smoking, and I think Christians should overcome anything that has them in bondage, but some do that immediately upon salvation and others struggle for years. It's a nasty habit to kick. However, I don't think you can use the Scripture for defiling the temple and then say it's ok to overeat, or even to eat globby greasy stuff which also defiles the temple. Eating stuff like that may be more socially acceptable among church folks, but it's probably just as wrong as smoking.

i knew there was always a reason i liked him, that is true and funny, dt

[winklebottom]

I feel it is an addiction. Any addiction is difficult to shake. Some people are addicted to drugs, some to shopping. Some to the computer, some to gossip. If we all were addicted to prayer...we wouldn't have time for the other things!! Now the shopping...........that might be a necessity

[AmazingGrace]

Originally Posted by winklebottom

I feel it is an addiction. Any addiction is difficult to shake. Some people are addicted to drugs, some to shopping. Some to the computer, some to gossip. If we all were addicted to prayer...we wouldn't have time for the other things!! Now the shopping...........that might be a necessity

Let me just say................ GLORAYYYYYYYYYYYYY to that last line there!!!!