smoking – La Vista Church of Christ

Is vaping wrong?

Jeffrey Hamilton — Mon, 17 Jun 2024 22:28:53 +0000

Question:

Hello minister,

My question concerns non-nicotine herbal diffuser smoking pens and an e vitamin bar smoking pens. If these pens (typically used to wane people off of smoking) are without harsh toxic chemicals or don't contain marijuana, are they safe to smoke?

Answer:

E-cigarettes or vaping pens are typically used to vaporize nicotine (the addictive chemical in tobacco) or THC (the addictive chemical in marijuana) to be delivered to the lungs. While it doesn't contain the harmful tars formed from burning plant matter, it isn't completely safe.

"In February 2020, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed 2,807 cases of e-cigarette or vaping use-associated lung injury (EVALI) and 68 deaths attributed to that condition. 'These cases appear to predominantly affect people who modify their vaping devices or use black market modified e-liquids. This is especially true for vaping products containing THC,' explains Blaha" [Michael Joseph Blaha, "5 Vaping Facts You Need to Know," John Hopkins Medicine, 2024].

One chemical of concern is Vitamin E acetate, which is used as a thickening agent. It was found to persist in injured lungs. Other chemicals used are unknown in their impact on the lungs.

While vaping is advertised as a way to overcome nicotine or THC addictions, in reality, people continue using e-cigarettes and sometimes increase the amount they use.

A Christian also needs to consider his influence. If young people see a Christian vaping, they don't know what substances are in the pen. This is likely to encourage other people to use addictive chemicals.

Is it wrong to attend events where people might be drinking or smoking?

Jeffrey Hamilton — Thu, 23 Aug 2018 00:47:00 +0000

Question:

I have had some best friends since my school days, years ago. I am the only person among them who is baptized. We all meet twice a year and during that meeting they all drink and smoke. I don't drink or smoke since I was baptized. They are all good, sincere people and don't do any bad activities, except drinking and smoking and even that is done without disturbing anyone. They don't compel me to drink. Shall I avoid those drinking meetings or can I continue?

Answer:

"I wrote you in my letter not to associate with immoral people; I did not at all mean with the immoral people of this world, or with the covetous and swindlers, or with idolaters, for then you would have to go out of the world. But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he is an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler--not even to eat with such a one" (I Corinthians 5:9-11).

We can't isolate ourselves from worldly people. If we did, we would never get the Gospel taught to others. What you are describing is not bad, so long as being with them doesn't tempt you to sin. If you have no desire to drink and smoke, there is no reason not to enjoy the company of your friends on these occasions.

Can I be forgiven of my sins?

Jeffrey Hamilton — Mon, 20 Apr 2015 22:58:00 +0000

Question:

I need advice.

I am in my early twenties. I was born in a Christian family. I was a clever child and a good learner under the guidance of my grandparents, who raised me and my siblings after our mother passed away. Around age 14, my life changed. I started drinking alcohol and attempted to commit sexual sins, though I never managed to complete the act. I continued drinking and smoking for the next two years.

Around the age of 16, my life changed and I was righteous. By age of 20, I got to university where I met a righteously living friend and my righteous life continued. That same year I received some money from my mother's estate and my grandmother told me that I should use it carefully until I'm through with my studies. The money was not enough to pay for college. To make more money I used it to buy groceries for people in exchange for cash using my food allowance card. I made a lot of money and built my savings account. My life felt great and I had no worries at all.

Two years ago I met a girl who was employed, beautiful, a drunkard, and not a virgin. We fell in love. I used to accompany her to the bar, but I never drank. She told me she thought she was ready to have kids. I lost my virginity to her. She got pregnant. The relationship was great until she became unfaithful and disrespectful to me. I then broke up with her.

That same year I've committed another sin trying to bribe the vehicle training instructor in order to get a driver's license, but I failed regardless.

I'm trying to live faithfully by God's laws. But sometimes I don't know if my actions are right or wrong.

I want to know:

If God has forgiven me about smoking and drinking alcohol.
If God will forgive me for having sex before marriage.
What to do about my baby.
If it is a sin to abuse my student food allowances.
If listening to hip-hop is a sin.

Answer:

Though you were raised in a home that valued Christian principles, that doesn't necessarily mean that you personally became a Christian. You might even think of yourself as a Christian, but again, that doesn't necessarily mean you have obeyed what God commanded. Therefore, first, see What Must I Do to be Saved? If you have not fully obeyed what the Bible teaches, then the first step is to truly become a Christian because, in the process of doing so, God forgives all your past sins. "Now why do you delay? Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name" (Acts 22:16).

If you truly are a Christian and have sinned since being baptized, then what is required is repentance from your sins (II Corinthians 7:10-11) and confession of your sins to God (I John 1:9). Any sin that is left behind can be forgiven. I can see that you regret what you have done, the question is: Are you going to change your life?

Being forgiven doesn't eliminate the responsibilities that your sins created. God can forgive you for your fornication, but the baby is still there and the child is your responsibility. You will have to plan on supporting the child until he is grown, or you should arrange for the child's adoption to people who will be responsible for the child. Of course, the adoption route is only available if the mother also agrees.

It appears to me that you choose your behavior based on your immediate feelings and the encouragement of those around you. Thus, when you are around good people you tend to be good, but when you are around wicked people you compromise. Consider the fact that while you were trying to be righteous, you still picked a girlfriend whom you knew to be a drunkard and who had few moral principles when it came to sex. When she propositioned you, which was predictable, you willingly dropped your pants. Her past also made it completely predictable that she would eventually find other guys to have sex with -- predictable because she did not change who she was.

If you are going to reach heaven your decisions have to be made upon what is right. How you feel about it or what others are pushing you to do cannot enter the equation.

Christians are told to obey those in authority, so long as what is being asked of them is in accordance with God's teachings (Romans 13:1-2). I assume you were using a welfare card in violation of the rules specified and that if someone found out you could end up in jail. In such situations what you did was wrong. If you needed more funds, you should have gotten a job. "He who steals must steal no longer; but rather he must labor, performing with his own hands what is good, so that he will have something to share with one who has need" (Ephesians 4:28).

In regards to music, it is the words, not the style of music, that make something right or wrong. The words in a song influence how you think. See Is it wrong to listen to rap or hip hop music?

My best friend has started to smoke. How do I make him stop?

Jeffrey Hamilton — Mon, 15 Oct 2012 01:04:00 +0000

Question:

I'm 14 years old and female. My best friend (who's a guy) has just started smoking cigs and will start smoking weed soon. He doesn't know how much I care about him. Since I am an only child, I view him as my older brother (he's older than me by half a year). I want to make him stop, but I don't want to ruin a friendship. It scares me what he's doing to himself, and it makes me want to cry sometimes. So my question is: How can I make him see how much I care about him and make him stop?

Answer:

Let's start with a very basic fact. You can't make anyone be good. You can encourage a person to do the right thing. You can rebuke him when he does the wrong thing. But you can't make him make good decisions. God doesn't do it to us, even though He wants all of us to be saved (II Peter 3:9), and we certainly can't do it to other people.

The second difficulty is that he already has demonstrated that he doesn't care about the law. Smoking cigarettes is illegal before the age of 21, and he is choosing to break the law at 14. Therefore, reasoning with him about the legality of what he is doing won't make an impact on him.

There are some recent scientific studies that he should know about. See:

Perhaps health reasons might sway him, though since he has already chosen to smoke cigarettes and that is very well documented to cause lung cancer, even these facts will likely not change his mind.

About all you have left is to tell him that you would hate to lose his friendship because he is choosing to harm himself. Tell him that you don't want to watch your best friend go downhill. Likely it will make him pause, but the odds are that it won't stop him.

It really comes down to the fact that there has to be a greater reason for him not to smoke than to smoke. I can't guess what would get through to him. There is no one right answer -- if there was you and I could solve the world's drug problems.

But I want you to understand a very important concept. If he goes, it will be his choice, not yours. It will be he who ruins the friendship, not you. It is just as our sins ruin our relationship with God, and it isn't God's fault. "Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, That it cannot save; Nor His ear heavy, That it cannot hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear" (Isaiah 59:1-2).

I hope he listens to his best friend, but if he doesn't don't chase after him. That will only lead to you being dragged down to his level. "Do not be deceived: "Evil company corrupts good habits" " (I Corinthians 15:33).

You Need Standards and Guidance to Reduce Risky Behavior

Jeffrey Hamilton — Sat, 07 Jul 2012 03:55:00 +0000

Source: "Research Finds Parallels Between Sexual Risk Avoidance Approach and Successful Public Health Campaigns to Prevent Teenage Drinking, Smoking, and Reckless Driving," House Energy and Commerce Health Committee, 06 July 2012.

Source: "A Better Approach to Teenage Pregnancy Prevention: Sexual Risk Avoidance," U.S. House of Representative Committee on Energy and Commerce, July 2012.

The Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee released a report on which strategy more effectively prevents unintended pregnancies and STDs in teenagers. "The report analyzes Sexual Risk Avoidance (SRA), an abstinence-centered approach to sex education, along with Comprehensive Sex Education (CSE), an alternative type of sex education that takes a value-neutral approach with a core message of risk reduction. The report finds that SRA is the better approach ..." SRA emphasizes risk avoidance, though it does talk about contraceptives. The central message is that abstinence is the better choice for teenagers. CSE emphasizes risk reduction. It admits that abstinence is an effective choice but also says that teenagers cannot or will not avoid sex. "CSE continues to teach that contraception is the best protection against an unplanned pregnancy."

"CSE has done little in the past 20 years to impact rates of teenage pregnancy."

"CSE has failed to lower rates of teenage pregnancy because it assumes that preteens and teens are fully capable of making decisions without adequate guidance. By contrast, a clear understanding of teenage behavior is why public health campaigns against teenage drinking, smoking, and reckless driving have been relatively successful. They are not value neutral when it comes to teenage choices, especially those with public health ramifications. These programs set realistic and ageappropriate expectations for the teens and then show them how to avoid the risky behaviors. SRA is modeled on that successful reasoning."

"Young people experience profound physical, cognitive, and emotional changes during adolescence. The physical changes are the most obvious, but other changes during adolescence are equally significant, especially those that challenge personal identity and emotional independence. Teenage thinking can be egocentric and unrealistic with little appreciation for how things actually work. Teens test limits and take risks – behavior that is normal and useful during adolescence. However, for many, unsupervised and reckless behavior can often become too risky and even dangerous.

In general, teens take more risks than younger and older individuals even as they lack the proper controls to manage them. Behaviors, such as smoking, drinking, driving, and sexual activity involve considerable risk, especially for teens who have not mastered two important skills – planning and risk assessment. According to Dr. Laurence Steinberg, Professor of Psychology at Temple University, the ability to regulate impulse, think ahead, plan, and weigh risk and reward develop gradually in a teen and are often not complete until the mid-twenties. High rates of underage drinking, car accidents, unplanned pregnancy and STIs among teens support the view that most teens are unable to manage the risks associated with these behavioral choices even when provided with warnings."

You would think that this is obvious. Young people are still learning. To assume they can make good moral choices without a standard of what constitutes a good choice is foolish. The government has just discovered the truth of what Solomon wrote 3,000 years ago:

"My son, do not forget my law, but let your heart keep my commands; for length of days and long life and peace they will add to you. Let not mercy and truth forsake you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart, and so find favor and high esteem in the sight of God and man. Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh, and strength to your bones." (Proverbs 3:1-8).

"Across the board, children who have a close relationship with their parents are less likely to have behavioral problems or engage in high-risk behaviors."

How do you quit drinking and smoking?

Jeffrey Hamilton — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 02:33:40 +0000

Question:

How do you quit drinking and smoking?

Answer:

There is no magic involved. It really depends on your determination on what you want controlling your life, a box of leaves rolled up in paper, a bottle of liquid, or you. It won't be easy because tobacco alters the chemistry in your body and alcohol gives you the illusion of escape. You'll have to have control over your own body's cravings. The people I've known who successfully quit all came to a point in their life that they were disgusted with themselves for letting mere chemicals dictate their choices and they stopped. "All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any" (I Corinthians 6:12). Oh, they battled the cravings, but it was their determination to end it that did it. Even when they slipped, they just started again and were usually more successful the next time around.

So it really comes down to self-control. Such is a part of the Christian's life. "But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love" (II Peter 1:5-7). "Diligence" is an interesting word in Greek. It translates the word spoude, which means to hurry or do quickly; to work hard and do your best; and to be eager, devoted, or willing to work. It carries all three meanings at once. So the first step is to approach the problem with diligence. Quit cold-turkey before you have a chance to change your mind. Work hard at it, giving your all to not give in. And be devoted to success.

The second step is faith. You have to believe that this is the best choice for you. If you aren't convinced that it is really harmful to you, you won't stick with it. You will constantly give yourself excuses to compromise just one more time. Most importantly, you have to believe that what God says is true and that these drugs are harmful to you, such as God's warning that "Wine is a mocker, strong drink is a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise" (Proverbs 20:1).

The third step is virtue. It means doing what is right. You can't go by your feelings or your cravings. You have to see the right course and walk the right path. There will be many times you will want to drink or smoke, but you have to fix in your mind that it doesn't matter, you will choose to do what is right and that doesn't include ruining your health and dimming your mind with drugs.

The fourth step is knowledge. You need to learn. You need to learn about why these drugs are dangerous, why God says to stay away from them, and what it is that triggers your cravings for them. You also need to learn better things to do, instead of drugs. For example, if loneliness triggers your desire to drink then learn a better way to cure your loneliness that doesn't involve drugs or other sinful behaviors.

Next is self-control. You have to exert control over your behavior, understanding that in all things you have choices. "But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified" (I Corinthians 9:27).

Next is perseverance, the ability to continue despite what happens. There are going to be times when you get tired of the struggle and just want to give up. There are going to be times that you succumb to the temptation in moments of weakness. Perseverance is picking yourself up and continuing on anyway.

A step that so many neglects is godliness. If all you do is focus your entire time on removing sinful behavior from your life, you'll never succeed. There has to be something better that replaces it. "Godliness" is the concept of being holy, understanding that you are someone special, set apart by God to do special things. "Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, 'Be holy, for I am holy'" (I Peter 1:13-16).

What locks these things into place is brotherly kindness. When you can see that you are not doing this just for yourself but also for those you care about, you will have more motivation to continue to do what is right. When you reach a point that you can pass on your desire to live free of chemical controls and in service to God, then it will become more real to you. Plus, focusing your life of caring about other people will get you out of the mode of feeling sorry for yourself which often is a roadway back into using chemicals.

Finally, the chief thing is to grow your love: your love for yourself, your love for those around you, and most importantly your love for God. It is just this reason that Paul used to tell husbands how to care for their wives properly and not sin against them. "So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church" (Ephesians 5:28-29). Love then provides a strong desire to remain in righteousness.

You might notice that all of these steps work in every area where a Christian is striving to improve his life. "For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (II Peter 3:8-11).

Does Matthew 5:28 apply to other sins?

Jeffrey Hamilton — Sat, 24 Apr 2010 03:06:00 +0000

Question:

Matthew 5:28 says "But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart." Does this apply to other things? If I had a desire to smoke and drink, but I actually don't do it, does it means that I had already smoked and drank? Do I call myself a smoker and a drinker?

Answer:

"Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren" (James 1:13-16).

I've noticed that people have a hard time distinguishing between a desire, a temptation, and lust.

A desire is what you want at the moment. It doesn't necessarily have to be bad. I might be hungry, tired, or want a chance to relax.

"Temptation" is when Satan offers us what we want, but to get it we have to do something wrong. It ought to be clear that in order to be tempted, we must consider what is being offered. Being tempted is not a sin. Jesus was tempted, yet he did not sin. "For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin" (Hebrews 4:15).

Lust is when we decide we want what Satan offers, but at the moment we don't have an opportunity to act on it. Using your example, if at the time someone handed you a cigarette or a beer, would you have smoked or drank?

Lust isn't the same as committing the actual sin. A man guilty of lusting after a woman hasn't committed adultery yet. Jesus charged that he has committed adultery in his heart. The point is that sin doesn't start with the actual action, it starts with the lusts of the heart. "And He said, 'What comes out of a man, that defiles a man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within and defile a man'" (Mark 7:20-23).

The problem is that some people excuse lust as harmless because it hasn't been acted upon. What we see is that lust is corrosive. It eats away at a person's spirit making him more likely to give in to the actual sin. Even when the sin isn't committed, the defilement of the person's spirit is itself a sin. The battle cannot come in resisting the chance to do sin but must come earlier in rejecting the thoughts about doing a sin.

So, you might be thirsty and tempted to quench that thirst with a beer. You can reject it, or dwell on it wishing you really had a can available. The lust for a beer isn't drunkenness, but it will make you susceptible to indulging in drinking if the opportunity arises. The lust for alcohol isn't drunkenness, but the drunkard begins his sin when he starts lusting for alcohol.

Is my soul in jeopardy if I don’t talk to a Christian about his smoking?

Jeffrey Hamilton — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 02:27:00 +0000

Question:

Is my soul in jeopardy if I don't address the issue of a known smoker that attends the church where I attend? He was baptized years ago and partakes of the Lord's Supper. By not addressing the issue with him, am I now out of Christ? Also, if a preacher baptizes a known smoker who comes forward during church to be baptized, is that putting the preacher's soul in jeopardy?

Thanks.

Answer:

Smoking is a difficult question for Christians to address because, for so many years in the past, people didn't know the harm that came from smoking. As time passed, we've learned much about the damage smoking causes on the person and those around them. Arguments against smoking focus on the harm, the lack of benefit, and the expense.

I have known a number of Christians addicted to smoking. About the only thing I can say is that at least tobacco doesn't warp a person's thinking like so many other drugs. I feel sorry for these people. Just as I feel sorry for a person who doesn't manage his money well or who yells far too much at his children.

I teach against it. I do sermons on the subject. I warn young people that it is very hard to stop once you start, that it will cause harm, that it is a waste of money. I tell people caught up in the habit that they ought to stop. Yet, I recognize that ultimately it is going to be between that person and God to discuss on Judgment day. I believe they will be far better off quitting the habit, but whether it will keep them out of heaven isn't something I can say with absolute certainty.

So why don't you talk to the person you know, just to make sure he understands the problems with tobacco use? Perhaps ask if there is something you might do to help. And definitely encourage him to quit. In other words, stop worrying about your position with God and start being concerned over the safety of a brother in Christ.

When teaching a person about Christianity, I make sure I cover verses dealing with not causing harm to yourself and about addiction. While I will tell an active drug user they need to stop using before they can say they are turning their life over to God, much of it is because I know the drugs are messing with their minds. A Christian needs to be sober-minded. With a smoker, I warn them of the dangers, but I don't feel I'm in the position to refuse since they know what they are doing. I'll keep pushing them toward a better position in life.

Why Is It? (Taylor)

Jeffrey Hamilton — Sat, 30 May 2009 00:53:00 +0000

by Gene Taylor

Some things are difficult for me to understand. I am not referring to the sciences or mathematics, even though I could for they gave me a lot of trouble when I was in school—I am talking about some things that, on the surface, seem simple enough but yet often have me asking myself, “Why?”

Smoking

Why is it, in the face of all we know about the dangers of smoking, people still smoke cigarettes?

A person would have to have been a hermit for the past 40 years not to know of the harmful effects of smoking cigarettes. It is well-documented that this habit causes cancer, heart disease, lung ailments, and other maladies. There is not a rational person who can say that he does not know how harmful smoking is to one’s health. Yet, people continue to puff away. Why?

The reasons are many but basically, I believe there are three main ones.

1) The “Superman Syndrome.”

This is the idea that while others may be adversely affected by it, it will not hurt me. I knew a woman who had smoked for 65 years. She had to have portions of both of her lungs removed because of cancer. She had less than 15% of her lung capacity. She needed oxygen nearly all the time. Yet she would not stop smoking. Why? She claimed it was not harmful to her. She said that her cancer came from working in a peanut warehouse when she was a teenager and that the peanut dust caused her respiratory problems. In spite of all the evidence to the contrary, she never admitted that her smoking harmed her. It may have hurt others but not her. Sadly, there are many people like her.

2) “Nobody’s going to tell me what to do. I’ll live or die as I please.”

Many who know how harmful smoking is do it just to be rebellious. The more you warn and caution some people about the dangers of a thing or practice, they, instead of being deterred from it, have their interest in it heightened. They somehow think that it makes them an independent thinker. In reality, when taking up smoking they must not be thinking at all. Young people are especially vulnerable to this attitude.

3) They want to do it.

Even though people might know the dangers involved in smoking they will still engage in it because it is something they just want to do. They usually say that, though, because many of those consequences, especially the most injurious, are not immediate. So they are willing to trade the future for present pleasure.

Seatbelts

I must also ask “Why?” when it comes to using seatbelts while driving. Why is it that people who know the dangers of not wearing seatbelts or not having their children wear them, do not “buckle up?”

Again, the harmful effects are well documented and easily seen. Why is it that people do not wear them?

I believe the reasons are the same as those cited for smoking cigarettes: “It won’t happen to me.” “Nobody’s going to tell me what to do.” “I just don’t like wearing a belt. It is uncomfortable so I am not going to wear one. I’ll do what I like.”

Sin

You knew the main lesson of this article was not really smoking or seatbelt usage. It is just that when one starts asking “Why?” when it comes to these practices, one sees the same reasons that people use when it comes to sin against God and their participation in it.

The dangers of sin are plainly revealed in Scripture. The soul that sins shall die (Ezekiel 18:20). “The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). All sinners will have their place in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone (Revelation 21:8). Seeing the fate of the sinner, why do people sin?

1) They sin because they think others may suffer but somehow they will not.

They believe that somehow they will be exempted from such suffering. But God is impartial (Acts 10:34–35). He promises that one will reap what he sows (Galatians 6:7–8). If one sows to the flesh, to sin, he will reap corruption. There will be no exceptions. “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad” (II Corinthians 5:10).

2) Some will not be guided by the Bible.

They refuse to submit to the will of God, choosing, rather, to follow their own will. Nobody, not even God, is going to tell them how to live their lives.

3) They want to sin.

They want the pleasures of sin (Hebrews 11:24–26). They are willing to give up an eternity of joy in the presence of God for the passing pleasures of sin. Many have exchanged their soul for sins they enjoy (Matthew 16:26).

Why is it that people sin? I have given some basic reasons, but, given its harmful consequences, they still do not make sense. Sin does not make sense. But it still “brings forth death” (James 1:15).

My pastor smokes and teaches falsely, and I don’t know what to do

Jeffrey Hamilton — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 03:17:00 +0000

Question:

Do you think a pastor's smoking is a sin? My pastor smokes and I went to him in love; sharing with him that his smoking hurts his testimony as a believer. He preaches on bondage yet he smokes a pack or more a day. He has preached many things in the pulpit that were not true. He said that Peter in Acts was talking to the priests and not the outside world when saying repent and be baptized. He does not stress baptism, even though it being in the Baptist bylaws of this church. What hurts me is he told me he was not sure Jesus did not smoke. That really bothered me and still does. I'm the choir director and piano player - I even teach Sunday school. I feel God is using me to stand up for the truth in the church. But I know the Bible says don't sit under false teaching. Several people from my church tell me they thank God for sending me there. Can you please give me counsel on this. I don't know what to do.

Answer:

Whether something is right or wrong does not depend on whether the person is a religious leader or not. God doesn't give different rules for the leaders of a congregation than the rest of the flock. Leaders do have more responsibilities, and you are correct that they must be concerned about setting a proper example, but that example is what is expected of everyone.

See "What is wrong with smoking?" for details regarding the problems of smoking.

Though the Baptist denomination has roots in advocating baptism, the majority of the various Baptist groups have been teaching that it isn't necessary for almost a hundred years now. But that is the nature of sin; it constantly creeps further from the truth. Instead of discussing what is in a church's bylaws, I would encourage you to start discussing what is in Christ's covenant -- the New Testament. Bylaws are man-made documents and are full of flaws. The New Testament is the inspired Word of God. There is no comparison between the two.

Let me recommend two articles: "Why are there different denominations?" and "Denominationalism is Unnecessary." I suspect that people find your presence refreshing because you have the drive to return to the truth, and it is like a breath of fresh air. Let me urge you not to go just partway, but turn back to the original teachings of Christ and his apostles. It won't make you popular with the religious leaders, but it will lead many back into Christ's fold.