Viewpoint Bible Study #5 -- Do Christians Smoke?

Last updated on **1/1/99**
Viewpoint Brief Bible Study #005
		JESUS calls US to be members of His church



The Christian religion is the worship and service of Jesus Christ. It’s not Mary we worship, but her Son. We worship neither saints, angels, a law code, nor even God’s Spirit. It’s JESUS who is to be honored. The Bible is our guide.

Smoking Up A Storm?

(This was an article in the church newsletter from 1st Christian Church in Lamar MO where Doug Oakes is the preacher. 6/24/97 -- And a warning from Steven Clark Goad of Blythe, CA -- And comments by Lee Winters and Michael Johnson).

LITTLE ACORNS FROM OAKES

by Doug Oakes, edited by Ray Downen
TOBACCO: The Time Has Come
To Snuff It OUT!

    I've been reading with interest the negotiations between the tobacco companies and our federal government over the regulation of nicotine levels in cigarettes. It seems the momentum is finally moving for some real restrictions on the tobacco companies.
    It's about time!
    Our government has been in collusion with the tobacco growers for years. It's almost laughable now to see the federal government act so self-righteous about the whole matter.
    Even though I agree with the direction the process seems to be taking, it seems somewhat hypocritical for the Food and Drug Administration to suddenly act as if they will NOW protect the public from these nasty tobacco companies. Where have they been for the last 50 years or more since it's first been obvious what use of tobacco does to human bodies?
    The number of people who have become hooked on nicotine and later developed lung cancer or heart disease must be in the millions. The amount of money spent on these diseases which have long been known to be caused by use of tobacco products must be in the trillions. The human suffering has cost more than can be computed.
    Christians also have been caught up in the smoking (and snuff) craze. It's just as addicting for us as for anyone else. Yet, many in the church have also carried an extra burden of guilt over having a habit that has finally become socially unacceptable. Knowing that cigarettes do damage the body means that Christians shouldn't smoke. It violates the Bible principle of not deliberately harming the temples of God which are our bodies. (1 Corinthians 3:16,17).
    I do believe in individual responsibility. As the tobacco companies sanctimoniously declare: "Nobody held a gun to their head to make them start smoking."
    Which is true. Yet we don't use that argument for the heroin addict, do we?
    Are the tobacco companies drug pushers? The FDA is afraid to push that issue. But, along with the cover-ups of the past on the levels of nicotine and its addicting strength, also comes some level of responsibility for profit-making at the cost of the public health of users around the world.
    It's about time we snuffed out the government assistance to tobacco growers to help make addicts from our young people at a vulnerable time in their lives. We do pay the price later down the road. And we can't afford what it costs!
-- A non-smoker, Doug

And a WARNING! from Steven Clark Goad
    Since he heard the sound of the trumpet but did not take warning, his blood will be on his own head (Ezekiel 33:5).

    Have you noticed the fine print on the warning labels recently? I mean -- you need a magnifying glass to read it!
    Always weight conscious, I am using sugar substitutes in my tea these days. Well, my beloved son Marcus pointed out recently that in laboratory experiments it was established that mice get cancer when given humongous doses of the artificial stuff.
    I would have to ingest gallons of this stuff (at a time) to be in harms' way. Yet, sure enough, if you squint hard enough you can make out the warning on all those "Sweet and Low" packages. "Causes cancer in laboratory animals." Since I'm not a laboratory animal, what's the worry?
    At restaurants I've noticed that the Styrofoam cups now have warning labels telling us that the coffee in the cups may be hot (most customers WANT it hot). Can you believe that? The reason for these warning labels has to do with liability.
    Remember the woman who spilled some hot coffee in her lap and then sued McDonald's and got a hefty settlement? She's the reason for the warning on the coffee cups.
    Don Waddell wishes there were warning labels on his wife's credit cards. She, along with other wives (and husbands), had just been inducted into the VISA Hall of Fame, "Shop 'Til You Drop" section.
    On our processed foods, all of the labeling is in fine print. Squint. Sure enough -- It reads that the worst possible oils were used in such and such a product. Why? Because it's cheaper. That's why. So we go for the low price, then hope the palm oil won't clog up and shut down our cardiovascular system this week!
    We ought to be thankful for the warning on the side of cigarette packages.
    Before the stark warning that now appears (which tells us use of tobacco causes cancer in humans), there was the "allusion to animals" warning. It went something like this -- "Smoking has been shown to cause cancer in lab rats."
    Poor rats! They are smarter than many human beings. I never met a rat in my life (how many has Steve met???, wonders Ray) who made his own choice to smoke cigarettes (or cigars, I imagine, says Ray). The rats were always caught and forced to inhale the poison.
    Humans are different than rats in this respect -- we humans actually purchase and by choice breathe the life-sapping tars and carcinogens. And we encounter them every day as smokers force us to breathe their side-stream smoke while we try to be civil about it. Cough!
    Warnings are all around us. Remember that funny-looking robot on "Lost In Space" that was continually warning Will Robinson about some impending danger? Warning! Warning! Green alien approaching space craft!
    Wouldn't it be nice if we had someone thoughtful enough to warn us of dangers that lurk in places and things that to us seem harmless?
    Know what? We do.
    We have a book of warnings that, if heeded, would make our lives a whole lot more enjoyable than they are.
    God's Word is full of positive direction for our lives, as well as warnings against those things that would harm us and cause us to lose our souls. So, you see, warning labels aren't all that bad. They help keep us aware.
    Warning: Repent Or Perish!
Comments from Readers
To: outreach@sofnet.com
Date sent: Sun, 21 Sep 1997 00:36:26 -0600
Subject: Re: Viewpoint Study #5
From: leewint@juno.com (Leland L Winters)
Ray:
    I read your piece on the tobacco habit and I can surely agree with you that tobacco is not the best thing anyone can do to promote a healthier life style. But -- I am very concerned about the slow erosion of our rights. The government says we are incapable of handling our problems -- they have a corner on intelligence so we should consult them on how to guide ourselves. I believe this is very serious! If I was going to consult anyone it wouldn't be the brain-dead individuals who occupy the expensive halls of government. [Ray's comment: My purpose in publishing Doug's article here was more to speak about God's warnings than about smoking, but in this note Lee has good thoughts I felt you might also be interested in reading.]
    I was a cigarette smoker, having started smoking while a flying Cadet during WWII. I continued until about 1962 when I unthinkingly made the statement "I'll never smoke another!" I say unthinkingly because I had not [consciously] contemplated such action -- I said it on the spur of the moment when I offered the last one in the pack to another person and I knew I couldn't go to a machine to get some more -- there was no machine near.
    I was going through 4 packs a day! That was a $1 going up in smoke -- $365/year! Anyhow, since I made the statement, I had to live up to it! I was committed! I can't stand a liar, so I had to live up to my position.
    I've not had one since. I say if one is committed one will eventually get over the habit -- there is no real commitment! If I can do it, anyone can! It's much like marriage -- there is no commitment -- there is just that tiny loop hole -- just in case. It was rough but gradually I overcame the habit. I've gotten to the point where I don't like the smell of them now.
    I'm afraid of the government getting their slimy fingers into the lives of the public! While I was living in New York there was the seat belt law on the ballot -- the insurance rates will go up unless it was voted in, the politicians said. Well, it was voted in. The next insurance bill the rate went way up -- no relationship to the seat belt law at all -- just the usual political spin. I resent the government telling me I have to save my life their way! Especially when it's none of their business. All the rhetoric about how it keeps the insurance rates down is merely lies ("spin," they call it now).
    I would further add, it will turn out just like Prohibition did -- the smoker will continue to get them. There is an Indian tribe that has gone into the production of cigarettes to be sold at 89 cents a pack. The Tribes are free to conduct themselves as they want. There will be illegal cigarettes crossing all the State borders, anyhow. Pardon me for being suspicious of the present White House residents -- they are pretty well known for their Socialist leanings. As a side bar, I am curious as to why the Christian community bought into the game of cleaning up the public image of the homosexual by agreeing to label them as "gay" -- what a travesty!! They just succeeded in destroying the meaning of this word and I hear the so-called Christian using that label all the time! Since my Heavenly Father says that life style is an abomination -- IT'S AN ABOMINATION! Buying into that "gay" bit is not the way to be agreeable with what God said!
    Sorry to get long winded. -- Lee Winters
Date sent: Sat, 01 Nov 1997 07:16:07 -0600
From: "Michael D. Johnson" <mdjinc@usit.net>
Organization: Merritt Business Consultants
To: Ray Downen <outreach@sofnet.com>
Subject: Re: Viewpoint Study #5
> TOBACCO: The Time Has Come To Snuff It OUT!
I smoked for 30 years. Have been quit for 8 months. It has made my depression
worse. I still crave them at times, but, Praise the Lord, I have not started back. I had a brother and sister die young because of smoking. One in 50's one in 60's.
They are highly addictive and habit forming and should be banned so all smokers will be forced to quit. -- Michael -- Jackson, TN
To: outreach@sofnet.com
Date sent: Sat, 1 Nov 1997 15:09:37 -0600
Subject: Re: Viewpoint Study #5
From: leewint@juno.com (Leland L Winters)
Ray: I see where cigarettes 'should be banned' - I disagree. Why? Why did God give us the privilege of choice, when He knew the things we might opt for are highly addictive? Why should we take the matter of choice away from those who smoke - are we really above God? I smoked for a good many years and when I stopped I was going through four packs a day - very addicted. But, I decided to quit - I made a commitment those today don't - they leave room for escape from the powerful draw the cigarette has - I didn't. Ban them? No! Let the smoker make a commitment and rely on the Lord to give them the fortitude! -- L. Winters
Date sent: Sat, 01 Nov 1997 17:34:40 -0600
From: "Michael D. Johnson" <mdjinc@usit.net>
To: Ray Downen <outreach@sofnet.com>
Subject: Re: (Fwd) Re: Viewpoint Study #5
Ray Downen wrote: > From: leewint@juno.com (Leland L Winters)
> Ray: I see where cigarettes 'should be banned' - I disagree. Why? Why did God give us the privilege of choice, when He knew the things we might opt for are highly addictive? Why should we take the matter of choice away from those who smoke - are we really above God? (says Lee) [Michael replies--]
Are you saying the man should not have laws that take away choice from people? Is it "above God" to see a problem and do something about it. Should men in a free society be allowed to slowly commit suicide just because we do not want to take away our choices? Ok, let's not ban cigarettes but let's ban the addictive drug nicotine,just like all other addictive drugs are banned, such as heroin, cocaine, etc. Yes, some people still use these drugs, but at least they are not sold in our grocery stores and other people do not have to suffer from the second hand effects of that nasty habit. Pray for the addicted, yes. I do pray God will "heal" all smokers. -- Michael
Brief Bible Study #5 from Ray Downen.
To go back to Viewpoint's first page, click < here.   Or here to go on
to Viewpoint Study 6. For Ray's concluding remarks, click HERE.