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Dear
Chuck
I have a dilemma. I
am active in a church I just started to attend a year ago. At this
church I am encouraged to use the gifts that God has given me, plus
I am finding that I am cultivating new gifts I had never thought of
using. But I just found out that my pastor smokes. I know there are
no scriptures that come right out and say smoking is sin, but I'm
also not so sure that it isn't sin. Can you give me any advice?
Thanks.
Chuck's
Response
Thanks
for the note about about your pastor's smoking habit. You're right,
it isn't a sin as such, but its surely a bad example for young
people. The evidence is in -- smoking causes cancer, heart attacks,
emphysema, and many other things that harm the body. The Bible says
that our bodies are the temples of the Holy Spirit, and we are to
take care of them. The same, however, could be true of being 30
pounds overweight or working too much, so we have to be a little bit
careful throwing stones. I doubt whether he would be teachable on
his habit, so I guess you'll just have to focus on your own ministry
and let God take care of him. Smoking is not sin but it is not wise.
Not much you can do - sorry. Let me know if you want to talk
further.
Chuck
Snyder |
