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Q&A

In these last days I've
been trying to live
according to God's will,
and I've been blessed
because of it.

I'm struggling with one
thing though, and that's
dependence on pot.

I smoke almost every day -
especially this time
of year when I am prone
to bouts of severe
depression and anxiety.

It's the only thing that helps.
I asked a brother about it,
and he said that we should
live not only according
to God's law,
but to that of society as well.

He suggested that
our bodies are temples
of the Holy Spirit,
and smoking may be
harmful to our health,
thus sinful to God.

I want to know how God
feels about it.
Is smoking pot a sin?

Answer to Question

Smoking, whether tobacco
or marijuana,
is not mentioned
in the Bible.

Some people are fond
of using the verse about
our bodies being
the Temple of the
Holy Spirit
( 1 Corinthians 6:19 )
to claim that doing
something to harm it
is sinful.

1/2

But lots of things we do
are harmful to our bodies
and yet the Bible does
not condemn them
as being sinful.

Why single out smoking?

2/2
cont.

For example, alcohol
is not good for us,
but God authorized
the Israelites to use
their tithe money
to purchase wine or
other fermented
drinks to celebrate the
Feast of Tabernacles
( Deut. 14: 25-26 ).

1/2

From that we can see it's
not drinking that God
is against but habitually
drinking to excess
( 1 Corinthians 5:11 ).

2/2
cont.

Likewise a steady diet
of red meat is thought
to be harmful to us,
especially when lots
of fat is consumed with it.

But after the flood,
God specifically added
red meat to our diet
( Genesis 9: 3-4 )
and the so - called
fatty portions were
considered to be
the most desirable.

He also gave us sugar,
salt, and other things
that can harm us
if used to excess.

Comparing these things
to smoking, ideally,
the same limitations
should apply.

But then in Romans 13:5-6
Paul said it's incumbent
upon Christians to
submit to legally
constituted authorities.

He said it's a matter
of conscience.

So if you live in a state
where pot smoking
is against the law
the Bible says
you should obey the law.

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