Welcome back to our “Is it a Sin” series where we’re taking a look at different habits that if you grew up in the church, you may have always looked upon as sinful. 

It’s Sinful When…

You’re addicted

1 Corinthians 6:12 You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is good for you. And even though “I am allowed to do anything,” I must not become a slave to anything.

• Physical addiction, but also do you need it to get through the day or through a stressful situation?  Is it your go-to when you’re stressed out? 

You’re under age

1 Peter 2:13 For the Lord’s sake, submit to all human authority—whether the king as head of state, 14 or the officials he has appointed. For the king has sent them to punish those who do wrong and to honor those who do right.

• We’re called to submit to those in authority unless they ask us to do something that goes against God’s authority. You may not like the laws, You might even be able to argue that the laws aren’t logical, but that’s not the point. 

You’re Pregnant 

•  If you smoke while you are pregnant you are at increased risk of a wide range of problems, including miscarriage and premature labor.
• Babies whose mothers smoke during pregnancy are at higher risk of sudden unexpected death in infancy (SUDI), having weaker lungs and having an unhealthy low birth weight.
• Second hand smoke around children 

Your wife doesn’t want you to smoke

Ephesians 5:25  For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her 26 to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word.

The Body is a Temple

• If you’re going to argue that smoking a single cigarette, pipe, or cigar is sinful because it’s harmful to your body and your body is a temple, that’s fine.  But you need to be consistent. Do you drink diet soda?  Artificial sweeteners have been identified as leading to higher risk of cancer.  Do you eat processed foods?  Are you overweight? 

Marijuana 

1 Peter 5:8 “Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.”

1 Peter 1:13 “So prepare your minds for action and exercise self-control. Put all your hope in the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world.”

• Peter knew the agony of failure.  He knew what it was like to have the mindset that “There’s no way I can fail.  I’m strong enough. I know I’ll be able to handle it.”  Only to have it all come crashing down. I know what it’s like to fail.  You’ve got to prepare your minds and exercise self control. 

1 Corinthians 16:13-14 “Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong. And do everything with love.”

Marijuana use directly affects brain function — specifically the parts of the brain responsible for memory, learning, attention, decision-making, coordination, emotions, and reaction time. 1,2

What are the short-term effects of marijuana on the brain?

Recent marijuana use (defined as within 24 hours) in youth and adults has an immediate impact on thinking, attention, memory, coordination, movement, and time perception.1

What are the long-term effects of marijuana on the brain?

Marijuana affects brain development. Developing brains, such as those in babies, children, and teenagers, are especially susceptible to the harmful effects of marijuana and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).1,2 Although scientists are still learning about the effects of marijuana on developing brains, studies suggest that marijuana use by mothers during pregnancy could be linked to problems with attention, memory, problem-solving skills, and behavior in their children.3-9

Using marijuana before age 18 may affect how the brain builds connections for functions like attention, memory, and learning.10 Marijuana’s effects on attention, memory, and learning may last a long time or even be permanent,11 but more research is needed to fully understand these effects. Youth who use marijuana may not do as well in school and may have trouble remembering things.1,6,12,13

Mental Health

Marijuana use, especially frequently (daily or nearly daily) and in high doses, can cause disorientation and sometimes unpleasant thoughts or feelings of anxiety and paranoia.1

People who use marijuana are more likely to develop temporary psychosis (not knowing what is real, hallucinations, and paranoia) and long-lasting mental disorders, including schizophrenia (a type of mental illness where people might see or hear things that are not really there).2 The association between marijuana and schizophrenia is stronger in people who start using marijuana at an earlier age and use marijuana more frequently.

Marijuana use has also been linked to depression; social anxiety; and thoughts of suicide, suicide attempts, and suicide.

Jesus refused the wine mixed with myrrh during his crucifixion. 

Close

If you’re feeling conviction about it, even if you are only smoking occasionally, you need to submit to the Spirit.

We’re in our third installment of the “Is it a sin” series.  We’ve looked at drinking alcohol. We’ve looked at tobacco and marijuana use, and today, we’re looking at gambling.  Is it a sin to gamble?  What does the Bible say about it?  

It’s Not Black and White

There is no explicit command in the Bible that says gambling is a sin. That doesn’t, however, mean that it isn’t sinful. Sin is not always a matter of doing something we shouldn’t, it’s also not doing something we should. 

James 4:17 “Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.”

• Sins of omission vs. sins of commission 
• Context of chapter 4 – jealous of what others have, not content with what we have, making business plans without considering God’s plan, friendship with the world makes us enemies of God 
• Core Value – We give up things we love for things we love more. 

Slow and Steady Wins the Race

The Bible has much to say about trying to get rich quickly. Those who build wealth slowly and steadily are more likely to manage it well than those who come into money quickly. Proverbs 13:11, Proverbs 21:5 

Proverbs 13:11 “Wealth gained hastily will dwindle, but whoever gathers little by little will increase it.“

Proverbs 21:5 “The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty.” 

• Nearly one-third of lottery winners eventually go bankrupt within three to five years, which is more likely than the average American, according to the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards.Jul 19, 2023
• 90% of retail options traders lose money, 5.4 billion dollars lost in 12 month period ending March 2022. 
• Network marketing – covetousness, lack of contentment, “dream building” 

Gambling is Addictive 

We’re commanded in scripture not to be controlled by anything. Gambling can be highly addictive.  

1 Corinthians 6:12 “You say, ‘I am allowed to do anything’—but not everything is good for you. And even though ‘I am allowed to do anything,’ I must not become a slave to anything.”

• Problem gamblers often lie about or hide their gambling, which can make it difficult for loved ones to recognize. The best prevalence research shows that somewhere between 1% and 2% of the U.S. adult population, or 2 to 4 million adults, will experience a gambling disorder in their lifetime.Feb 8, 2023
• Even when you’re losing while you’re gambling, your body is still producing adrenalin and endorphins,” he says.
• Casinos thrive on other addictive behaviors – alcoholism, lust.  Almost every place you see a lot of gambling activity, you’ll see prostitution, strip clubs, etc.  

Cause a Brother to Stumble 

It’s not just yourself you have to be concerned about.  If you’re playing cards or betting over a round of golf, you also have to be aware of the person you’re gambling against.  Is it a sin for them? 

Romans 14:13-14 “Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother. 14 I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself, but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean.”

• Even if it isn’t an issue for you, is it an issue for them? 
• The goal isn’t to see how close we can get to the line before sinning.  It is how we can glorify God and be a light in the world.   

Welcome to the fourth and final installment of our “Is it a sin” series.  We’ve been looking at behaviors like smoking, drinking, and gambling that have been identified as sinful in many churches for many decades and we’re asking if the Bible says they’re sinful. Today, we’re talking about watching R rated movies.  You may be wondering why we’re even having this conversation.  You might argue that we have freedom in Christ so of course we can watch R rated movies.  As long as we don’t act out what we see in them, what’s the harm in watching?  Or you might be on the other side and say, “of course it’s a sin to watch an R rated movie.

Garbage In – Garbage Out

The Bible describes our eyes as a lamp that gives light to the body.  When our eyes are healthy our body is filled with light.  The world, and the powers behind it, are actively working to conform your thinking to align with theirs.  We are called to be transformed by the renewing of our minds.  Matthew 6:22, Romans 12:2, Ephesians 5:1-16

Ephesians 5:1-16 “Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. 2 Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us[a] and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God. 3 Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among you. Such sins have no place among God’s people. 4 Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes—these are not for you. Instead, let there be thankfulness to God. 5 You can be sure that no immoral, impure, or greedy person will inherit the Kingdom of Christ and of God. For a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. 6 Don’t be fooled by those who try to excuse these sins, for the anger of God will fall on all who disobey him. 7 Don’t participate in the things these people do. 8 For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light! 9 For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true. 10 Carefully determine what pleases the Lord. 11 Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them. 12 It is shameful even to talk about the things that ungodly people do in secret. 13 But their evil intentions will be exposed when the light shines on them, 14 for the light makes everything visible. This is why it is said,

“Awake, O sleeper,

rise up from the dead,

and Christ will give you light.”

Living by the Spirit’s Power

15 So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. 16 Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. 17″

• Everything you do – that includes our entertainment choices, a good question to ask is would you keep watching the movie if Jesus came and sat down beside you?
• Why – because we are his dearly loved children.  He is a perfect father.  He wants the best for us and knows what is best for us.
• Obscene stories, foolish talk, course jokes – Are the movies I’m watching full of these, even if they’re not R rated, if this describes the movies I’m watching, that’s sinful.
• Take no part –
• Shameful to even talk about the things that ungodly people do in secret

Power of Media influences us

Romans 12:2 Romans 12:2  Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

The world is working to conform us to its image. I’ll bet most of us don’t realize how much the way we think is actually impacted by media and entertainment.  There is an agenda.

Matthew 6:22 Your eye is like a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is filled with light.

Commands in OT to the nation of Israel to tell the next generation about God’s deeds.

• Passover meal symbolism

Lust

Any movie containing nudity, sex scenes, or even large amounts of sexual innuendo is sinful for us to watch.  Jesus told us that if we’ve looked upon a woman lustfully, we’ve already committed adultery in our heart.

Matthew 5:27-29“You have heard the commandment that says, ‘You must not commit adultery.’[j] 28 But I say, anyone who even looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 So if your eye—even your good eye[k]—causes you to lust, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.

• Soft porn is almost always the gateway to full on adult movies.

Vengeance is the Lord’s

Supporting shows that promote unbiblical themes can cause us to begin to think unbiblically.  Many shows today have a theme of revenge or vengeance.  God’s Word calls us to forgive. It is God’s responsibility to make right the wrongs. We’re called to be peacemakers

Foul language

Much like our eyes are the lamp of our body, our ears filter what’s going into our minds.  If we listen to large amounts of foul and coarse language, it won’t be long before we’re speaking the same way.

Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

Money Talks

If believers would draw a stronger line in the sand about the type of movies and shows they’d watch, you’d eventually see a shift in the kinds of movies and shows produced.  The entertainment industry is driven by profit and your money speaks volumes.

• It’s not just “what” we watch, but “how much” we watch that we should consider.
• Are we too busy entertaining ourselves to be on mission?