My friend asked me to write and ask you this question. Is smoking a sin? And is overeating a sin? She is presently trying to quit smoking and she is over indulging in food. She knows that she is eating a lot more than she needs, but was wondering if it is a sin?
Certain types of people work off excess nervous energy orally. Smoking is one of the ways to do this. Eating is another. These people find they begin overeating when they quit smoking, in effect trading one outlet for another. Usually it’s only temporary. Once your friend is through the withdrawal process, she should be able to get her eating under control as well.
Gluttony is the ongoing practice or habit of eating to excess, which was thought by the early church to be one of the seven deadly sins, along with wrath, greed, sloth, pride, lust, and envy. By deadly, they meant that the inability to control this type of behavior could eventually impede a person’s spiritual progress. Some Christians think smoking is a sin, but obviously the Bible doesn’t mention it.