Cigar Church: A church in Ohio has started an official cigar-smoking Bible study.OK, so it’s probably not the first bible study where guys get together and smoke cigars, but it is the first officially sponsored ‘cigar church’ that I’ve seen.
It all is happening just a couple hours from me, in Sandusky, OH. It’s a twice-a-month Bible study that meets at the local cigar shop. Guys get together to ‘get out of the cold, have a cigar, and learn some Bible.
And it’s all sponsored by the St. Thomas Lutheran Church.
According to an article in the local paper, the group has already ‘puffed through John and is now smoking into Matthew’.
I know a lot of people that would suggest this group study 1 Corinthians 6. After all, don’t these guys know that they body is a temple of the Holy Spirit?
Seriously though, I grew up constantly feeling horrible whenever someone pulled out a smoke. After all, that meant they in all certainly were not a Christian.
So the idea of a cigar Bible study would have been way out there for me. They might as well be fornicating (which, I assume comes after the smoking).
And don’t get me going on dancing… we all know what that leads to.
Serious question: Would your church officially sanction a cigar Bible study?
Read more here on the cigar church Bible Study…
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As long as they don’t have a fellowship hour that serves donuts and other horrible pastry treats they should be ok.
Ahhh…a nice Padron or a Fuente and I’m so there. I think allowing cigars are a good idea, it gives your non-beer hand something to hold too.
But as with all things in the church you have to make some radical discernment calls no Swisher Sweets allowed.
One of our campuses here in Columbus has a men’s small group that meets in a local cigar shop. Must be an Ohio thing
I think it’s great – provides a comfortable atmosphere for these guys, supports a local business, and has Bible study & prayer happening in public, rather than hidden in somebody’s house.
That is so funny! Columbus is where I bought my first $20 cigar. I probably have been to that shop or know some of those guys.
Todd, I think the fornicating comes BEFORE the smoking, not after.
And exactly HOW would you know that, Shawn?
It’s in all the movies and TV shows, Todd! Sheesh! Get out much?
So is it the cigar smoking or the Bible study that indicates these guys are servants of Jesus? Not clear on that.
Around here they call it “Holy Smokes”
I wrote a good bit of my Master’s Thesis on preaching Revelation in a cigar shop’s smoking lounge. Made for real interesting conversation and outposts of faith.
I say go for it!
Smoking will not take them to hell, but surely, they will smell like they have been there.
Love it!
I’ve heard this a couple other places, but we something very similar. We call our group “Holy Smokes” also. We’ve been doing it for a little over 8 years now. Guys come and have come from a few churches in our area.
We get together about once a month, have cigars, great food and and some adult beverages. But we make sure it doesn’t end there…we make sure we “go deep” and as we’ve come to call it “do life together”. God’s consistently done GREAT stuff and although many may see this as just a bunch of “guys” hanging out, that’s just the surface. Although no 2 of our get togethers have never been exactly the same, they always hit on some issue God’s doing in these men. An Holy Smokes gives these guys a safe but accountable place to talk, share, pray and encourage one another.
BTW, we’ve intentionally kept Holy Smokes a non-affiliated group and event as per a specific church or churches go. We’ve found it’s way simpler this way and keeps ANY weirdnesses from cropping up if someone gets too “pharasitical” about the spiritual validity of such a group…or not.
We always say that ALL ARE WELCOME, if this ain’t your thing, that’s ok. But don’t think that God can’t work in our group…until you’ve hung out at a Holy Smokes event!
btw: if you want to check us out, and if you’re in the San Diego area, contact us!
http://www.facebook.com/groups/holysmokes/
While I don’t smoke, I don’t think it’s a bad idea. I think the church has to continually be innovators when it comes to helping people learn about Jesus. Our church has Bidwiz and Spades Tournaments right after service. Along with the cards, we service BBQ and pizza. If the truth be told, I think I see folks at that gathering that I’ve never seen in the service.
true that! we get guys coming to Holy Smokes that would NEVER go to a church! happy to say, that in time some DO venture back into church life!
Scott Peck says a monk asked the abbot if he could smoke while he prayed. The abbot said absolutely not. Another monk told the first monk he’d done it wrong. He asked the abbot if he could pray while he smoked. The abbot said certainly. So e question is whether it is okay to study the Bible while you smoke.
Charles Spurgeon smoked cigars, mmm is he in heaven or smoking in the other place?