Pastor Damina Explains Why Smoking and Drinking Alcohol Are Not Sins

Pastor Abel Damina shares a controversial perspective, stating that smoking cigarettes and drinking alcohol are not inherently sinful acts, sparking widespread debate among Christians.

Pastor Abel Damina, the founder of Power City International and Abel Damina Ministries, has ignited extensive discussion with his New Year’s Eve sermon.

At the Tuesday service, he confidently declared that smoking cigarettes and drinking alcohol are not sins, challenging long-standing beliefs within many Christian communities.

Pastor Damina suggests that these actions are frequently mischaracterized as sinful, despite not being inherently so.

He stressed the importance of gaining a deeper understanding of scripture, encouraging Christians to refrain from associating spiritual condemnation with personal decisions that do not contradict biblical principles.

“I have said that alcohol isn’t a sin, and neither is smoking cigars. Feel free to put it in the newspaper headlines—I’ve stated this,” Damina declared.

He emphasized that he was not endorsing such behaviors and advised his audience to act wisely.

Am I suggesting you should smoke? You ought to have the wisdom from home to realize that smoking can significantly shorten your life. Am I advising you to consume alcohol? Understand that drinking excessively might lead you into trouble, leaving you in a ditch with missing clothes. It’s common sense.

Damina’s sermon also explored the theological foundation of his views, questioning conventional interpretations of sin and morality.

Referring to the tale of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, he challenged the notion that their sin stemmed from consuming fruit from the forbidden tree.

“Adam and Eve consumed nothing,” he mentioned. “They didn’t eat anything, but were you there to witness it? You weren’t present. So how can we truly know if they ate something or not? Jesus was indeed there in the Garden of Eden. Can He clarify for us what occurred? Yes.”

Referring to Mark 7:18-21, he contended that sin stems not from what one consumes but from the state of one’s heart. “If Adam and Eve consumed it,” he explained, “it would simply pass through their stomachs, be digested, and end up in the toilet. They would remain innocent.”

Damina remarked, “Nothing a person consumes affects their heart. Food passes through the digestive system and exits eventually. It is what emerges from within that defiles someone, not what they ingest. It’s your thoughts that define you as sinful, not your diet.”