Kirk Cameron thought he knew what a men's Bible study looked like-until he moved to Tennessee.
The Growing Pains star and evangelist says one of the biggest surprises after relocating from California in 2024 wasn't the slower pace of life or Southern hospitality. It was discovering groups of Christian men gathering around Bibles, whiskey, and cigars.
On the July 10 episode of The Kirk Cameron Show, Cameron admitted he was stunned by what locals call "Puffs and Pours"-Bible studies where participants sip whiskey, smoke cigars, and discuss Scripture together.
"I thought, 'I'm pretty sure this would have gotten us all grounded at youth group,'" Cameron joked, recalling the strict Christian culture in which he came to faith at 17, where drinking and smoking were considered off-limits for believers.
Instead of dismissing the practice, Cameron used the episode to wrestle with a question many Christians have debated for years: Would Jesus join one of these gatherings, lovingly correct the men, or simply turn the conversation toward the Kingdom of God?
The actor acknowledged that Scripture clearly condemns drunkenness but never explicitly forbids drinking alcohol. He pointed to Jesus turning water into wine and serving wine at the Last Supper, while also noting that historical figures such as Charles Spurgeon famously smoked cigars and Christian monks brewed beer.
Rather than creating new rules, Cameron offered what he believes are three biblical principles for navigating the issue.
First, Christians should remember that their bodies belong to God. Quoting 1 Corinthians 6:20, Cameron said believers should ask whether anything they consume-including food, alcohol, or tobacco-helps them honor the Lord.
Second, he stressed that drunkenness is "100% clear" in Scripture as sin. Alcohol addiction, he warned, destroys marriages, families, and trust. Echoing pastor John Piper, Cameron added that mature Christians should be willing to surrender personal freedoms if exercising them could harm someone else's faith.
Finally, Cameron urged believers to think about the consciences of those around them. Citing 1 Corinthians 8, he said Christians should neither label as sinful what God has not called sin nor use Christian liberty as an excuse for foolish behavior.
Interestingly, Cameron admitted that although he doesn't smoke cigars himself, he appreciates the conversations they often inspire.
"They talk. They listen. They're not distracted. They laugh. They open up," he said, describing discussions about marriage, children, work, temptation, fears, failures, and faith.
He even revealed that he keeps cigars and alcohol on hand at home. If sharing a drink or cigar opens the door to a meaningful conversation with a family member, friend, or neighbor, Cameron said he'll "pay attention and thank God."
Still, he cautioned parents to think carefully about the example they set before their children, encouraging moderation, gratitude, and self-control over careless indulgence.
In the end, Cameron concluded that enjoying a glass of wine or smoking a cigar isn't automatically sinful-but it can become unhealthy, unwise, or a poor witness depending on the situation.
"The goal," he said, "is not allowing yourself to be mastered by anything but Christ."
