Do any of you smoke?

[wayfaring man]

Over the past week I've decided to explore the OT sincerely, from the hebraic view point. I'm not, how do I say, not relating with Christianity with much success right now. I'm hanging out elsehwere where I feel I might fit in better. Jesus is Lord, this very simple truth is all I have to hang on to right now, the teachings and doctrine I once held near my heart are posing more questions than answers. I don't feel at home with people here on this board and I never have. I am a Christian but for how much longer I don't know. Everything I've learned is being tested and challenged, the only safe spot is Christ. He never changes. They say God is not the author of confusion, but that well may be the truth, or maybe that passage has been taken out of context too often. I'm rambling now because it's late and I'm tired and feel hallowed out. I'm starting over again, this time from a new OT perspective. wm, your prayers would be welcome ...

Well, you have them.

Would advise caution though too, because even though a lot of what is called "Christian" isn't very Christ-like, a lot of what is called unchristian is rather devilish too ! Remember Jesus said the devil comes to lie and steal and destroy, so anyone or anything that exerts a spirit which emits those kinds of things should be avoided in ways which minimize their ability to wrongly prey upon/influence us.

May The Lord Be Pleased !

wm

 

[znr]

Well, you have them.

Would advise caution though too, because even though a lot of what is called "Christian" isn't very Christ-like, a lot of what is called unchristian is rather devilish too ! Remember Jesus said the devil comes to lie and steal and destroy, so anyone or anything that exerts a spirit which emits those kinds of things should be avoided in ways which minimize their ability to wrongly prey upon/influence us.

May The Lord Be Pleased !

wm

But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

Anything else before I start?</SPAN>

 

[wayfaring man]

Well, in response to this and to another post you made elsewhere, context is relevant.

The lamp of the body is the eye. Therefore, when your eye is good, your whole body also is full of light. But when [your eye] is bad, your body also [is] full of darkness. Therefore take heed that the light which is in you is not darkness. -Luke 11:34,35

But immediately following this teaching, Jesus sits down to eat with the Pharisees...

When the Pharisee saw [it], he marveled that He had not first washed before dinner. Then the Lord said to him, "Now you Pharisees make the outside of the cup and dish clean, but your inward part is full of greed and wickedness. -vs 38,39

And the conclusion is very peculiar...

Foolish ones! Did not He who made the outside make the inside also? But rather give alms of such things as you have; then indeed all things are clean to you. -vs 40,41

Let's not forget that Jesus was accused of being a glutton and a drunkard.

Wrongly accused ! Even as they falsely accused Him of having a devil !

And washing the hands out of religious ritual is a separate issue from washing the hands for health and sanitation.

Furthermore, the reason Jesus rebuked them was not because "washing one's hands before they eat is wrong", but because they (the Pharisees) were eagerly trying to find fault out of envy and feeling rather inferior...so Jesus rebuked them over their misplaced priorities and "fault-finding" natures.

He also said, doing the more important was not an excuse to ignore the lesser things -

But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. <-----> Luke 11:42

Furthermore, smoking doesn't fit well with -

Not that which goes into the mouth defiles a man; but that which comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man. <-----> Matthew 15:11

Unless one can smoke without exhaling, and not generating second hand smoke...but wait then you'd be killing yourself...and that can't be good either, can it ?!

And the painted ponies go up and down.

wm

 

[wayfaring man]

But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

Anything else before I start?</SPAN>

Yea, drink plenty of good water, get lots of rest, and always carry a knife.

 

[znr]

Yea, drink plenty of good water, get lots of rest, and always carry a knife.

Have handy a parasite cleanse, no processed food, no sugar, and always carry a loaded paw.

Night

 

[Nanopants]

Wrongly accused ! Even as they falsely accused Him of having a devil !

And washing the hands out of religious ritual is a separate issue from washing the hands for health and sanitation.

Furthermore, the reason Jesus rebuked them was not because "washing one's hands before they eat is wrong", but because they (the Pharisees) were eagerly trying to find fault out of envy and feeling rather inferior...so Jesus rebuked them over their misplaced priorities and "fault-finding" natures.

But that's not the point. The point is that they were judging others according to the outer appearance which they saw as evil, and Jesus refuted this by teaching that all things are pure if your heart is pure, and this is reiterated in Titus 1:15.

He also said, doing the more important was not an excuse to ignore the lesser things -

But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. <-----> Luke 11:42

Correct. They were expected to tithe under the former covenant which was still binding at that point.

Furthermore, smoking doesn't fit well with -

Not that which goes into the mouth defiles a man; but that which comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man. <-----> Matthew 15:11

Unless one can smoke without exhaling, and not generating second hand smoke...but wait then you'd be killing yourself...and that can't be good either, can it ?!

And the painted ponies go up and down.

wm

That's not what Jesus meant. Here's Mark's version:

So He said to them, "Are you thus without understanding also? Do you not perceive that whatever enters a man from outside cannot defile him, because it does not enter his heart but his stomach, and is eliminated, [thus] purifying all foods? And He said, "What comes out of a man, that defiles a man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness." -Mark 7:18-22

And looking back to Luke again (see my previous post), it's a darkened heart that causes us to see things as being impure. But don't misinterpret me, I am not saying that sin is not impure, what I am saying is that it's all in the heart.

Thankfully, our hearts may be purified through faith (Acts 15:9).

 

[omanid]

No. I really don't.

 

[riverhooks]

Smoking . I'm 350lbs and blew out my thyroid in 2000 chain smoking camels. A sin. Sure with about everything else self-righteousness, a holier than thou thank God I'm not like other men ring tone. I came to the Lord , some christians prayed for me I was miracously set free with no withdrawal. When I decided to re-start smoking about 4 years later and then wanted to quit a few years after that it was like unh-uh buddy I set you free once now you get to go through withdrawal . So I did with help went through the hell of withdrawal for about three days. Was clean for about 8 years then decided to start smoking again. Which I did for another 12 years until I blew out my thyroid and now It is very hard for me to lose weight . Smoking ? It ain't worth it like any other thing that lacks self control . You tell me amigo . Is it a sin? If you can't figure out that being a corrupter by example literally telling others by your life that it's ok and going against your own conscience is the price you want to pay for it. God will let you teach yourself. In Jeremiah it's said, "Your own wickedness will correct you and your own backsliding will reprove you". The saint's will judge the world, if we would judge ourselves we would not be judged. Go figure Smoking and nothing happening is God being Longsuffering and allowing us to teach ourselves and exercise our freewill, God giving us space to repent which alot of folks confuse with tolerance. I no longer smoke.

 

[HCrossth2012]

Peace on to you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Yes . It's sin to me. I smoked for years , quit heaps of time...did patches, did yelling, did fighting and back smoking. I even swore on God(forgive me God) I wont smoke and still did. was none smoker for a whole year one stage, ahh it was hard, but best part was telling people I QUIT in pride. I quit few times, but was way too hard for me. I saw dreams of smoking..
But when I gave my Heart and my whole life to God and I knew 100000% he was listening I asked him to take it of me..And he did..from there on I stoped, not because I had Will Power, Coz I didn't, but God did it for me. I got up from praying and the rest day was ending and thought nothing of even wanting of smoking, It was strange feeling..like I don't know what to say, but I was like moving on like I never smoked, but I did also say sorry/repented for poluting this body. Thank God. we have to give everything to God..Heart/Mind/body
I do understand people that cannot or maybe not ready to let go of smoking, but to me it's a sin.

Would a parent like/allow under age child to smoke? I would Not. so why would my father in heaven allow/like/want.

Love in Christ
Hilja

 

[Nanopants]

To reiterate my earlier point, if smoking is necessarily a sin because it is bad for you, then so is coal mining, because coal miners develop black lung disease. If something that harms you is necessarily sin and it will reprove you, then because of driving accidents, driving also must be a sin. The point of the matter is that by this kind of a mindset, anything and everything can be a sin.

Smoking isn't good for you, so kudos to everyone who doesn't do it! There's no need to add some kind of moral teaching to trivial things when we were warned about binding burdens and putting them on the backs of others.

 

[NewUser777]

I do.

I do not. Never felt the urge to. Plus, I hate the smell of cigarette smoke. It's putrid. I can't count the number of times I've exited a place of business only to have to pass through the "cancer cloud" created by employees on their break. Plus, as I travel along our nations highways, I can't help but notice the billions of used cigarette butts in the gutters. All this combined makes my respect drop for smokers.

Why is it we have to hide this from other Christians?

Most people agree smoking is a disgusting habit. Even most smokers agree it is. If you're doing something disgusting, of course you're going to try to hide it. Especially, if you're addicted to it, and most smokers are.

Is it a sin?

Well, if having sex with a prostitute is a sin against one's own body, and it is, I would surely think smoking is too. After all, you're really hurting yourself.

 

[Nanopants]

Yes, smoking = having sex with a prostitute. Brilliant.

And on that note I will be abandoning the thread.

 

[znr]

Yes, smoking = having sex with a prostitute. Brilliant.

And on that note I will be abandoning the thread.

Wait up for me.

 

[PoetSaskia]

Why is it we have to hide this from other Christians?

I think the reason not to do it in front of others is in Romans:14:22. My understanding is that if you have the faith do something that might make someone who is weak stumble, don't do it in front of them.

 

[Patroklos]

No. It's disgusting and a waste of God's money. Christians who smoke should be ashamed of themselves and the health of everyone whom they are endangering with their selfishness.

 

[like eagleswings]

some of the posts were very good and i took note.
now its a becoming load of bollox

 

[PoetSaskia]

I apologize if my post was wrong; I believe I was recently healed of schizophrenia when a pastor prayed for me to have a sound mind. When I was sick I did smoke; there is research that smoking seems to help schizophrenics, and my doctor told me about it. He is a highly respected man in his field. But that day that the pastor prayed for me was the last day that I smoked. So I'm a non smoker now, and I'm glad for that. I'm not advocating smoking and I'm sorry if it appeared that way. I don't know if it's a sin.

 

[Jonathan95]

1 Corinthians 6:12
All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.
1 Corinthians 6:11-13 (in Context) 1 Corinthians 6 (Whole Chapter)

 

[like eagleswings]

I apologize if my post was wrong; I believe I was recently healed of schizophrenia when a pastor prayed for me to have a sound mind. When I was sick I did smoke; there is research that smoking seems to help schizophrenics, and my doctor told me about it. He is a highly respected man in his field. But that day that the pastor prayed for me was the last day that I smoked. So I'm a non smoker now, and I'm glad for that. I'm not advocating smoking and I'm sorry if it appeared that way. I don't know if it's a sin.

bless you bro,nice to hear you free,i got a bit of schizophrenics smoking splifs.

 

[riverhooks]

Roses are Red Violets are Blue I'm Schizophrenic And So am I.