Smoking

[JimfromOhio]

Jim-

My thoughts exactly....You put that very well.

Thanks !!!!

 

[rural_preacher]

Good Day, RP

So, are we to let the God hating unbeliving people dictate what a Christian should and should not do? Is it fair to let them define what a Christian is or is not?

Is the Christian life about fairness? Or is it about glorifying God and being unhindered witnesses for the Gospel of Jesus Christ?

To an extent we do let others (believers and unbelievers) dictate how we behave because we should be constantly evaluating what behavior best represents Christ to those around us. The law of love is higher than the law of liberty. I quoted I Corinthians 10:31-33...let me back up a few verses to give it a fuller context. Verses 27-33...

If any of them that believe not bid you to a feast, and ye be disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake. But if any man say unto you, this is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake: for the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof: Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other: for why is my liberty judged of another man's conscience? For if I by grace be a partaker, why am I evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks? Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles [unbelievers], nor to the church of God: Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.

Also consider the words of Romans 14:19-21

Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another. For meat [or smoking or anything else]destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence. It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.

It's not just about smoking. It's about everything we do. We must carefully evaluate our entire life in light of how we are representing our Lord and Savior to a lost and dying world.

If smoking hinders your testimony to even just one person, isn't it worth giving it up to win that person to Christ and have the joy of being used by God as His instrument without hinderance?

I'm not saying you shouldn't smoke. I'm saying we all need to be willing to give up our liberty for the sake of love.

Romans 14:15, "If your brother is distressed because of what you eat [or drink or smoke, etc.], you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy your brother for whom Christ died."

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[LostnFound]

I recently had the opportunity to witness to my youth about the dangers of smoking. They have, on several occasions, seen me have nasty coughing fits.
On the day in question, they saw me using my newly prescribed inhaler, and asked about it. I shared with them that I had just been diagnosed with early COPD. I talked to them about my illness and answered many questions, to the best of my ability.
They are now my cheerleaders in my effort to quit, and are observant and rigid watchdogs!
Maybe I made a difference. I hope so. I'd hate to think I have poisoned myself for no good reason!

 

[mesue]

The act of smoking will not prevent one from accepting Jesus Christ as their personal Savior, nor will it have Jesus Christ reject you. Once you do accept Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, smoking will not make you lose your salvation, because nothing can. Is smoking a sin? No. Unless you consider:

1Corinthians 3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
1Corinthians 3:17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

God will destroy you, smoking causes Cancer, Emphysema, Congestive Heart Failure, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Hypertension, just to name a few. You will be destroyed physically.
And then think of your witness. Can you not hear a non Christian say "I thought you said you were Christian? Well ... Why are you smoking? Why should I become a Christian? You're no different than me." Your witness will be destroyed. Yes, God will destroy you. He said so. If you go to the preceding verses, it is your reward in Heaven that you lose, not your salvation.

 

[Marissa]

Am I the only one who thinks that 1 Corinthians might be talking about sin when it's referring to "destroying the temple"?

The previous verses are talking about our spiritual foundation being christ. The following verses are warning against considering ourselves wise and following human leaders over christ.

1 Corinthians 3:16-17 is referring to teaching man to follow a false gospel, that is not based on Christ but the teachings of mans. That is destroying Gods temple.

Context, people. Context. It matters an awful lot.

You are using scripture falsely when you use those verses to state smoking is a sin. It may very well be, but not because of those verses.

 

[rural_preacher]

Am I the only one who thinks that 1 Corinthians might be talking about sin when it's referring to "destroying the temple"?

The previous verses are talking about our spiritual foundation being christ. The following verses are warning against considering ourselves wise and following human leaders over christ.

1 Corinthians 3:16-17 is referring to teaching man to follow a false gospel, that is not based on Christ but the teachings of mans. That is destroying Gods temple.

Context, people. Context. It matters an awful lot.

You are using scripture falsely when you use those verses to state smoking is a sin. It may very well be, but not because of those verses.

The passage mentioned in earlier posts is I Corinthians 6:19,20. The context of those verses - as I mentioned earlier - is that of sexual purity. Sexual sin is a sin against the body and the body of the believer is the temple of the HS. Although the context is specific, when we understand this immediate context in light of the whole context of I Corinthians, it supports a more general principle: we should seek pure lives, we should seek what is best for God's glory...what is best, not good or better, but best. In that regard, the principle stands legitimately that smoking is not what is best for us therefore it is not something that brings glory to God. I Corinthians 10:31-33 states very clearly that we should do all to the glory of God so that we can present an effective testimony to others thereby winning them to Christ.

It is human nature to choose things that are less than best. Romans 3:23, "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." But we as believers have been born again by the power of the HS. We now live this life by His power. "I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me." Because we have the indwelling Holy Spirit, we have the ability to choose what is best rather than settling for less than the best.

Why choose something like smoking (which we all admit is bad for you) that is less than the best? Why not strive in His power to choose the best and live the best for His glory?

Philippians 3:12-14,20
Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus...For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ.

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[Marissa]

The passage mentioned in earlier posts is I Corinthians 6:19,20.

That's fine. The post above mine quoted 1 Corinthians 3:16-17. Is it alright with you if I post a reply to that?

The context of those verses - as I mentioned earlier - is that of sexual purity. Sexual sin is a sin against the body and the body of the believer is the temple of the HS. Although the context is specific, when we understand this immediate context in light of the whole context of I Corinthians, it supports a more general principle: we should seek pure lives,

Q: what is a pure life?
A: A life free from sin.

You're using circular reasoning. You aren't living a pure life if you're smoking, hence smoking is a sin. It doesn't work.

1 Corinthians tells us that sin destroys the temple. Those verses aren't relevant until you give basis for smoking being a sin.


Note: For some reason I am having mad smileys show up in my post. I have no idea where these come from. I certainly haven't put them there. This isn't an issue I'll get heated over.

 

[Stinker]

How does my fellow baptists feel about smoking.

I can tell by the way cigarettes smell these days that they are doped up to the max!

They never used to smell like they do today. It is one of the most excruciating ways possible to die...cigarette smoking. Used to be said that if you were just a 'light smoker' then you were not so much at risk. That has changed however. These cigarettes are so devious that no matter how small their dosage when ingested, their deadly work may not show up for 10yrs or more.

 

[£amb]

I *cough* don't *cough* like *cough* the smell of *cough-cough* smoke.


That pretty sums it up for me. I don't like the smell and it gives me a headache so I would not do it. I tried it as a teenager for a very short time. My friend and I would hide in the trees to "have-a-smoke". What's the point of "enjoying" something when you have to hide for you life. Anyway, I have 2 boys 10 & 8yrs. old, and I feel I need to set an example of not smoking. Can't really tell my kids the dangers of smoking if I have a cigarette hanging out of my mouth. Besides, the only smoke I tend to inhale is when my husband attempts to make a campfire. *cough-cough* Actually it stings my eyes too .

 

[rural_preacher]

Is it alright with you if I post a reply to that?

My apologies. I will try to refrain from upsetting you in the future.


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[rural_preacher]

It seems to me that the prevailing attitude among those that are defending smoking is that since the Bible never mentions smoking and never calls it sin, then smoking is not a sin.

Is that our standard for determining whether something is right or wrong...it's direct mention is Scripture?

Well, in that case, I guess since internet pornography is never mentioned in Scripture, it must not be a sin. I've looked all through the Bible and I can't find any mention of the internet or pornography. So, since it's not in there, it must be perfectly okay. I get to enjoy the pleasures of pornography without any guilt because the Bible doesn't call it sin.

Thank you to all of you who have pointed out that we can only determine the rightness or wrongness of something if it is specifically mentioned in Scripture. This gives me the freedom to do a lot of the things I had previously refrained from doing because I was applying Biblical principles. Now I know that I don't need to be principled, just look for it in the pages...if it's not there, it's not sin.

Again, thanks.




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[Ginny]

What a perfect post!

 

[Marissa]

It seems to me that the prevailing attitude among those that are defending smoking is that since the Bible never mentions smoking and never calls it sin, then smoking is not a sin.

Is that our standard for determining whether something is right or wrong...it's direct mention is Scripture?

Well, in that case, I guess since internet pornography is never mentioned in Scripture, it must not be a sin. I've looked all through the Bible and I can't find any mention of the internet or pornography. So, since it's not in there, it must be perfectly okay. I get to enjoy the pleasures of pornography without any guilt because the Bible doesn't call it sin.

You didn't look very hard.

Looking at a woman with lust is commiting adultery. Adultery is sin. Unless you can look at internet (or any) pornography without lust, which would surely void the point of looking at it, you're commiting adultery.

There is no circular reasoning there. The same process of reasoning has not being applied to smoking in this thread.

It's currently hip to be anti-smoking. Understandable, given we now know how harmful it can be, but that doesn't make it a religious issue.

Please, show me scripture that shows smoking is a sin. Scripture that refers to sexual sin or teaching a false gospel don't do that because smoking is not related to those sins as pornography is to lust.

Note: Before I get accused of being a smoker who doesn't want to admit to sinning and then have to quit, I haven't smoked in over 3 weeks. I usually smoke 3 packs a week. It simply hasn't being long enough for me to claim I'm an ex-smoker yet, however I do plan to keep this up until I can say that.

 

[JimfromOhio]

Regarding "direct sin". In the Old Testament, it mentioned what foods we can and cannot eat and how those foods must be prepared and eaten. In the New Testament, "What God has cleansed, no longer consider unholy." This mean that the meats formerly considered unclean were now cleansed. (Read Acts, Chapter 10). Under the old testament LAW cannot eat certain food (example: pork) however under the new testament GRACE, we can eat pork.

The New Testament (Reference: Book of Galatians, Chapter 5) speaks about the believer’s freedom or liberty in Christ, but what exactly does this mean biblically speaking for the Christian? Christian liberty means the power to do as we ought by God’s enablement in accordance with the way Christians have been recreated in Christ. True liberty means the freedom to be all that we were designed to be, but this is not a freedom that is without restrictions or responsibilities. Plainly speaking, without law, there could be no freedom.

"One of the marks of maturity is the ability to disagree without becoming disagreeable. It takes grace. In fact, handling disagreements with tact is one of the crowning achievements of grace." Chuck Swindoll

Charles Swindoll paraphrases the main points of Romans 14 in his book "The Grace Awakening:"

"Nothing that is not specifically designated as evil in Scripture is evil — but rather a matter of one's personal preference or taste. So let it be. Even if you personally would not do what another is doing, let it be. And you who feel the freedom to do so, don't flaunt it or mock those who disagree. We are in the construction business, not destruction. And let's all remember that God's big-picture kingdom plan is not being shaped by small things like what one person prefers over another, but by large things, like righteousness and peace and joy."

We have to be careful how we say what is sin and what is not sin. What is not in the Bible, we have to find other verses in the bible regarding something close to the topic.

As I said in my earlier post: (If the topic is refer to sin)
The bible doesn't say anything about "smoking". Therefore it is not a religious issue. It is a health issue. In 1 Corinthians 6:19–20 that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, therefore glorify God in your body. That means look after it; don't fill it with substances that will harm you. In 1 Corinthians 10:23 that even though something may be lawful (like smoking), that does not mean it is good for you.

There are two general principles which help Christians decide whether they should use or agree regarding smoking: Caring for ourselves and caring for others. Christians should ask two questions:

How would smoking affect our bodies?
Will it affect our relationship with God?

 

[Ginny]

Like Rural stated, people are wanting the Bible to state clearly that smoking is a sin so that they will not have to feel bad about what they do. It's a stumbling block, it's literally killing yourself, and it can serve as a God if you depend on it to get you through whatever or until your next cigarette. If you're addicted, it is definitely wrong, too. It's a crutch in other words.

 

[Marissa]

Like Rural stated, people are wanting the Bible to state clearly that smoking is a sin so that they will not have to feel bad about what they do.

Some of us just want a link that suggests smoking is a sin.

Please, feel free to provide one. (No, I won't accept a verse that condemns sexual immorality. Where's the link between the two?)

 

[Diane_Windsor]

We all know that smoking is an incredibly addictive habit.

In the vast majority of cases I agree. My Baptist grandfather smoked for virtually all his life nearly to his dying day (RIP Grandaddy ). Fortunately, he did never had lung cancer or emphyzema, but he had bad health ever since I can remember-smoking probably didn't help matters.

Two out of his three children and two out of his three children-in-law had, or are still struggling with smokes as well. As for his 7 grandchildren-at least two smoke regulary, and I'll assume that another one does. This points out another negative thing about smoking if you have descendants-if you smoke then you're kids are liable to smoke, and your grandkids, and so on and so forth. The reason I've experimented with smoking in the past was because of the example my favourite grandparent set for me.

It is virtually impossible to smoke without being "brought under the power" of tobacco's adddictive ingredients.

I believe that in some cases smoking can be done without addiction. In the past I have smoked occasionally, but was never addicted like my beloved grandfather was or like my cousins are. Perhaps I just have a high tolerance for nicotine that I've never been addicted, or maybe I am just lucky

I have a question. Is there any reputable study that says that smoking helps one's health? I know that studies show that an occasional glass of wine can help your health, but can nicotine in very small amounts actually do the same? I really can't think of any positives to smoking-other then the little high you get from it.

To answer the question-no I do not believe that smoking is inherently sinful.

Diane

 

[ksen]

Like Rural stated, people are wanting the Bible to state clearly that smoking is a sin so that they will not have to feel bad about what they do.

I don't smoke. I tried to start smoking 20 years ago but couldn't make the habit stick.....so much for it being addictive.

It's a stumbling block,...

To who?

...it's literally killing yourself,....

So is eating Wendy's cheeseburgers. But I'm not ready to call eating at Wendy's a sin.

 

[Ginny]

To who?

Are you being serious or are you just arguing for the sake of arguing?
I am not going to begin to explain until I detect a bit of seriousness. This is taking up forum space.

So is eating Wendy's cheeseburgers. But I'm not ready to call eating at Wendy's a sin.

We are not speaking about Wendy's, but if you would like to start a thread on that one I will happily join. At this point you are just being facetious.

 

[ksen]

Are you being serious or are you just arguing for the sake of arguing?
I am not going to begin to explain until I detect a bit of seriousness. This is taking up forum space.

I am being very serious.

Who is it a stumbling block to? Is it a stumbling block to the smoker? Is it a stumbling block to the person looking at the smoker?

How, exactly, is smoking a stumbling block?

We are not speaking about Wendy's, but if you would like to start a thread on that one I will happily join. At this point you are just being facetious.

I am not being facetious, the same principle used to call smoking inherently sinful could just as easily be used to say fast-food dining is inherently sinful.