Tobacco use at church/on church grounds

[KyleSpringer]

Hi Friends,

Some one please tell me what I should do. I became a member of this church about a year ago now. Since then I’ve joined small groups, discovery classes and now serve as a volunteer on Sunday mornings in the children’s ministry. I enjoy the church, and the leaders seem to manage things pretty well, or so I thought.

Maybe I’m overreacting, but I’ve seen couple of people smoking cigarettes in the parking lot after church, on multiple occasions. Maybe I would have more compassion had I not been to two Men’s Conferences where I sat next to someone chewing tobacco in one of the breakout sessions.. two years in a row.

Tobacco use is a stumbling block for me, and it lights me up (no pun intended) when I see people doing this stuff at church. I get it. It’s a struggle. But lay it down at the alter, man!

If that’s the first thing a person does before ever leaving church, it makes me wonder if I should confront the lead pastor about it, but even as I try to get close to him I feel a disconnect.

Please help. Any advice is appreciated.

God bless you all.

 

[redleghunter]

Hi Friends,

Some one please tell me what I should do. I became a member of this church about a year ago now. Since then I’ve joined small groups, discovery classes and now serve as a volunteer on Sunday mornings in the children’s ministry. I enjoy the church, and the leaders seem to manage things pretty well, or so I thought.

Maybe I’m overreacting, but I’ve seen couple of people smoking cigarettes in the parking lot after church, on multiple occasions. Maybe I would have more compassion had I not been to two Men’s Conferences where I sat next to someone chewing tobacco in one of the breakout sessions.. two years in a row.

Tobacco use is a stumbling block for me, and it lights me up (no pun intended) when I see people doing this stuff at church. I get it. It’s a struggle. But lay it down at the alter, man!

If that’s the first thing a person does before ever leaving church, it makes me wonder if I should confront the lead pastor about it, but even as I try to get close to him I feel a disconnect.

Please help. Any advice is appreciated.

God bless you all.

Yeah not good at all. One of the reasons most evangelical churches use grape juice instead of wine. It is a stumbling block for former alcoholics. They should not be smoking either in church grounds or those conferences. It is a stumbling block for a lot of people and they should know better not to put a brother or sister in such a situation.

 

[Bumble Bee]

If it is not against the church policy, then there is really no way to stop them. However, you could always pull those people aside and explain your struggle and how seeing them partake in the tobacco affects you. Failing that, you could discuss the issue with the pastor and suggest a tobacco policy be put in place.

 

[Tree of Life]

Let it go.

 

[KyleSpringer]

Let it go.

I know the destruction it caused in my life, so to let it go is to turn a blind eye to a deeper rooted problem, maybe not even with the individuals, but the church itself. Ive been the victim of gossip as well and I let that go, but there’s more to it than meets the eye.

At least that’s what the Lord us showing me.

 

[Rescued One]

Some church denominations want everyone(smokers and non-smokers) to feel welcome. Maybe they can request that there be no smoking on church property. ? Some members might be allergic to cigarette smoke.

 

[Rescued One]

I know the destruction it caused in my life, so to let it go is to turn a blind eye to a deeper rooted problem, maybe not even with the individuals, but the church itself. Ive been the victim of gossip as well and I let that go, but there’s more to it than meets the eye.

At least that’s what the Lord us showing me.

Go to another church.

 

[Tree of Life]

I know the destruction it caused in my life, so to let it go is to turn a blind eye to a deeper rooted problem, maybe not even with the individuals, but the church itself. Ive been the victim of gossip as well and I let that go, but there’s more to it than meets the eye.

At least that’s what the Lord us showing me.

What do you believe you will gain by pressing the issue?

 

[KyleSpringer]

What do you believe you will gain by pressing the issue?

Insight and understanding on how to deal with sin in the church? Why does have to be that I’m pushing to gain something? Apparently everything is a political move nowadays. I just want freedom for my brothers anc sisters but I’m not the most qualified. But apparently it only takes a will. No wonder there’s sin in our churches, as everyone is just supposed to live and let live. What happened to exhort one another, rebuke out of love? Being idle is not something we were called to do, brother. Being a tree of life means you’re constantly growing and feeding people, but not this one.

 

[Radagast]

Maybe I’m overreacting, but I’ve seen couple of people smoking cigarettes in the parking lot after church, on multiple occasions.

That's not a crime.

Does your church teach that it's a sin?

I'm not sure how exactly this is your problem. It's a public thing that the church leadership knows about. Either let them handle it, or find another church.

 

[Radagast]

Some members might be allergic to cigarette smoke.

That's a strong argument against doing it in church, but the parking lot would still be OK (assuming it's open-air).

 

[Sparagmos]

Hi Friends,

Some one please tell me what I should do. I became a member of this church about a year ago now. Since then I’ve joined small groups, discovery classes and now serve as a volunteer on Sunday mornings in the children’s ministry. I enjoy the church, and the leaders seem to manage things pretty well, or so I thought.

Maybe I’m overreacting, but I’ve seen couple of people smoking cigarettes in the parking lot after church, on multiple occasions. Maybe I would have more compassion had I not been to two Men’s Conferences where I sat next to someone chewing tobacco in one of the breakout sessions.. two years in a row.

Tobacco use is a stumbling block for me, and it lights me up (no pun intended) when I see people doing this stuff at church. I get it. It’s a struggle. But lay it down at the alter, man!

If that’s the first thing a person does before ever leaving church, it makes me wonder if I should confront the lead pastor about it, but even as I try to get close to him I feel a disconnect.

Please help. Any advice is appreciated.

God bless you all.

Do you see people smoking in other situations in your day-to-day life? If so, you can’t avoid theses “stumbling blocks” and need to be able to handle them.

People are smoking or chewing tobacco because they are addicted to quite possibly the most addictive drug out there. At least they waited until the church parking lot to light up. Why is it such a big deal, there are people at your church engaged in far more distructive sins - domestic violence, bullying, consumerism. They just hide it better than the smokers in the parking lot.

 

[Sparagmos]

Insight and understanding on how to deal with sin in the church? Why does have to be that I’m pushing to gain something? Apparently everything is a political move nowadays. I just want freedom for my brothers anc sisters but I’m not the most qualified. But apparently it only takes a will. No wonder there’s sin in our churches, as everyone is just supposed to live and let live. What happened to exhort one another, rebuke out of love? Being idle is not something we were called to do, brother. Being a tree of life means you’re constantly growing and feeding people, but not this one.

Oh, so this is definitely about you wanting to judge the smokers and tell them how sinful they are. Well, good luck with all that.

 

[Rescued One]

That's a strong argument against doing it in church, but the parking lot would still be OK (assuming it's open-air).

Some of the cars are parked within a few feet of the door at my daughter's church. She attends a mega church (Church of the Nazarene).

 

[Rescued One]

Do you see people smoking in other situations in your day-to-day life? If so, you can’t avoid theses “stumbling blocks” and need to be able to handle them.

People are smoking or chewing tobacco because they are addicted to quite possibly the most addictive drug out there. At least they waited until the church parking lot to light up. Why is it such a big deal, there are people at your church engaged in far more distructive sins - domestic violence, bullying, consumerism. They just hide it better than the smokers in the parking lot.

Smoking is banned in public buildings, restaurants, hospitals, and doctors offices where I live.

 

[Radagast]

Some of the cars are parked within a few feet of the door at my daughter's church.

The OP did not say that was the case.

 

[Radagast]

Smoking is banned in public buildings, restaurants, hospitals, and doctors offices where I live.

And that would include churches too, I expect.

 

[Sparagmos]

Smoking is banned in public buildings, restaurants, hospitals, and doctors offices where I live.

Same where I live. So you encounter smokers on the street everywhere you go. I don’t see how anyone could avoid smokers unless you don’t go out.

 

[Rescued One]

And that would include churches too, I expect.

I've been to a lot of denominations and have never seen anyone smoking in church. The only place I've seen people smoking on church property was at an Orthodox church (near the entrance, BTW).

 

[Rescued One]

Same where I live. So you encounter smokers on the street everywhere you go. I don’t see how anyone could avoid smokers unless you don’t go out.

The young people probably have special places they hang out. Some of the Walmart employees smoke outside. But, no, I don't see people smoking everywhere I go.