What are your views on smoking?
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Member
Perhaps I could ask a question? I know it doesn't relate to the original poll. (and I hope I do not harm anyone's feelings)
I have seen many here defending their right to smoke.
How do you keep your cigarette/cigar smoke from harming others?
Do you only smoke where no one else can possibly inhale the smoke as it drifts in the air for 20+ minutes before dissipating to the point where the chemicals are diluted in the available air?
I know that I am highly allergic to cigarette smoke. I also know of others who are. Even walking into someone's home if they smoke a 1/4 pack a day inside that house causes my chest congested for 2-6 hours after leaving (even if they have the windows open).
If it is wrong to harm others, would it be right to smoke a cigarette if the smoke could send a bystander to hospital or kill them?
And out of curiosity - why do you smoke?
I have never been able to understand why people want to inhale cigarette/cigar smoke. I mean, I love the smell of a good campfire as much as a country girl can, but I don't inhale a concentrated doses of it.
I have seen many here defending their right to smoke.
How do you keep your cigarette/cigar smoke from harming others?
Do you only smoke where no one else can possibly inhale the smoke as it drifts in the air for 20+ minutes before dissipating to the point where the chemicals are diluted in the available air?
I know that I am highly allergic to cigarette smoke. I also know of others who are. Even walking into someone's home if they smoke a 1/4 pack a day inside that house causes my chest congested for 2-6 hours after leaving (even if they have the windows open).
If it is wrong to harm others, would it be right to smoke a cigarette if the smoke could send a bystander to hospital or kill them?
And out of curiosity - why do you smoke?
I have never been able to understand why people want to inhale cigarette/cigar smoke. I mean, I love the smell of a good campfire as much as a country girl can, but I don't inhale a concentrated doses of it.
Active
I know so many believers who indeed do smoke. They say, 20 friends in a pack,they are quiet,and one brother who was being judged by a lady, asked the lady why does she eat so much? Sometimes the reasons are personal,sometimes they have been smoking so long, quiting could actually indeed damage there health! An example my grandfather,who had been smoking since age 10,quit at age 82,he started to become very ill and went to the doctor who told him to go back to smoking!!!
He got better, and lived to be a ripe old age of 88. Many smokers have seen this scripture yelled at them 1 Cor 6:19-20 when this is talking about immorality( verse 18) They of course skip this verse for judging reasons.It is also wrong to harm others with words,yet most people do this daily as well.So while very true it would be better on us and others if people did not smoke,this can also be true for so many things people decide to do.
I have also witnessed many brothers and sister who look to tell me that eating meat is bad for me,and having some wine is also bad for me,I very nicely show them this scripture.(Rom 14:13-17!!!!!) Look close at verse 14!! NOTHING is unclean. For further consideration I also show them (1 Tim 5:23)
So rather then point my finger, and I know c_scherer123 this is NOT what you are doing, and only asking a fine question,many believers get defensive on something they choose to allow for them in there lives.
Now if a brother or sister were to come to my house for dinner,and did not believe in having wine or eating meat, I sure would never cause them to stumble by serving this to them!! I would rather encourage each person personal relationship with Jesus and not tell them, in order to have this relationship Jesus wants you to quit this or that in order to have this.
Jesus meets us all where we are,and knows each of our hearts,and since he does not look bad on any of us, but rather sees all of his children in this light( Phil 4:7-8) verse 8! Why can't his own children not look at others in this same light??( John 13:34-35) So i hope this helps many who take such a dim view on others, when we all must remember this!!( Rom 2:1-5) Please look close at verse 4!
I remember very clear when I used to do the same thing,and an older brother slapped me with this view and caused me to change my words as well hehe This of course will not change the minds of many who wish to point out some simple facts about the harm some things can do for each of us,we just have to make sure that our words( Col 4:6) line up in our own life to help one another.( Matt 7:3-5) Please c_scherer123 do not take this personal!!! You have asked a very fine question!!! I am speaking to all of us including me, who has done this very same thing!!!! I hope we all will consider this mindset as well.
He got better, and lived to be a ripe old age of 88. Many smokers have seen this scripture yelled at them 1 Cor 6:19-20 when this is talking about immorality( verse 18) They of course skip this verse for judging reasons.It is also wrong to harm others with words,yet most people do this daily as well.So while very true it would be better on us and others if people did not smoke,this can also be true for so many things people decide to do.
I have also witnessed many brothers and sister who look to tell me that eating meat is bad for me,and having some wine is also bad for me,I very nicely show them this scripture.(Rom 14:13-17!!!!!) Look close at verse 14!! NOTHING is unclean. For further consideration I also show them (1 Tim 5:23)
So rather then point my finger, and I know c_scherer123 this is NOT what you are doing, and only asking a fine question,many believers get defensive on something they choose to allow for them in there lives.
Now if a brother or sister were to come to my house for dinner,and did not believe in having wine or eating meat, I sure would never cause them to stumble by serving this to them!! I would rather encourage each person personal relationship with Jesus and not tell them, in order to have this relationship Jesus wants you to quit this or that in order to have this.
Jesus meets us all where we are,and knows each of our hearts,and since he does not look bad on any of us, but rather sees all of his children in this light( Phil 4:7-8) verse 8! Why can't his own children not look at others in this same light??( John 13:34-35) So i hope this helps many who take such a dim view on others, when we all must remember this!!( Rom 2:1-5) Please look close at verse 4!
I remember very clear when I used to do the same thing,and an older brother slapped me with this view and caused me to change my words as well hehe This of course will not change the minds of many who wish to point out some simple facts about the harm some things can do for each of us,we just have to make sure that our words( Col 4:6) line up in our own life to help one another.( Matt 7:3-5) Please c_scherer123 do not take this personal!!! You have asked a very fine question!!! I am speaking to all of us including me, who has done this very same thing!!!! I hope we all will consider this mindset as well.
Member
\
I quit two years ago: one of the hardest things I've ever done. I smoked for 14 years. Jesus loves me as much today as he did when I smoked. Remember, it is not that which goes into a man that defiles him...but that which comes out....
Matthew 15:16 And Jesus said, Are ye also yet without understanding? 17 Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught? 18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. 19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: 20 These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.
Mark 7:14 ¶ And when he had called all the people unto him, he said unto them, Hearken unto me every one of you, and understand: 15 There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man. 16 If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.
Mark 7:18 And he saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, it cannot defile him; 19 Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats? 20 And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. 21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, 22 Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: 23 All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.
God bless!
Loyal
True, but there is a difference between being defiled and being unhealthy.
What comes out of your mouth doesn't usually make you unhealthy (unless you're talking to mob boss).
What you put into your mouth doesn't usually defile you spiritually (how can it?)
Member
You've got good jokes B-A-C! God bless!
(I don't want to argue about the healthy versus defiled issue. I agree there is a difference, but I do not think that any amount of things we do or do not do have to do with our salvation. One day God will judge me (along with everyone else) for all the things I have done. If being unhealthy means going to hell, then I'm doomed).
Active
I do know that Christians shouldn't smoke but I am one of those Christians that does smoke. I am NOT proud of this fact & I have been trying to quit smoking. I have already been delivered from drinking (years ago) so I know that the God I love & serve will help me stop smoking too. God ALWAYS surprises me when he does things for me... Gosh God IS wonderful!!!!!!!
Loyal
It's not what goes into a man's mouth that defiles him, but what comes out..Jesus.
Smoking is stupid, smoking is stinky...Ask me. I know! I was a smoker too until my God took that addiction away one day
Member
I received an email notification that this thread was still active...wow...tobacco has been hashed to death and should be snuff in the wind by now
But, at risk of getting shoved off the Rock I`m sitting on I just gotta say...
Men are stupid, men are stinky....Ask me, I know! They really ought to repent of it!
But they aint tobacco so I digress. :zipped:
I`m only kidding of course! I trust Chad will grin and maybe offer me
a bottle of house wine and a cigar for old times sake :wink:
Loyal
Hmmmm Maybe they should offer you church wine.....I used to steal the stuff when I was an alter boy in the romanist church.
I do not stink! I just had a bath last month. LOL
Loyal
Last month, last week and even this morning, consider this:
"Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days." John 11:39
When Martha said this to Jesus men had been dead for about 4,000 years [4 days?]. When did that change or when would that change? Jesus had already given the answer:
"Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?" John 11:25-26
I know this has little to do with smoking, but is it not nonetheless pertinent?
Loyal
Amen, Sister, amen!
Moderator
Staff Member
Smoking won't affect anyone's salvation
The Lords love remains unconditional
However, smoking is addictive
And smoking is so toxic and damaging to the body (as are lots of other things)
And passive smoking is particularly dangerous to children
Prayerfully ask the Lord to lead and guide in these matters....trust Him...He will
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Philippians 4:8
The Lords love remains unconditional
However, smoking is addictive
And smoking is so toxic and damaging to the body (as are lots of other things)
And passive smoking is particularly dangerous to children
Prayerfully ask the Lord to lead and guide in these matters....trust Him...He will
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Philippians 4:8
Last edited by a moderator:
Moderator
Staff Member
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ Jesus.
I am notifying the participants of this thread that I'm locking if from any further replies. In reviewing this thread it appears roughly to come down to three camps of thought.
- Those who are for it.
- Those against it.
- Those who choose to live and let live for whatever reason.
The thread is well intentioned and if one reads it in total. Much can be gained from it and not only in the area of smoking. I believe it covers the areas I mentioned earlier as the positions held so that each person in the future who reads it will have much to digest. In conclusion everyone of us must still decide for themselves what path they will choose to follow.
With the Love of Christ Jesus.
YBIC
Nick
<><
"Who is the man who fears the LORD? He will instruct him in the way he should choose. Psalm 25:12"
I am notifying the participants of this thread that I'm locking if from any further replies. In reviewing this thread it appears roughly to come down to three camps of thought.
- Those who are for it.
- Those against it.
- Those who choose to live and let live for whatever reason.
The thread is well intentioned and if one reads it in total. Much can be gained from it and not only in the area of smoking. I believe it covers the areas I mentioned earlier as the positions held so that each person in the future who reads it will have much to digest. In conclusion everyone of us must still decide for themselves what path they will choose to follow.
With the Love of Christ Jesus.
YBIC
Nick
<><
"Who is the man who fears the LORD? He will instruct him in the way he should choose. Psalm 25:12"
Moderator
Staff Member
Adding this as a new focus but not opening the thread up......a number of heavily smoking patients I work with have early or later staged cataracts. One of the biggest pieces of advise they are given is to stop smoking.
Smoking has been found to be linked to eye disease and blindness.
This includes a higher incidence of cataracts
Pipe and cigar smokers are included in these statistics and may be at even higher risk due to the often higher strength and denser smoke
Surely the Lord doesnt want us to become addictively engaged in a habit that can cause blindness?
I attach a link that gives the basics......
quitnow - Smoking Causes Blindness
@Br. Bear
Smoking has been found to be linked to eye disease and blindness.
This includes a higher incidence of cataracts
Pipe and cigar smokers are included in these statistics and may be at even higher risk due to the often higher strength and denser smoke
Surely the Lord doesnt want us to become addictively engaged in a habit that can cause blindness?
I attach a link that gives the basics......
quitnow - Smoking Causes Blindness
@Br. Bear
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