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Smoking?

Where do I begin? First, I can only speak from my own experience and how smoking has affected my time here on earth.

1. The nicotine addiction controlled most of my time and thoughts. (is it time for a smoke break?)

2. My wife hated it - I did not honor/respect her wishes. (My addiction caused many arguments.)

3. My well being depended on whether or not I had cigarettes.

4. It prevented me from witnessing to people.

5. It made me ashamed to go to church or have fellowship with other Christians.

6.I inadvertantly placed nicotine right next to God, Family, and Friends on my list of priorities!

These are the first six BIG ones that come to mind, just to start. Basically it was 25 years of frustration, health problems and money wasted.

I am convinced that satan himself rolled the very first cigarrette.
 
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I don't think the actual act of smoking is the sin. It's the addiction that goes along with smoking I would categorize as sinful. You are attempting to find gratification and fulfillment on a regular basis outside of God.

I smoke a cigar with my father on some occasions. Is smoking a cigar 3-4 times a year sinful? Some may think so but it's not a habitual habit nor do I let it interfere with my relationship with God.

My feeling on things like smoking and drinking is that if it's a regular habit then you've crossed the line and are attempting, knowingly or not, to find fulfillment away from God. That is sin.
 
John14:1, read the link Redfox posted.

1 Cor 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

1 Cor 6:20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

Rom 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.


Rom 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
 
Smoking

It is sin if you take tobacco and use it, even occasionally, because nicotine is a poison. You are poisoning your body. I believe that it is a sin to even occasionally have a smoke.
That opens up pandora's box. There are a long list of items that must be considered if you are using I Cor 6:19 to evaluate what we put in our bodies.
Now, then you have to ask yourself if eating fast food, in any quantity, is a sin. Fast food is loaded with unhealthy ingredients.
Do you drink soda pop? - Not many good things in a soda pop.
 
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I smoke a cigar or pipe ocasionaly I don't see a problem with it. I'm not addicted I know every one says it but I only smoke a few times a month at the most if I was dependent on it or did it in an excesive amount yea it would be a problem. It's something that I enjoy quite a bit. On the is it bad for you thing yep it is. I don't inhale so no I won't damage my lungs but it's still not good for the rest of me, but the fact of the matter is neither is the Taco Bell I had for dinner and I don't think a whole lot of people are going to say that was a sin.
 
Too many people make excuses like "I only do it so and so a month, week...."

Let me tell you, would Jesus smoke a cigar or pipe? No. As far "taco bell", not the healthiest food but its *FOOD* and your body needs food. Your comparing apples and oranges, bad analogy.
 
Isnt the main problem however, aside from healthyness, our soul's state?

Like in these verses says:

Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;
- (1 Peter 2:11)


And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
- (Galatians 5:24)


Taking good care of your body can actually be itself against your sprit:

But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.
- (Romans 13:14)
 
Too many people make excuses like "I only do it so and so a month, week...."

Let me tell you, would Jesus smoke a cigar or pipe? No. As far "taco bell", not the healthiest food but its *FOOD* and your body needs food. Your comparing apples and oranges, bad analogy.

I have to disagree. I think the occasional smoking or drinking is a very good analogy to eating the occasional unhealthy food.

If one makes the argument that we should never put something in our body knowing it's unhealthy, why would you ever eat anything containing saturated fat? Taco bell has a lot of high calorie food with loads of fat. Why would you eat a chocolate bar when an apple is clearly a better choice for your body? Who is being more unhealthy, the guy who eats fast food 3-4 times a week or the cigar smoker once a month? Who is the sinner if either?

I don't think tobacco was in the middle east at the time of Jesus so we could only speculate if Jesus would smoke a cigar. As was the custom of the day he certinally drank wine as part of having fellowship with his followers. The human body doesn't need wine and Jesus could have chosen to only drink water if his message was that anything with alcohol was sinful.

We have a right to participate in the customs of society so as long as it doesn't violate what God as specified as sinful behavior or if it takes away from our relationship with Him.
 
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wow! this thread has given me a great deal to think and pray about - I am a Christian and must confess - a pack a day smoker! I have been a smoker since I was in my late teens, and became a Christian fairly recently, so guess it is jsut something that I never really thought about - but the comments about those moments where I am "desperate" for a cigarette, especially at work, and my mind is focussed soley on that, and not on God........so does that technically make it an 'idol', now this thought disturbs me! but if i think of certain times of the day where my cigarette cravings are dominant, as an example, my first thought, my morning cigarette or my morning prayer? Another modern day idol? I am certainly thinking for me it sure is!!! A life change is in order......

Praise God for this thread....
 
I, too, like the occasional glass of wine along with a cigar. Occasional meaning birthday or perhaps a significant holiday. Regarding the subject of wine, fermented water will keep longer. That was a common practice prior to running water. Anybody drink root beer?

I agree that nicotine is a narcotic, and as such an addiction can result if taken in sufficient quantities. I've seen the air over New York City from a distance: it's an unmistakable cloud which can't be healthy either. Are there churches in New York?

Cheers,
John
 
I've seen the air over New York City from a distance: it's an unmistakable cloud which can't be healthy either. Are there churches in New York?

Is that an honest question or sarcasm? I don't understand your comments John. Maybe you can explain for us.

But, I'm guessing your being sarcastic about the air pollution. If so, horrible example because you cannot do anything about something that is beyond man's ability to repair. It would be infinitely far apart of an example to use air pollution and cigar smoking together. Do you not have air pollution in Canada John?
 
wow! this thread has given me a great deal to think and pray about - I am a Christian and must confess - a pack a day smoker! I have been a smoker since I was in my late teens, and became a Christian fairly recently, so guess it is jsut something that I never really thought about - but the comments about those moments where I am "desperate" for a cigarette, especially at work, and my mind is focussed soley on that, and not on God........so does that technically make it an 'idol', now this thought disturbs me! but if i think of certain times of the day where my cigarette cravings are dominant, as an example, my first thought, my morning cigarette or my morning prayer? Another modern day idol? I am certainly thinking for me it sure is!!! A life change is in order......

Praise God for this thread....

Dalan ranna thanx for your post. Like you said Praise God! It looks like the Holy Spirit is speaking to you about your priorities and your smoking habit... I will pray for you. See him!

another thing to consider re smoking. DOES IT GLORIFY GOD?

1 cor 10:31 everything we go should bring glory to God. When we smoke it is because WE want to. It does not glorify God.

oh and Re healthy food, interestingly, I have been really convicted by God recently about my fitness and my health. He has given us beautiful bodies. It is worship to him to look after them properly. the same applies for smoking.

Love Jack
 
My thoughts on the matter are this:

Smoking anything habitually is a sin because it corrupts and damages our bodies (God's temples). That being said, I don't believe it is a sin for a guy to take some puffs off a cigar whenever he has a new child born. God made our bodies to be very resilient and regenerative. Smoking on very rare occaions will not damage the temple in the slightest.
 
Interesting subject.

In fact I work with a Jehovah's Witness and we were on this subject the other day. Do you know that people are not allowed to be members of the Jehovah's Witness Church if they as much smoke the occasional cigar unrepentingly? Sounds a bit legalistic.

First off, let me say I do not smoke anything accept the occasional side of salmon.

That being said, I will wholeheartedly agree that a smoking habit is clearly not in God's perfect will for us His children, and in violation of some of the Scriptures mentioned previously. Nevertheless, to make the claim that the occasional cigar or even cigarette is downright sinful is taking it a bit too far. There are many things we as humans consume that can be considered poison to our bodies that have been presented here. Where does one draw the line? What is the common denominator? It is when one gets careless with these things and abuses them. They become not only dangerous to the body but also idols taking the place of our relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. That is what is really important when considering these things. Consider the Scriptures presented in the other posts in light of the following.

Mark 7:18-23 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;
Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats?
And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man.
For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,
Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:
All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.

In His example, Jesus describes food for eating, but He did mention first "whatsoever thing." Know that I am not an advocate in favor of smoking, but just trying to rightly divide the Word of God. If my interpretation of this Scripture is incorrect, I'd like to hear about that. Was Jesus only talking about food and drink?

Be blessed

Hisalone
 
Amen Hisalone,

I was going to post those EXACT verses, but couldn't remember where they were! Praise God...isn't that awesome, the Spirit brought you to post them for me. Thank you!

Love in Christ
 
Smoking

I am saved by the love of Jesus Christ who died for my sins. I have been battling this same addiction for years, Not to long ago The Lord took from me the desire to drink A miracle initself, I was in awe. The devil will work me and tell my mind that I need these things and that I am not saved and that it is a sin to smoke. I believe if i trust in God to take this also he will, No doubt in my mind that our bodies our a temple I believe God does not want us to put anything in our bodys that is against what the Bible teaches so the answer I believe is YES if we our to continue in his calling I know I must quit and try to trust that when I am ready that too will be taken from me. I hope I helped, just my opinion
 
I've been a smoker since I was 16, I'm 24 today. I've tried to quit on numerous occasions, even asking for prayer and support with it on this forum. It's an addiction, it's something I do. It doesn't control me, it's impossible with any amount of energy to be focused on God 24/7 and that's down right unhealthy as well if you ask me. We've got lives to live, things to do, work that needs to be done. God is our shelter and our rock, but He won't be bothered if I can't be focused on him all day long.

I smoke to relax, I enjoy it, I like the taste. Try telling an alcoholic that it's a bad thing to drink and see how much of a reaction you will get, none.

The same applies here. You can tell me till the moon rises and sets for aeons that smoking is wrong and I won't do anything about it, it's up to me and God, that's it.

I'm tired of being judged for being a smoker, especially from Christians. They do 10 time more filthier things than my small smoking habit, so it's not their place to judge me.

I believe in Mark 7 as posted above and that's how I live my life. Jesus said nothing will defile me and nothing will. Would Jesus smoke if He were alive today? I'm not sure, would He browse the internet and look for the latest wallpaper for his pc? I'm not sure either.

God bless
 
For all those who believe smoking is ok, keep in mind of this thing called cancer. So GOD forbid you go preaching to everyone that you find it ok to smoke as long as it does not control you, then you end up getting lung cancer or mouth cancer - what then? Did you enjoy the smoke now? You are responsible for what you preach and how you affect others' understanding of the Word. GOD help you if your preaching in the wrong. GOD knows your hearts, so don't even think you can pretend to justify your cancerous habits.

Read this:
http://www.talkjesus.com/bible-study-hall/20867-defiled-temple.html#post107429

And this:
What is the Christian view of smoking? Is smoking a sin?
 
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