Can Christians Smoke Cigarettes?

[PrivateTimm]

Just say no to legalism and endless controversies.

 

[WIP]

I would like to meet someone who is perfect.

I had a similar thought. Assuming that smoking is a sin (another argument) and then replacing the words "Smoke Cigarettes" with the word "sin" and read the title again, the only answer I can come to is that nobody is a Christian and nobody could be a Christian.

 

[Northman]

The legalistic door swings both ways. Claiming rights without regard for what you do disregarding the effect it has on others = selfish legalism. Does it apply all the time? Of course not. But as soon as you start presuming to be a teacher and advocating something you hqve stepped out of your life bubble and are now effecting other, more impressionables. Hence probably a big reason why paul told us that not everyone should presume to teach, as teachers are judged way more strictly.

 

[evenifigoalone]

Most of the people I know who are a little legalistic have a relaxed attitude on smoking. Some of them were former smokers themselves.

[MENTION=89910]questdriven[/MENTION]:

Well, a wise observation there!

I guess, like Heinz Beans, there are 57 varieties of smokers and legalists.

Blessings.

Yup, all kinds of different opinions and positions.
My step dad came across as pretty legalistic sometimes (his outlook on some things did change a lot in later years, though), but on some things he was surprisingly loose and carefree. My mom would get onto him for some of it.

 

[farouk]

Most of the people I know who are a little legalistic have a relaxed attitude on smoking. Some of them were former smokers themselves.

[MENTION=89910]questdriven[/MENTION]:

Well, a wise observation there!

I guess, like Heinz Beans, there are 57 varieties of smokers and legalists.

Blessings.

Yup, all kinds of different opinions and positions.
My step dad came across as pretty legalistic sometimes (his outlook on some things did change a lot in later years, though), but on some things he was surprisingly loose and carefree. My mom would get onto him for some of it.

[MENTION=89910]questdriven[/MENTION]:

Did he or she smoke?

It's easy to get into a legalistic groove; it's a substitute for thinking. At the same time, Scripture is definitely clear about many things, and what is God-honoring.

Blessings.

 

[evenifigoalone]

No.

 

[farouk]

I would like to meet someone who is perfect.

I had a similar thought. Assuming that smoking is a sin (another argument) and then replacing the words "Smoke Cigarettes" with the word "sin" and read the title again, the only answer I can come to is that nobody is a Christian and nobody could be a Christian.

Yes, the 'fill in the dotted line' of legalism: "I don't do such and such; what do you do?" is alive and well.

 

[farouk]

No.

[MENTION=89910]questdriven[/MENTION]:

Good for them, then!

I think it's often not just the substance of what the opnion or attitude is about, it's also a matter of mindset; and each person has his or her hidden (or not so hidden) stressors which activate under certain circumstances.

Blessings.

 

[Deborah13]

Under the body is your temple, smoking isn't any different than drugs or alcohol, or eating unhealthily and being overweight. Being on 10 different psych and pain meds is also using drugs. It doesn't matter that a doctor gave them to you. The original question. Can you be a Christian and smoke? Yes. You should know that it is bad and try to stop eventually. I remember these judgmental Christian guys at my work shaking their heads in judgment over one of their fellow Christians smoking saying how he couldn't be a real Christian if he smokes. In the meantime one of them was at least 50lbs overweight begging for a heart attack. In present day, the one that smoked has successfully stopped, while the overweight one hasn't lost a pound.

Yes, how do you love God with all your heart, body, mind, and soul when you can't even scale a flight of stairs because of smoking.

Hmm.... I thinking of one particularly obese TV preacher, I'll about bit he wouldn't be able to do that flight of stairs any better than a smoker. My husband smokes and has for about 45 yrs. and I Know that preacher couldn't keep up with him even walking on flat ground.

And it seems we had a poll about drinking and the results were about the same as this one.
When I witnessed a lot yrs. ago I never had one person ask if they could smoke but they did ask if Christians can drink. They were ALWAYS surprised that Christians can drink.

Smoking is bad for you and so is being obese. The diseases caused by both can keep on from serving God in certain capacities that one is gifted in.

If I had an obese preacher tell me that one shouldn't smoke, smoking up the temple you know, I would just have to give him the eye.

 

[farouk]

Under the body is your temple, smoking isn't any different than drugs or alcohol, or eating unhealthily and being overweight. Being on 10 different psych and pain meds is also using drugs. It doesn't matter that a doctor gave them to you. The original question. Can you be a Christian and smoke? Yes. You should know that it is bad and try to stop eventually. I remember these judgmental Christian guys at my work shaking their heads in judgment over one of their fellow Christians smoking saying how he couldn't be a real Christian if he smokes. In the meantime one of them was at least 50lbs overweight begging for a heart attack. In present day, the one that smoked has successfully stopped, while the overweight one hasn't lost a pound.

Yes, how do you love God with all your heart, body, mind, and soul when you can't even scale a flight of stairs because of smoking.

Hmm.... I thinking of one particularly obese TV preacher, I'll about bit he wouldn't be able to do that flight of stairs any better than a smoker. My husband smokes and has for about 45 yrs. and I Know that preacher couldn't keep up with him even walking on flat ground.

And it seems we had a poll about drinking and the results were about the same as this one.
When I witnessed a lot yrs. ago I never had one person ask if they could smoke but they did ask if Christians can drink. They were ALWAYS surprised that Christians can drink.

Smoking is bad for you and so is being obese. The diseases caused by both can keep on from serving God in certain capacities that one is gifted in.

If I had an obese preacher tell me that one shouldn't smoke, smoking up the temple you know, I would just have to give him the eye.

[MENTION=93058]Deborah13[/MENTION]:

Interesting comments. Do you like cigarettes yourself? I did but I don't do it now. I guess that your husband's smoke doesn't bother you so much now, even if you don't smoke.

Some people do like to moralize about it, but I'm not sure it's a specifically Christian moralizing.

Blessings.

 

[Deborah13]

Just had another thought. Sometimes it is association that causes one to determine what is good or bad.

If one associates smoking with alcohol and partying and barrooms then they may have an a smoking is sin theology.

I have a cousin who used to play bass in a country western band. They played for years at dances in bars, wedding receptions, etc. Now he plays in a Christian band. He cannot hardy get himself to even play good, clean country songs at family get to gathers because he associates the music to his past life style.

 

[Deborah13]

Under the body is your temple, smoking isn't any different than drugs or alcohol, or eating unhealthily and being overweight. Being on 10 different psych and pain meds is also using drugs. It doesn't matter that a doctor gave them to you. The original question. Can you be a Christian and smoke? Yes. You should know that it is bad and try to stop eventually. I remember these judgmental Christian guys at my work shaking their heads in judgment over one of their fellow Christians smoking saying how he couldn't be a real Christian if he smokes. In the meantime one of them was at least 50lbs overweight begging for a heart attack. In present day, the one that smoked has successfully stopped, while the overweight one hasn't lost a pound.

Yes, how do you love God with all your heart, body, mind, and soul when you can't even scale a flight of stairs because of smoking.

Hmm.... I thinking of one particularly obese TV preacher, I'll about bit he wouldn't be able to do that flight of stairs any better than a smoker. My husband smokes and has for about 45 yrs. and I Know that preacher couldn't keep up with him even walking on flat ground.

And it seems we had a poll about drinking and the results were about the same as this one.
When I witnessed a lot yrs. ago I never had one person ask if they could smoke but they did ask if Christians can drink. They were ALWAYS surprised that Christians can drink.

Smoking is bad for you and so is being obese. The diseases caused by both can keep on from serving God in certain capacities that one is gifted in.

If I had an obese preacher tell me that one shouldn't smoke, smoking up the temple you know, I would just have to give him the eye.

[MENTION=93058]Deborah13[/MENTION]:

Interesting comments. Do you like cigarettes yourself? I did but I don't do it now. I guess that your husband's smoke doesn't bother you so much now, even if you don't smoke.

Some people do like to moralize about it, but I'm not sure it's a specifically Christian moralizing.

Blessings.

No I don't like smoking. My husband does not smoke inside our house nor is he allowed to smoke in the vehicles when any of us are with him. Thus a six hour trip may take six and half. Smoking breaks on the side of the road, he really hates that but he is good about it.

 

[Drew]

Some people appear to draw a wedge between "what's sin" and "what's unhealthy". This is, I suggest, an entirely unBiblical distinction. The Bible teaches that our physicality is to be respected and cared for. Therefore, smoking (and over-eating for that matter) are definitely sins.

 

[farouk]

Hmm.... I thinking of one particularly obese TV preacher, I'll about bit he wouldn't be able to do that flight of stairs any better than a smoker. My husband smokes and has for about 45 yrs. and I Know that preacher couldn't keep up with him even walking on flat ground.

And it seems we had a poll about drinking and the results were about the same as this one.
When I witnessed a lot yrs. ago I never had one person ask if they could smoke but they did ask if Christians can drink. They were ALWAYS surprised that Christians can drink.

Smoking is bad for you and so is being obese. The diseases caused by both can keep on from serving God in certain capacities that one is gifted in.

If I had an obese preacher tell me that one shouldn't smoke, smoking up the temple you know, I would just have to give him the eye.

[MENTION=93058]Deborah13[/MENTION]:

Interesting comments. Do you like cigarettes yourself? I did but I don't do it now. I guess that your husband's smoke doesn't bother you so much now, even if you don't smoke.

Some people do like to moralize about it, but I'm not sure it's a specifically Christian moralizing.

Blessings.

No I don't like smoking. My husband does not smoke inside our house nor is he allowed to smoke in the vehicles when any of us are with him. Thus a six hour trip may take six and half. Smoking breaks on the side of the road, he really hates that but he is good about it.

[MENTION=93058]Deborah13[/MENTION]:

Sounds like Lexy doesn't like the smell of smoke, either...

(Say hi to her!)

Blessings.

 

[farouk]

Some people appear to draw a wedge between "what's sin" and "what's unhealthy". This is, I suggest, an entirely unBiblical distinction. The Bible teaches that our physicality is to be respected and cared for. Therefore, smoking (and over-eating) for that matter are definitely sins.

On the other hand, there are degrees of participation and partaking. And whose job is it to police hamburgers and cigarettes partaken of in private: the local church's? I hardly think so. This is why I think moral, spiritual and doctrinal considerations from the Scriptures must take precedence in the local church.

Blessings.

 

[Jethro Bodine]

If I had an obese preacher tell me that one shouldn't smoke, smoking up the temple you know, I would just have to give him the eye.

Is that what this smilie is for?

:

(It's called ''.......been wanting to know how/when to use it.)

 

[farouk]

@Deborah13 :

I guess anyone in the pulpit in the end sets himself up for accusations of hypocrisy, hidden or otherwise. Preaching ministry is still needed, however.

I do in general terms agree with you, though, about smoking.

Blessings.

 

[Rollo Tamasi]

If I had an obese preacher tell me that one shouldn't smoke, smoking up the temple you know, I would just have to give him the eye.

Is that what this smilie is for?

:





(It's called ''.......been wanting to know how/when to use it.)

that's for when you want to confuse Reba

 

[King James]

Yes, how do you love God with all your heart, body, mind, and soul when you can't even scale a flight of stairs because of smoking.

Well, morbidly obese people die before smokers and have a harder time going up stairs.

 

[farouk]

If I had an obese preacher tell me that one shouldn't smoke, smoking up the temple you know, I would just have to give him the eye.

Is that what this smilie is for?

:





(It's called ''.......been wanting to know how/when to use it.)

that's for when you want to confuse Reba

[MENTION=92945]allenwynne[/MENTION]:

Well, all I can say is that it would take a lot to confuse [MENTION=47381]reba[/MENTION].

(She seems pretty shrewd...)

Blessings.