Mmmm, chili fries....
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Desire to be a vessel of honor unto the Lord Jesus Christ?
Join For His Glory for a discussion on how
https://christianforums.net/threads/a-vessel-of-honor.110278/
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Taking the time to pray? Christ is the answer in times of need
https://christianforums.net/threads/psalm-70-1-save-me-o-god-lord-help-me-now.108509/
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Depending upon the Holy Spirit for all you do?
Read through the following study by Tenchi for more on this topic
https://christianforums.net/threads/without-the-holy-spirit-we-can-do-nothing.109419/
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How are famous preachers sometimes effected by sin?
Join Sola Scriptura for a discussion on the subject
https://christianforums.net/threads/anointed-preaching-teaching.109331/#post-1912042
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Can Christians Smoke Cigarettes?
- Thread starter Rollo Tamasi
- Start date
A quick story from my dad IRL - a man of stories like his son. He grew up in a little town in Idaho. He was born in 1917. When he spoke to one of his best friends he was told, "Our bodies are wonderful contraptions," his friend, was named "Doc" in my dad's stories because he was a doctor of medicine.
The advice given back then, before all the studies were conducted was, "If you were to smoke maybe 3 to 5 cigarettes per day, I don't think that you hurt you." Doc was a wise man who understood moderation. Today? We know more about how addictive nicotine is. More so than cocaine but less than crack. The problem comes because we can't moderate ourselves against such powerful forces. This is not a playground for thirteen year old children (like me) who want to please their friends and who don't know how to resist peer pressure. If we are unable to resist such things, how may we resist greater things like physical addictions? It's a vicious cycle and I am surprised to see that I am the only one (so far) who has clicked "NO!" on our little poll. Christians should not smoke. Nobody should. It's dangerous, unhealthy and generally not a good thing (he says, in the full knowledge that on the way to church he will light yet another).
~Sparrow
Prayers are requested. I will continue to "cut it straight" even when I [MENTION=8274]Nick[/MENTION] myself. I do agree with what has been said.
The advice given back then, before all the studies were conducted was, "If you were to smoke maybe 3 to 5 cigarettes per day, I don't think that you hurt you." Doc was a wise man who understood moderation. Today? We know more about how addictive nicotine is. More so than cocaine but less than crack. The problem comes because we can't moderate ourselves against such powerful forces. This is not a playground for thirteen year old children (like me) who want to please their friends and who don't know how to resist peer pressure. If we are unable to resist such things, how may we resist greater things like physical addictions? It's a vicious cycle and I am surprised to see that I am the only one (so far) who has clicked "NO!" on our little poll. Christians should not smoke. Nobody should. It's dangerous, unhealthy and generally not a good thing (he says, in the full knowledge that on the way to church he will light yet another).
~Sparrow
Prayers are requested. I will continue to "cut it straight" even when I [MENTION=8274]Nick[/MENTION] myself. I do agree with what has been said.
Deborah13
Member
Maybe the reason that there is so many 'No' is because the question does not say 'should' a Christian smoke. I for one will never say that someone who smokes is 'Not' a Christian.
Which with the question stated as "should a Christian be Allowed to smoke" comes much closer to saying, by the laws, rules, regulations for Christians. In order for me to answer with a 'Yes' I would be saying that a Christian who smokes is in 'willful' sin. I won't do that.
As far as smoking moderately my sister-in-law smoked one cigg. a day for all the 30 yrs. I knew her. She passed away but not from smoking.
Good point Reba, but if a smoker did not think of it as sin, then I would say yes.
Chopper
Member
I forgot to mention that D.L. Moody smoked as well as others in the good old days, Moody is the only one I remembered because I visited his homestead in Northfield, MA. In his study was a big ashtray that he used according to the guide.
B
Brother Mike
Guest
I think Jesus would have enough money to buy his own, right?
Really, after reading all the post (Minus the super strong Smoking is a SIN!!!) It appears that it be a weight and anything we have to make provision for the flesh in (Big double bacon cheese burgers included) can hinder our walk with God and hearing the Holy Spirit Clearly. That is what it's really looking like to me here.
mike.
You're right! The question becomes a fallacy because it assumes that the responder has some power or say or authority in the matter. Should you (or any other) be allowed to tell me something that is clearly my business? Maybe you should. It could do me some good, especially when I need a moderator. Why do two walk together? We already know that two may not walk together unless they are agreed, but why is it good for two to walk together?
The boy in the back excitedly raises his hand, "Teacher, teacher! Pick me. I know."
"Yes, Jimmy?" she prompts, "Why is it that two are to walk together?"
"According to Ecclesiastes chapter four," Jimmy replies, "...Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor. 10 For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up.…"
"That's right, Jimmy," her melodic voice is heard in quick praise. The part that wasn't heard was muttered under the teacher's breath, "No wonder the other kids don't like you; sometimes you mutter like an old man.
Later she is heard to confess, "I can't wait for my cigarette break."
Back to the idea of relativity. That old guy said something heard around the world. It shook up the teachers and the other old guys so much that they had to quickly put on their thinking caps to either confirm or deny.
Relativity. Things and stuff, at extremes of speed or lack thereof, at the very limits, there, right then and there, do not behave the way we, who are not at the extremes, observe them to behave. Mind experiments were proposed. We were invited to imagine twins one on earth another traveling near the speed of light...
We were invited to enter imaginary elevators and ponder such stuff as the force of acceleration as it compared to what we call gravity.
All many of things. It turns out that time itself is subject to speed and gravitation. Just imagine. Okay, okay... enough with the junior high school science lesson already. Make your point about cigarettes, will ya?
Well, thanks. I'll try. You see? It's relative to the observer. The law of absolutes isn't. Things are situational. Not absolute. So fails the legalist. What we observe for us includes our appraisal of what is right and what is wrong. For if a brother think it sin? To him it is sin.
We are given guidelines that are broad enough to cover many situations. They are like Newton's Laws. They apply. Do they apply universally to every extreme that we may imagine? No. For that, we need the mind of Christ. We do know that we should not use our liberty in order to place a block of stumbling behind us, so that others, who watch what we do, might walk behind us and thinking that where we go (to Jesus) so also will they go, but their hearts are pricked, their conscience is tender and it may turn out that our liberty, our freedom has been a cause or a contributing factor toward the harm of our brother.
Extending that same thought, but away from blowing smoke, we consider the fact that if we continue to sin (and again, I'm not talking about blowing smoke here) we that do continue in sin, and against our good conscience, obtained from God at great cost and price, we will burn and sear our conscience. Such that we no longer feel the goading or the pricks of the Spirit Holy. We look back and find, much to our horror and in the light of His blessed Grace, that we have kicked back. Resisted. Refused. What? May we say, "We were trapped by that which is greater than I?" We may, and it could very well be true. He comes to break the bonds of sin. Let that happen. Cooperate with this.
Yet, we may also continue along that course and as we approach the speed of light and as we enter the event horizon of a gravity well known as a black hole, we have gone to an extreme. There it might be said that we have tried to turn the Grace of God into vanity. An empty thing this ain't. The Grace of God comes with a purpose and we are commanded to depart from sin. Told to abstain from evil and to do good. We are to eschew evil and avoid even the appearance of evil.
What? Me? A smoker? I am one of the Laodicean church, who is neither hot nor cold? I am in danger of being spewed?
:verysick
Brother? If you feel that way...
Well, no. Actually, my feeling is that is only applied at the extremes. That God loves me and that He wants for me to be happy and that He also knows (and has also told me) that I would be happier if I would quit. That's what I understand.
Thinkest thou that I come to bring peace? I tell you no. I bring fire. First to the house of God (the green twig) and then to the Nations (the dry). Your God is a purifying fire!
Relativity. Things and stuff, at extremes of speed or lack thereof, at the very limits, there, right then and there, do not behave the way we, who are not at the extremes, observe them to behave. Mind experiments were proposed. We were invited to imagine twins one on earth another traveling near the speed of light...
We were invited to enter imaginary elevators and ponder such stuff as the force of acceleration as it compared to what we call gravity.
All many of things. It turns out that time itself is subject to speed and gravitation. Just imagine. Okay, okay... enough with the junior high school science lesson already. Make your point about cigarettes, will ya?
Well, thanks. I'll try. You see? It's relative to the observer. The law of absolutes isn't. Things are situational. Not absolute. So fails the legalist. What we observe for us includes our appraisal of what is right and what is wrong. For if a brother think it sin? To him it is sin.
We are given guidelines that are broad enough to cover many situations. They are like Newton's Laws. They apply. Do they apply universally to every extreme that we may imagine? No. For that, we need the mind of Christ. We do know that we should not use our liberty in order to place a block of stumbling behind us, so that others, who watch what we do, might walk behind us and thinking that where we go (to Jesus) so also will they go, but their hearts are pricked, their conscience is tender and it may turn out that our liberty, our freedom has been a cause or a contributing factor toward the harm of our brother.
Extending that same thought, but away from blowing smoke, we consider the fact that if we continue to sin (and again, I'm not talking about blowing smoke here) we that do continue in sin, and against our good conscience, obtained from God at great cost and price, we will burn and sear our conscience. Such that we no longer feel the goading or the pricks of the Spirit Holy. We look back and find, much to our horror and in the light of His blessed Grace, that we have kicked back. Resisted. Refused. What? May we say, "We were trapped by that which is greater than I?" We may, and it could very well be true. He comes to break the bonds of sin. Let that happen. Cooperate with this.
Yet, we may also continue along that course and as we approach the speed of light and as we enter the event horizon of a gravity well known as a black hole, we have gone to an extreme. There it might be said that we have tried to turn the Grace of God into vanity. An empty thing this ain't. The Grace of God comes with a purpose and we are commanded to depart from sin. Told to abstain from evil and to do good. We are to eschew evil and avoid even the appearance of evil.
What? Me? A smoker? I am one of the Laodicean church, who is neither hot nor cold? I am in danger of being spewed?
:verysick
Brother? If you feel that way...
Well, no. Actually, my feeling is that is only applied at the extremes. That God loves me and that He wants for me to be happy and that He also knows (and has also told me) that I would be happier if I would quit. That's what I understand.
Thinkest thou that I come to bring peace? I tell you no. I bring fire. First to the house of God (the green twig) and then to the Nations (the dry). Your God is a purifying fire!
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Deborah13
Member
What shall we do with the little foxes that spoil our grapes? Teach a sparrow how to hunt and disarm them? Or lift our troubles to the Lord, let Him do the work, for He has performed this and we watch in awe as His word is proclaimed toward the unity of the faith, building up in our most holy trust of him.
I keep hearing, "Be still and know that I am God."
Rebellion and works, faith and discipline. The weightier matters of the law. Where is balance?
This one is quick and slow. It is to me to become less and less. That OUR love is seen and known of men.
iLOVE
Member
God has warned all people through the Holy Spirit by medical science that cigarette smoking is dangerous. This includes moderately cigarette smoking. The scriptures says, "honor God with your body". [It is my firmly held opinion that a]nyone that smoke cigarettes [is] committing idolatry and worshipping demons.
There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death. Proverbs 14:12 NIV
Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. Colossians 3:2 NASB
There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death. Proverbs 14:12 NIV
Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. Colossians 3:2 NASB
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iLOVE
Member
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Jethro Bodine
Member
Okay, folks. Smoke break's over. Let's get back at it.
farouk
Member
Jethro Bodine
Member
As far as this subject goes in the church it isn't about how much or to what extent one can/should smoke. The debate is, either it's okay, or it's not okay, unlike other things that come up for debate in the church like eating, or sexual activity. That's the fundamental reason why I don't think bringing donuts and things like that into the discussion and comparing smoking to those is the right way to approach the matter.
Jethro Bodine
Member
And to those who think you can remove yourself from the kingdom of God by virtue of destroying the physical body, as if the physical body is the 'building' of God that Paul warns against destroying ...
"For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands." (2 Corinthians 5:1 NIV)
The 'building' of God is a spiritual building. It does not depend on the physical body for it to be established as the 'building' of God.
"For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands." (2 Corinthians 5:1 NIV)
The 'building' of God is a spiritual building. It does not depend on the physical body for it to be established as the 'building' of God.
Thank you, Jethro. I think I'm catching it. Correct me if I'm wrong. One must eat in order to survive but one does not have to abuse food. One does not have to smoke to survive so therein lies the difference between a smoker and an eater.
Do you think it is wrong to even light up once or maybe twice a month? For example, suppose one enjoys smoking a cigar once in a while. This person doesn't do it habitually, maybe only about a dozen or two cigars over the course of a year. Incidentally, for most, cigar smoke is not inhaled like cigarette smoke but there is still some smoke brought in even if it is indirectly and I suppose there could be some potential negatives to the teeth from the smoke and to the lips coming from contact.
Interested in your thoughts.
Thanks,
WIP
Do you think it is wrong to even light up once or maybe twice a month? For example, suppose one enjoys smoking a cigar once in a while. This person doesn't do it habitually, maybe only about a dozen or two cigars over the course of a year. Incidentally, for most, cigar smoke is not inhaled like cigarette smoke but there is still some smoke brought in even if it is indirectly and I suppose there could be some potential negatives to the teeth from the smoke and to the lips coming from contact.
Interested in your thoughts.
Thanks,
WIP
Deborah13
Member
Hmm.... interesting, WIP you went right again to destroying the body issues.
First let me say I don't see anything wrong with smoking cigars in your scenario, it wouldn't even harm the teeth with such little use.
But what's really the point is we can't come up with a reason why smoking is bad except for health reasons.
It's not something done traditionally by pagans. It's not something that harms others if done away from others inhaling the smoke.
So why is it bad for Christians to smoke? Who said that anyway? Why do pagans think the it's bad for Christians to smoke? Because the church said so but the Church can't tell you why??
Was it always considered bad by the church? Was it OK for men to smoke?
I was in a Baptist church. The only reason they could give for not smoking was smoking up the temple. They also say that Jesus didn't drink wine, it was grape juice. That when the Bible said wine it really meant new wine. And Jesus didn't wear a beard.
I guess, it's OK to lie to the children (lay people), it's for their own protection.