Join For His Glory for a discussion on how
https://christianforums.net/threads/a-vessel-of-honor.110278/
https://christianforums.net/threads/psalm-70-1-save-me-o-god-lord-help-me-now.108509/
Join Sola Scriptura for a discussion on the subject
https://christianforums.net/threads/anointed-preaching-teaching.109331/#post-1912042
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Guys, I’m a smoker. And for no other reason than the fact that I’m addicted. When I feel like strangling the life out of a colleague whom so desperately needs it, I politely excuse myself and go for a cigarette.
My father always tells me that the stuff will kill me, and I will just respond that the ‘stuff’ has saved numerous idiots lives thus far.<o>:p</o>:p
<o>:p</o>:p
But joking about it doesn’t change the fact that when I need to control my emotions, I go for my cigarettes and not for God. And ask any smoker; anything is a reason to smoke. You smoke because you social, you smoke because you are lonely, busy, bored, angry, stressed, happy, sad, jealous, hungry, full from a good meal, or good *censor*...<o>:p</o>:p
I think all these abuses of our body are deeply sinful. And I would add that we, in the 21st century west, have introduced an entirely unBiblical "split" between the world of the "physical" and the "spiritual". Thus, people think that cigarrette-smoking is not so bad since our physical bodies are not that important - its our "spiritual lives" that are more important.I don't believe there's anything inherently sinful in smoking cigarettes. It could be a stumbling block to someone who feels convicted to stop but does not let go, IMO. I've never smoked, but I'm not going to condemn someone who does.
Although I would never choose to smoke, I do believe there is some sort of "social stigma" that has created this connection with sin. No doubt, they are bad for your health and a big waste of money, but if we're going to call it sin because it pollutes the body, why don't we throw in fast-food, donuts and potato chips?
I have never smoked, but I take your word for it - it must be an awfully hard habit to break. You are to be commended for having the discipline to keep away from them.Pure pleasure. I miss 'em - have for over 40 years.
A thought has occurred to me. If inhaling smoke from cigarettes is a sin then what about these things?
Our very existence makes us responsible for contributing to our planet becoming more and more toxic to life all the time. In so doing are we not destroying the temple of the Holy Spirit? Seems there is only one way to totally avoid this problem…..die.
- Building and operating our automobiles, merchant ships, cargo ships, airplanes, military machines, construction equipment, farm equipment, industrial machinery, outboard motors, portable generators, lawn mowers, garden tillers, weed trimmers, leaf blowers, chain saws, ATV’s, snowmobiles, and any other equipment utilizing internal combustion or nuclear powered engines.
- Heating and cooling our homes.
- Cooking, baking, canning, or otherwise employing the use of fire in any way.
- Using any electricity that is not 100% generated and distributed using air, water, wind, or solar power. Note this includes the wires, transformers, construction equipment and other things used to distribute the electricity from the generation source to the final consumer.
- Using consumer goods, chemical products, household or industrial cleaners, sanitizers, soaps, paint, lubricants, or other chemical products that eventually contaminate the water we drink. Don’t forget about the containers they come in and the manufacturing processes for both.
- Even our bodily processes contribute as our excrement decays and produces toxic gases such as methane.
I think if smoking leads you into sin then you shouldn't do it. The Holy Spirit will let you know if this is a sin you need to deal with.
Even our bodily processes contribute as our excrement decays and produces toxic gases such as methane.
Ok, again, if you didn't pick up on what I was getting at above, I totally disagree with most of your post. I am SO tired after this week's work (I really got into the boss today) so I'm just not myself tonight. BUT, if you were really serious, I've got to say that the left's indoctrination has worked on you.Our very existence makes us responsible for contributing to our planet becoming more and more toxic to life all the time. In so doing are we not destroying the temple of the Holy Spirit? Seems there is only one way to totally avoid this problem…..die.
Drew, I believe this is somewhat related to the disagreement we had pertaining to the accumulation of wealth in that if anyone points to someone who they believe has too much wealth, there are people with less who can point to them and say they also have too much wealth/too many possessions. How little does someone need to have to have a clean conscience.I think all these abuses of our body are deeply sinful. And I would add that we, in the 21st century west, have introduced an entirely unBiblical "split" between the world of the "physical" and the "spiritual". Thus, people think that cigarrette-smoking is not so bad since our physical bodies are not that important - its our "spiritual lives" that are more important.
The Bible sees no such split - the body is to be cared for as much as the "spirit" (even though in even saying things this way, I am making the same error I am critiquing, but I hope the point is clear).
Thank you, I was looking for a well considered response and this I understand.WIP, I`d say it all goes back to motive.
In God`s original design, good food was ready at one`s fingertips with no cleaning up afterwards (no detergents needed). The weather was always perfect so no a/c and heating was needed, etc. With His design there was no pollution, but once humans were kicked out of the Garden of Eden, hardships, pollution, and ultimately death entered the world. It is unavoidable now. We have to eat, we have to keep ourselves a comfortable and liveable temperature, we have to wear clothes, etc. So doing what we have to do to survive is not a sin and that includes working in a big industrialized factory. The hard work and the reprecussions of that work are the punishments Adam reaped on mankind for his sin. Now we have to work hard just to feel comfortable. In God`s design, we never should have even had to think of being too hot or too cold, where to get water and keep it clean, etc. So we should be focusing on the day Jesus comes again and restores creation rather than getting too caught up in all the things that cause pollution. I mean some people go so far as to say too many humans breathing is harmful to the ecosystem.
So again polluting our bodies out of rebellion or with the intention to hurt ourselves is the sin. A coal miner working in a coal mine to feed his family is not a sin even though coal mining pollutes the body. Likewise smoking is not necessarily a sin unless someone does it just for the purpose of harming their own body or the body or others or to rebel against parents. Or if they put the cigarettes above the well being of their family (a child has to go without a meal so mom can buy a pack of cigarettes) or the cigarettes become more meaningful to the person than God.
Thank you, I was looking for a well considered response and this I understand.
Imagine if someone posted this:I think if smoking leads you into sin then you shouldn't do it. The Holy Spirit will let you know if this is a sin you need to deal with.
I doubt it - what possible reason is there to pick up a cigarette and smoke it that is not sinful? I have great sympathy for the addictive character of cigarrettes, and I do not think smokers should be ostracized. But we need to face facts - smoking is an exceeding self-destructive behaviour that does nothing but bring ruin on individuals, families, and society.It comes down to the motive of the person, IMO.