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Smoking

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Hi everyone! I asked someone the other day if the Holy Spirit told them to quit smoking; they said yes. This person has been raised in the baptist church and they received Jesus as their savior years and years ago. They refuse to quit smoking because they say they enjoy it. They acknowledge that it's a bad wittness, but they don't care. They don't believe it matters if you smoke and profess to being a Christian. I told them that they were quenching the Holy Spirit and that they were walking on dangereous grounds. I have been told that I'm a legalist because I told this person that they should not be smoking when they profess to being a Christian. Any answers?
Thank you and God Bless...Follower
 
First of all, welcome to the Forums! Glad to have you here. Here's my take on your query:

One's Christianity should not be questioned because one is a smoker. I've known many strong Christians who also smoke. Is it good for their bodies that they do so? No. But, it's also not good for the body to drink Pespi, to eat fried food or an order of super-sized fries, to not exercise enough and so on and so forth.

My point is, we shouldn't set ourselves up to judge someone else's Christianity based upon our own standard of what constitutes treating our bodies as temples of the Spirit. There are just too many things that aren't good for the body from eating too much red meat, to being a total vegan, to taking perscribed medications for chronic conditions. Once we start down this road, yes, legalism becomes a big factor.

Whether or not this constitutes a 'bad witness' is, believe it or not, a highly subjective opinion. For those to whom smoking is offensive, yes, it can effect one's witness. For those who smoke or don't care one way or the other, they probably don't even think about it.

You said that if the Holy Spirit tells them to quit, they will be willing to do so, so let this person listen to the Spirit on this one. You've said your piece, now don't nag or drag their born-again status in to it. What you can do is let them know that if they ever decide to quit, you stand at the ready to encourage and support them. Then, let it go.
 
I guess Follower, the best thing you could do for that person is pray that they will be receptive to the Holy Spirit. I too am a smoker and lately I have been under conviction because of it. We have to listen to the Holy Spirit and then be obedient and that means in everthing that we do, otherwise there is the risk that we will quench the Holy Spirit.
So whilst your praying for your friend pray for me also because it isn't easy getting off something that you are addicted to. I know its not impossible and I know that we should be relying upon the Holy Spririt of God to give us strength in times of stress and not a bad habit or an addiction. As regards being a bad witness, yes probably, thats why i never smoke infront of other people.
Take care
Bev
 
1 Corinthians 3 (King James Version)

16Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

17If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

Your body will last for a while then your body will pay. I smoked for 42 years and I am only 53, and I feel great since I stopped. Even the Holy Ghost was dealing with me on smoking, I did not want to be seen smoking anymore, I was being convicted by the Holy Ghost. At first it was just in front of Christians that I would hide my smoking, then it became everybody. Now smoking seems stupid, and it is stupid. I looked at and quoted the scriptures above for years, and did not take heed. I thank God that I don't have cancer.
 
I would not call smoking "sinful", but as with many things you need to ask your self, "is this hurting those around me?" It's a personal choice and to say I' m only hurting myself as many do with any number of things is well selfish.

Just to be clear I'm not directing this at anyone, just adding my 2 cents.
 
Greetings Follower,

As I get closer to The Almighty God of Israel,seek His Truth, His Word,..........to where I crave anything, & everything that He will teach me,..........I realize that my "SELFISH, SEL CENTERED, & DESTRUCTIVE HABIT OF SMOKING,.........is a barrier between my Creator& myself.

I can not purely attain anything spiritually greater than "The Milk of The Word",......unless I break this habit.

PLEASE PRAY FOR ME TO QUIT SMOKING?

SHALOM!

David
 
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