can a christian smoke...??

[Guest LeGu]

You can very well go to heaven even if you smoke. The truth is, you'll probably get there ahead of the rest of us. But why smell like you've been in hell when you are going to heaven?

[3in1]

But smoking itself does not glorify God. It does not nourish your body or your spirit. It is done to please carnal lusts alone. Again, the Bible says, "Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whasoever ye do, do all to the glory of God."

but there are TONS of other things we do that would fall into this category as well. what about the mundane things we do everyday that dont necessarily 'glorify God'. they wouldnt be classified as a carnal lust would they?

and to remain consistent in your theology, you must also include the McDonalds you spoke of earlier on this list... shouldnt you? it does not nourish your body or spirit and is eaten to please the lust of the flesh (or fat cells).

i do not smoke, for the record, nor have i ever. but are you saying that when i puffed a cigar when my children were born that i was sinning?

in Christ

[Nero's Fiddle]

Romans 14:23

But if people have doubts about whether they should eat something, they shouldn't eat it. They would be condemned for not acting in faith before God. If you do anything you believe is not right, you are sinning.

The passage mentions eating, but I believe it could be applied to anything. I hope that this helps....

Aha! If you're allowed to say this concerning this verse, then I am allowed to apply 1 Corin. 3:16 to everything as well!

Seriously, though, I agree with you. Food is what is spoken of directly, but the priciple clearly holds for other things.

Likewise, 1 Corin. 3:16 speaks specifically of fornication, but if we are the temples of the Holy Ghost and not our own, doesn't that necessarily mean something in other areas as well?

Gladiator for God,

I agree with you;). I have had enough experience with trying to justify things in my life that I have hard time being quite so blunt. I know that, if Satan has you doing something he wants you to be doing, he can come up with some pretty clever excuses to keep you doing it.

For instance, my schedule sometimes gets kind of busy. There was a time when I found myself going to bed no earlier than midnight on any given day. I was absolutely exhausted.

So much so, that when the time came for me to do my devotions (Bible reading, verse study, and prayer), I began to make excuses for myself.

"I can't do it tonight because I am too tired to keep focused and understand." I knew that it was not about me, and that the Spirit of God was more than able to overcome any of the tiny obstacles I had. But I wanted to justify skipping.

"If I just go to bed now, I will be more alert tomorrow to study and to serve God." That excuse really appealed to my mortal logic. But, at the same time, I knew how vital devotions are. I knew that not reading my Bible or praying would open up doors for Satan to get victory over me. But I wanted to justify skipping.

It can be difficult at times... but His grace is sufficient for us all of the time.

In Him,

NF

[Nero's Fiddle]

But smoking itself does not glorify God. It does not nourish your body or your spirit. It is done to please carnal lusts alone. Again, the Bible says, "Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whasoever ye do, do all to the glory of God."

but there are TONS of other things we do that would fall into this category as well. what about the mundane things we do everyday that dont necessarily 'glorify God'. they wouldnt be classified as a carnal lust would they?

and to remain consistent in your theology, you must also include the McDonalds you spoke of earlier on this list... shouldnt you? it does not nourish your body or spirit and is eaten to please the lust of the flesh (or fat cells).

i do not smoke, for the record, nor have i ever. but are you saying that when i puffed a cigar when my children were born that i was sinning?

in Christ

I don't know which things you are talking about. Things like eating (not over-eating) do glorify God, because they keep us alive and "to live is Christ."

There are many useful things that do glorify God, like showering or washing dishes. Smoking is not one of these things!

The connection you are drawing between smoking and McDonald's does not make sense to me. McDonald's is not the healthiest food there is, but it does nourish your body, and if you decided to eat only McDonald's it would keep you alive (unless you opted not to "count calories" or watch your grease intake, in which case it might kill you!).

I am not saying that anything pleasant is done only to please carnal lusts. God gave us food to sustain us, and He made some of that food very good-tasting. It is okay to eat good food.

God gave married couples the ability to lie togther to produce children, which glorifies God. He also made it pleasant (or so I am told). That does not make it wrong.

Smoking is not something that glorifies God and just happens to be pleasant. The similarity is just not there.

As to the situation with your children... let me reiterate that I am not saying that smoking is in and of itself a sin. What I am saying is that it is not expedient.

Am I saying that when you puffed a cigar at the birth of your children it was not expedient? Yes, I am saying that.

By the way, congratulations on your kids. God bless you, and them. :il:

In Him,

NF

[3in1]

Likewise, 1 Corin. 3:16 speaks specifically of fornication, but if we are the temples of the Holy Ghost and not our own, doesn't that necessarily mean something in other areas as well?

fornication?

how does something get 'classified' as giving glory to God? im not intending this to be facetious. how does cutting the grass glorify God? how do the mundane things we do glorify God?

is not being expedient synonomous w/ bad/sinful?

in Christ

[jcm]

it kills and kills those  who are innocently minding there own business by being near a  smoker

There's no way second-hand smoke can be justified. If you feel ok about the effects on your body and your relationship with God that's one thing. But endangering the health of people around you is quite another.

Edited September 12, 2004 by jcm

[Botz]

It would be interesting to study what things in our Christian walk G-d has convicted us of that have needed to drop away or change...and how did this conviction come about....and were we or are we being obedient.

All of us struggle against the pull of our flesh to one degree or another for example

1.More time needed to spend getting fit.

2.Less money spent on frivolities.

3.More time devoted to...study,memorising,prayer,fasting.

4.Watching less T.V

5.Getting involved in helping the poor.

6.Overcoming a bad personal trait like anger,jealousy,bitterness,envy

7.Teaching your children the ways of the L-rd

8.Becoming a true worshipper

9.Helping your parents in areas that they struggle

10.Eating less and more healthily.

Allowing the Holy Ghost full access to change you daily is what we all say we want...and we would be willing to do this or do that to prove our devotion to G-d....but what He wants is our obedience...my obedience...the one constant challenge in my Christian life is that I am constantly convicted (not condemned) by the Spirit of G-d to truely allow change to come to me for the glory of G-d...and this involves a constant dying to myself...and my flesh absolutely hates it.

Smoking is a habit that is generally anti-social and common sense tells you that it is far better not to smoke...but it is one of many habits that need change in our lives...how sensitive are we to the conviction of the Holy Ghost...and how obedient are we to what is placed before us. Personally I want NOTHNG to stand in the way of my heart attitude of obedience to G-d...it is never easy.

Smoking is a more obvious weakness that can be seen by many people...but many of us have hidden areas of weakness that should have been dealt with years ago if we truely listen to the Holy Ghost...we should confess our failings to one another and seek to pray for one another and help each other overcome.

James 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much

[tako]

HI CHRISTIANS SMOKE? Yea, I quit smoking about 20 years ago, 3 packs a day, And I must admit I like smoking, But I quit when I found out it was bad for our health. If it wasn't for that, I'd still smoke today, Also I'd like to say about christians smoking the BIBLE says something like this IT'S NOT WHAT GOES IN A MAN THAT DEFILES HIM BUT WHAT COMES OUT OF HIS HEART THAT DEFILES HIM ( or his mouth ). That being said, The BIBLE also says, Our body is the TEMPLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, So we should try to take care of our bodies as best we can? I would say? Anyways, I'm not trying to put anyone on a TRIP, I'm trying my best myself to keep in shape, Always a battle. .........TAKO

[Guest charlie]

deleted

wouldn't want to cause someone to stumble

Edited September 12, 2004 by charlie

[Guest marriedtomymaker]

thanks for all the advice. It would be easy for me to think ---mmm well there are a few here that don't seem to have a problem with smoking and being right with the Lord. I know God is telling me to give it up. Usually when I am out in the garage smoking...(bythe way I NEVER SMOKE WITH MY KIDS OR EVER ANY TIME THEY ARE AROUND AS I DO NOT WANT THEM TO KNOW) I am worrying about something and not dealing with it in the way that God wants me to. Like go to Him to find relief. I am not saying I am going to be able to do it overnight. But, I am going to be praying and seeking accoutability. Mostly I will need to fight the throughts of----"if you do not give it up immediately then God wants nothing to do with you"

thanks again. :hug: :il: