IS SMOKING A SIN WORTHY OF DISFELLOWSHIPMENT?

[Meggido]

We are suppose to love GOD and love our neighbor.Would a person that loves their neighbor offend their neighbor with cigarette smoke or should the person that Is offended be stronger?

GOD died on the cross on our behalf,and rose again,we ought to love our brother.So then I won't say that the person offending their neighbor should be kicked out but If they are really saved,I would think they wouldn't want to smoke.

Years and Years ago I used to be addicted to drugs, alcohol and fornicated all over the place and I smoked all the time....
the hardest one to quit were the smokes...

Getting saved doe snot make on automatically just want to stop doing these things.....I would preach a sermon in a Methodist church , shake hands at the back door and then sneak out back light one up , swallow a breath mint just in time for lunch to be served...one day I finally turned it over to the Holy Spirit and said, Holy Spirit, I really have no desire for smoking anymore....make it so gross to me that I will never smoke again...the next morning , I had my cup of Joe, double sweet and lit one up and almost gagged....Never smoked again and its been many years....since then...taught me what covenant agreement was all about....

smoking and abusive drinking and drugging ends when you want it to....and we should not call i=smoking sin for people who might be having such a bad year that it is not the best day to try to stop smoking....

We have found in addiction recovery ministry, smoking is the last one to go...and it should be....and its ok if they do....give them a smoking area away from the kiddos, and self righteous....

 

[Stunnedbygrace]

So having feelings of murder and controlling them from materializing is the same as murdering for our soul?

So my impulses to fall into addiction is the same as falling into addiction?

This is a great way to subside the impulses and reject them, but it lowers acting on them to the same as having desires to act upon them.

These desires are momentary, actions are permanent.

The point Jesus was making is that we do a lot of worrying over what we do on the outside when the root of the problem lies in and springs from the mess our heart is in. If I don't murder inwardly, I won't murder outwardly. He said, if the inside of the cup is clean, the outside just will be as well. But he said it is possible for the outside of the cup to look good to men while inside the cup (the heart) there is rot and corpses. He called it a whitewashed tomb. Clean looking on the outside but with dead bodies inside.

So...can a man do heart surgery on himself? Of course not. He needs a physician to perform an operation on his heart. Who can never ever get angry?? It's impossible for men!

So it begins with trust in Him (faith) in all He has said. We are all serial murderers. It is next to impossible to not murder at least three or four people on your way to work in rush hour traffic! So He says He can create in us a clean heart. That He can make us stop murdering. WE can't do it - He has to do it in us because we are helpless to change ourselves or make ourselves better. So we continue in that trust (faith) that we began in. From start to finish, it is all by trust in Him and all He has said.

However, if a man doesn't believe he is a murderer and his heart is sick and he is in need of a physician, will he ask for the help he needs? Of course not. He doesn't believe he has a murdering problem because he doesn't believe Gods' definition of murder. He instead believes the worlds definition of murder. He believes he has always kept the commandment to not murder.

 

[Meggido]

I don't smoke for "relief from problems or feelings of discomfort".

I smoke because it's enjoyable and I do so with a thankful heart, just as I give thanks to God for anything else.

Most people idolize their cigarettes, in this case they're sinning, but it's not the act of smoking that's sinful in this case, it's the idolatry in their heart that defiles their temple.

Jesus makes this very clear in Matthew 15:11-20 and Mark 7:14-23, where Christ Himself says that there is nothing in this world outside of a mans body that can defile him by entering into his body. People try to say that he was only speaking about certain things but JESUS says THERE IS NOTHING FROM WITHOUT A MAN IN THIS WORLD THAT BY ENTERING HIM THAT CAN DEFILE HIM! Nothing at all. WHAT DEFILES A MAN IS BORN, CREATED WITHIN HIS HEART.

"That which comes out of a man, that deflies the man. For FROM WITHIN,OUT OF THE HEART OF MEN, PROCEED evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness.) All these evil things come from within, and defile the man." -Mark 7:20-23

I respect this....immensely....and agree with you....

I have to say this though and it it may appear to be a double standard but it is not....

I would never let you be on my leadership team as longed as you smoked. I do not let drinkers or smokers or single people living with boyfriend/girlfriend in worship/teaching/preaching/leadership positions...

Romans 14 comes into play here and if you are called to preach/teach or lead worship you could cause someone to stumble who sees you are able to enjoy that cigarette/vape with thanksgiving, but they cannot...

Christian character still maters for those called into full time ministry offices...I have found this is a non issue with truly called and sent ministry people...they really have no desire to drink, smoke or fornicate anyway....

 

[Zmouth]

[h=2]Re: IS SMOKING A SIN WORTHY OF DISFELLOWSHIPMENT?[/h]Well I certainty don't hold it against those think smoking is a sin seeing that those who sin are under the law since it is written in 1 John 3:4, "Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law." But, if the LORD tells me to quit smoking I will quit.

 

[QuickenedByHim]

I respect this....immensely....and agree with you....

I have to say this though and it it may appear to be a double standard but it is not....

I would never let you be on my leadership team as longed as you smoked. I do not let drinkers or smokers or single people living with boyfriend/girlfriend in worship/teaching/preaching/leadership positions...

Romans 14 comes into play here and if you are called to preach/teach or lead worship you could cause someone to stumble who sees you are able to enjoy that cigarette/vape with thanksgiving, but they cannot...

Christian character still maters for those called into full time ministry offices...I have found this is a non issue with truly called and sent ministry people...they really have no desire to drink, smoke or fornicate anyway....

I very rarely smoke in any public place and I will never smoke around someone who is trying to quit or around anybody that might stumble if I do smoke around them. I don't act this way because I think smoking a sin because it isnt. I do so to prevent any unrighteous judgement that might occur in the hearts of others around me.

 

[Stunnedbygrace]

We are (I am) too weak and stupid of the flesh to follow what our conscience and Spirit tells us.

Well...you could start by believing what Jesus has said. You have argued with it instead. You could say...you say anger in my heart is murder Lord, but I'm not believing you, please help my unbelief because I want to trust and believe You.

 

[Stunnedbygrace]

I respect this....immensely....and agree with you....

I have to say this though and it it may appear to be a double standard but it is not....

I would never let you be on my leadership team as longed as you smoked. I do not let drinkers or smokers or single people living with boyfriend/girlfriend in worship/teaching/preaching/leadership positions...

Romans 14 comes into play here and if you are called to preach/teach or lead worship you could cause someone to stumble who sees you are able to enjoy that cigarette/vape with thanksgiving, but they cannot...

Christian character still maters for those called into full time ministry offices...I have found this is a non issue with truly called and sent ministry people...they really have no desire to drink, smoke or fornicate anyway....

Do you think it reflects bad character to smoke?

 

[pckts]

Well...you could start by believing what Jesus has said. You have argued with it instead. You could say...you say anger in my heart is murder Lord, but I'm not believing you, please help my unbelief because I want to trust and believe You.

I quit smoking my real problem 2 months ago. Tobacco 2 days ago (for real). I want to have a clear mind and go about the world without physical urges, not just for Christ, but because I realize it's a better way to live and life.

I will pray for this better understanding. Thank You.

 

[Stunnedbygrace]

I quit smoking my real problem 2 months ago. Tobacco 2 days ago (for real). I want to have a clear mind and go about the world without physical urges, not just for Christ, but because I realize it's a better way to live and life.

I will pray for this better understanding. Thank You.

That all sounds quite good and wise to me.

Keep reading, especially the New Testament for a while. Make sure you know what our Lord has said. Even if you don't understand a lot of it yet, make sure you know what He said. When He begins to show you in real time what He meant, He will recall the relevant verses to your mind - even verses you forgot and didn't have committed to memory - He recalls them and explains them with a real life example and you actually...live the verse then.

 

[pckts]

That all sounds quite good and wise to me.

Keep reading, especially the New Testament for a while. Make sure you know what our Lord has said. Even if you don't understand a lot of it yet, make sure you know what He said. When He begins to show you in real time what He meant, He will recall the relevant verses to your mind - even verses you forgot and didn't have committed to memory - He recalls them and explains them with a real life example and you actually...live the verse then.

I "finished" (I know it's a lifelong study) Mathew and Mark, have to read Luke and John still. Then I hear a lot about James so that is afterwards. I've never ever been a reader so it's hard to read anything, but I understand it's (The Bible's) importance and benefits.

 

[Seekingfamily]

Yeah, I don't want the physical urges myself...with me, I connect it to being mastered by things, anything. Since I read this, I do challenge my own strenth.
King James Bible
All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.

 

[Stunnedbygrace]

I "finished" (I know it's a lifelong study) Mathew and Mark, have to read Luke and John still. Then I hear a lot about James so that is afterwards. I've never ever been a reader so it's hard, but I understand it's importance and benefits.

Hah! In one second He brings it alive for you man. You won't be able to STOP reading when He does it!

 

[Seekingfamily]

I am happy that we got to talk about this, I am going to look at this differently now, as more scripture came me...as I pondered. I am going to start calling cigarettes "Her!" So every time I see one, I will say "Come out of her, don't be mastered" I have great hope!

 

[Huckleberry]

So, my question is this...1. Do you think smoking is a sin, and if so, on what grounds? 2. If it is a sin, how should it be dealt with? Should disfellowshipment be used as a punishment? 3. If so, do you think disfellowshipment should also be applied to obese individuals who are engaged in eating too much? 4. What about sins of the heart, like pride, envy, lust, etcetera? Should we disfellowship people over sins of the heart? And, if so, how many people would be in church?

Smoking in and of itself is not a sin, however addiction is idolatry, which is obviously sinful.
It should at least be dealt with by not permitting it on church property.
It's totally disrespectful when people are out in the church parking lot smoking between functions.
People wouldn't tolerate a porn addict "reading" their material, or a drunk engaging in a breaktime snoot
while waiting for services to begin, but some smokers seem to hold their fellow congregants in such low
regard that they won't go two hours on a Sunday without making us watch them pollute themselves.
Disfellowship for smokers, no, however known idolaters should not hold church offices.

 

[Angela53510]

I had a really bad asthma attack this morning. It wasn't because of second hand cigarette smoke, but because of forest fire smoke, which is covering the interior of BC and east.

It reminded me of the days, even before I was saved, when I would stop being able to talk or sing if someone smoked around me. It reminded me of the days after I was saved, when if someone was smoking outside, on the street next to me, I would drive directly to the ER and get treatment for asthma. It reminds of the decision I made to get allergy shots, so I could live a bit, and it triggered Rheumatoid Arthritis.

The allergy shots worked, more or less. But I can honestly say, I happily don't remember the last time I was around a smoker. Perhaps people from my church smoke at home, but I have never seen them. Or more important, it has never put me in the hospital.

Smoking is a sin, because it destroys the body. Well, lots of bad things people do destroy the body, from too much sugar, to drinking. And if that drunk doesn't get in a car and drive it, or hit his wife (sorry, I know women get violently drunk, too!) then they are no threat to my life.

But, when my air is threatened, when I could die because of their poisonous addiction, then I have to stay - STOP AND THINK! Tobacco has more than 5000 chemicals in it. There are 56 carcinogens. Over 10% of the population, including children have asthma and many, many are affected by second hand smoke.

When I was teaching, there was a 10 year old boy with severe asthma. On a day I wasn't teaching, someone was smoking in the parking lot, and he breathed it. He died! DIED!

Smoking is evil! I'm sorry to people who are addicted, but it affects a lot more than just you. Airline stewardesses (that's what they were called in those days!) used to get lung cancer from second hand smoke, till it was banned from airlines. Many spouses have died from a smoking spouse, because they got lung cancer. Smoking is a totally worthless, addictive habit, and it kills and destroys. It destroys the BODY!

"Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies." 1 Cor. 6:19-20

Get it? Smoking is a sin against not just the smoker's body, but against anyone who breathes the second hand smoke. Rant over!

 

[Magenta]

I was sharing the word to a group of recovering addicts [drugs, alcohol, sex, porn, gluttony] in a Christian ministry a few weeks ago and said this....

If it is easier to light a cigarette or take a toke of the vape and it keeps the needle out your arm, your clothes on, the plate pushed back and the booze from being drank, light em up....

Think abut this real hard and then come back and tell us if any form of addiction is really a sin or just bondage?

Harm reduction may be effective for a while, but
keeping the addiction alive is counter productive.

Miracles can happen when you allow God to move in your life.

Willingness is key.

 

[ArtsieSteph]

Smoking is an addiction that basically takes over your life, your habits, sorts soft kills your body. I personally think smoking is a sin in that it's self destructive to your own body and mind. Because I have family members who have suffered great losses from it, it sort of equate it almost like a self mutilation. But just like any addiction, any way we hurt ourselves, we need other people to help us get through it. Definitely church people praying. I'd ask that person if they could not smoke around me cuz I don't like it, but that doesn't mean I won't hang out with them at a fellowship thingy.

 

[Magenta]

I quit smoking my real problem 2 months ago. Tobacco 2 days ago (for real).

 

[pckts]

View attachment 171893

Still drinking wine, hold the applause

 

[Zmouth]

When I was teaching, there was a 10 year old boy with severe asthma. On a day I wasn't teaching, someone was smoking in the parking lot, and he breathed it. He died! DIED!

Yet breathing the emissions from the cars posed no risk to his health.

Smoking might be harmful to the flesh but lies destroy a person's soul.