is Smoking a sin?

[QuestionTime]

Now that was the most sensible and godly thing I have read in this entire thread.

There is way too much focus on "I am no longer required to do this in order to be saved" and not enough focus on, "What more can I do because I am saved?" No we are no longer under the law for salvation, but as a result of salvation should strive to live righteously. And if you throw the law out because it is no longer "required" it appears you are looking for reasons to excuse unrighteous behavior. We are no longer subject to the law, but how much sweeter is a gift if it is not required?

LOL, Did you read this entire thread? Wow, this was a nightmare this one. Please understand that we suspected our opponent to be caught in legalism, and that is one reason why I dwelt so strongly upon not being under the Law.

We do need to obey God's Law in it's entirety, but I'm convinced that it's God who will cause us to do it by shedding abroad His love in our hearts. That obedience won't save us, but it does prove how much love we have for God, and just how submitted we are to Him. Yes, you are very correct in what you are saying. We ought to be overjoyed to obey all of the commands in the Bible out of love to our dear Savior.

John Wesley said something like the Baptism of the Holy Spirit can only be kept if we focus on a life of good works. He also said basically - and I read this recently - that the great efforts we put forth while under the Law ought to be equal to, or even lesser efforts than we now put forth when we are walking in the Spirit. (Not that I am under the Spirit quite yet).

Anyway, I love your enthusiasm Shelle, you sound like a real fighter to obey God in everything just like I used to be. Just be watchful as satan will enjoy fooling you into a works salvation. He does it to me often, LOL.

And I think that I repent for what I said in my "Am I Saved" thread. I don't think that we should whip ourselves into action to obey all these commands. I think we need to let God work it through us. I have had some great days (including Wednesday) where I just depended on God continually, asking Him to cause me to walk, and I had a very disciplined day and happy day. Today was awful as I just felt ugly all day, but I'm not under the Spirit yet so it won't be perfect.

Quest
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[HolyTriX]

Smoking is a sin. It masters you.

People who are sinners are slaves to sin. But since you know better & you have hope in Christ, you know better. Don't be a slave to Sin.

Think of it this way. Should i be doing ANYTHING that doesn't benefit God? Why are you even alive? To worship him. To Benefit Him. You live for Christ. Not For yourself.

How is smoking going to benefit God?
How will it benefit Others?
& For that matter how will it benefit you? You like being a slave?

 

[HumbleSaint]

The question shouldn't be, " Is smoking a sin"

The question should be, " Would those who are truly born again, and have become a new creature in Christ and put off the old man with his deeds, desire to smoke?

 

[BeauBLESSED]

I'm not a smoker myself, but I can't say I think there'd be anything about smoking that the Bible would disagree with, but at the same time, it has many health risks and it can ultimately wreck your life, so the question here is whether or not you value your life.

 

[livingbygrace]

The question shouldn't be, " Is smoking a sin"

The question should be, " Would those who are truly born again, and have become a new creature in Christ and put off the old man with his deeds, desire to smoke?

Should anyone who has been born again desire anything that is wrong?

Should a person who is truly born again be critical of their fellow Christians or look down on them? The lkist is endless

 

[Consumed]

interesting topic, question is it a sin?? 7yrs ago i went to a meeting being held for some baptist missionaries going overseas who had never experienced the Holy Spirit in action, A friend of mine who is an evangelist told me about the meeting, small gathering, bar b que, few friends, i was eager to go, he looked at me oddly at first and said sure come. I had only got my self right with God after having backslide for a few years ansd yes, i stilled smoked at the time, no secret, hidden or anything. I learnt alot about Gods love and grace the day we went.
We had the bar b que, went inside, sang praise and worship to our Lord and my friend (who was leading the meeting) read out a scripture and then said "thank you Lord you hear us, we have thru our praise and worship prepard your seat amongst us,You have taken your rightful seat, spoken your precious Word, and now we wait on your Spirit to move in power as promised by your Word, may your Spirit fall on the children here first Lord with joy I ask in Jesus name."
Now there were about 8 adults and 2 teenage girls in the room, the moment he said the prayer three of us fell into un containable joy, the two teen agers and myself, i had that much laughter just come on me i fell off the arm rest of the chair i was sitting on. I thought to myself, wow," you see me as a child", i can understand that i was foolish to walk away. I stood up, looked over to the two teenage girls that were in hysterics with laughter and felt to go over to them as i was still in a state of such joy, i then asked one girl i was drawn to if i could pray for her, she replied yes please do. The next words that come out of my mouth were definately not mine, i was amazed myself they actually come out, i placed my hand on her shoulder and whispered in her ear ever so softly " come out you unclean filthy demon" and she fell to the ground screaming in terror. I looked to my friend in a state of disbelief, he said "its ok, Gods just using you to work thru Our Lord has something He wants done". I told the demon to shut up which IT did (she was screaming that loud you would have thought a murder was taking place) and cast the demon out. Her mother was thanking me and i said to her unbewares to me "stop that which you are doing" she cried, i didnt have to make issue with her about what she was doing God, did and she knew it. (God told me she was seeing a witch) DONT PLAY WITH FIRE PEOPLE
Now after this happened i went outside and had a cigarette, we left, went back to where i was staying, woke my friend up who stayed with us i was so excited and told him what happened and he ask me to pray for him. Guess what, he fell to the ground screaming, convulsing and i commanded the demon out in Jesus name. This kept going on for over a week, we had people around every day/night praising and worshipping God, seeing many things done by the power of His Spirit, then our Pastor heard about what was going on and even held a deliverance service on the Sunday night.
Now this was all going on while i was still a smoker. Do i agree we should keep smoking, no, took me a few years after that to be delivered myself, id ask God all the time why He wouldnt, He answered me once, He said its cause i "still enjoy it, He doesnt like me doing it, not good for my health".

I learnt on that first day the importance of praise and worship, how precious His Word is, and to wait on the Holy Spirit to confirm His Word by the power of the Spirit. even more so i l learnt a deeper love from from God, being a prodigal son after having backslide, shame and unworthy i felt and He lifted me up to show His love for me, that i am valuable and precious in His sight.

Now the church leaders just kept hammering me about smoking, felt condemnation and back to being unworthy again and it all stopped. My fault, held what man thought over what God told me, its His power, His grace, His Spirit

Romans 12 says to let a mans own concious write it upon one s own heart. When the time is right for someone to lay something down they will by the power of His Spirit whaen they are ready, to keep following Jesus no matter what and the things of the world will grow strangely dim..

PS the baptist missionaries got what they hoped for, more than they asked for, but hey, thats God for us, always gives us more than we ask or deserve-i got a good report few years later about the girl, she suffered epilepsy up until that time for years and hadnt had a fit since- chemical imbalance???ha ha ha so much for medical science

 

[BlessedBrisbaneBoy]

Hmm, interesting discussion. Here's my 2 cents worth... "Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man". Matt 15:11 NKJV And yes sure, in context Jesus was responding to the Pharisees quizzing Him on why His disciples ate with unwashed hands... but I believe His point still remains valid in a much broader sense. Is smoking a sin ? I believe not. Does Jesus want us to smoke ? Hardly.

 

[QuestionTime]

Now the church leaders just kept hammering me about smoking, felt condemnation and back to being unworthy again and it all stopped. My fault, held what man thought over what God told me, its His power, His grace, His Spirit

Romans 12 says to let a mans own concious write it upon one s own heart. When the time is right for someone to lay something down they will by the power of His Spirit whaen they are ready, to keep following Jesus no matter what and the things of the world will grow strangely dim..

Legalists are always happy to heap rules on people. I used to be the same. But when you learn about God's Grace, you tend not to take such a hard stance upon people.