Can I Be a Christian if I Occasionally Smoke Cigarettes

do not judge others. judge oneselfe .. get the Holy spirit seek JEsus .

there may be a "consensus", but it doesn't really matter, what matters is what He guides us to do, and we are to acknowledge Him in ALL things. I don't believe He desires us to smoke, drink, practice self mutilation, etc.

so sweet

oh sweetness is not me lol

I was honest . gets me in trouble..

but sharing a wine by the side of a pool is a good day.

We all come to Him as we are, afterward we don't stay the way we were as we are more and more transformed into the image of our Savior.

I’m a Christian and a smoker. It’s not a good thing nor do I believe God condones it, but I don’t think it violates Gods law directly. Of course I could very well be wrong. I will leave it at that.

I recall being at a Promise Keepers conference or two, we smokers were outside giving each other guilty looks.
The Lord delivered me from it quit completely and quickly, I felt His power to the bottom of my lungs, next day I could look at a rack of smokes and it had no temptation at all.
blessings to all

Because of my lifeguarding and synchronized swimming, I always have watched what I have ate. Thank you for your supportive comment. Was so sweet.

I guess I meant if you're ashamed that people might catch you doing it so do it in secret, it's probably not something you should do. I find if I smile at people, they sometimes smile back. If they frown, I know they probably think I'm planning to rob them, so know better than to say hello and make them even more twitchy.

The line of what is permissible vs not permissible is rather undefinable.

But mostly it's a matter of identity and what defines you as an individual.

Is smoking an occasional cigarette going to turn you into a different person?
I personally don't think so.

Is lambasting anyone who uses a tobacco product going to define you?
Absolutely, and the identity is not one shared by Jesus.

The identity and focus of your life is the issue here and not an individual practice...but that isn't to say that some practices are so life changing that you can't identify with being a follower of Jesus when doing them.

There was a time when eating a ham and cheese sandwich would get you on the outs with God....today it's not the identity changer that it once was. Nobody thinks anything about a ham and cheese sandwich today except maybe, "Can I have a bite?"

This is a bit more complicated than a simple yes or a simple no. Three things to consider:
1. Knowledge and understanding of a thing
2. Your conscience. The part of man that tells us of right and wrong
3. Your temple where God dwells.

Whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.” For example, if a person is taught and comes to believe that wearing lipstick is a sin and then wears lipstick, that person is sinning. The sin resides not in the lipstick but in the intent to act against what one believes to be the command of God" - R.C. Sproul

Our conscience must be trained and molded with truth. If you have correct knowledge and understanding about God and about cigarettes, and your conscience is telling you it's bad, you shouldn't go against your conscience. That is sin. BUT that does NOT mean you are not a Christian.

Now for the temple. There is not one good benefit from smoking cigarettes, but there are a host of bad side effects you get from smoking. Ultimately you are willingly killing yourself. Not only that but you are gladly paying somebody else to do so. Joyfully paying someone to help kill yourself does not sound Godly. Instead it sounds crazy, but not surprising. Death and sin feels and taste good. Just ask Adam and Eve. You are precious in Gods sight. It's impossible that He takes joy in watching his children kill themselves. Not only that but you are defiling His temple. In the Old Testament you would be killed for walking in the temple and destroying it. Something like that was unimaginable except to the wicked gentiles. In our times (New testament) God does not dwell in temples like in the Old Testament. He dwells in us. We should have great respect for His temple. This also go for those who are willingly killing themselves with food.

Now don't feel to bad. This great respect must be learned. We do not automatically have it. Through His spirit and the process of sanctification, He will help you gain this respect. Through learning more of Him He will prick your conscience and you will start to change and become more like Christ. I hope this helps.

I might just smile and blush for you. Like to feel pretty in my bikini.

I had a pastor say once " Smoking may not send you to hell, but it will make you smell like you have been there." lol
Smoking is very hard on your health, even more so if you are a woman. It's also dangerous to those around you. I would really try to find another method of relaxing.

well i amsure you llok preety but i wont say as i feel way too old today

All I ask of smokers is to be considerate of non-smokers. Pipe smoke, and some cigars dont bother me, but if someone is smoking cigarettes (the cheaper they are the worse it is) and I get second- hand smoke; I immediately become congested, and cannot breathe through my nose.

If you ever switch to vaping, stay away from the THC products and vitamin E acitate(?) Products. They are giving people pneumonia.

The Lord can change people too. If you ever want to quit, but find it difficult, he is the one to ask for help!

when you are led by the spirit to quit smoking then do it. if not by the spirits power you will be doing it all in your own strength and that is not a fight many can win

Found myself smoking more with the events of the last 2 days in the news.

Hello James. Thank you for your comments. With all the sad news in the last 2 days found myself smoking more. A cigarette in my fingers is warm and assuring. Is relaxing and a way to deal with stress.

So yes can be Christ follower while smoking.

But not sure it good for health or mouth smell LOL

Thank you for your kind words.