You would think with all the rundown abandoned areas they could afford to redevelop. Create jobs and affordable housing.
Can I Be a Christian if I Occasionally Smoke Cigarettes
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I don't believe smoking is a sin, but I could be wrong. If you feel it is wrong, even if God would allow it, it will a be a sin for you as your conscious says it is.
"For if because of food your brother or sister is hurt, you are no longer walking in accordance with love. Do not destroy with your choice of food that person for whom Christ died. 16 Therefore do not let what is for you a good thing be [n]spoken of as evil; 17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 For the one who serves Christ in this way is acceptable to God and approved by other people. 19 So then we pursue the things [o]which make for peace and the building up of one another. 20 Do not tear down the work of God for the sake of food. All things indeed are clean, but they are evil for the person who eats [p]and causes offense. 21 It is good not to eat meat or to drink wine, or to do anything by which your brother or sister stumbles. 22 The faith which you have, have [q]as your own conviction before God. Happy is the one who does not condemn himself in what he approves. 23 But the one who doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and whatever is not from faith is sin." Romans 14:15-23 (NASB).
"For if because of food your brother or sister is hurt, you are no longer walking in accordance with love. Do not destroy with your choice of food that person for whom Christ died. 16 Therefore do not let what is for you a good thing be [n]spoken of as evil; 17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 For the one who serves Christ in this way is acceptable to God and approved by other people. 19 So then we pursue the things [o]which make for peace and the building up of one another. 20 Do not tear down the work of God for the sake of food. All things indeed are clean, but they are evil for the person who eats [p]and causes offense. 21 It is good not to eat meat or to drink wine, or to do anything by which your brother or sister stumbles. 22 The faith which you have, have [q]as your own conviction before God. Happy is the one who does not condemn himself in what he approves. 23 But the one who doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and whatever is not from faith is sin." Romans 14:15-23 (NASB).
You've already answered your own question: YOU CAN'T DO IT IN FAITH (if you could you wouldn't have asked the question) so for you it's "sin".
Of course Christians (assuming that you have actually BEEN BORN AGAIN) are NOT "Sinless", and sometimes habits can be VERY HARD to break. Why would you think smoking is a needed activity in "social context"???
Bottom line - SIN for a Christian can be cleansed:
1Jo 1:9
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
I smoked as a Christian for about 4 years (3 packs a day - think what THAT would cost now!!) And WAS TOTALLY UNABLE to kick it - until God gave me the strength and resolve to do it. otherwise it would have been IMPOSSIBLE.
Yes ,I heard a sermon wherein the person said that 1 cigarette is equivalent to a piece of chocolate cake in terms of health damage done. And here we are pointing a finger at someone we find smoking and go ahead and have a piece (maybe more
) of chocolate cake immediately after that.
The REAL ISSUE with smoking (OR DOING ANYTHING COMPULSIVELY) is that it's a violation of the first commandment. Things that are compulsive (that you HAVE TO SERVE) are gods, and GOD is not pleased with us having OTHER gods besides Him.
Except that cocoa comes from a bean and beans are vegetables so chocolate really is good for you. I stand by conviction curse the cigarette and love chocolate all the days of my life.Yes ,I heard a sermon wherein the person said that 1 cigarette is equivalent to a piece of chocolate cake in terms of health damage done. And here we are pointing a finger at someone we find smoking and go ahead and have a piece (maybe more
The extra sugar will make me even sweeter than I am today lol
I can say Amen as I munch on a scoop of chocolate ice cream this evening.
Here's one example for those considering marriage.
A member of my church in USA had a daughter from a previous marriage in Puerto Rico. He flew her in to visit and asked me to take her out and get aquatinted because she was old enough for marriage and he knew me very well. We went bowling and I took her to dinner so we could talk. Everything about her was great from all I could tell during that short time and a phone conversation. Her Dad, step Mom , brother and I got along like family.
The one deal breaker was her cigarette addiction.
I wasn't planning on trying to change her. I know there are far worse things than smoking, but I had a parent who smoked and didn't want to be around that the rest of my life. That was a shame because I really liked her and think she would have possibly made a good wife and mother.
A member of my church in USA had a daughter from a previous marriage in Puerto Rico. He flew her in to visit and asked me to take her out and get aquatinted because she was old enough for marriage and he knew me very well. We went bowling and I took her to dinner so we could talk. Everything about her was great from all I could tell during that short time and a phone conversation. Her Dad, step Mom , brother and I got along like family.
The one deal breaker was her cigarette addiction.
I wasn't planning on trying to change her. I know there are far worse things than smoking, but I had a parent who smoked and didn't want to be around that the rest of my life. That was a shame because I really liked her and think she would have possibly made a good wife and mother.
This matter is between you and God. I was raised a certain way and there are things I deal with that to some may not be a sin, but because of the way I was raised I feel that for me it is a sin. If the Holy Spirit is working on your heart and you feel that this is wrong then listen to your heart.
I was explaining to my husband that maybe some of what I think is a sin may not be a sin, but if I feel that something is coming between me and God and that I feel as though it is separating me from Him then I personally don't think I should be doing that thing.
I hope you understand what I am trying to get across to you and prayers that you will make the right decision which is best for your walk with God. He will never lead you on the wrong path. You already know what is right for you in your heart because when we open our hearts to God He will speak to us and let us know what needs to be changed, corrected or stopped. God Bless You.
I was explaining to my husband that maybe some of what I think is a sin may not be a sin, but if I feel that something is coming between me and God and that I feel as though it is separating me from Him then I personally don't think I should be doing that thing.
I hope you understand what I am trying to get across to you and prayers that you will make the right decision which is best for your walk with God. He will never lead you on the wrong path. You already know what is right for you in your heart because when we open our hearts to God He will speak to us and let us know what needs to be changed, corrected or stopped. God Bless You.
This is the man who is mainly responsible for the premature deaths of millions of women.
https://www.brighteon.com/daf16904-7c6e-4ff6-a70a-2902b28a0a07
Edward Bernays
https://www.brighteon.com/daf16904-7c6e-4ff6-a70a-2902b28a0a07
Edward Bernays
I was born again and grew in the Lord for several months before I quit smoking. There came a point when I knew that the Holy Spirit was telling me that I was willfully sinning if I kept doing it.
I did not even think about it at the beginning. It never crossed my mine as being a sin. And I was still saved. I remember when I was asking "Is smoking a sin?" "What does the Bible say about it?"
Then I learned certain facts, and admitted to scriptural principles in the NT, and I admitted that I was hearing from the Holy Spirit that it was a sin and that I needed to lay it down even if it was going to be hard to quit.
When I knew it was not pleasing to God and that He was telling me to quit, I decided I would rather die suffering from withdrawal than to deliberately sin against the Lord that I said I loved with all my heart, body, mind and strength.
I think saved people think like this. It's an example of the evidence that we have been saved and that His Spirit lives in us when we think like this.
So if we don't think like that the we have to wonder if we are born again yet.
I did not even think about it at the beginning. It never crossed my mine as being a sin. And I was still saved. I remember when I was asking "Is smoking a sin?" "What does the Bible say about it?"
Then I learned certain facts, and admitted to scriptural principles in the NT, and I admitted that I was hearing from the Holy Spirit that it was a sin and that I needed to lay it down even if it was going to be hard to quit.
When I knew it was not pleasing to God and that He was telling me to quit, I decided I would rather die suffering from withdrawal than to deliberately sin against the Lord that I said I loved with all my heart, body, mind and strength.
I think saved people think like this. It's an example of the evidence that we have been saved and that His Spirit lives in us when we think like this.
So if we don't think like that the we have to wonder if we are born again yet.
I figured out the food and recipie section on here..,. They needed a spot for all the Baptists to congregate lokI can say Amen as I munch on a scoop of chocolate ice cream this evening.
That's one of the Baptist distinctives.
Right below the doctrine of Eternal Security is Baptist like to eat and no dessert goes home because there's none left behind....not to be confused with the Lahaye movies.
When your dads parents were authentic traditional Italians.... its only natural God would call you to be a Baptist lol
Good God, food and family !
I must admit to being raised Roman Catholic, like most Italians.
No lack of major dinners there either.
Its ok so were my grandparents.Good God, food and family !
I must admit to being raised Roman Catholic, like most Italians.
No lack of major dinners there either.
Whether or not you smoke cigarettes is not proof of being a Christian.
The proof of a Christian is they hear the Lord speaking to them and they do what He says.
Do you hear the Lord speaking to you? Is He telling you to stop smoking? Are you doing what He says by the grace of God? That is how you know if you are a Christian.
I think you can smoke ciggerattes and it won't label you as a bad christian. I may be wrong though but smoking is not something sinful. It is just avoided as it is not healthy.