Can I Be a Christian if I Occasionally Smoke Cigarettes
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Sandy,
Been walking this path many many years. I say YOU let the Spirit of God convict of the things he finds inappropriate in your life and yourself!
Be not CONFORMED into what others think nor say but rather be TRANSFORMED by the renewing of your mind in Christ!
Be led of the Spirit and the darkness won't cause one to stumble, for he gives LIGHT in dark places.
I smoke, not an endorsement, but my Father & I TALK constantly about ALL things............the ♥️ is what is deceitful & out of it flow many TRUE SINS, that if not brought under subjection will lead away from God.
Seek his advise & counsel by prayer & his word.
Been walking this path many many years. I say YOU let the Spirit of God convict of the things he finds inappropriate in your life and yourself!
Be not CONFORMED into what others think nor say but rather be TRANSFORMED by the renewing of your mind in Christ!
Be led of the Spirit and the darkness won't cause one to stumble, for he gives LIGHT in dark places.
I smoke, not an endorsement, but my Father & I TALK constantly about ALL things............the ♥️ is what is deceitful & out of it flow many TRUE SINS, that if not brought under subjection will lead away from God.
Seek his advise & counsel by prayer & his word.
(use discernment with the linked websites - only keep the good, 1 Thessalonians 5:21 - 22)
First, scientists have known that smoking causes cancer since at least the 1940s. While cancer is not in itself a death sentence, it destroys and too often leads to death, and regardless of cancer, smoking is very unhealthy and can still be deadly.
that does not sound like this at all
James 1
but it does look a lot like this
Smoking steals so much including money that could be given to the poor. It also kills, and it destroys as shown above. Let's not forget those who care about us and depend on us.
Further,
the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. National Toxicology Program, the U.S. Surgeon General, and the International Agency for Research on Cancer have all classified secondhand smoke as a known human carcinogen.
For that^ reason, smoking around others is, in itself, hypocritical because it is potentially deadly for them, and you would not want someone to do something potentially deadly to you or someone you loved, correct? Do you want yourself or a loved one to have to avoid someone's proximity for your safety, especially after 2020?
And yes, it does needlessly destroy God's temple if you have the Holy Spirit.
So can one be a Christian while wasting money on slowly destroying, and very likely killing, yourself/God's temple and probably others who are around your smoking despite being told that your life is not your own (1 Cor 6:19), to treat others the way you want to be treated (Matthew 7:12), and to not destroy God's temple (1 Cor 3:17)?
I myself have gotten delivered from smoking (and I also believe there is a demonic element to it). Others have too. All things are possible with God (Mark 10:27). All things are possible for those who believe (Mark 9:23, Mark 11:22-25). So smoking for the rest of your life is indeed unnecessary.
And if smoking should be considered "sowing to please the flesh" here, then it will lead to destruction
Galatians 6:7-8
There is freedom in Jesus Christ. There is freedom in a real baptism, where we repent from our sins. Yes, God is merciful on our weaknesses and ignorance, but if we have God in us then let's repent from smoking and destroying God's temple. If smoking can truly be compared to fast food or drinking, then we should stop eating fast food and drinking, rather than keep smoking.
First, scientists have known that smoking causes cancer since at least the 1940s. While cancer is not in itself a death sentence, it destroys and too often leads to death, and regardless of cancer, smoking is very unhealthy and can still be deadly.
that does not sound like this at all
James 1
but it does look a lot like this
Smoking steals so much including money that could be given to the poor. It also kills, and it destroys as shown above. Let's not forget those who care about us and depend on us.
Further,
the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. National Toxicology Program, the U.S. Surgeon General, and the International Agency for Research on Cancer have all classified secondhand smoke as a known human carcinogen.
For that^ reason, smoking around others is, in itself, hypocritical because it is potentially deadly for them, and you would not want someone to do something potentially deadly to you or someone you loved, correct? Do you want yourself or a loved one to have to avoid someone's proximity for your safety, especially after 2020?
And yes, it does needlessly destroy God's temple if you have the Holy Spirit.
So can one be a Christian while wasting money on slowly destroying, and very likely killing, yourself/God's temple and probably others who are around your smoking despite being told that your life is not your own (1 Cor 6:19), to treat others the way you want to be treated (Matthew 7:12), and to not destroy God's temple (1 Cor 3:17)?
I myself have gotten delivered from smoking (and I also believe there is a demonic element to it). Others have too. All things are possible with God (Mark 10:27). All things are possible for those who believe (Mark 9:23, Mark 11:22-25). So smoking for the rest of your life is indeed unnecessary.
And if smoking should be considered "sowing to please the flesh" here, then it will lead to destruction
Galatians 6:7-8
There is freedom in Jesus Christ. There is freedom in a real baptism, where we repent from our sins. Yes, God is merciful on our weaknesses and ignorance, but if we have God in us then let's repent from smoking and destroying God's temple. If smoking can truly be compared to fast food or drinking, then we should stop eating fast food and drinking, rather than keep smoking.
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Just to clarify, I think a real Christian is a disciple of Jesus and that a real disciple would seek deliverance from smoking (which is available to everyone) after learning the truth about its harmfulness to themselves and those around them, especially after learning that we are not our own, and that it wastes money that could have helped the poor, for example.
You could even consider it selfish if they knowingly ignore that those who care about or depend on them would suffer should they untimely depart from it without at least repenting.
And again, this is true
Hebrews 10
26If we deliberately go on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no further sacrifice for sins remains, 27but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume all adversaries.
You could even consider it selfish if they knowingly ignore that those who care about or depend on them would suffer should they untimely depart from it without at least repenting.
And again, this is true
Hebrews 10
26If we deliberately go on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no further sacrifice for sins remains, 27but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume all adversaries.
You said;
Just to clarify, I think a REAL Christian is a disciple of Jesus and that a REAL disciple would seek deliverance from smoking.
You could even consider it SELFISH if they knowingly ignore that those who care about or depend on them......
No verse says * smoking * is a sin, other things such as SINS FROM THE HEART are much spoken about !
Hebrews 10:26 is being used as a stone to throw instead of encourage.......JUDGE MUCH?
Back then it was socially acceptable to smoke, mostly due to ignorance of the long term health effects smoking causes.
Today we know cigarettes are made with Over 3000 hazardous chemicals causing different cancers, multiple diseases, and other long term destructive health issues.
I wouldn't say what was ok back then is ok today. Sin in ignorance is still sin.
Today we know cigarettes are made with Over 3000 hazardous chemicals causing different cancers, multiple diseases, and other long term destructive health issues.
I wouldn't say what was ok back then is ok today. Sin in ignorance is still sin.
The old saying goes: "God's not as interested in what you've GOT, as He is in what's GOT YOU."
Cigarettes aren't INTRINSICALLY EVIL. Being HOOKED (as I was - cigarettes were my god for years) is where the problem comes in. Essentially, Obsessive HABITUAL BEHAVIOR is a "god" before THE God - a violation of the first commandment.
I was a Born again Christian for many years, and a habitual smoker until God finally enabled me to BREAK the habit (cold turkey).
Cigarettes aren't INTRINSICALLY EVIL. Being HOOKED (as I was - cigarettes were my god for years) is where the problem comes in. Essentially, Obsessive HABITUAL BEHAVIOR is a "god" before THE God - a violation of the first commandment.
I was a Born again Christian for many years, and a habitual smoker until God finally enabled me to BREAK the habit (cold turkey).
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1 Corinthians 6:19 suggests that your flesh is not yours if you have been bought by Jesus. Smoking destroys one's body.
So if someone belongs to God, then presumably, them smoking destroys something that is God's, not theirs.
If "God's temple" includes your heart (Galatians 4:6), consider that your risk of heart disease is higher when you smoke, and God will destroy those who destroy His temple (1 Corinthians 3:17). Dying from cancer is also not good for the heart.
Smoking wastes money,
Smoking makes life dangerous for those around your smoking. You would not want yourself or your loved ones to put be in danger, especially when it is not necessary.
And yes, if you have a family then smoking can take you away from them prematurely (e.g. lung cancer). You would not want a loved one to die from smoking, especially if you needed them financially or emotionally.
I believe a disciple of Jesus would at least repent upon truly comprehending all of this and seek deliverance which I encourage them to.
So if someone belongs to God, then presumably, them smoking destroys something that is God's, not theirs.
- 1 Corinthians 6:19 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;
- 1 John 5:17 All unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin not unto death.
If "God's temple" includes your heart (Galatians 4:6), consider that your risk of heart disease is higher when you smoke, and God will destroy those who destroy His temple (1 Corinthians 3:17). Dying from cancer is also not good for the heart.
Smoking wastes money,
- Luke 16:11 So if you have not been faithful with worldly wealth, who will entrust you with true riches?
Smoking makes life dangerous for those around your smoking. You would not want yourself or your loved ones to put be in danger, especially when it is not necessary.
- Matthew 7:12 In everything, then, do to others as you would have them do to you. For this is the essence of the Law and the Prophets.
And yes, if you have a family then smoking can take you away from them prematurely (e.g. lung cancer). You would not want a loved one to die from smoking, especially if you needed them financially or emotionally.
I believe a disciple of Jesus would at least repent upon truly comprehending all of this and seek deliverance which I encourage them to.
- Mark 9:23 And Jesus said to him, "If You are able? All things are possible to the one believing."
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Just to put shrimp in with the kettle of unknown fish........
Slothfulness, overindulgence, ect are sins of the body also but.........I personally know many a brethren who are fat & lazy!
Folks try to hammer their opinions as if it WERE THE TRUTH !
God is the final judge and I've yet to meet a pristine, perfect flesh & blood person! !
Slothfulness, overindulgence, ect are sins of the body also but.........I personally know many a brethren who are fat & lazy!
Folks try to hammer their opinions as if it WERE THE TRUTH !
God is the final judge and I've yet to meet a pristine, perfect flesh & blood person! !
Just to be adversarial......
Which is worse, the WILLFUL SIN OR THE SIN OF IGNORANCE ?
God will be judge of both....no?
He did ONCE wink @ ignorance but no more.
Now the " SIN OF IGNORANCE".....hmmm WHAT DO ANY SUPPOSE .....THIS....REALLY MEANS ?
Is it by OUR OWN STANDARDS of understanding?
Is it by Gods standard , HIS WORD & HIS SPIRIT that our actions, thoughts, beliefs are judged ?
Amen I should not condemn people for unrighteousness.
I don't think the answer though is to start calling evil good though, but rather to repent and show mercy.
I repent for being lazy and have tried to stop. Sometimes I mess up, but I would like to think it is not deliberate and God is merciful on our weaknesses and ignorance.
If one does the same for smoking, I believe God will be merciful for them as well. I apologize for being hypocritical and repent if I have been. I would even say that there may be people who have sought deliverance but did not receive it yet. I believe God may be merciful because of their efforts, so I also apologize for saying anything contrary to that.
But if we keep on deliberately sinning, we would be in trouble imo.
Believe the Word of God over any of my mistakes, however.
I don't think the answer though is to start calling evil good though, but rather to repent and show mercy.
I repent for being lazy and have tried to stop. Sometimes I mess up, but I would like to think it is not deliberate and God is merciful on our weaknesses and ignorance.
If one does the same for smoking, I believe God will be merciful for them as well. I apologize for being hypocritical and repent if I have been. I would even say that there may be people who have sought deliverance but did not receive it yet. I believe God may be merciful because of their efforts, so I also apologize for saying anything contrary to that.
But if we keep on deliberately sinning, we would be in trouble imo.
Believe the Word of God over any of my mistakes, however.
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As a young teenager growing up, I believed I could not be good enough for God, due to the teaching of the church I went to. And, my behaviour reflected that. After the service, I would sit on a wall close to the church and smoke a cigarette. The looks I got from some of the parishoners made me believe I would go to hell for smoking alone, yet alone all my other imperfections. Years later, I went to hear an internationally known evangelist speak at a church. A few of us went out for private prayer in a side room after the service. Though the evangelist had never met me before, they told me much about my life, and confirmed I was baptised in the Holy Spirit-with evidence. And yet, at that time I still smoked. I learnt a lesson that day, that made a deep impression on me. God does not lay the demands on people some of his children do, in order for them to be saved, remain saved, or bless them.
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I started smoking when I was 13 years old, lol! Then I became a Christian at 17 and I continued to smoke. The only reason I stopped at 22 was because it got too expensive! So I'm not sure what God thinks about it, but if it wasn't for His willingness to help me stop, I wouldn't have been able to.
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