IS SMOKING A SIN WORTHY OF DISFELLOWSHIPMENT?

[Blain]

I'm gonna be honest I only just now re entered this thread because I saw stunnedbygrace saying how wise someone is and if she says someone is wise I have top check the person she talking about out as wisdom attracts the hungry lol

 

[Stunnedbygrace]

Starting smoking in the first place makes it harder to deal with stress, why do you think smokers find it hard to quit? The receptors in the brain which create natural calmness, and also, proteins in the brain which control the sleep clock (in newer research), are damaged.

When someone started smoking in the beginning it was to 'cope with something'. Whether that was a dysfunctional family, childhood abuse or other trauma, lack of friends.

Did any non-smoker who became a smoker, see people smoking, think I know it's bad, I know it's unhealthy, but I'll do it anyway because my life is great and God is on my side in doing so?

But while some people may not have listened to the devil who says, you know you want one, you know you want to feel worthy, you know you want to forget about the past, you know you want to rebel, there are others who were fortunate to choose a different path. And smokers will not accept that, accept that they tend to be more weak-minded than those who never took up smoking.

This makes them more likely to be deceptive to themselves, and to others. And in answer to what StunnedByGrace said in a couple of responses, smokers will rarely speak positively of smoking in public. It's mainly if you want to try and help them quit, or you see it damaging their health, or you see them coughing all the time and try to advise.

I'm not here to make smokers feel bad, I'm here to speak the truth.

I've helped people quit drugs, I have never had any success helping anyone quit smoking.

And StunnedByGrace, not sure why you want to trample on my own observations of smokers and how they behave. Are you a smoker?

I wasn't trying to trample on your observations of smokers. I was stating that none of the smokers who had come in here and spoken seemed to fit your observations.

 

[Stunnedbygrace]

I smoke, in fact I'm having a smoke now whilst I post this.
I'm not proud and I don't like what I'm doing.
Been told that I'm gong to hell and will smell like it when I go there.

Now what I am going to say is thruth.

When away on a break I went for a smoke.
Sat outside and someone asked me for a light. I gave him him a light.
God asked me to engage with him.
Long story short turns out he had just been release from prison. Was on probation.
God asked me to ask him why (I crapped myself) so I asked him.
He answered why but he said one sentence I honed in on.

"I used to be a Christian?
I said "Used to be, have you confessed Jesus as Lord and believe in your heart God raised him from the dead for the forgiveness of your sins?
He said yes.

That night he came back to God.

I am going on holiday next month to the same place I'm have been to for the last 7 years.
I like to have a beer and a smoke late in the afternoon.

Every year whilst sat doing that I started conversation with people and every year I have been able to pray for them.
In fact for the last 4 years I have met the same people and they have asked me to pray for them.

Ok I'm not advertising smoking here but just giving my experience.
Smoking is bad I agree but equally not loving people is tragic.

God has used my weakness to help others.

I'm covered in those wonderful goosebumps...just waves and waves of them...

 

[joefizz]

I can't even write on a phone.
I bought a tablet for when I'm out all day and might get bored.
I check in. It keeps my blood pressure up... !
But i can't really reply to anyone.
P.S. I use a computer.

Hey. Don't worry about grammar. We all know about that.
Paragraphs seem easy.
I know what you're doing, you just type and type. It's called wrap around...

I just like what you write and sometimes I can't read it.
But I love you anyway !

Take care JF

no I'm pretty sure "wrap around" is when you wrap yourself in wrapping paper by accident while wrapping a large present!!!

 

[laura_charlotte]

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 is one of the worst things you can do to many different organs of the human body. Your body is a temple of Christ and is to be treated as such. We belong to God and we're here to do His will in our lives so He can be glorified. We're not doing that if we think we can do what we like with our bodies, minds and life. The idea of being a Christian is to give all that free will to Christ and to hear His instruction for our every step.

It's nothing short of betrayal for us to identify ourselves as Christians and, knowingly, go and do damage to our bodies that God armed us with. The temple He has for us is to use effectively and to show others His works and ways, it is not something to be defiled from such a destructive habit.

We all fall short, however I'd venture to claim that there's no one who doesn't know the inherent dangers of smoking, that there is nothing healthy in the practice at all. Instead of dealing with one's issues in a productive manner they chose smoking as a release, regardless of the consequences, and inherently show no respect for and cause illness to the temple of Christ.

If you're a Christian and have a basic knowledge of God's word on these matters, that's more than sufficient to know how you must intervene.

 

[FranC]

I'm covered in those wonderful goosebumps...just waves and waves of them...

BillG has that effect, doesn't he?
You should hear him pray...
He's a real blessing.

 

[p_rehbein]

Then, of course, there is alcohol, sweets, fried foods, sugary drinks, high fat foods, breathing polluted air, contaminated water, eating pork, red meat, and so on and so forth.........

Let's get 'em all in there......not just thissin'

Smoking is one of the worst things you can do to many different organs of the human body. Your body is a temple of Christ and is to be treated as such. We belong to God and we're here to do His will in our lives so He can be glorified. We're not doing that if we think we can do what we like with our bodies, minds and life. The idea of being a Christian is to give all that free will to Christ and to hear His instruction for our every step.

It's nothing short of betrayal for us to identify ourselves as Christians and, knowingly, go and do damage to our bodies that God armed us with. The temple He has for us is to use effectively and to show others His works and ways, it is not something to be defiled from such a destructive habit.

We all fall short, however I'd venture to claim that there's no one who doesn't know the inherent dangers of smoking, that there is nothing healthy in the practice at all. Instead of dealing with one's issues in a productive manner they chose smoking as a release, regardless of the consequences, and inherently show no respect for and cause illness to the temple of Christ.

If you're a Christian and have a basic knowledge of God's word on these matters, that's more than sufficient to know how you must intervene.

 

[p_rehbein]

A couple of thoughts keep occurring to me as I read the comments here.

1) Of those 18 who voted "sin, unrepentant" how many are Grace Only, OSAS, or Calvinists? That would kinda change the vote would it not?

2) There are, at any given time, one or more threads here concerning Christians living a sin free life (or some such). Of those same 18, how many live a sin free life (for the sake of argument, smoking is a sin)? Is smoking a greater, more damning sin than those you commit daily?

As for me, I really don't care if someone smokes or not. I see it as being between them and God. Same with the consumption of alcohol. Now, at one time, I was as dead set against people who drink as some here are against those who smoke. However, realizing that I was not perfect, and had my own flaws, I had to set aside my dislikes and realize that chastising someone for drinking while I had my own flaws was pretty hypocritical of me. So now, I accept that we all have free will, and that is God given, and folks can screw up their lives however they want. It isn't my business to judge them. It is between them and God.

Yeah, second hand smoke is bad.....what about second hand alcohol? It's called drunk driving. How many folks are maimed and killed every day because of that? Where is the soap box thread concerning second hand alcohol?



anyway.......

 

[preacher4truth]

Well, I have to admit that I smoke, many times for hours long intervals. I don't do it every day though, so it doesn't really control me. My wife doesn't mind when I smoke, nor do my friends &c, they have never asked me to quit.

For the record, the things that I "smoke" are ribs, brisket, pulled pork, turkey, salmon, chicken &c, and no one has ever asked me to quit.

 

[gb9]

For the record, the things that I "smoke" are ribs, brisket, pulled pork, turkey, salmon, chicken &c, and no one has ever asked me to quit.

and, most folks love the second hand smoke coming off those!!

 

[laura_charlotte]

Then, of course, there is alcohol, sweets, fried foods, sugary drinks, high fat foods, breathing polluted air, contaminated water, eating pork, red meat, and so on and so forth.........

Let's get 'em all in there......not just thissin'

Personally I don't drink alcohol, eat meat or sugar at all. Pollution is largely out of my control, but there are measures individuals can (and do) take to contribute toward making the environment a better place. If you'd like to address pollution specifically amongst your litany of complaints, smoking again is a significant contributor to the issue. There is no comparison. Deflection and excuse making won't give you a leg to stand on, it doesn't give you a solid argument in the least. Essentially it's got nothing to do with judging a person and everything to with answering the OP's question they're seeking the truth of the matter on.

If you make the rounds of hospitals and talk to people with lung cancer, if you go into households and see how people are affected by secondhand smoke, if you speak to many former smokers, they'll attest to the difference it made in their lives and what they put themselves in a much more able mind and bodied position to be able to do again - living for the Lord and doing God's will for their life. As opposed to those who don't make the necessary changes and their health is rampant with problems or they leave this life prematurely, the evidence speaks for itself.

 

[Issachar92]

No,a thousand times no,the church is not an exclusive club for Christians. Its a place for people to meet Jesus and to hear the good news preached,how else will they hear? No,you're 100% wrong.

How else will they hear? By going to the highways and byways. You can't expect lost people to want to come to church to hear the good news.. We dont need to make our church services into worldly garbage just to attract the lost people, if they can come to a regular service its all good, my point was not to make the church into a circus like the charismatics have done to attract the lost people. We got everything from effeminate weirdos performing with their rock bands to bingo to art shows to plays on stage. We dont need that garbage. That was my point not that lost people aren't "allowed" in church, just that we shouldn't conform to the world to attract them.

 

[PeterJens]

Smoking kills you, it harms your lungs and promotes cancer.

At all costs it should be avoided. Asmatics cannot be in the same room as smoke and
it is very expensive which is just burnt up in smoke.

If we get too heavy on these issues, we should all eat well, be fitness and health people
with a totally outgoing and upbeat life style.

This is part is true, but it takes time to get there and not be a preacher of life style rather
than a preacher of Jesus.

 

[Stephen63]

What I keep noticing is some slowly increasing their talk about smoking, making it look like a good thing.

Then there are those who demand equal rights for the other sins.

After reading, one can only presume there's a lot of smokers on here that don't care about quitting.

One thing that I've learned is I ought to be very thankful I never smoked. My Mom & brothers smoked cigs, & my dad cigars.

I was offered cigs by my mother when I was 14. I couldn't stand them. My oldest brother offered me beer at 13, & I couldn't stand it either.

It's obvious to me that was intervention from God, & I'm grateful.

 

[Stunnedbygrace]

Smoking is one of the worst things you can do to many different organs of the human body. Your body is a temple of Christ and is to be treated as such. We belong to God and we're here to do His will in our lives so He can be glorified. We're not doing that if we think we can do what we like with our bodies, minds and life. The idea of being a Christian is to give all that free will to Christ and to hear His instruction for our every step.

It's nothing short of betrayal for us to identify ourselves as Christians and, knowingly, go and do damage to our bodies that God armed us with. The temple He has for us is to use effectively and to show others His works and ways, it is not something to be defiled from such a destructive habit.

We all fall short, however I'd venture to claim that there's no one who doesn't know the inherent dangers of smoking, that there is nothing healthy in the practice at all. Instead of dealing with one's issues in a productive manner they chose smoking as a release, regardless of the consequences, and inherently show no respect for and cause illness to the temple of Christ.

If you're a Christian and have a basic knowledge of God's word on these matters, that's more than sufficient to know how you must intervene.

We all know the inherent dangers of murdering too. That should be enough for us to stop doing it? We have more than a basic knowledge of what Jesus said anger in our heart is. How many of us know and believe Him and yet we are still overcome by it when someone cuts us off in traffic and almost starts a 15 car pile-up? Or when someone attacks us with unfair accusations in bible forum? Or when someone uses the last of the toilet paper and doesn't replace the roll? Or eats all of the ice cream (like Bruce on refeed day).

 

[Stunnedbygrace]

Smoking kills you, it harms your lungs and promotes cancer.

At all costs it should be avoided. Asmatics cannot be in the same room as smoke and
it is very expensive which is just burnt up in smoke.

If we get too heavy on these issues, we should all eat well, be fitness and health people
with a totally outgoing and upbeat life style.

This is part is true, but it takes time to get there and not be a preacher of life style rather
than a preacher of Jesus.

Very wise post peter.
We will overcome nothing without Him.
Preaching lifestyle is definitely getting the horse before the cart!

 

[preacher4truth]

and, most folks love the second hand smoke coming off those!!

Not trying to commit sacrilege here, but just think about the Temple sacrifices and the smell surrounding it all the time. Had to smell like a barbecue.

 

[dcontroversal]

Not trying to commit sacrilege here, but just think about the Temple sacrifices and the smell surrounding it all the time. Had to smell like a barbecue.

Nothing like beef on the grill HAHHAHAH <---a sweet smelling savor

 

[sparkman]

I'm definitely not for smoking. As I've grown older, I've realized how important lung capacity is. Younger people don't think about those things while they're smoking.

I like the "preaching lifestyle before preaching Jesus" remarks and putting the cart before the horse.

 

[plainguy]

Interestingly enough, a study on smoking conducted for the U.S Gov't and presented to Congress in 1982 has been made unavailable for public reading and has been removed from the internet. A few have saved some excerpts from it. Attached below is one. I'm not here to suggest that smoking is a good thing. It is a filthy and stinky habit that many have struggled with and is an entire waste of money. But .... what if this article contains much truth ? What then ... and what if ? Long story short, the blame for lung cancer rates increasing has to do with our gov't's testing and using the atomic bombs. Some of this studies findings will surprise many. Some won't believe it, to be sure. Take 5 minutes to read it .. or don't.

Smoking Helps Protect Against Lung Cancer