is smoking cigarettes or cigars a sin?

Not necessarily.

Sorry -- that was flip, and implies something I do not mean.

By "not necessarily," I certainly do not mean "it is for some people and not for others." That's bunk. What I do mean is that it depends on whether or not a person is addicted. Yes, we could go on about the body as temple, but I see the bigger issue as one of addiction, being a slave to nicotine or oral fixation.

That said, many, if not most people who smoke are addicted, and that's what is to be avoided, not smoking in and of itself, IMNSHO.

[ January 07, 2003, 06:40 PM: Message edited by: stubbornkelly ]

 

and we should too! I used to smoke and its horrible for the body. I remember the first cigarette I had made me vomit. If thats not the way our God-given body tells us to STOP, then I'm not sure what is

Here's a little experiment people can do if anyone in here smokes. Take a piece of tissue paper, paper towel, or toilet paper, and draw some cigarette smoke into your mouth. Hold the tissue over your mouth tightly and force the smoke through it. Now look at the big brown stain you left of the paper...THATs what ONE puff does! can you imagine the whole cigarette?!?!?

 

Depends what kinds of smoking you're doing. Most people who smoke are endangering themselves by the sheer quantity (a pack every day or two, or more).

Then there's my mom. She was a smoker for years. About 10 years ago, she decided to quit. She tried and failed, tried and failed. Finally, she got down to smoking three cigarettes a week. At the age of 70, she has no signs of lung disease, but when she asked the doctor about getting help to quite, he told her that she may actually put her body through more stress by trying to quit than she would be by keeping her smoking to a minimum. BTW - the word for light smokers like that are called "puffers".

 

Well, true, we shouldn't ignore the body as temple. I didn't mean to imply that.

Only that an occasional cigarette is really no worse for you than an occasional can of soda.

Regular, excessive smoking should be avoided, but if we're really talking about the occasional burn, I see no problems with it.

 

Pardon my ignorance but, just how ridiculous can we get here people? Have we sunk that low to where we have to ask if smoking is wrong for (christians) What happened to being seperate? If we as (christians) do what the unsaved do then WHAT does Christ have to offer them, I ask you? Do you not remember that your body was bought with a price? We must respect our lives as if it were Christ`s, because in reality we belong to Christ. How dare we even think of defiling our bodies. What is next? asking if we can smoke and drink inside the church? Is this not the next logical question? I ask you? Please people let`s use the God given sense we are supposed to have.

[ January 07, 2003, 07:07 PM: Message edited by: trumpet ]

 

do you think it is a sin

I guess if we get right to the point, if it's damaging to the body, or addictive, it's sinful behavior. On the other hand, if it a case of joe and a couple of buddies hanging out at a local cigar joint once every couple of weeks, it's probably not a sin. Gross smelling, yes, but not a sin.

I don't smoke, and I will never smoke. It's a filthy habit. I'd never recommend it, but that doesn't make it a sin, unless it's as I stated above.

On the other hand, eating sauerkraut is a filthy disgusting habit, but we generally wouldn't call that sinful, though not only should it be a sin, it should be punishable by death

 

It's probably not any more sinful than any other harmfull thing you could do to the temple of the Holy Spirit.

 

Oh no! Wouldn't you know it...I like sauerkraut...especially on Der Weinershnitzel hot dogs...but it's not somthing I endulge in very often...actually it's been a couple of years.

 

I think they've pretty much dropped the "Der" in front of "Wienerschnitzel". Besides, it wasn't gramatically correct. It should have been "Das Wienerschnitzel".

I used to love 'em. Then I discovered the polish dogs at Costco!

 

NO! It won't send you to Hell, just make you smell like you've been there!

 

I smoked for almost 10 years. I started going back to church and was trying to get my life back on track with the Lord and I was convicted by the Holy Spirit for smoking. It just wasn't right to be witnessing to someone and blow smoke in their face, bad testimony. I finally gave in to the Lord's will and quit cold turkey, except for the Lord's help of course. I know that if it wasn't for the Lord I would have not stopped. I tried before and lasted for 4 days. I had no smokes and after the 4 days I remebered that I had thrown a half of pack of cigs in the woods, luckily it had not rain yet. That's right folks, I found those cigs and smoked everyone. Cigs, alcohol, drugs are all just plain SIN straight from the pits of Hell.

P.S. I heard a preacher say that it's not the cigarette doing the smoking, it's the SUCKER on the other end.

 

I never realized that there was a loophole in the Bible as far as sin was concerned. IF it is a sin in excess, then, would it not be sin in moderation? I thought we were suppose to be baptist here not catholic,thats like asking if it is a sin to cuss. You can cuss all you want, just don`t take the Lords name in vain. One or two cuss words a week or two or three cigs a week just don`t take the Lords name in vain. Let me ask you this? Would you attend a church where the Pastor openly smoked?

[ January 07, 2003, 09:54 PM: Message edited by: trumpet ]

 

I'll leave it up to y'all whether or not it is a sin, but I think we can all agree it's STOOOOOOPID. I think that is with a capital STUPID.

Wise as a serpent, it ain't. Harmless as a dove, it ain't.

Pardon the sudden breakdown in syntax in the above, just feeling goofy.

 

Legalism alert! I don't smoke, but I am fat. Few Christians approach me and tell me how sinful it is of me to damage the Temple here. But since smoking is now politically incorrect, it is easy to attack.

 

A chimney is designed to smoke, and it must be cleaned annually.

On would you attend if the pastor smoked? Thousands attended Spurgeon's Tabernacle!

The health warnings should be sufficient to convince, but then, the gospel should be enough to convince too!

Cheers,

Jim

 

Homebound, sorry I didn't quote you entirely, just wanted to address these things.

That is exactly the way it was for me. I was saved for a long time and never really had any kind of spiritual growth (I think it is because, the church I went to, tolerated alot of stuff and I never read my Bible much). Then one day at a conference or something, the preaching really got to me about being a witness by our conversation(behaviour) and I really had to take a hard look at myself and the things I did. I had to pray and give it to the Lord and only through Him did I quit.

People think it is no big deal to smoke because it doesn't really alter your thinking or physical capacities, but this is one of satan's many deceptions.

My testimony today is definetly look what the Lord has done for me and look at where He has brought me from! I ask you all, that think that whatever you do is okay,is it showing this world how that Christ can work in a sinners life and transform them into a new creature?

God did not save us just so we could be kind and have everyone say a sinners prayer. He does expects to be kind and TO BE HOLY and through our efforts towards holiness to be witness and a light unto the world.

[ January 08, 2003, 10:04 AM: Message edited by: Walls ]

 

I don't understand why wearing pants is so evil.The Lord has not convicted me about wearing pants.

The Lord did not want me to smoke so that was gone right away. I really didn't have much of a choice it was either feeling like my soul had eaten a lemon every day or following the Lord and just giving it up, But that was just me and I'm not going to look down on anyone else for smoking.

When my husband was in the army he knew a man named Dan and he smoked or chewed ( I can't remember which one) and was still mightly used by the Lord.He used to go to the army dorms and talk to the men about Jesus. It's been over ten years and my husband can still remember what this man said about Jesus.

God used this man even though he used tobacco.

Wearing pants today,
heidi