What do you guys believe about if a christian smokes? I heard Spurgeon smokes cigars and some think you cannot become a real christian until you give it up. Is it a sin that should never be in a christians life or is it a weakness? Do Baptist have a general rule about this? What say ye?
Holy Smoke
Discussion in 'General Baptist Discussions' started by Jedi Knight, Apr 22, 2009.
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Jedi Knight Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
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It is an addiction and a harmful one (yes sinful too) at that - not only to yourself but to others that will happen to breath it (second hand smoke kills) and to those whom a person may influence to begin smoking.
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Considering that there are baptists who either own or work tobacco fields, I hardly think is on the baptist anti-list.
It is a bad and expensive habit like drinking too much soda, eating too many fast food items, or supporting motorcar racing.
Cheers,
Jim -
Smoke, Smoke, Smoke That Cigarette!
(Tex Williams)
Now I'm a feller with a heart of gold
And the ways of a gentleman I've been told
The kind of guy that wouldn't even harm a flea
But if me and a certain character met
The guy that invented the cigarette
I'd murder that son-of-a-gun in the first degree
It ain't cuz I don't smoke myself
And I don't reckon that it'll harm your health
Smoked all my life and I ain't dead yet
But nicotine slaves are all the same
At a pettin' party or a poker game
Everything gotta stop while they have a cigarette
Smoke, smoke, smoke that cigarette
Puff, puff, puff and if you smoke yourself to death
Tell St. Peter at the Golden Gate
That you hate to make him wait
But you just gotta have another cigarette -
Yes. All smokers are going to hell. Along with all those who are overweight, drive race cars, skydive and other various dangerous activities. :rolleyes:
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Rob -
A pipe is ok,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,until you put tobacco in it and light up...........
Cheers,
Jim -
"I was a-sitting in the public just having my pipe and mug of beer, when that child [young Charles Spurgeon] comes in, —to think an old man like me should be took to task, and reproved by a bit of a child like that! Well, he points at me with his finger, just so, and says, "What doest thou here, Elijah? sitting with the ungodly; and you a member of a church, and breaking your pastor's heart. I'm ashamed of you! I wouldn't break my pastor's heart, I'm sure." And then he walks away. Well, I did feel angry; but I knew it was all true, and I was guilty; so I put down my pipe, and did not touch my beer, but hurried away to a lonely spot, and cast myself down before the Lord, confessing my sin and begging for forgiveness." ---Autobiography of Charles Spurgeon
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"Haue you not reason then to bee ashamed, and to forbeare this filthie noueltie, so basely grounded, so foolishly receiued, and so grossely mistaken in the right vse thereof? In your abuse thereof sinning against God, harming your selues both in persons and goods, and raking also thereby the markes and notes of vanitie vpon you: by the custome thereof making your selues to be wondered at by all forraine ciuil Nations, and by all strangers that come among you, to be scorned and contemned. A custome lothsome to the eye, hatefull to the Nose, harmefull to the braine, daungerous to the Lungs and in the blacke stinking fume thereof, neerest resembling the horrible Stigian smoke of the pit that is bottomelesse." ---King James I (1604)
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Source
Spurgeon's Love of Fine Cigars -
Jedi Knight Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
So was Spurgeon wrong to smoke cigars after he was confronted and admonish to stop?
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I say no the one who admonished him was wrong
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What does it matter what Spurgeon has done? Is he the gold standard?
If something is proven to give you cancer, I'd say it is defiling the temple. -
In a way he is, most Christian want to bind other souls when it's says nothing about it in the Bible. In Christ I have the freedom to smoke weather one agrees with me or not is of little consequence to me.
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But, I have to break it to you, Spurgeon, is just a sinner like you and me :). -
Jedi Knight Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
"I think that was between him and God." Well if you read the article it was very open issue. I am not trying to bash Spurgeon at all,but want to be ready to give an answer to the issue if smoking is wrong or not.
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The truth is - it is between you and God, first, and then it is between you and your brethren.
There is no I'll do what I want regardless of others but it is more a truth that what you do is for the Sake of Christ/God and FOR the Sake of others.
Paul illistrates this in saying (paraphrasing) that if what he does causes a brother to stumble (they think it to be sin) then he would not do it ever again. He didn't state he would only do in in the quiet of his home but that he did not want to ever be a stumbling block to another. THAT is christian liberty really is, not just to be able to do certain things but that we can and should ALSO abstain from some things for sake of our brothers and sisters in Christ. 1 John 3:16. It isn't about us it is about Him and them (our brothers and sisters in Christ) when speaking about Christian liberty.
But understand that is done after speaking with the person to whom is offended. (either by them speaking to you directly concerning it, OR you going to them knowing they have an issue with it). -
preachinjesus Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
It is an area of personal liberty. I know plenty of people who smoke. They aren't bad people or bad Christians. Frankly most of them are some of the most authentic, God serving, Gospel spreading people I know.
I know just as many people who drink, visit the buffet too often, have some extra desert, drive a bit too fast, enjoy a pipe, etc etc
They are good people. I just don't understand why we have to embrace a completely "Victorian" lifestyle in order to be "properly Christian." -
agreed, I even enjoy a good drink once in a while
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