Do you smoke?

[HappyChristian]

Just a thought here - what about the verse that says, "Whether therefore ye eat or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God." If God will get glory out of our action, it is good. If He will not, it is bad (whether it's eating a cheeseburger, which can be bad for some people but not bother others, or chocolate, or what have you).

The question we should ask ourselves before we do something is "Will others see Christ in my actions and glorify my Father in Heaven through what I am about to do?"

[pneu-engine]

Just a thought here - what about the verse that says, "Whether therefore ye eat or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God." If God will get glory out of our action, it is good. If He will not, it is bad (whether it's eating a cheeseburger, which can be bad for some people but not bother others, or chocolate, or what have you).

The question we should ask ourselves before we do something is "Will others see Christ in my actions and glorify my Father in Heaven through what I am about to do?"

A most hearty

As I said in a former post, it isn't only the "sorcery" issue. There are much bigger things at stake here::: Namely one's testimony before the world and weaker brethern.

The issue of the "Glory of God" is most important of all.

[brosmith]

I believe that they probably knew it was wrong. I would say that the reason why the "Christians" of that day could enjoy smoking is because they were never saved in the first place. The majority of them were from Southern Baptist churches. The SBC has been filled with heretics and hypocrites for well over 100 years.

[bzmomo7]

A most hearty

As I said in a former post, it isn't only the "sorcery" issue. There are much bigger things at stake here::: Namely one's testimony before the world and weaker brethern.

The issue of the "Glory of God" is most important of all.

Yes, I agree with both of the above.......but can somebody please stand up and say, "Name ONE person who died from eating too much chocolate!?" We are borderlining stupidity here. Cigarettes KILL people, and the last time I checked, they couldn't be consumed as a food source.

[dwayner79]

Just a thought here - what about the verse that says' date=' "Whether therefore ye eat or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God." [b']If God will get glory out of our action, it is good. If He will not, it is bad (whether it's eating a cheeseburger, which can be bad for some people but not bother others, or chocolate, or what have you).

The question we should ask ourselves before we do something is "Will others see Christ in my actions and glorify my Father in Heaven through what I am about to do?"

I think you switched mid stream...
Of the two bolded statements, the former is correct, the latter is not (always). We cannot bow to everyone's whimsical ideologies. We can take care not to offend those young in the faith, and we should not try to offend. If PE was coming over to the house, I would not choose that night to light up for my twice yearly pipe. At the same time, in a discussion setting I should not cower from my beliefs and not discuss a topic which some call sin. I cannot let "that which is good be spoken of as evil".

[dwayner79]

Yes, I agree with both of the above.......but can somebody please stand up and say, "Name ONE person who died from eating too much chocolate!?" We are borderlining stupidity here. Cigarettes KILL people, and the last time I checked, they couldn't be consumed as a food source.

I imagine more people die of heart issues, then lung cancer. That said, I agree that you cannot smoke a lot without being addicted (something I would also say about Chocolate and cheeseburgers). Addiction to anything is wrong. It is sin. Being addicted to cigarettes kills people.

[pneu-engine]

I imagine more people die of heart issues' date=' then lung cancer. That said, I agree that you cannot smoke a lot without being addicted (something I would also say about Chocolate and cheeseburgers). Addiction to anything is wrong. It is sin. Being addicted to cigarettes kills people.[/quote']
I do not see the same kind of addiction to chocolate or cheeseburgers as exists with tobacco, or most other types of drugs.

As far as people dying from heart disease. It has to do with a sluggish life-style. Cheeseburgers are a double whammy. First the beef they use isn't the high-quality ultra-lean stuff we would want to buy. Second, the American cheese they use is a chemically processed cheese that ruins (the taste of, IMHO) everything it touches. Cheese is good, but that stuff (American cheese) is not cheese in the truest sense.

Typically, Americans who indulge heavily on cheseburgers, french-fries and other fast foods do not get enough cardio-vascular strength-building exercise.

[dwayner79]

I agree...

[HappyChristian]

When I posted, I wasn't saying that chocolate was bad, nor cheeseburgers...what I was saying is that we need to measure our actions by what brings glory to God. A diabetic better stay away from chocolate (and my dad is supposed to avoid carrots, too!). Someone who wants to lose weight should avoid cheeseburgers.

The Bible says to be moderate in all things. Smoking a pipe two or three times a year is moderate. Smoking it that seldom will not kill - it will destroy cilia every time smoke is drawn into the lungs, which eventually destroys the lungs, but it will not kill. But! It harks back to glorifying God.

We are to glorify God by our works...people will see our works and glorify God. As has been mentioned, many lost people look on smoking as wrong if a Christian does it. Should we then go ahead and smoke even occasionally? Should we do what we do because we CAN or because it is right? Should we not do what we don't do because we CAN'T or because it is wrong?

PE -just to let you know...I do know women who are addicted to chocolate! And I know other people who are addicted to certain kinds of fast food. Anything can become a stronghold in our lives if we let it - good or bad!

[bzmomo7]

I imagine more people die of heart issues, then lung cancer. That said, I agree that you cannot smoke a lot without being addicted (something I would also say about Chocolate and cheeseburgers). Addiction to anything is wrong. It is sin. Being addicted to cigarettes kills people.

I imagine you're right! Mostly because heart disease is complicated and is affected by many different factors, including not only the types of foods people eat, exercise or lack thereof and genetics, but also the fact of whether or not they combine it with cigarette smoking. Cigarette smoking greatly increases your chance of heart disease and at a younger age. Just as cigarette smoking causes collagen breakdown in smokers (think leathery look to skin), it makes the lungs less elastic, and I've also heard it promotes hardening of the arteries by irritating them and allowing the plaque to stick more readily. Like I said, I don't condemn people who smoke, I just don't want to have to have their smoke infringing upon my right to clean, fresh air. What they do with their bodies is their business, and between them and the Lord. Do I point to the Bible and tell my kids God is against smoking and that it is sorcery? No, I don't have to. If it were only a Biblical issue, the liberals would all be puffing away. It is intuitive it is bad for you, and God wouldn't want you to promote an untimely death in yourself unnecessarily....and consequently, as H.C. said, it is a bad witness before unbelievers.

[Psalms18_28]

Yes, I agree with both of the above.......but can somebody please stand up and say, "Name ONE person who died from eating too much chocolate!?" We are borderlining stupidity here. Cigarettes KILL people, and the last time I checked, they couldn't be consumed as a food source.

chocolate itself does not kill, but the sugar that added to the chocolate can...


But... it can kill dogs :wink

[brosmith]

At the same time' date=' in a discussion setting I should not cower from my beliefs and not discuss a topic which some call sin. I cannot let "that which is good be spoken of as evil".[/quote']

Obviously you can't recognize smoking as a sin because you have deceived yourself into thinking that it is a "good thing." I guess you have never read the verse that says "Woe unto them that call evil good" (Isaiah 5:20). You have a perverted sense of morality.

[dwayner79]

When I posted, I wasn't saying that chocolate was bad, nor cheeseburgers...what I was saying is that we need to measure our actions by what brings glory to God. A diabetic better stay away from chocolate (and my dad is supposed to avoid carrots, too!). Someone who wants to lose weight should avoid cheeseburgers.

The Bible says to be moderate in all things. Smoking a pipe two or three times a year is moderate. Smoking it that seldom will not kill - it will destroy cilia every time smoke is drawn into the lungs, which eventually destroys the lungs, but it will not kill. But! It harks back to glorifying God.

We are to glorify God by our works...people will see our works and glorify God. As has been mentioned, many lost people look on smoking as wrong if a Christian does it. Should we then go ahead and smoke even occasionally? Should we do what we do because we CAN or because it is right? Should we not do what we don't do because we CAN'T or because it is wrong?

PE -just to let you know...I do know women who are addicted to chocolate! And I know other people who are addicted to certain kinds of fast food. Anything can become a stronghold in our lives if we let it - good or bad!

I would like to meet these lost people. Frankly, the lost get their idea of a christian's morality from Christians. So if we as christians had never placed smoking on the chopping block of disallowed activities, then the lost would not think anyone hypocritical. In the south (Sorry for the stereotype, but its true) smoking, drinking, all of it was way more "abolished" then in the Northeast. I have not really met people up here who care, let alone lost people. In fact, its quite the opposite.

By the way, I do take precautions depending on where I am. I care for the people who know me, and my testamony in front of them. I consistenty make decisions to avoid certain things when there is a chance I may run into someone who I am trying to influence for Christ. When the chances are lower, I am more open to "using my freedom". In my home, I am free, etc. I try to listen to the spirit during those decisions. So, take heart, I get the point of testimony, and I do what I feel God is telling me to do in those cases.

BTW, how can I avoid carrots... please please give me a good reason to do so :lol:

[HappyChristian]

Dwayne, I do believe that you are careful of your testimony, and I wasn't directing my post at you...I was directing it at all of us, because there are things we all do that we shouldn't! Smoking is just an obvious thing, but there are many things we keep hidden that are much worse, IMO.

As to the carrots - they turn into sugar rapidly in the body, so many diabetics shouldn't eat them...and NEVER (diabetics) drink the juice, because it is very concentrated in sugar. If there is any diabetes in your family, you can avoid carrots so you won't develop it...of course, then you will have to avoid chocolate, potatoes and bananas to be consistent!!! (if you don't need glasses, you can always say that you see well enough that you don't need to eat the carrots... :Green )

[dwayner79]

In other words you have no verses to prove your point.

brosmith, the evil in regard to our bodies is being addicted to anything. That is plainly talked about in scripture. It is up to you to show how other activities are evil. Until it is proven evil, then Isaiah does not apply. As to my perverted sense of morality, I am not easily swayed, especially by rhetoric. Convince me through scripture how it is wrong. Until then, kindly keep your tongue, err finger, lashings in check.