freedom07

Maybe I chose the wrong word also, I was referring to myself in that whole post I was not "commading" anyone to do anything.

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Romans 6:4
4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

WasLost

By the rationale being used here, eating foods with partially hydrogenated soybean oil is just as heinous a sin as smoking. By willfully putting either in your body, you are polluting yourself. Both contribute to heart disease and high blood pressure.

Pack of cigarettes : Ritz crackers

Both are sinful.

Sounds stupid does't it?

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You've been lied to.

Preacher

Well, I can't really say anything more that hasn't already been said. Because Jeremy really knocked that one out of the park with his answer!!!

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Romans 13:4 For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.

InHisLove

Jeremy,

I know exactly what you mean. I smoked for years. It was a terrible habit.

Do I believe it is a sin? I don't know. All I really know is that it is very unhealthy.

When I got saved I told God, "I don't want to smoke any more, but You are going to have to help me quit. I can't do it on my own." He did help me. I quit the next day and haven't smoked since, and that's been over 20 years ago.

Now, I only shared that to say I really do know where you are coming from. I tried to quit smoking many times with no success. I do understand the struggle you are having. It is very difficult to quit smoking, but not impossible, for with God all things are possible.

I am praying for you.

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Jesus is the Rock and He rolls my blues away!

Banarenth

I've never really decided on this because it's never directly affected me since I have never had any desire to smoke in the first place. However, it does bring to mind a story my grandfather used to tell.

When he was first saved, he felt a call to the ministry. But, he was a smoker and drinker. He was able to give up drinking fairly easily, but smoking held onto him tightly. So he put off starting his ministry. Eventually, he felt an even heavier conviction, and at the altar, he told God that he can't give it up on his own. So either He has to take the addiction away, or He's gonna have a smoking preacher. He has never since had a desire to smoke in 65 years of ministry.

Jesse

Smoke as addiction is a loss to the self, severity it is, nobody is forced either, complimentary the soul delights in liberty and great and wonderful liberty it is to be free of addictive harms of all and every single kind .. I wish I can persuade not to imply harm, rather it is really all just as simple process as to just quit paying attention to tobacco likeness, or rather not portraying impulse to savor this unfortunate ..

As it comes to concern everybody seems to predict that everybody has a spiritual weakness for it is said that all are sinners, that is not to justify to wrong if you think of it in proper, just that motivation at heart makes the impact within ..


How can we develop a strength to combat this evil ? Well there is fasting of food with prayer devotion, there is prayer, and one of my favorites is petition to father in recitation ..

Peace my fellows ..

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What have you ?

Peggy

I truly believe that God shows himself through little "coincidences" like this! I haven't been online much for the past week and I come on this forum and the first thing I see is this thread, I had my final cigarette at midnight last night!

I can highly recommend a book by Alan Carr called "the only way to stop smoking."

jad4christ

I smoke. I know God could help me if I ask him but I'm not ready to. One day I asked my pastor if I was going to hell if I smoked and he said, "Honey smoking won't keep you out of Heaven, it'll just get you there faster." I Love that.

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Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by Prayer and Petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Philippians 4:6

All that I have seen teaches me to trust the Creator for all I have not seen-Emerson

InHisLove

Hallelujah!

I rejoice with you!


And pray for you too!

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Jesus is the Rock and He rolls my blues away!

Unconventional

Hey there. I'm a fellow smoker.

I've been smoking steadily for about two or three months. I also drink, but never to get drunk. I can hardly get through half a pint before going, "Hey, buddy, want the rest of this?"

I started smoking because I was under a lot of stress and far from the Lord. Not to say that the Lord and I are riding the same train, exactly, but I do believe that we're at least on the same track now. I still have some of that stress, but I'm learning to handle it without the cigarettes.

The unfortunate thing is, I'm now addicted to them. There's nothing in Scripture that directly says, "You shouldn't smoke." However, there is plenty to say that our bodies are the Temple of God, and we should take care of them. So yes, smoking is a sin, and one that we should make an effort to stop.

I have tried several times to cease my addiction, and many Christians who do not smoke have attempted to offer their advice. It's much like someone who has never been in a minefield offering advice on how to get through one. Many Christians who don't smoke do not understand the addiction, so they say things like "Just give it up to Jesus, and He'll take care of it."

I agree that when we give things up to the Lord, He can take care of them, and often does. However, that does not mean that we will not feel the stresses of the addiction. We will feel the withdrawl. We will feel our body asking, "Why do you hate me? Let me have my nicotine!" I've been there. You feel like ripping off someone's head, to be honest. When my smoking has decreased, my other addictions (i.e., swearing) have increased dramatically.

I have prayed to the Lord about my addiction, and quite honestly, there are other addictions that I need to get rid of first. Smoking isn't a healthy thing, and it's something I wish I had never started, but I will be making efforts to stop soon. Again. For the eighth time.

The best thing non-smokers can do for their Christian friends who smoke is to pray for them. Unless you've smoked before, don't try to offer advice. It can be very frustrating. It would be like a man trying to tell a woman how to have a baby. It just doesn't work. Simply pray for your friends, that the Lord would deal with them in His time concerning their addiction.

I hope that helps,
Rob