Can A Person Be A Smoker & Still Be Saved

[crakjak]

Originally Posted by Sam

14 When He had called all the multitude to Himself, He said to them, “Hear Me, everyone, and understand: 15 There is nothing that enters a man from outside which can defile him; but the things which come out of him, those are the things that defile a man. 16 If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear!”
17 When He had entered a house away from the crowd, His disciples asked Him concerning the parable. 18 So He said to them, “Are you thus without understanding also? Do you not perceive that whatever enters a man from outside cannot defile him, 19 because it does not enter his heart but his stomach, and is eliminated, thus purifying all foods?” 20 And He said, “What comes out of a man, that defiles a man. 21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, 22 thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. 23 All these evil things come from within and defile a man.”
Mark 7:14-23 NKJV

I very much dislike smoking, however Bro. Sam your post is the post of the day for this thread!

The Word of God is like that double edge sword, it slices away even the traditions and false ideas of man.

Amen, to the word of God!!!

[Rico]

Originally Posted by mizpeh

1 Cor 3:16-17 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.


Does destroy mean lost because tobacco products defile the temple of God.

So do cheeseburgers and soda. Are you prepared to give them up?

[Rico]

Originally Posted by RandyWayne

If smoking tobacco is an eternal sin because it defiles the body, then so is drinking soda, most fast and fried foods, NOT exercising, etc.....
Disgusting as it is, I have always wondered why smoking is singled out. (Probably because it IS disgusting and thus easy to be.)

It's a lot easier to hate a stinky old cigarette than a nice juicy cheeseburger.

[Rico]

Originally Posted by Michael Phelps

Well, if it refers to physical defilement, we have a lot more to worry about than tobacco. Stuff like artificial sweeteners, preservatives, red meat, excess food intake, carbonated sodas, caffeine, and the list goes on.......

The Bible says we can eat beef, so leave it off'm yer list!!!

[Rico]

Originally Posted by MikeinAR

Awww...good point Randy. You've stumbled upon one of my huge pet peeves. First of all, I've never took a drag of a cigarette and don't plan on it anytime soon. The nasty habit doesn't appeal to me in the least.

However, I find it comical and absurd for a 300 pound preacher who hasn't reverenced the temple of the Holy Ghost(his body) and hasn't taken his health into consideration at lunch and dinner, to tell a congregation of people that people who inhale smoke in their lungs are in sin.

That may be the case, but the sin of glutony, of which I and a lot of others in the church are sometimes guilty, goes unpreached on?? I guess it's easy to classify sin for some of those guys.

U got somethin against good looking 300lb people?!?!?!?!

[OneAccord]

Originally Posted by Michael Phelps

I don't care if a person is a Christian or an atheist, smoking is one of the most foolish things you can do to your body!

Forget whether it's heaven or hell, it's plain stupid!

I sympathize with those who are addicted, but there are several programs, medications, patches, gums, etc that can help one break free of this.

I absolutely, positively and without reservation, DISAGREE with you, Micheal Phelps!!!!

Smoking is not ONE of the most foolish things a person can do to his or her body....







its THE most foolish thing you can do to your body!


Gums, patches and medicines are only as effective as the smokers willpower is strong! I taught a class one time for people who were trying to break addictive behavior. Actually, it was a program for prison inmates (this was back when people believd in "rehabilitation"). Something like AA, the program had steps to help break the addiction. In the study guide I wrote, "Building a Better YOU", I wrote about the power to change (this was a non-religious group). I wrote: "The Power to Change is your DESIRE to Change". I wrote there are 3 keys to change that are necessary: 1) Knowing we need to change, 2) Knowing how to change, and 3) Desiring to change.The last one (3) requires resolve, determination and, a change of lifestyle. Thats the hardest one for people to get- enough desire to "pay the price"!

[Rico]

Originally Posted by Michael Phelps

Sure. So does too much soda, overeating, caffeine, processed sugar, etc.

Here's one for you - if a person is a diabetic, and their doctor has told them they need to lose weight or they'll die prematurely, and they continue to eat themselves sick, are they defiling their body?

Should they pray for healing?

Does this mean you are admitting to being a contributor in other men's sins, seing as how you are a big wig as a cereal factory? Hmmmmmm?

[Rico]

Originally Posted by stmatthew

Is there a smoking section in heaven??

Is there McDonald's?

[Rico]

Originally Posted by MikeinAR

So, for the idea of sound doctrine, we could include those old saints that worry too much and cause unneccesary stress on their body. We could include any diabetic that doesn't conform to a strict sugar free diet. We could include any person at risk of heart disease who splurges on the occasional red meat. We could include those of us who drink soda which will literally remove varnish from a wood floor if it's left on it. And we'd most definitely, have to clean out the Pizza Parlours on Sunday night across the south and mid-west full of saint's filling their bodies with defiling food leaving them at risk for obesity and all of the infirmities and diseases that appertain.

Well at least we got that all cleared up. I'll go have some H20 and lettuce.

Pizza's a sin too?!?!?! THAT DONE IT!!!

[Rico]

Originally Posted by BrotherEastman

One doesn't really have a choice when it comes to eating food. I'm sure that there are bad preservatives and other unknown chemicals in most (if not all) foods;however, smoking is a choice to satisfy the flesh for no productive reason, at least with food, you get some nutritional value out of it. Come on folks!

Brother, nicotine addiction is very real and very hard to overcome. Your body will literally crave it, which is a lot more than I can say about a cheeseburger making my mouth water. Also, you do have choices when it comes to what you eat. No one makes you eat sugared cereal. No one makes you drink grape kool-aid. No one make you stop at Taco Bell on the way home from church on Sunday nights. They're all choices we make.