Can A Person Be A Smoker & Still Be Saved - Page 5

BrotherEastman · #41 07-07-2008, 05:17 PM

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!

Michael Phelps · #42 07-07-2008, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mizpeh

No, these verses, IMHO, apply to all unhealthy habits.

Taking the verses literally, which I tend to do, then I find fault even with myself.

Do we give ourselves a pass and say these verses don't really mean what they say? Do we gloss over them? What does defiling the temple, our bodies, mean? If they mean harming the body, then we are answerable to God for what we do to His temple. It's as simple as that and as hard as that.

I agree with this.

I don't condone smoking, nor am I defending it. My issue is with those who say smoking will send you to hell, but go right on overeating and driving themselves into an early grave.

And, as our good brother Sam has posted, the very words of Jesus say that we are not "defiled" by what we take into our bodies, but by what comes from our hearts.

So, I believe that the scripture is referring to a spiritual defilement, anyway. At least that's my opinion.

Should we take care of our temples? Absolutely!

Is smoking good for you? No way!

Should a Christian smoke? In my opinion, absolutely not.

But, can I say they are going to hell if they do? Nope.

Michael Phelps · #43 07-07-2008, 05:20 PM

Quote:

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!

One has a very real choice in OVEReating food.

To say that I have no choice but to eat, that's why I'm 100lbs overweight is absurd.

mizpeh · #44 07-07-2008, 05:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeinAR

I never implied that I believed inhaling tar filled smoke into lungs didn't defile the body. It most certainly does.

What I can't do, according to scripture, is say that a person who smokes cigarettes is somehow in worse spiritual condition than others who defile their bodies through any number of other means.

Your point about Phillipians 2:12, someone working out their own salvation with fear and trembling, is key.

This thread is about smoking. I've avoided going off on the other things you've been saying because, first and foremost, I want to know what you all thought "defiling the temple" means. I think it can applied to anything we do that is unhealthy. I'm struggling to overcome some things, so these verses, sting me just as much as they might others.

The bottom line is I want to please God by glorifying Him in my body and in my Spirit which are His. So I'm not trying to condemn anyone, but I'm not going to say, this is okay and that is okay and we're all going to heaven when the word of God says if we defile our bodies, God will destroy us.

Sam · #45 07-07-2008, 05:23 PM

One preacher was asked if smoking would keep a person from Heaven.
His answer was, "No, and it actually may get them there sooner."

Michael Phelps · #46 07-07-2008, 05:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mizpeh

This thread is about smoking. I've avoided going off on the other things you've been saying because, first and foremost, I want to know what you all thought "defiling the temple" means. I think it can applied to anything we do that is unhealthy. I'm struggling to overcome some things, so these verses, sting me just as much as they might others.

The bottom line is I want to please God by glorifying Him in my body and in my Spirit which are His. So I'm not trying to condemn anyone, but I'm not going to say, this is okay and that is okay and we're all going to heaven when the word of God says if we defile our bodies, God will destroy us.

I understand, but you can't discuss smoking as a heaven or hell issue without bringing into account the other things that "defile" the temple, IF you believe that we are defiled by what we take into our bodies.

If you believe that Jesus meant what He said, and we're not defiled by what we take in, then this whole conversation is null and void.

Michael Phelps · #47 07-07-2008, 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sam

One preacher was asked if smoking would keep a person from Heaven.
His answer was, "No, and it actually may get them there sooner."

I heard another preacher say, "Smoking won't send you to hell, it will just make you smell like you've been there!"

mizpeh · #48 07-07-2008, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michael Phelps

But, can I say they are going to hell if they do? Nope.

That's why I quoted that we should all work out our own salvation with God....

Jesus said we are not defiled by what goes into the body and Paul said we can defile the temple, our bodies. How do we harmonize these two statements?

Sam · #49 07-07-2008, 05:29 PM

When it says that God will "destroy" those who "defile" the temple (body) by lack of proper sleep, improper diet, lack of exercise, smoking, caffeine, alcohol, etc does it mean destroy by eternal damnation or destroy by sickness, premature death, etc?

mizpeh · #50 07-07-2008, 05:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michael Phelps

I understand, but you can't discuss smoking as a heaven or hell issue without bringing into account the other things that "defile" the temple, IF you believe that we are defiled by what we take into our bodies.

If you believe that Jesus meant what He said, and we're not defiled by what we take in, then this whole conversation is null and void.

I believe Jesus was talking about food.

Jesus didn't go into a sermon about gluttony and moderation at the time.