Can A Person Be A Smoker & Still Be Saved

[Aquila]

I've got to go to bed. But with all that being said...I do believe that a saint struggling with an addiction (smoking in this case) is saved. But praise God...I don't believe God will allow them to remain in bondage. God will deliver them.

[AbundantGrace]

Originally Posted by Aquila

I've got to go to bed. But with all that being said...I do believe that a saint struggling with an addiction (smoking in this case) can be saved. But praise God...I don't believe God will allow them to remain in bondage. God will deliver them.

Amen! God is so good and His grace truly is so amazing! Good night and God bless...

[Pro31:28]

Originally Posted by Rico

Yo, Aqua Man, some people are naturally fat, Bro. Even when I was a baby I was a fat baby. In fact, I have never been what anyone would consider thin. No doubt my eating habits have played a role in the size I've reached, but I will never be thin, regardless of what changes I make to my eating habits.

Rico, While I agree with your general argument, I have to take issue with your last statement. It's not true. Did any "fat" or "pleasantly Plump" people come out of concentration camps?

[BrotherEastman]

Wow! Looks like Elder E got under some skin. Well, anyway smoking is a sin as well as gluttony, but the plain truth of it is............................smoking is still a sin. Trying to justify smoking by bringing in gluttony is just a smokescreen that many of us shouldn't fall for. I understand that there are quite a few of you who have had issues with smoking and I thank God that you were delivered. Those of you that were delivered know that smoking is wrong, otherwise, you wouldn't have sought for deliverance and tried to quit because your conscience was eating at you.

[Baron1710]

Originally Posted by BrotherEastman

Wow! Looks like Elder E got under some skin. Well, anyway smoking is a sin as well as gluttony, but the plain truth of it is............................smoking is still a sin. Trying to justify smoking by bringing in gluttony is just a smokescreen that many of us shouldn't fall for. I understand that there are quite a few of you who have had issues with smoking and I thank God that you were delivered. Those of you that were delivered know that smoking is wrong, otherwise, you wouldn't have sought for deliverance and tried to quit because your conscience was eating at you.

Or as is often the case someone told them it was a sin and so they tried to quit, not so much a case of conscience but peer pressure. Peer pressure can be positive but don't make it equal to conscience. Here is a perfect example.


While Mr. Spurgeon was living at Nightingale Lane, Clapham, an excursion was one day organised by one of the young men's classes at the Tabernacle. The brake with the excursionists was to call for the President on their way to mid-Surrey.
It was a beautiful early morning, and the men arrived in high spirits, pipes and cigars alight, and looking forward to a day of unrestrained enjoyment. Mr. Spurgeon was ready waiting at the gate. He jumped up to the box-seat reserved for him, and looking round with an expression of astonishment, exclaimed: "What, gentlemen! Are you not ashamed to be smoking so early?"
Here was a damper! Dismay was on every face. Pipes and cigars one by one failed and dropped out of sight.
When all had disappeared, out came the President's cigar-case. He lit up and smoked away serenely.
The men looked at him astonished. "I thought you said you objected to smoking, Mr. Spurgeon?" one ventured.
"Oh no, I did not say I objected. I asked if they were not ashamed, and it appears they were, for they have all put their pipes away."
Amid laughter the pipes reappeared, and with puffs of smoke the party went on merrily.

http://www.spurgeon.org/misc/cigars.htm

[Brad Murphy]

For the record, I don't smoke and never have... I just consider it another vice like coffee (which I DO drink), which is just a liquid stimulant that more people are addicted to than they will admit.

[Bro-Larry]

Originally Posted by BrotherEastman

Wow! Looks like Elder E got under some skin. Well, anyway smoking is a sin as well as gluttony, but the plain truth of it is............................smoking is still a sin. Trying to justify smoking by bringing in gluttony is just a smokescreen that many of us shouldn't fall for. I understand that there are quite a few of you who have had issues with smoking and I thank God that you were delivered. Those of you that were delivered know that smoking is wrong, otherwise, you wouldn't have sought for deliverance and tried to quit because your conscience was eating at you.

I have a thread on "How to quit smoking". Just capitulate, give up trying to quit, in your own ability. Give those smokies to Jesus. Just say, "Jesus, I can't do it myself. Please help me". Then just rest in Him. Believe that Jesus has delivered you, even if you continue to smoke for a while. Don't let condemnation stop you.

[mizpeh]

Originally Posted by Baron1710

Or as is often the case someone told them it was a sin and so they tried to quit, not so much a case of conscience but peer pressure. Peer pressure can be positive but don't make it equal to conscience. Here is a perfect example.


While Mr. Spurgeon was living at Nightingale Lane, Clapham, an excursion was one day organised by one of the young men's classes at the Tabernacle. The brake with the excursionists was to call for the President on their way to mid-Surrey.
It was a beautiful early morning, and the men arrived in high spirits, pipes and cigars alight, and looking forward to a day of unrestrained enjoyment. Mr. Spurgeon was ready waiting at the gate. He jumped up to the box-seat reserved for him, and looking round with an expression of astonishment, exclaimed: "What, gentlemen! Are you not ashamed to be smoking so early?"
Here was a damper! Dismay was on every face. Pipes and cigars one by one failed and dropped out of sight.
When all had disappeared, out came the President's cigar-case. He lit up and smoked away serenely.
The men looked at him astonished. "I thought you said you objected to smoking, Mr. Spurgeon?" one ventured.
"Oh no, I did not say I objected. I asked if they were not ashamed, and it appears they were, for they have all put their pipes away."
Amid laughter the pipes reappeared, and with puffs of smoke the party went on merrily.

http://www.spurgeon.org/misc/cigars.htm

Are you using this not only as an example of peer pressure but that it is not a sin to smoke?

[Baron1710]

Originally Posted by mizpeh

Are you using this not only as an example of peer pressure but that it is not a sin to smoke?

I will let Bro. C. H. Spurgeon answer for himself.

To the Editor of the Daily Telegraph.
SIR,

I demur altogether and most positively to the statement that to smoke tobacco is in itself a sin. It may become so, as any other indifferent action may, but as an action it is no sin.

Together with hundreds of thousands of my fellow-Christians I have smoked, and, with them, I am under the condemnation of living in habitual sin, if certain accusers are to be believed. As I would not knowingly live even in the smallest violation of the law of God, and sin in the transgression of the law, I will not own to sin when I am not conscious of it.

There is growing up in society a Pharisaic system which adds to the commands of God the precepts of men; to that system I will not yield for an hour. The preservation of my liberty may bring upon me the upbraidings of many good men, and the sneers of the self-righteous; but I shall endure both with serenity so long as I feel clear in my conscience before God.

The expression "smoking to the glory of God" standing alone has an ill sound, and I do not justify it; but in the sense in which I employed it I still stand to it. No Christian should do anything in which he cannot glorify God; and this may be done, according to Scripture, in eating and drinking and the common actions of life.

When I have found intense pain relieved, a weary brain soothed, and calm, refreshing sleep obtained by a cigar, I have felt grateful to God, and have blessed His name; this is what I meant, and by no means did I use sacred words triflingly.

If through smoking I had wasted an hour of my time—if I had stinted my gifts to the poor—if I had rendered my mind less vigorous—I trust I should see my fault and turn from it; but he who charges me with these things shall have no answer but my forgiveness.

I am told that my open avowal will lessen my influence, and my reply is that if I have gained any influence through being thought different from what I am, I have no wish to retain it. I will do nothing upon the sly, and nothing about which I have a doubt.

I am most sorry that prominence has been given to what seems to me so small a matter—and the last thing in my thoughts would have been the mention of it from the pulpit; but I was placed in such a position that I must either by my silence plead guilty to living in sin, or else bring down upon my unfortunate self the fierce rebukes of the anti-tobacco advocates by speaking out honestly. I chose the latter; and although I am now the target for these worthy brethren, I would sooner endure their severest censures than sneakingly do what I could not justify, and earn immunity from their criticism by tamely submitting to be charged with sin in an action which my conscience allows.

Yours truly,

C. H. SPURGEON.

Nightingale Lane, Clapham, Sept. 23
http://www.spurgeon.org/misc/cigars.htm

[mizpeh]

LOL, okay then...the question to Spurgeon's comment "intense pain relieved, a weary brain soothed, and calm, refreshing sleep obtained by a cigar", does not the alcoholic and the cigarette addict feel exactly the same when taking that first hit off a cigarette or drink from the bottle after not having any for a time? Spurgeon is justifying his addiction by thanking God for the substance he is addicted to.

And if Spurgeon is truly not addicted to smoking tobacco should he consider his weaker brethren who will be emboldened by this giant of a Christian leader to do the same as him only without moderation?

And finally and most importantly does smoking defile the temple of the Holy Ghost? Do we destroy our body which is God's temple by smoking?