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?
Now see you are making me go after a story and a quote from Spurgeon about addictions and the weaker brother...
As to the last no I don't believe smoking defiles the temple, the reality is our bodies are dying from the day we are born.
Now for the stories...
"If I ever find myself smoking to excess, I promise I shall quit entirely."
"What would you call smoking to excess?" the man asked.
"Why, smoking two cigars at the same time!" was the answer.
"Enjoying your 'bacca again, sir!" said old George, Mr. Spurgeon's tried and trusted servant, one day when his master was lighting a cigar.
"I can do without my 'bacca' a good deal easier than you can, George," said the master.
"I don't believe you can, sir."
"Very well, George, don't smoke again until I do."
"Agreed, sir."
A week passed—a fortnight. Poor old George was dying for his pipe. One was asked to intercede with the master that George might be allowed to have it.
"No, no!" said Mr. Spurgeon. "He made a bargain; let him stick to it."
Eventually George was allowed to smoke, but Mr. Spurgeon did not have a cigar for months after that. . . . http://www.spurgeon.org/misc/cigars.htm
“I neither said nor implied that it was sinful to drink wine; nay, I said that, in and by itself, this might be done without blame. But I remarked that, if I knew that another would be led to take it by my example, and this would lead them on to further drinking, and even to intoxication, then I would not touch it.” http://trevinwax.com/2006/12/06/spur...-of-the-story/
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"Beware lest you lose the substance by grasping at the shadow." ~Aesop
What I love is the simple fact that people say Yes smoking is a sin yet go against God's dietary laws. Forget heaven and hell issue on food. God gave you a start in the right direction on what is defiling to your health and what is not when it comes to meat. Yet many yell oh I don't have to follow that! You are throwing me under the law blah blah blah. hmm I guess God was just off the rocker when he said it is an abomination unto you. And I guess God also changes his opinions like the wind every day of the week. It is, no it isn't, it is aaah no it isn't!
I would like a answer to a most basic question.
Do you want God in everything you do?
Then don't you think the most essential thing you do for your body every day is eat the proper foods to be healthy? Do you not really think God cares about your TOTAL well being? Then follow his plan on what to eat and not to eat. Yes, sure the spiritual is eternal but the flesh is important in the temporal to keep one sound in body and mind. The physical and spiritual are parallel in many ways.
I know folks as big as the side of a house that eats like birds and other skinney as refugees that puts the all you can eat buffets out of business.
I am not talking about self control I am speaking of a nasty filthy habit that anyone who has the Holy Ghost does not do.
Brother,
Do You know any folk as big as the side of a house who eat like vacuum cleaners?
Do You believe they are saved?
Do You fellowship with them or preach against them?
Whether you "Believe" it or not, does not change the FACT that it happens. Don't put limits on God, just because you have a legalistic tunnel vision... Again -
Good Morning Abundant Grace,
I limited God. I believed I couldn't get the Holy Ghost until I quit smoking.
Now I know that He COULD HAVE given it to me but HE WORKS ACCORDING TO THE FAITH THAT WAS WORKING IN ME! (sorry for the screaming!)
He has seen my through bouts of gluttony (which I see as idolatry), and NEVER removed His Spirit!
I'm SO thankful that He doesn't give us what we deserve!
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.
No Brother,
My conscience wasn't eating at me, I wanted to live a longer life and I knew that continuing with the smoking would cut it shorter. No, I was still smoking with a clear conscience, spiritually speaking, I just wanted to see forty and beyond.
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.
Yes, I drink far too much coffee and when I don't get it, the withdrawal symptoms come alive. But, my conscience isn't bothering me in the least.
Now see you are making me go after a story and a quote from Spurgeon about addictions and the weaker brother...
Do you read Spurgeon as a devotional?
Quote:
As to the last no I don't believe smoking defiles the temple, the reality is our bodies are dying from the day we are born.
Even though our outward man perishes daily that doesn't mean we should speed the process along and disrespect the tabernacle God has given us to live in on this earth. We are disrespecting what God has made and we are disrespecting the house God has chosen to put His Spirit in by defiling it.
I can't see how you can say smoking doesn't defile or pollute our bodies. I'd rather hear you make a case that God will destroy the body and save the soul than say what you did above "I don't believe smoking defiles the temple". Or make the case that the Bible says EVERY SIN is without the body except fornication......therefore smoking is without the body and is not a sin.
Nor can I agree with Spurgeon that we are glorifying God if we smoke tobacco just because we give thanks and praise Him for tobacco.
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. 1 Cor 3:16-17
Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's. 1 Cor 6:18-20
Quote:
Now for the stories...
"If I ever find myself smoking to excess, I promise I shall quit entirely."
"What would you call smoking to excess?" the man asked.
"Why, smoking two cigars at the same time!" was the answer.
LOL, legalist!!!!
"
Quote:
Enjoying your 'bacca again, sir!" said old George, Mr. Spurgeon's tried and trusted servant, one day when his master was lighting a cigar.
"I can do without my 'bacca' a good deal easier than you can, George," said the master.
"I don't believe you can, sir."
"Very well, George, don't smoke again until I do."
"Agreed, sir."
A week passed—a fortnight. Poor old George was dying for his pipe. One was asked to intercede with the master that George might be allowed to have it.
"No, no!" said Mr. Spurgeon. "He made a bargain; let him stick to it."
Eventually George was allowed to smoke, but Mr. Spurgeon did not have a cigar for months after that. . . . http://www.spurgeon.org/misc/cigars.htm
What's your point? George was bound up by cigars and Spurgeon had control over his own will, 1 Cor 7:37, which is good for Spurgeon and bad for George. But nevertheless, smoking defiles the body. We can live without smoking.
Quote:
“I neither said nor implied that it was sinful to drink wine; nay, I said that, in and by itself, this might be done without blame. But I remarked that, if I knew that another would be led to take it by my example, and this would lead them on to further drinking, and even to intoxication, then I would not touch it.” http://trevinwax.com/2006/12/06/spur...-of-the-story/
I agree with Spurgeon on topic.
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His banner over me is LOVE.... My soul followeth hard after thee....Love one another with a pure heart fervently. Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?
To be a servant of God, it will cost us our total commitment to God, and God alone. His burden must be our burden... Sis Alvear
I can't see how you can say smoking doesn't defile or pollute our bodies. I'd rather hear you make a case that God will destroy the body and save the soul than say what you did above "I don't believe smoking defiles the temple". Or make the case that the Bible says EVERY SIN is without the body except fornication......therefore smoking is without the body and is not a sin.
Nor can I agree with Spurgeon that we are glorifying God if we smoke tobacco just because we give thanks and praise Him for tobacco.
I didn't say it doesn't pollute our bodies, I said it doesn’t defile the temple, Which I think has a spiritual significance rather than physical. I just had a hamburger and a Coke for lunch it would be pretty easy to say those defile my body too.
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"Beware lest you lose the substance by grasping at the shadow." ~Aesop
I didn't say it doesn't pollute our bodies, I said it doesn’t defile the temple, Which I think has a spiritual and significance rather than physical. I just had a hamburger and a Coke for lunch it would be pretty easy to say those defile my body too.
I agree. Lots of things are unhealthy for us. But are they sin? Is only a 100% organic, fat-free, whatever-free (choose whichever studies you want to believe) diet acceptable to God? Does God get mad if we don't drink enough water?
Doubt it.
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Hebrews 13:23 Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty
My soul followeth hard after thee....Love one another with a pure heart fervently. 
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