May I smoke here??!

[jtork]

Originally Posted by Amos

Smoking is a sin because it can not be done with agreement with everything else we
understand in the scripture, that is, it can not be done in faith.

Since it is an outside chemical, being burned, to be inhaled, to
accelerate its entry into our blood stream, we are adding an agent into
our bodies to alter the chemical contents within our blood. It is our own
will being asserted to create a pleasure response (through ingesting a
chemically active agent) that contradicts sustainable wellness of the
body. For a spirit-filled believer, the body is the tabernacle of God,
holy, and set apart. Motive is the issue that causes this activity to invite
sin to "sit outside the door", if not actually, inviting sin to have its
place within our life choices.

Viewed from a perspective within the natural realm:

1st witness:
The witness of our body's initial response
Our lungs reject the presence of this agent until we do it for so long
that our body's own rejection system ceases to react.

2nd witness:
The pain of withdrawal when one ceases smoking.
When the chemical levels drop, the pain and anxiousness is a plain
demonstration of "cause and effect". Paul said, “I will not be brought under the power of any.”

3rd witness:
The operation embraces a total physiological experience; hands, mouth and
chemistry. Two very powerful physical activities that quickly become
habitual, in the process of ingesting an addictive chemical. Crude example
for those of us with kids....just think about how hard it is to break a
child's nose picking habit once fully explored and enjoyed!)

Smoking is certainly in the mix of things that every individual will
decide for themselves. But for anyone who seeks the scriptures (led by the
Spirit) for wonderful counsels, smoking would be understood as a work of
the flesh; authored in the realm of carnal-mindedness.

Certainly over-eating can also become an issue conflicting with the Biblical principle of moderation, but food is necessary for survival; tobacco is not. Thus, the comparison falls short.

As has already been said, one vice doesn’t justify another. Pointing out that “Well, you guys overeat” doesn’t make this vile habit acceptable for Holy Ghost filled people.

The comparison doesn't fall short and I knew it would not be long before someone said something like that - will yes food is necessary for survival, not all foods are necessary and over-eating is not necessary for survival, caffeine is not necessary for survival, bad carbs are not necessary for survival, pork is not necessary for survival (BTW pork is one of the most unhealthiest things you can put into your body), eating fast food is not necessary for survival, eating fried foods is not necessary for survival. Have you ever seen someone who is addicted to caffeine trying to come off - it has a chemical effect also -people are under the "power" of caffeine; once again - gluttony is one of the 7 deadly sins and one of the definitions of gluttony is excessive eating.