May I smoke here??!

[edjen01]

Originally Posted by 2020Vision

I grew up in a church just the opposite. Strong believers, strong families, strong young people, and not too many have fallen away. We've gained more than we've lost, and continually.

are they strong because everything was defined for them? or are they strong because they listen/obey the Holy Spirit?

[Praxeas]

Originally Posted by aak1972

Very good point! Paul says many time that its better to ____ than to ____ i.e. Its better to marry than burn. Is either a sin?

I don't see how that applies. Who would suggest marrying is a sin or "burning" is a sin?

BTW burn means to "be aflame with passion"...

[2020Vision]

Originally Posted by Michael Phelps

3 minutes until my conference call, but before I go, let me state emphatically that I do not believe nicotine dependence is a mental illness, and whoever classified it as such is incompetent, at best.

Now, THAT'S a loophole if I ever heard one.

Smoking is a nasty, unnecessary habit, and it is definitely within anyone's power to break, if they so desire.

Sin or not? Does it please God?

To him therefore that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

I'm not interpreting your position for you. I'm taking you at the words I'm reading, which is something we all do. But if you think I'm misunderstanding you, I've asked to to clarify.

[Praxeas]

Rhoni, nothing personal but the fact that they are making nicotine addition a mental illness just reaffirms a lot of suspicions people have of that field.

Anyone that smokes will become addicted to nicotine. Some people might have mental disorders that lead them to become addicted to food or something, but most people just start smoking because it's cool and then become addicted

[2020Vision]

Originally Posted by edjen01

are they strong because everything was defined for them? or are they strong because they listen/obey the Holy Spirit?

Both. There's a lot to be said for obedience and submission. In fact, it's a common thread througout the whole Bible. We are happy Apostolics! And yes, the Holy Ghost actually does instruct us too! Imagine that!

[aak1972]

Well guys thanks for the enetainment I needed it today!!!

[edjen01]

Originally Posted by 2020Vision

What an indictment. Care to explain or further ellaborate? Are you Apostolic yourself?

I am. I've been an Apostolic preacher for over 20 years.

I think most "professionals" would consider "tongues" to be a sign of mental illness....as well as some other "demonstrations" that can be seen in an Apostolic church.

[Trouvere]

gluttony is a sin as well.
We just have to admit it.
I have seen alot of gluttony in the church.
I have a friend who prays over her food and asks Jesus to remove the calories.
Itsn't that a trip?
I suppose you could pray over your cigarettes and ask Jesus to remove the poison from them but then you would be admitting that you know they are poison.
I wish you could come to work with me tonight and take care of my hospice ward patients at the prison who are dying of lung cancer and admit they did it to themselves then smoking would no longer be an issue. Love yourself and quit I did.

[2020Vision]

Originally Posted by Praxeas

If that is the case, what do you think of what Paul said and how does it apply?

1Co 6:12 "All things are lawful for me," but not all things are helpful. "All things are lawful for me," but I will not be enslaved by anything.

1Co 10:23 "All things are lawful," but not all things are helpful. "All things are lawful," but not all things build up.
1Co 10:24 Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor.
That kind of stuff is addicting..if you had a brother that quit, would you smoke around them or try to convince them it is fine to do? Would you do something you might become enslaved to?

And if one doesn't believe it's a sin, this is the next place I'd go.

I'm confused on this thread though. Shall I just agree in advance that obesity is sin? Or is there another argument that some are trying to make?

[Tina]

Originally Posted by Michael Phelps

3 minutes until my conference call, but before I go, let me state emphatically that I do not believe nicotine dependence is a mental illness, and whoever classified it as such is incompetent, at best.

Now, THAT'S a loophole if I ever heard one.

Smoking is a nasty, unnecessary habit, and it is definitely within anyone's power to break, if they so desire.

Before I type my response-- I will state that I have only read the last page of this thread.

A person smokes by choice, not because it's a mental illness. The smoking becomes an addiction to the nicotine. An addiction can be broken, but the person has to want to be free from the addiction.

I smoked for 16 years. I stopped smoking almost 10 years ago. The pediatrician looked at me and said that I was making my son sick. I threw my cigarettes in the trash, and quit on that day-- cold turkey. I knew I could only stay away from them with God's help-- so I asked my mother to pray that I'd have strength to overcome the addiction. Because of God answering my mother's prayer I am free from the addiction. My mother prayed that the smell of smoke would make me feel sick so that I would NEVER desire to pick up another cigarette. Even now, I cannot be around smoke because I feel lightheaded and sick to my stomach--and I have no desire to ever smoke another one.

Not only did God deliver me from smoking, he also restored my lungs to a healthy condition. I have no lingering health problems from all the years that I smoked.