Is smoking a sin?

[ReChoired]

Yet Paul was a servant of Christ:

Rom 1:1 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,

Servant and friend of God (it's why I said, "He has servants who choose to serve Him out of love, but never is God a slave owner."), yes, never slave.

 

[ReChoired]

Neither am I Pearl. Most Christians don't, rather they inherit the earth Mat 5:5; Ps 37:9-11, 29

You're gravely mistaken. They do not inherit this earth. They inherit the Earth made "new" at the end of the 1,000 years. I showed this to you, but you refused to read the texts saying that your attention span was too short to read the scripture I provided, but just happens to be long enough to read through the endless wind (of false doctrine) of WTS, which is reams more than what I provided.

The great tribulation is rapidly approaching, survival depends on doing God's will Mat 7:21

The great tribulation is rapidly approaching, survival depends on doing God's will Mat 7:21

[1] The “thousand years” reign “in Heaven” [Psalms 50:5; Matthew 5:3,8,10,12, 6:20, 13:30, 24:31; Mark 10:21, 13:27; Luke 6:23, 18:22, 23:43; John 14:2-3, 17:24; Colossians 1:5; Hebrews 10:34; 1 Peter 1:4; Revelation 7:9, 14:3, 19:1; “Paradise”, Luke 23:43; 2 Corinthians 12:4; Revelation 2:7] with Christ Jesus [1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; Revelation 20:6] and

[2] The “reign on earth” [“made new”, not this sin polluted Earth; 2 Peter 3:13; Isaiah 65:17, 66:22; Revelation 21:1] that lasts “forever and ever” [Revelation 5:10; “meek inherit earth” [“made new”, not this sin polluted Earth], Psalms 37:9,11,34; Proverbs 11:31; Isaiah 25:8, 65:21; Daniel 7:27; Matthew 5:5; Revelation 5:10].​

The WTS confuses the two and even divides them (saints) into an heavenly group and an earthly group, as if God was a respecter of persons, like they are. They have made a 'jehovah' after their own image, the image of fallible creatures (men, without the spirit of God is a beast) of the WTS, just as they of old at the foot of Mt. Sinai was saying that it was JEHOVAH they were holding a feast unto, and it was Elohiym's image they had made. I despise their idolatry, but the persons can still be saved if they come out of that wicked system.

 

[Robert Gwin]

God is not a slave owner. He has servants who choose to serve Him out of love, but never is God a slave owner.

Luk_12:4 And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.

Joh_15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

Joh_15:14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.​

Joh_15:15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.​

Abraham is the friend of God:

2Ch_20:7 Art not thou our God, who didst drive out the inhabitants of this land before thy people Israel, and gavest it to the seed of Abraham thy friend for ever?

Isa_41:8 But thou, Israel, art my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham my friend.

Jas_2:23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.​

Moses is the friend of God:

Exo_33:11 And the LORD spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend. And he turned again into the camp: but his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, departed not out of the tabernacle.
​

John the Baptist, the friend of God:

Joh_3:29 He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.
​

Lazarus God's friend:

Joh_11:11 These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.​

God's friends:

Zec_13:6 And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends.
​

God brings people out of slavery:

Exo 20:2 I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.

Joh_8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
​

To be called a "slave" is to not be free. It means you are still the slave of the WTS, satan, sin and selfishness. Christ Jesus died to set you free.

All Christians are God's slaves sir, perhaps misunderstanding of the term applies here.

 

[Robert Gwin]

I wouldn't recommend being overzealous about it, because it's not a Salvation issue, it's a health issue. One could just as equally rebuke ourselves and others when we don't eat right, which is just as unhealthy (some cases more unhealthy than smoking), God never changed unhealthy food into healthy food. It's simply not a Salvation issue, so we shouldn't try to make it one.

Actually it is kind of the other way around Davy, man takes healthy food and processes it info unhealthy.

We Jehovah's witnesses will disfellowship individuals who have agreed to accept the conditions of being one of us. If we are God's people, then of course it is justifiable. If we are not, then it is simply abuse to the flock. We each have to choose for ourselves which people are truly Jehovah's witnesses and go with them Zech 8:23

 

[ReChoired]

All Christians are God's slaves sir, perhaps misunderstanding of the term applies here.

As I just said, quoting scripture (which you did not do), God has no slaves, only servant/friends. Slaves have no choice. Servants/friends do, even if they owe God for everything. God is love, and slavery has nothing to do with love, which is why God sets us free in His love.

It is you who do not understand the words, neither the character of the real JEHOVAH. The WTS has told you a lie. You believed them. Thus you are subject to whom you believe. You are not free to believe the word just shown you from scripture, over the WTS words. That makes you the slave, while I am free.

Will you attempt to give a poor study on 'doulos' now? It cannot help you.

 

[Davy]

Except laws of clean and unclean animals was ceremonial law specific the the old covenant and mosaic law, which is why before the law Noah was told he could eat everything that moves, and after the law of Moses ended with the new covenant, Peter was told God has cleansed al animals.

Shalom Aleichem

God's health laws He gave to Israel per the old covenant involve real science. It wasn't given just for ceremonial-ritual purposes. It was given because He ought to know what He created that is healthy for our flesh bodies, and what ain't. The reason many brethren are sick is because of thinking just any food is healthy when it is not.

 

[Davy]

Actually it is kind of the other way around Davy, man takes healthy food and processes it info unhealthy.

Yeah, man does that too, adding chemicals to it. But I think you guys know what I mean about healthy food. Who in their right mind would want to try and live on unclean fowl like buzzards? God didn't create those for us to eat. He made those to cleanse the surface of the earth. Same thing with shellfish, but we eat it anyway (and I love crab, shrimp, and lobster).

We Jehovah's witnesses will disfellowship individuals who have agreed to accept the conditions of being one of us. If we are God's people, then of course it is justifiable. If we are not, then it is simply abuse to the flock. We each have to choose for ourselves which people are truly Jehovah's witnesses and go with them Zech 8:23

I'm not a Jehovah's Witness member, sorry. Don't want to be one either, which was a movement started by one man.

 

[Pearl]

@Robert Gwin As I read this early today in my daily devotional I was struck by how topical it is in light of a certain this thread called 'Is smoking a sin'.

I applied for a position in a Christian organization years ago and was presented with a list of legalistic rules having to do with the use of alcohol, tobacco, and certain forms of entertainment. “We expect Christian behavior from our employees” was the explanation. I could agree with this list because I, for reasons mostly unrelated to my faith, didn’t do those things. But my argumentative side thought, Why don’t they have a list about not being arrogant, insensitive, harsh, spiritually indifferent, and critical? None of these were addressed.

Too many people forget about those latter 'sins' in which I would also include pride and intolerance.

 

[WalterandDebbie]

@Robert Gwin As I read this early today in my daily devotional I was struck by how topical it is in light of a certain this thread called 'Is smoking a sin'.



Too many people forget about those latter 'sins' in which I would also include pride and intolerance.

firstthings1st. said: ↑
I applied for a position in a Christian organization years ago and was presented with a list of legalistic rules having to do with the use of alcohol, tobacco, and certain forms of entertainment. “We expect Christian behavior from our employees” was the explanation. I could agree with this list because I, for reasons mostly unrelated to my faith, didn’t do those things. But my argumentative side thought, Why don’t they have a list about not being arrogant, insensitive, harsh, spiritually indifferent, and critical? None of these were addressed.

While reading this part of the story/Authentic Christianity above:

Hi Pearl, interesting, but people will do whatever they will and think it is not a sin, wheather or not it is smoking or any other things to do with sin, just to please themselves, rather than to obey GOD, they choose their habbits, but genuine christians don't, in my personal experience I'm glad I quite smoking, and those other sinful habbits, and I thank God through it all for all His mercy.

Love, Walter

 

[Robert Gwin]

As I just said, quoting scripture (which you did not do), God has no slaves, only servant/friends. Slaves have no choice. Servants/friends do, even if they owe God for everything. God is love, and slavery has nothing to do with love, which is why God sets us free in His love.

It is you who do not understand the words, neither the character of the real JEHOVAH. The WTS has told you a lie. You believed them. Thus you are subject to whom you believe. You are not free to believe the word just shown you from scripture, over the WTS words. That makes you the slave, while I am free.

Will you attempt to give a poor study on 'doulos' now? It cannot help you.

(Matthew 6:24) . . .“No one can slave for two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will stick to the one and despise the other. You cannot slave for God and for Riches.
Believe it or not Matt, me I believe the Bible over man's opinion every time.

 

[Robert Gwin]

Yeah, man does that too, adding chemicals to it. But I think you guys know what I mean about healthy food. Who in their right mind would want to try and live on unclean fowl like buzzards? God didn't create those for us to eat. He made those to cleanse the surface of the earth. Same thing with shellfish, but we eat it anyway (and I love crab, shrimp, and lobster).



I'm not a Jehovah's Witness member, sorry. Don't want to be one either, which was a movement started by one man.

Really? I am unfamiliar with that. Do you actually know who the first witness of Jehovah was, and in fact still is sir? It is recorded in the Bible.

I am very health conscious. I believe that we are healthier than people of the world, but I could very well be in error on that. We are all subject to sin and death, but I do my utmost to be healthy. Matter of fact as a faith, we are still not meeting physically because we value our health. I do eat badly, but combine the bad with the good. I truly do not like to brag, and I dress very modestly, but I am built quite well, ugly as sin for sure, but have worked out most of my life, although projects have gotten me to forego my workouts for the last 2 months, normally I work out 6 times a week, and bicycle on avg around 25 miles a week.

I am not saying everyone among Jehovah's witnesses are that health conscious, but none of us use illegal drugs, or smoke, likely some of us overeat and drink, but like you we consider that a sin as well.

May I ask why you have no interest in being one of Jehovah's witnesses?

 

[Pearl]

I believe the Bible over man's opinion every time.

Me too. But we obviously have differing opinions regarding the bible.

 

[ReChoired]

(Matthew 6:24) . . .“No one can slave for two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will stick to the one and despise the other. You cannot slave for God and for Riches.
Believe it or not Matt, me I believe the Bible over man's opinion every time.

Is that why you have to rely upon that (mockery of a) 'translation'?

Mat 6:24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.​

I actually believe the Bible over man's opinion (like WTS) every time. You do not, for you called the 'torture stake' the "opinion" of the WTS did you not, and I showed you the Cross from scripture, correct?, and yet you still cling to the WTS "opinion", right? One of us is telling the truth and believes it and the other is deceived and deceiving.

The entire context of Matthew 6, is about Father and son relationship. Not slavery, but you do not read in context do you, you believe in the WTS "opinion", no matter what the context of an actual Bible says, right?

(even the WTS cannot catch them all, Romans 9:12, quoting, Genesis 25:23 NWT, "the older will serve the younger", then see John 15:15 NWT "no longer").

 

[ReChoired]

Robert. You want slavery. It is yours. I go to set others free.

 

[farouk]

firstthings1st. said: ↑
I applied for a position in a Christian organization years ago and was presented with a list of legalistic rules having to do with the use of alcohol, tobacco, and certain forms of entertainment. “We expect Christian behavior from our employees” was the explanation. I could agree with this list because I, for reasons mostly unrelated to my faith, didn’t do those things. But my argumentative side thought, Why don’t they have a list about not being arrogant, insensitive, harsh, spiritually indifferent, and critical? None of these were addressed.

While reading this part of the story/Authentic Christianity above:

Hi Pearl, interesting, but people will do whatever they will and think it is not a sin, wheather or not it is smoking or any other things to do with sin, just to please themselves, rather than to obey GOD, they choose their habbits, but genuine christians don't, in my personal experience I'm glad I quite smoking, and those other sinful habbits, and I thank God through it all for all His mercy.

Love, Walter

Hi, Sir; what happens sometimes is that in some circles preferences and customs are elevated to the level of theology and then imposed on others, whereas Scripture itself may not particularly say anything specific.

 

[robert derrick]

No. Smoking, of itself, is not a sin. But if God convicts you of it and tells you to stop and you carried on, then I suppose it would be.

And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.

Same for smoking, drinking, gambling, etc...

To declare them as sin period is to being making commandments of men to judge others by:

There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?

Paul rejected all such lawmakers, refusing to have his liberty judged by their own conscience. (1 Cor 10:29)

 

[farouk]

And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.

Same for smoking, drinking, gambling, etc...

To declare them as sin period is to being making commandments of men to judge others by:

There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?

Paul rejected all such lawmakers, refusing to have his liberty judged by their own conscience. (1 Cor 10:29)

Hi, Sir; even the great Spurgeon smoked (in a different era, etc.). One of course cannot elevate cultural preferences and customs to the level of theology and then use them as a measure to pronounce verdicts on other people's spirituality. My wife and I talked to a young woman with the whole of John 3.16 tattooed on her wrist area - her favorite Bible verse and mine; and doubtless the cause of other conversations (maybe her aim all along) - yet some legalists would just condemn her out of hand for her desire to witness in such a way. I don't put smoking in the category of Bible verses! but it's important not to see others through legalistic barriers.

 

[robert derrick]

I say everything that wasn't created by God is sin from the 8th day onwards even things we consider good as they all are a result of sin.

All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. (John 1)

The only thing the devil ever made on earth was a lie.

I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean. (Rom 14:14)

As am I.

 

[robert derrick]

Hi, Sir; even the great Spurgeon smoked (in a different era, etc.). One of course cannot elevate cultural preferences and customs to the level of theology and then use them as a measure to pronounce verdicts on other people's spirituality. My wife and I talked to a young woman with the whole of John 3.16 tattooed on her wrist area - her favorite Bible verse and mine; and doubtless the cause of other conversations (maybe her aim all along) - yet some legalists would just condemn her out of hand for her desire to witness in such a way. I don't put smoking in the category of Bible verses! but it's important not to see others through legalistic barriers.

Yes sir. 'Legalist barriers' are rules and commandments of men that God never said, and are used to bar themselves from associating with believers not as clean and holy as they.

Pharisees were 'separatists', who separated themselves from the rest of the believers, by their special little rules and proclamations of sin, that God never said. They may have tried to use the spirit of the law to make such rules, but they were only adding more letters to the law to kill by.

I don't make rules nor call sin, what I cannot clearly quote from Scripture. I leave that to others.

(Neither do I preach for law of Christ out of law of Moses, which the apostles never confirmed from Christ personally)

 

[Pearl]

Hi, Sir; what happens sometimes is that in some circles preferences and customs are elevated to the level of theology and then imposed on others, whereas Scripture itself may not particularly say anything specific.

Such a good post farouk.