Smoking poll

I know a lot of good Christians who smoke, but I pray the Lord helps them kick the habit. A lot of people, especially older people, didn't know the harm of smoking, and therefore, IMO, were ignorant of it, and therefore, they didn't sin in doing so. However, once they know/knew better, they should strive to kick it, as we all have things that sometimes cause us to stumble. The Lord is able though

 

When I was a teenager I spent my summers "priming" (harvesting) tobacco. Within the first hour you would be able to roll cakes of tar-gum off your arms and hands. I never had hair on my lower wrists or knuckles as the gum pulled it out. I knew then it couldn't be good for you, but when I went off to the Army at the ripe old age of 17 I promptly took up smoking like all the other "men" (I know now we were still pretty much boys doing a mans job). Thankfully at 18 my girlfriend informed me I could either have smoking or have her - she saved me from smoking with that ultimatum. I have only smoked an occasional cigar since - maybe one or two a year. I don't hold smoking against anyone, but I am so glad I have left that habit behind as a young man. Bruce

 

As a child growing up in the 1950's, I suppose you could say that it was my father who "cured" me of any real desire to smoke.

While he was not what you would call a born again Christian, neither was he an evil man (at least as the world would look at him). However, as with a lot of men of his day and time, he was a heavy smoker. To this day I can still recall hearing him coughing his lungs out every night before going to bed.

That left such an impression on me that I never had any real desire to smoke. Even in my lost condition (I wasn't saved until I was almost 20), I thank God for keeping me from such a habit.

Just as in the previous post, I'm not judging or condemning those who struggle with this very addictive habit. I would, however, humbly ask of them to at least consider what impact this habit has on their witness as a child of God.

 

I was a smokeless tobacco user for almost 30 yrs. my pa-pa got myself and my cousin started at 8 yrs. old I was lucky I still have all my teeth and no cancer. I have been tobacco free for 10 yrs.but erery now and then I still get those cravings. I dont condem anyone for smoking just not in my air space.

 

Two options I might have included for the sin/morality section are

-Smoking is a sin when it is an addiction
-Smoking is immoral because of the damage it causes to your health and those around you

Otherwise, good poll.

I've never smoked and can tolerate second hand smoke and consider it a cultural bad habit that should be discouraged at the very least from a health care perpective.

 

I began smoking on a dare when I was 12 yrs old. I think it also had to do with wanting to fit in with my peers and tired of being called a goody two shoes. I became the 2 pack a day smoker.

In 2003 I was I was diagnosed with the early stages of Empashema (sp?). Two weeks later I quit with the grace of God, because I know I couldn't do it on my own. I had alot of things going on... so if someone says I'll quit when things calm down a little in my life. (They'll never quit, cause I can testify since 2000 I said that.) It took this diagnosis to do something. During this time I was also reading a book by Joyce Myers called Grace for Grace. There was a prayer she prayed and I took the outline of that prayer and prayed it everytime I was tempted to smoke and the prayer was this (Father, I need you to come through my faith (my belief in God) by Your grace (God's unmerited favor) to bring me what I need. (and I need to quit smoking). I had this posted in every room where I would see it and I would also quote scripture too. (Phil. 4:13, 2Cor. 12:9) It wasn't really as bad as I thought it was going to be to quit. Now on July 20th I will be 3 yrs smoke free!

 

Wow, good post!

The way I see it, tobbaco is just a legalized drug that shouldn't be allowed. Common sense tells us what damage it can do to us. And, most important, God says that if you're saved, then your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit--so respect it!
DRF

 

An advertisement to discourage kids from smoking said "Kissing a girl who's smoked a cigarette is like licking an ashtray."

Eeewww.

 

Indeed!

 

I am grateful there are no smokers in my family. Hair smells nasty, food tastes nasty sitting close to a smoker in a restaurant. Yucky poo!

 

No way!!

IIIINNNNNcredible. Over 50% so far have said they are regular or heavy smokers. Are you guys really Baptists???

My brother and I tried it just once, when I was about 8. I went home actually thinking, "No one will know!" DUH! I got my bottom tanned good--my brother's memory says Mom did it, but mine says Dad did it. Doesn't matter, I will be eternally grateful to my godly parents for saving me from that smelly, smelly habit, not to mention the huge possibility of lung cancer. :thumbsup:

 

Well, THAT'S a relief!!:applause:

 

Maybe they're from NC or VA. In NC, people used to joke about the smokers that congregated outside the church between Sunday School and worship every morning. Well, that has some truth to it. In our schools where I live, they made the students stop smoking on campus only in the last few years!

 

When I was a boy in Texas, my father's generation (the ones who went to hell and back in WW2 for our sakes) smoked routinely, and they did stand around after church and smoke.

I'd choose those Christians over many of the "clean" ones I've known.

 

Both of my parents smoked and I grew up hating it. Family vacations, trapped in the same car with them were not pleasant experiences. When I cleaned up a room for a house guest once, I wiped off the walls -- and kept wiping them off for hours as the yellow grime kept rolling off.

My mother died a few years ago when one of her coughing attacks could no longer be supported by her heart and, all alone in her home, she evidently slid down the wall in the hallway, coughing and gagging and then dying. When my brother found her the next day, she was very dead and the spit was still drooling out of her mouth.

Want your kids to find you that way?

 

Oh, no doubt a person can be a great Christian and still smoke. They just smell worse and die quicker. :smilewinkgrin:

 

I have never smoked -- never had the desire . I enjoy the aroma of some cigar and pipes though . I abhor cigs . Living in South Korea which has one of the highest smoking rates in the world is bothersome to me . There are many times that I am forced to breathe that hideous smoke . And there are cig butts all over . Maybe there are some polite cig smokers in the world that don't toss their butts anywhere they please -- but not here . Drivers give their cancer sticks the priority while driving ---#2 cell phones . So many teens have those pacifers hanging out of their mouths -- it is amazing how many are addicted .

 

Used to smoke

Before I was saved I smoked like the proverbial chimney.

About a year after salvation I quit.

Several members of my family have died from lung cancer.

Don't do it (for health's sake anyway).

HankD