I agree with Lydia (Nothing new there), The Pastor who said that was not working under the influence of the Holy Spirit, and I would have to question the anointing under which he is preaching.
So many of us fall into the trap of legalism. On the surface, it doesn't sound like a bad thing. I mean, God said these things, and he would not want us to do them, so why not make the effort to follow them, just to please God? There are three things that come to mind about this attitude.
1) It is us thinking we can earn something. The Bible tells us that our righteousness is as filthy rags to God. What would ever make us think that our actions could earn the respect of our Father? Without faith it is impossible to please Him.
2) We say, I have faith, I just want to please Him because I love Him so much. Quit lying to yourself, because you are not fooling God. We do these things because we know the things we have done in the past, and our guilt makes us do this. It is almost like saying, "God, I know you sent Jesus to die for all our sins, but I was really bad, and I need to make up for that". You know that is questioning the redeeming power of Christ's sacrifice. By His blood you are washed and cleansed as pure as snow. Stop doubting it.
3) If you are having to put forth an effort to do these things, you might as well not do them at all. The reason the Bible tells us about the fruits of the spirit is so we can test ourselves and see if the spirit is in us. These are the FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT, not your fruits. That means you have nothing to do with it, the Spirit does them. If you have to force yourself to do good, it is time to hit your knees and invite Christ into your heart, because He is not there yet.
We have to stop trying to convict new Christians and let the Holy Spirit do His job. If He is living inside them, we won't have to do anything, He will do it all. Then we can just be there to love and encourage them. The Bible says nothing about smoking, and there have been an incredible amount of pipes found for those times. If it was that big of a deal, don't you think something would have been said about it? I think Paul had the right attitude. When we allow something to bring us under it's power, whether smoking, drinking, a spouse, money, cars, anything...we are one step closer to turning that thing into an idol.
Sorry so long, I do get a little carried away sometimes. Maybe because I smoke. I am sick of PC preachers lying to their congregations. But, that is a whole other sermon.
We must be very careful how we allow ministers, preacher, and others to implant what THEY call or considers sins into our minds, usually they themselves are guilty of sin as they speak. God clearly points out what HE calla sin (s) and not once does He include smoking, not that He didn't know people would be smoking,I'm sure they smoke back in His days, just as they did everything else He calls sin, but I don't think this was a problem with Him
You see, if you read all those things GOD calls sins in Galatians and throughout Paul's and the other disciples writings, they all lets us know what are the sins that separates us from God in our spirit man, which smoking does not. Sin is anything that separates or comes between us and God, in our faith and trust in Him. Even in the book of Revelation chapter 21, verse 8 (the end of God's speech to us, in the Book). God lets us know those who will not enter His kingdom, and not once is smoking mentioned. He says, "But the FEARFUL, and UNBELIVING, and the ABOMINABLE, and MURDERERS, and WHOREMONGERS, and SORCERERS, and IDOLATERS(even of self or things), and ALL (not y'all, as some might read this LOL...), BUT ALL LAIRS shall have their part in the lake of fire...
What man calls sin based on their own standards as to what they call being a christian and godly, is not all together what God calls or considers sins based on His statues, standards, his laws, His precepts, or His ordinances... These are what I judge myself and live by, not what someone else says, who most likely is living in sin themselves. This is why if someone says you're in sin or have sinned based on their own beliefs as to their judgments and standards of what being a christian or godly is all about, if it ain't written in THE BOOK, then, keep it moving! God ain't said it.
But that person who is telling you what you're doing or said is a sin, IS in the Bible as to what God said is sin, this is indeed sin. As I said, most who delcare smoking as sin, usually is sinning his/herself, because he/she is trying to be a judge in God's place, and put words into God's mouth, and not according to what God has already said sin is... These kind of people never preach or teeach about the sins of the Bibles that God has laid out for us, because they are living in them, so they try to comden=mn you for such as issues as smoking.
Smoking might make you smell like hell, but it is not a sin that destine you to hell... :yay::devil:
God teaches us that we all will give in account of those things we do to, and in our bodies, so you make the choice if you smoke, as Lydia says... But smoking doesn't make you less ,or more than a christian if you don't smoke, it does not seprate you from God, enmity does... Paul gives us a list of those sins throughout his writings... but he nevers says a good cup of coffee and a cigarette in the morning after you've said your morning prayers, to jump start your day, is going to send you to hell... now it might send you there, if you don't have such things to start your day, but I would think you're rather safe...:ROFL::excited:
(generic you, as not for anyone to take what I've said the wrong way as if I'm referring to you personally, LOL)
CONTRARY TO POPULAR BELIEF... LEGALISM IS NOT A FORM OF GODLINESS... I REPEAT... LEGALISM IS NOT A FORM GODLINESS! as some may think... Paul teaches and preaches against such as BEING sin within itself! Legalism is sin!
Thank yall for straightening me out!! I thought it sounded pretty scetchy, but I wanted some confirmation. I no longer attend that church; I'm looking for a new one. It's hard to fit in around this area because most congretants are married and/or have been attending their church most of their lives. Someimes newcomers feel judged. I'm not tryiing to sound negative about the churches in my area, I'm just sensitive.
I want to quit smoking and I'm thinking that maybe God is moving me towards it. Please pray for me that I will overcome the addicition.
