This is how I see it:
Matthew 22:34-40
Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
No one can say smoking is ok, because it is a form of escape and it's bad for your body.
That being said...
I used to be a smoker and I loved smoking! I loved it because it felt like my friend, it gave me an excuse to step away from a situation when I was uncomfortable, it was my escape. I didn't have to be alone because I had my cigarettes. Over time, I realized that I was using it as a crutch, so I cut back. Jesus wants to become my best friend!
When I came back to Jesus, I was still smoking on occasion when I was around old friends that were bad for me (not because they smoked, but because they weren't Christians and didn't put the
great commandments first). This would make me feel unloved so I would reach for the ciggies. Once again I was escaping. The more I become friends with Jesus, the more I stop letting the world influence me, the more I want to give up those things that make me feel bad/aren't good for me.
I am trying to quit I know it is bad for you but I am trying very hard If any smokers on hear have any tips please help I am trying I do enjoy a smoke but I need to quit
Disneyfan 30, Trust in the Lord that he will help you, and don't be hard on yourself you'll get there!
Don't beat yourself up when you have a smoke, lessen, gradually, realize the stressors around you causing you to smoke. When you have a cigarette acknowledge it for what it is, a way to escape, a way to feel loved...or whatever reason. Just don't beat yourself up, stress always made me reach for more
Ecclesiaster 11:7-10
For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
As my relationship with Jesus grows, I love him so much and he loves me so much! I know he doesn't want me to do things that are bad for me: eating bad foods, overeating, watching bad shows, drinking (for me anyway), drugs, isolating myself...the list goes on. He wants to to teach me to feel wholesome so I can carry out GOD's will! I am so grateful for this. We humans are great escape artist, we want to run and escape, but let me tell you what, the devil loves to use this to get between you and your relationship with God and the word of GOD!.
I still fail, but in the words of my favorite Christian singer Josh Garrels "Even when I fall, I get back up for the joy that overflows my cup". I get to grow in my walk with Christ and that's what it's all about, it's so wonderful!
You know what else?
He doesn't want me to be hard on myself either, or beat myself up. I come to him because he loves me. Guys, we can't judge others, Jesus loves us! God loves you! We will all be released of different sins at different times through prayer and supplication!
Matthew 7:1-29
Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye. ...
I went to a certain church for a brief period. It made me so sad, because the pastor was a good man, but he struggled with judging those around him, and he struggled with having people attend his church. I remember seeing a man out in the parking lot smoking one day, I could tell it was a lot for him to be there. The pastor came out and said "You know smoking is bad for you and will kill you". He sneered at the man. It broke my heart to see, that man never came back. There was no love there.
So sure, smoking may be a sin. It was for me because it was coming in between me and my relationship with the Lord, God has asked me to be present here on Earth. Jesus came to the earth and died for our sins, and God wants me to be here to and face the music.....but we are all sinner's and fall short...so let's not judge.