Do you/did you ever smoke?

[Spirit_Wolf8356]

Smoking is nasty and disgusting. I don't know why people even do it in the first place. XP Yuck. I've never done it, never will, but my uncle's do, like, all the time, so I used to be really used to the smell of smoke. After a while of not being around them, I can't stand it anymore.

[SilverFang]

nope and I would have to shoot my self if I ever do.

[c-girl]

I get sick if i breath smoke cigarette smoke. But i don't know if i'm allergic.

[HikariChan]

ive never tried anything dealing with drugs.
my father almost died from alchohol and my mom crashed...yah..
theres never a good reason to smoke or drink!!^^
my sisters are good examples.
they're learning the hard way

[AngelSakura]

AngelSakura: I don't, never have, never will, but this one does... *kicks Nick-chan*
Nick-chan: Oww!
AngelSakura: Don't worry. If he smokes at the wedding, that's the last one, cuz no one within 10 feet of me can smoke without being kicked . . . and anyway, kissing you tastes awful right now.
Nick-chan: *smirk* But you do anyway.

[Angelchick]

i've never smoked and i don't plan to ever.

[EireWolf]

I don't understand why anyone these days, knowing the health risks involved, and smelling the REEK of cigarette smoke, would ever take up smoking. I almost gag when someone even walks near me who has just been smoking... can't they smell themselves?

Thankfully, I've never done drugs either. I can't say that I've *never* been tempted to smoke pot.... One time in college I was feeling rather rebellious and might have, if I'd been invited. But luckily that person knew I didn't smoke, and didn't bother asking.

I had plenty of opportunities in high school to try drugs, but they just never appealed to me. I'd been educated about the dangers of addiction, not to mention the whipping I'd get if my dad ever found out... which he would... so I never touched them. Looking back, it was something of a miracle, since my three closest friends ALL became heavily involved in drugs. I cried the day I learned my best friend had smoked pot... somehow I knew it would end up destroying her, and it pretty well did.

[Little T-chan]

.....Smoke..I'll never understand why people like it..I mean, I know it's addictive and stuff...but for some reason..it just doesn't make sense to me..Anyway, I will NEVER SMOKE!! EVER!! >.< I imagine that it would give my throat a dry, itchy feeling and I get that enough with my constant allegies and colds. I am kinda fragile so smoking would never stop bothering me. I don't know. I just don't like it. I like orange juice!! <3 Yummy.

[HondaTooru]

Does anyone remember candy cigarettes? They were around probably 15 or 16 years ago.. Was that a bad idea! I still remember getting in trouble when my dad caught me eating them.. "But it's just candy!" I said, having no idea what all the fuss was about.

Not to get terribly off the subject.. But how about drinking? (In moderation of course) But there's a lot of wine drinking that goes on in the Bible... What are everyone's thoughts on that?

[HondaTooru]

[Ashley]

Personally, I have tasted alcohol before (in the presence of my parents, so I wasn't out partying hard and getting drunk or anything) and I find it absolutely terrible stuff. Tastes horrible to me--and I've had mixed drinks, beer and wine. Gross all around IMO.

As for what it says Biblically, first off you have to put it in a cultural perspective. Obviously there was no sodas or bottled water back then, and the water had dangerous bacteria/diseases in it, on top of a lack of sewage. Milk was just as bad, especially without refridgeration. So that left wine. Kids grew up drinking that, so I have been told they were not as sensitive to the alcohol in it (which, some people think it was really just grape juice and that they didn't start aging wine til later, but I'm not sure about that).

But as for us, well that's an interesting question. On the one hand, there are verses about everything in moderation, which seem to indicate that it'd be ok if you don't let it overwhelm you. But, there's also the fact that alcohol can and will harm your liver, so in this case...I suggest you pray about what the Lord says for you personally.

[Kokhiri Sojourn]

I've never smoked anything before. I have lots of friends and relatives who do smoke cigarettes and pipes and such, but I have never done it before. I've gotten moderately used to the smoker's smell, being around them and all, but it hasn't yet appealed to me, and I am certain that it will stay that way.

In regards to alcohol, yes, I've had a bit here and there, but the only drinks I've ever liked and drank are the girly alcohol drinks - Pina Coladas, Hard Lemonade, you know, the stuff that doesn't taste like alcohol and has hardly any in the actual drink. I have a lot of family that was in AA at one time or another also, so it's somewhere in the genes, and for that reason in both cases, I'm generally trying to avoid acquiring the taste.

[Technomancer]

I don't smoke, and never have. I don't care for the smell and I generally have better things to waste my money on.

I like wine, and other drinks and I like to go out to local bars on occaision with friends . I do drink in moderation, and that's fine. It's one of the small pleasures in life, and as long as it's used in moderation there should be no problem. Come to think of it, the book of Sirach specifically approves of moderate drinking and disapproves of drunkenness.

A word of caution though to some. Drinks like "Mike's Hard Lemonade" and others have their problems. You can't really taste the alcohol, and typically these sorts of drinks are pretty strong (at least compared to a beer). A few people do get into trouble this way.

[Kokhiri Sojourn]

A word of caution though to some. Drinks like "Mike's Hard Lemonade" and others have their problems. You can't really taste the alcohol, and typically these sorts of drinks are pretty strong (at least compared to a beer). A few people do get into trouble this way.

I totally agree with you, that there still should always be a limit. Any alcoholic drink still has alcohol in it.

[true_noir_chloe]

Well, I grew up in the late 60s and 70s and the views of pot, smoking, drugs and alcohol were much looser since people were not as educated on their physical dangers as they are today. However, I did use to smoke when I was around 12 until 14, stealing my dad's cigarettes. I also smoked some pot with my sister. It seemed everyone was smoking pot in the Valley back then. I know that's young, but then I grew up in a strange household - drug addicts, dealers and alcoholics, plus the added satan worshipper - that's California for you. I became a Christian at 151/2, which changed my perspective greatly. When I say I was saved, I was literally "saved" in every way possible. Now, I didn't write that for shock value, that was just my situation. I never smoked or anything after I became a Christian.

Today it's great to see how many of you are smart enough to see how dangerous smoking, drugs and alcohol are. My kids are fortunately growing up in this smarter environment.

Ashley asked if anyone had views on drinking today. I do drink wine occassionally, and have even collected some nice bottles from my favorite vineyards. I believe there are some others here who do the same. And, when you go to other countries, unlike America, drinking wine is very much something Christians do without a second thought of whether it's wrong. The key is not to do it in excess and that it is not your addictive lifestyle.

There are two reasons why you shouldn't drink and that is if it is something you do to hide from problems rather than going to God, or if its something which takes place over your God; in which it has become your idol. I think all things, whether food, drink, games, anime, anything should be done in moderation. Remember who your Lord is, it shouldn't be your addiction, it should be your God.

Drinking is fine as long as you do it wisely - I even enjoy an ocassional margarita. It's like eating cheesecake, it's part of the wonderful luxuries in our world that we are blessed with and we shouldn't abuse it. now, doing damage to the temple Shatterheart was speaking of I had to consider.

"Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, "I WILL DWELL IN THEM AND WALK AMONG THEM; AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE." 2Corinthians 6:16

This verse has so much more to do with what is in your heart, than whether or not you are feeding or drinking your physical body with unclean things. This is much more far reaching and has to do with your heart - is it for God or against Him. Even the scripture of I Cor. 3:16-17 refers to how your body is where the Spirit of God dwells. It is a sanctuary of His grace and His presence when you are alone with God. Are you placing idols where God should be? Now, all things in excess could be taking the place of God, i.e., an idol. There are many things which can taint the temple, and they're not all physical.

Was not one of the two of the great commandments Jesus gave, to love the Lord your God with all your heart, and all your soul and with all your mind? How can you follow this if you're loving something more than Him?

Sorry, gone into another Bible study.

[Ingemar]

Wine is a mocker,
Strong drink is a brawler,
And anyone who is led astray by them
Is not wise.

Alcohol gives me chest pains, so I generally avoid it. Unless I need to take NyQuil. Mmmmm.... NyQuil....

[Lehn]

*hic**hic* Yup, that NyQuil is suuuuuuuuuure some good stuff..... *hic*

No, really, in all seriousness, I've only a glass of wine at a friend's wedding, that's been it for me. My mum's side of the family, all of my grandfather's stepbrothers and their kids are pretty hardcore alcoholics, and I've seen them when they get smashed. Not something I want to look like. Ever.

[Mithrandir]

Editor's note: Please realize that this starts out serious, but aquires a very tongue-in-cheek feel rather quickly. The 'grain of salt' addage pops quickly to mind...

Gee, this thead meandered into some interesting territory... I think I smoked a grand total of one cigarette in my life. It was to impress a pretty girl. Now that's a funny story. So I figured, hey, she smokes, so it would be cool if I did right? Well, the fact that I got through it did impress her, and I even got a kiss out of it. That was arguable the worst kiss in my life. Have you ever had SO much bad coffee that your mouth has that ashy, dry feeling? That was kinda how it worked out there...

Now I don't think that one cig is going to kill me. My lungs are not permanently scarred, nor will I get lung cancer from it. On the otherhand, some people willingly live in the Los Angeles basin, which is obviously going to give them lung cancer.
Shooby: HEY!
OP: :p
Shooby: I live in the inland empire, you dork!
Now, believe it or not, someone can be addicted to just about anything. I have a co-worker who is addicted to chocolate. She is absolutely huge, and complains constantly about the strees in her life, and how bad it is for her - while eating chocolate ice cream out of the carton. She even get's other people into trouble by getting her doctor to say that THEY cause her heart conditions... So smoking is the leading cause of abusive co-workers in the U.S. No, wait! That's not what we've learned today.

On to the subject of cheese cake. I know lots of Chrisitans who either:
1. Don't think their smoking is a sin.
2. Know it is, but don't have the power to quit.
In some cases, number 2 is a cop-out, but in other cases, they have way worse things in their life than cigarettes. Things like cheese cake. Have you ever looked at the ingredient list in cheese cake, or candies, or soda? Some of those ingredients have been linked to all sorts of bad diseases (cancer, diabetes, teen pregnancy, H. Ross Perot, etc). The point I guess I'm tip-toeing around is one that has been raised before.

Despite the odds, russian routlette is still played. Evidently it gives the players an addrenaine rush. (I lost a friend this way, actually). Now we KNOW this is bad, and its effects are both decisive and long-lasting. But what about cheese cake? One piece won't kill you, but if you have a piece every hour for three years, you'll start to develop lots ot problems. The same is true for cigarettes, beer, chew, snuff, rib-eye steaks, gambling and children (just to name a few).

I would not, however, lump highly addictive substances, or things with no redeaming value into this category. In fact I think I'll stop now.

[Bobtheduck]

Cheese Cake linked to Ross Perot?

Um...

I can't stand Cigs... Being around smokers, I am more disgusted than a chilli convention... No, wait, they're "gusted" not "disgusted" sorry



Um... Anyhow, I hate being around anyone who smokes... It really hurts my lungs...

As for Alcohol, I have had beer (eew) and wine (red wine, and eew) They were both disgusting. I haven't tried Mike's hard lemonade, or any cocktails, though I want to try a Cookie Magic at Red Robin, but don't know what I'll do if the alcohol is as evident in that as it is in the beer and the wine... I can't stand alcohol... It burns my throat... I still remember when I had to take nyquil for several days straight... That was a royal pain in the throat, I'll tell you that much... Gah... And a pain to my tongue... Gaaah! *spits* I hate alcohol...

[Bobtheduck]

Its not a tough issue. God said our bodies are the Temple. Thus, if you give yourself lung cancer you are destroying the temple. Same as someone who gorged on foods that were bad for them. The Bible is clear on what God thinks of people who destroy the temple.

EDIT...I'm gonna have to look this up again before I comment again...EDIT

The only biblical refference to substances other than the command to not get drunk can be found in references to spiritism, which actually has to do with drugs used for pagan rituals.

[Vash is a plant]

Hmm... I've done some stupid stuff before, like having gotten ubberly drunk once . Really, it's not worth it. Heh... try playing DDR after smoking, not easy, not fun.

[Heart of Sword]

Nope, never, not ever either...

[Madeline]

Nope. ^^
I haven't had access to that anyway...
I think I'll keep it that way.

[Stephen]

"but this is assuming you´re bound to get cancer if you smoke once. I´ve never smoked, and I don´t intend to. I realize that cigarettes are addictive, so I obviously recommend against starting. but I know many people who have smoked once or twice and stopped after that. they´re not going to get lung cancer. same goes for occasional pot smokers.

I´m also a little unsure of your logic. are you saying that we shouldn´t do anything that could be potentially life-threatening?

I´m not trying to just challenge your opinion; I want to agree with you, but these are my doubts."


It never seems to amaze me how every single thread on CAA will always be turned into an arguement. Not once in my entire post did I say smoking once will give you cancer. You decided to read into what I wrote and drive down a rabbit trail. My point was, any time you willfully do somthing that is killing yourself its wrong. Will smoking once kill you? Nope. Will looking at porn kill you though? If you want to defend smoking thats cool. But please, don't twist my words in the process.

[Fsiphskilm]

I grew up i

[Mr_Anderson]

in my house cigarets = deathsticks (like in star wars episode II)

i never smoked, unless u consider the baby carrots i had when i was little

[EireWolf]

[quote="Mr_Anderson"]i never smoked, unless u consider the baby carrots i had when i was little ]

Wait... you smoked carrots?! *scratches head and tries to imagine how this is possible*

[Bobtheduck]

Come to think of it, the book of Sirach specifically approves of moderate drinking and disapproves of drunkenness.
.

Since not all of us read the apocrypha (though I like Wisdom of Solomon, and will be reading Maccabes to see the story behind Mel's new movie, hehe) it is worth mentioning that Paul actually strongly suggested that Timothy drink some wine. I've heard people say that it wasn't alcoholoic, but that's totally rediculous because using the same words, drunkenness is warned against. I personally can't stand the taste of alcohol, though, but it's definately not sinfull in moderation and with caution.

As for Proverbs that says "Wine is a mocker" it's a warning about too much drinking, not a command against any drinking. I think that the idea of moderation is entirely lost on many Protestants...

[Ashley]

it is worth mentioning that Paul actually strongly suggested that Timothy drink some wine.

Can I ask you to point this out? I've never heard that before.

[Bobtheduck]

I Timothy 5:23 - Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses. (NIV, searched on Gospelcom)

There is is. As to the issue of it being "non-alcoholic" aside from the fact there was no way to remove the alcohol from wine back then (though people argue it was "grape juice" taken before fermentation)

I Timothy 3:8 - Deacons, likewise, are to be men worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain.

The use of the word "much" completely elliminates this idea that they were only to drink non-alcoholic wine. I had more to say, but I'll stop here.