J.R. WROTE:

Question-Comment: I would like to know your opinion concerning church officals smoking outside the church, during and after services are being performed.  Are the any scripture that speak against this practice?

DON WROTE:

Hello J.R.,

I can't figure out where your question is coming from: i.e., are you a church member "smoking with anger" over an official's behavior; are you the "smoking official" trying to deal with guilt; or are you just a curious smoking or non-smoking observer?  My comments will address all three possibilities.

First, if you are a church member and the official's smoking behavior offends you, let's begin by considering his situation.    It is obvious that he or she  is caught up in an addiction.  This should strike a chord of empathy in the thoughtful, caring individual; for we are all human; and humans are prone to take on addictions of one kind or another--be it smoking, drinking, over-eating, gossip, etc.  (The list can go on and on!)  In addition, the habit of smoking carries dreadful consequences; for every time someone fills their lungs with smoke they are abusing their body in serious ways--ways that can lead to all kinds of grave health problems which are hurtful and can often (if not always) lead to a premature death.  In addition, this individual is subject to emotional stress for he knows that he is hurting his God-given body and he is probably having to deal with guilt--i.e., guilt about what he is doing to himself , about what others think of his habit, and guilt because he is unable to break the habit. 

As a believer and fellow church member, you must deal with the situation within yourself; for it is less than ideal.  However, does not wisdom and the Scriptures dictate that in situations such as this, we first deal with our own attitude lest we judge a brother to harshly and thereby put ourselves under judgment?  I'm reminded how that B'Ann often cautions Christians in the matter of judging another believer by referring them to the Lord's Supper when Jesus told the disciples that one of them would shortly betray Him.  They did not ask "Who is it?" but said "Lord, is it I?" (Mt. 26:22).  (This is the natural reaction of a believer when he or she is aware that they are in the Lord's presence.)  In short, would not wisdom and love have us praying for the brother in a fault in a way that we would want him to pray for us if the roles were reversed? 

Secondly, if you are the official and you know that you need deliverance from an offensive, serious addiction; then let me refer you to my comments to the church member above and counsel you not to be to harsh on yourself--remembering that in Christ Jesus there is deliverance.  At this point, let me refer you to my own testimony in a previous WRAP with J___ and P____ in our March WRAP AROUNDS of 1999,  (CLICK HERE to go to that WRAP.  Hit the return arrow in your browser to return to this page.)

Thirdly, if you are just an onlooker, perhaps the comments above will make sense.  If not, let us know.

As to New Testament Scriptures dealing with "smoking," the only mentioning I can find is in Matthew 12:20. 

A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory.

It might be interesting to go to the Scriptures and read this in its context.  (You can find on-line Bibles in the treasure chest on our pages.)

The Bible does have Scriptures counseling men and women to not be overcome in a fault and not to let themselves become addicted to anything negative--but then, doesn't common sense teach the same???

Thanks for taking time to WRAP with us.

Don

B'ANN WROTE:

We are still so earthy!!!  Jesus never did say he would redeem any part of our flesh.  In fact, he found the flesh to be abhorrent. But we can learn from King David.  He totally failed in his "flesh man" but he never failed in his "spirit man". As Christians, we are supposed to know our brothers by the Spirit.  Since this involves the  "Gift of Discernment" which many people do not believe exists, herein lies the problem.  Without spiritual discernment we would be judging man by our flesh man, i.e. which would be just our opinion.  Did not Jesus say:

John 8:15
Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man.

Jesus did say that we would know them by "their fruit," but the New Testament goes on to spell out exactly what we were to look for as "fruit inspectors." 

^{Galatians 5:
14}For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
   ¹⁵But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.
   ¹⁶This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
   ¹⁷For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
   ¹⁸But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
   ¹⁹Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
   ²⁰Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
   ²¹Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
   ²²But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
   ²³Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
   ²⁴And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
   ²⁵If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

Since there are many troublous habits of the flesh that are not listed in the works of the flesh, we have no Scripture to stand on when we use this list to judge a brother or sister who is obviously overcome in a fault--but we are always safe to pray a heart-felt prayer for such a person.  Which of us can say that we have reached perfection and that God has finished working on us.  So, perhaps we just need to put some things on the shelf until God has time to work a deliverance in another. 

B'Ann Wrote:

I was really happy to see your banner that says Happy Christmas.  We have a strong group in the USA that is trying to stop this from appearing in any public places since it contains the word Christ. It does appear that your country is moving to more freedom while ours is moving toward repression of some ideologies.  However, Christianity is not an ideology like so many other beliefs/dogmas/creeds.  God does claim that we are to be a great Spiritual Force that can shape the nation through prayer.  We really need Him to show this truth in our day.  Medical costs are too expensive; so, the Gift of Healing and Miracles need to become evident.  Our social entitlements have become massive; so, the churches need to follow the precepts of "taking care of the widows and orphans".  Taking care of widows and orphans has been replaced by "taking care of unwed mothers and drug addicts". I will not even mention the scourge of HIV that has swept our globe. In short, the Promises in the Bible need to become more prominent as we move on into this new century.  It does seem that we have forgotten how to access our inheritances as  Christians.  We see small crumbs of faith operating here and there, but it needs to be on a wider scale.  My prayer for 2008 is that we will shake off the teachings that have not produced the Powerful Christian movement that the Bible describes, that we press in to the precepts taught in the Bible, and that we will go out into the highways and hedges seeking those that we can help. This will require a people that are not self-seeking but humble. Always remember, however, that Jesus was the Most Humble being that ever walked the earth; yet, He claimed to be the Son of the Most High God. 

Question-Comment:
To, Founder/Director
      Greetings to you in the name of our Lord jesus Christ I m rev. Neethipudi Jayadeep and rev. Kuruva Sekhar babu and Matta Emmanuel Johnpe from India came to know about you through Google search.   We are inspired about your musical ministries. We are the Nissi Musical Band in India at Andhrapradesh. As  a younsters our vision is to see the all international churches to come under one unity to worship and praise the Almnight God in truth. Through praise and worship we can bring the God's power in the lives of ordinary beleivers. What god is doing through Nissi Musical band same we can give performance in USA. So we are sharing our Heart Desire to do musical band in your church. We are not lookinfor money but can you invite us for your church programme. One of my team brother having ten years visa for USA. Already he worked in colarado Springs , Virginia , and with Billygraham team. We have desire to see your church to do praise and worship in a tremendous way.  God is looking for real worshippers who will worship him in truth, power and in spirit.  Here in india god is doing his powerful work  through this musical band.
Can you send an ivitation letter that you are inviting our Musical Band and worship in your church. So I hope you will give us the positive reply to us...

We have made this website called doweknow the focus of our ministry.  It is our belief that we can reach more people via the internet than we could if we traveled in the flesh for fifty years.  Even though we have not been sponsoring people into the US, we will put your WRAP up for others to read.  Someone might be led of the Spirit to bring you to our land. I know you feel that you need to come to the USA, and maybe we do need to be harvested by new and fresh praise and worship teams, but you need to bloom where you are planted.  I know that most media ministries in the USA have portrayed the Cause of Christ as achieving fame and fortune.  However, we do not ascribe to that belief.  We believe that we need to walk daily among the people and touch peoples hearts one-on-one.  I would encourage you to study the Scripture about the highways and hedges and learn what Christ was trying to teach us about true witnessing. Please do not be discontent with your country and know that the "fields are white unto harvest" there. My prayer for 2008 is that the Church will shake off the teachings that have not produced the Powerful Christian movement that the Bible describes, that we press in to the precepts taught in the Bible, and that we will go out into the highways and hedges seeking those that we can help. This will require a people that are not self-seeking, but humble. Always remember, however, that Jesus was the Most Humble being that ever walked the earth; yet, He claimed to be the Son of the Most High God. 

Hello

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