Here I Go Again
I'm sorry to a certain few that I am going back to revisit an old topic. I have never done a post on this but I have talked to several individuals about it. However, after a conversation this weekend I'm fired up all over again, so bear with me.
So I got to see a few people this weekend that I don't get to spend a lot of time with. Two of these people sit at opposite ends of the spectrum with me. Both are Christians but each have a different approach to life. One of them (we will call her Kelly just to respect privacy) has more life in her that few can match. She is always up beat, can make anyone smile and has a true heart for kids. Kelly does have a few rough edges (at least so as the world defines it) but they are only detrimental to her.
Then we have Amber (another alias) who gives Christians a bad name. She walks around in her little holy bubble and condemns everyone around her. She thinks she is perfect because she does the "right" and "Christian" things. Completely oblivious to her own flaws she believes that everyone should act and behave as she does.
So after lunch on Saturday Kelly went to have a cigarette and I went with her to keep her company and finish a conversation we were having earlier. Well Amber was completely appalled that I could be around Kelly while she was having a cigarette. Not only does Amber find it disgusting she also finds it to be a horrible sin and I as a Christian shouldn't associate with that type of behavior. Did I mention that Amber was brought up very sheltered and still lives in that shelter oblivious to the rest of the world and reality.
You can imagine how I reacted when Amber confronted me with this. Yes, I yelled but I didn't storm off afterwards. I then proceeded to attempt to have an intelligent conversation with her but I don't think she ever grasped the concept that I was trying to present to her. But starting a conversation yelling puts the other person on the defense instead of them being open. I guess I need to work on my approach a little.
Amber is an extreme case but I believe that there is a good bit of her rationale inside most of us. Somehow we have come up with a sin ranking system that has no solid foundation. Things such as smoking and drinking have become a complete abomination without any real reflection on why. A quick disclaimer: I don't support habitual smoking or alcoholism.
So why is smoking so sinful. Yes it is definitely unhealthy and dependencies can make our Christian walk difficult. But wouldn't coffee fall into this same category. If your immediate thought was "NO" then you have let society feed you your beliefs and probably need to take a step back and rethink this.. Why shouldn't coffee or Coca-Cola (I know plenty of people with that addiction in their lives) be put into the same category as smoking? Do they both not alter your state of awareness?
Smoking like drinking coffee is not one of those things that most of us pick up and love immediately. Like beer it's more of an acquired taste. People start smoking either because of peer pressure or they enjoy the effects. Being one who smoked for about a year (most of 2004) I learned it was a way to relieve stress and to stay awake while driving (Sorry Mom and Dad if this is the way you found that out). Well the same is for Coffee. Most of us started either because we wanted to feel grown up or we found it's amazing potential to wake us up or keep us going through a late night of studying. Either way we are after the effects.
Some might argue that smoking is more addictive than coffee. From personal experience, I had an easier time quitting to smoke than I did drinking coffee. Also you might argue that drinking coffee is not nearly as damaging to your health as smoking is. And to that you will not get an argument out of me. But if smoking is a greater sin due to the health factor then we really need to start alienating those who are overweight.
So then you might criticize others for not turning to God instead of smoking, alcohol or drugs when they are having problems in their lives. Because what is one of the least followed tag lines in the church: "God will supply all of our needs". Do we actually believe that. That God will supply not only our physical but emotional needs.
Imagine this: We get everyone in a church to quit their caffeine addictions starting on a Saturday. Come Sunday morning could you imagine what that service would be like. Some would not be awake or fully functional while other we be very irritable ( I know I was when I quit drinking coffee). But why would people feel this way, shouldn't being in the house of God and worshiping with other believers be enough to wake you up and be excited and ready to attack the day. I hope that some of you are beginning to see the reality of life. If not, keep reading so I can make it more clear.
Or here is another way of looking at it. How many Christians do you know who are on some type of mood altering medication. Antidepressants, sedatives, uppers, downers and stimulants run rampant. How many parents can't control their children and the answer is Ritalin or Adderall. Life is stressful so you have to take something to bring you down so you don't blow-up on everyone around you. Or you have slipped into depression and what is the answer? Pop a pill. And these drugs are just as addictive and habit forming as smoking, drinking or drugs. But we have put the nice little label of "regulatory" on medication so it isn't offensive.
But all of these are medically proven and under the care of a physician. Well, I can guarantee that when I get stressed out and have a cigarette that it relaxes me and helps me think clearer. Face it, in all of these situations we don't view God as enough for us. We don't believe his spirit and comfort can actually help us through it and we need something more tangible and instantaneous. It's easier to pop a pill or take a drag than to trust him and alter our way of thinking.
So why did I go into all of this. To open the eyes of Christians to be a little more tolerant or at least a little more consistent. If we are going to condemn the smokers and the drinkers than we need to condemn the overweight and everyone on a mind altering prescription. If we are going to have coffee pots in the church then lets put ashtrays outside. Basically as Christians we need to get over ourselves because we constantly push those away who are guilty of the same things we are. | 
