Second, after taking a Scripture out of it context (long hair does not = cigars), you assume it is natural not to smoke.
Let me see if I understand you correctly. You are actually arguing that because people have smoked for thousands of years (yes Joe, I know about Columbus and Sir Walter Raleigh too) that it is "natural" to smoke in the same sense that eating is natural? Oh really? How interesting, I never thought of it that way Joe.
Second, you tell us that you don't smoke, but I seem to recall when I posted on this subject some months back, in which I mentioned specifically smoking in relation to desecrating our temple, perhaps you recall, but anyway I seem to recall you mentioning smoking a pipe at that time, and you also tell us that your doctor has approved your smoking 1 pipe per week? Well, I guess I'm a little confused here. Why would your Dr. approve something you don't do?
As for Spurgeon's conviction of sin and his confrontation with Pentecost (sorry I said Dr. Irons in my last post meaning to say Pentecost) over the issue I find your arguments unpersuasive. I have no idea whether Spurgeon was convicted by the Spirit or not, certainly Pentecost was, as were quite a number of others in the Christian community at the time. Just because a person does something doesn't mean he wasn't convicted by the Spirit on the issue.
As for your arguments about the Medical Communities postion on the issue at the time of Spurgeon, again, very unpersuasive. I'll go with the facts and the obvious, that being taking smoke into the lungs is not natural, normal, healthy, beneficial etc.
When Paul told Timothy to take a little wine for his stomachs sake and for his many ailments, he didn't say take a little smoke. Maybe there is a good reason why.
But if you want to smoke Joe and you think it's good for you to do so then by all means don't let this screaming legalistic pharisee's views disturb you. You do whatever you want in your temple and I'll do what I think is right in mine.
As to your wife's glandular problem, if you're refering to low thyroid, I haven't looked up the data so if your Dr. says 1 in 20 I won't argue with him, but it seems that obiesity is much more common in this country than 1 in 20, which was my point, and further, I don't believe that obiesity, or mentioning it as a sin, makes me a legalist.
