In scene three, act 1, of Shakespeare’s “Hamlet,” Prince Hamlet’s opening phrase is “To be or not to be, that is the question.” Today, we would do well to visit the subject of tobacco, and see from a Christian perspective, if it should “be” or “not.”
Tobacco is a subject that causes deep rooted feelings because (1) people we love use or used it, or (2) we ourselves enjoy it. There’s no denying the widespread use of tobacco. The TV commercials glorify its use and the manliest of men walk around with a lip full of it. It was seen as a rite of passage into adulthood and for many years, it was prescribed by practitioners of medicine. Prescribing the use of tobacco came to a screeching halt when the masses were dying with lung cancer and more and more research was done and data collected. Once a picture was drawn from the data, the “healthcare” professionals had to condemn its use and implore the public to quit.
Too many times when this subject comes up, those who choose to defend it begin to quibble about people who are overweight and “eat too much.” They quibble about those who take prescribed medicines that alter the mind or are themselves addictive. This article is not going to dive into all the other areas of potential sinfulness, like gluttony etc. At the outset, I want to say that if something is wrong, its wrong, and “two wrongs don’t make a right.” This article is about “To-Bacco or not To- Bacco.”
The Bible Never Explicitly Mentions Tobacco
It is true that the Bible does not mention tobacco, or at least to my knowledge. But that fact does not give us the right to go on and involve ourselves in it and employ it in our lives. The Bible is silent on a myriad of things, but it addresses everything at the same time. That may sound contradictory but it is not. While the Bible does come right out and name things and sins, other things and sins are evaluated by reason of principle and usefulness or detriment. Our worldview is guided by the Bible, and how we want the world to view us is also guided by the Bible. This topic matters, and so I want to lay out three commands and make the application to Tobacco, so we can evaluate whether or not a child of God should be using tobacco.
- We are to honor God with our bodies
- We are to love our neighbors as ourselves
- We are to be free from bondage
Honoring God With Our Bodies
I want you to picture this scene: A man is walking down a public sidewalk puffing away on his cigarette, and a mother with an infant in her stroller and a three-year-old tagging along by her side, asks, “what are you doing?” The man responds, “Well, Miss, I am glorifying God in my body and spirit which are Gods.”
I hope you see the ridiculous nature of the above incident. Paul, to the Corinthian brethren, said, “What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore, glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). I am suggesting that one cannot honor their body, and honor their God while using a highly addictive, extremely lethal substance. In 2008, the World Health Organization named Tobacco use as the world’s single greatest preventable cause of death. Paul also wrote, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world: but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” (Romans 12:1-2). I, personally, find it impossible to reconcile a Christian using tobacco and being a living sacrifice. The text above says, “do not be conformed to this world,” and I wonder what comes to mind when someone sees a smoker? Is the first thought, “oh, look at that faithful child of God” or does that individual look just like the rest of the world, giving themselves over to lust of the flesh? The Bible tells us to be faithful stewards of our bodies, time, and money (1 Corinthians 4:2). The use of tobacco is contrary to our bodies. The use of tobacco is not a good use of time, and the purchase of tobacco conflicts with wise spending.
Loving Our Neighbor As Ourselves
The use of tobacco fails to honor this principle which is a pillar of our faith. Cigarette smoke is one of the most offensive smells to anyone who does not smoke. But not only does it stink- it lingers. And not only is it stinky and it sticks to everything, second hand smoke is deadly. The CDC says, “There is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke. People who do not smoke who are exposed to secondhand smoke, even for a short time, can suffer harmful health effects. In adults who do not smoke, secondhand smoke exposure can cause coronary heart disease, stroke, lung cancer, and other diseases.”Christians are commanded to love people, and help people. Smoking is unloving and harmful. But this discussion goes beyond firing up a stogie.
What about smokeless tobacco? How many little boys ended up picking up a habit because of some other man they saw chewing or dipping tobacco? How many dads, grandads, uncles and friends have been a poor influence in this area. Smokeless tobacco is far from harmless my friends. According to the CDC, smokeless tobacco contains 30-plus chemicals known to cause cancer. Paul told Timothy, “Be an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity” (1 Timothy 4:12). Is walking around with a jaw crammed full of dip “letting my light so shine before men, that they see my good works and glorify my Father in Heaven?” Is “chawing” a good example? No, it is not.
Being Free From Bondage
Christians are to be completely given over to Jesus (Galatians 2:20). We are to be “slaves of Christ” (1 Peter 2:16; Romans 6:18). In 1 Corinthians 6:12, Paul said, “All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.” I know the context from which the above passage is taken, so I want to use it in principle. Being addicted is the opposite of being free, and is akin to being in bondage. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIODA) says the majority of smokers would like to quit, yet only 6% are able to quit in a given year. Most will make multiple attempts before they are successful.
They (NIODA) say that a short-lived surge of endorphins is released in the reward circuits of the brain which causes a slight, brief euphoria when nicotine is ingested. This behavior is reinforced as the drug (nicotine) increases the dopamine in these reward circuits. This is where addiction and dependance comes in. But didn’t Paul exhort us to “set our mind on things above and not on things of the world” (Colossians 3:2)? We are to be “looking for our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Philippians 3:20), not the next smoke break or opportunity to chaw down on a plug of tobacco.
The Fact Is…
Tobacco use is incompatible with the Christian life. We ought to pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17), instead of smoking without ceasing. Many have learned to cope with the pressures of life and the anxiety of it by using tobacco, instead of praying through the pressures and anxieties (Philippians 4:6-7). Tobacco adds nothing of value to our lives. It is dangerous, expensive, and hurts influence (Matthew 5:16).
Next time we are in a bind and fling a craving, lets seek first the Kingdom, and not a convenience store (Matthew 6:33).
If the Eastside Church of Christ can help you in any way as you seek God, please allow us the opportunity to serve you. God loves you and we do too. Make use of our website or Facebook page for more spiritual content. We also have a YouTube page that host our weekly sermons and Bible Studies. The links provided below will help you reach those destinations. God bless you.
https://www.facebook.com/EastsideChurchOfChristMorgantonGeorgia
https://www.youtube.com/@eastsidechurchofchristmorg6930
eastsidecocmorganton.com 