Confronting the Issue of Smoking in the Life of a Christian
Surely one of the most troublesome topics for Christians today is the issue of smoking. Is it a sin, or just a matter of preference for each individual? Does it really matter whether or not someone smokes? Can someone who smokes be right with the Lord? Much has been said both for and against smoking by saved and lost people alike. But, as with any issue, we can find the truth about the matter from God's Word and can know of a certainty whether smoking is something that should be found in the life of a Christian.
If you get your feelings hurt easily, maybe you should learn to love God's Word before you read any more of this. Psalm 119:165, "Great peace have they which love thy law, and nothing shall offend them." Or if you have made up your mind that, whatever the Word of God says, you are going to continue smoking, then please put this tract down because you are just wasting God's time and yours. Moreover, according to Proverbs 29:1, God may be tired of dealing with you already. "He that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy." But if you have an open heart, and want to know what God says, then please read on. What you are about to read may change your life forever.
Let's look at three things that smoking destroys.
1. It destroys your body, the temple of the Holy Spirit
When you hear that smoking destroys, you probably think of your body first of all. And it is true that smoking does harm your body. It doesn't take a genius to figure out that smoking makes your lungs black and burnt. It can cause lung cancer, throat cancer, and even lip cancer. Does God want you to destroy your body like that? Let's see. 1 Corinthians 3:16,17, "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile [destroy, harm, etc.] the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are." That verse makes it rather plain that God will personally avenge anyone who defiles His temple. If you are saved, you ARE that temple. Now, God is mercifully waiting for you to repent, but will deal with you if you continue in known sin. Many people die each year in house fires because of smoke inhalation. Many Christians also die each year from another type of smoke inhalation. Answer this question: if you have a habit that is slowly destroying your body, how can you say it is not a sin? Some people would never allow their children to smoke. They would say that they are too young and that smoking is bad for them. Isn't smoking bad for grownups? At what age does it become okay to sin?
2. It destroys your testimony, the witness of Jesus Christ to others
In Matthew 5:16, Jesus said, "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." He wasn't talking about the light on the end of your cigarette, because, as you have already seen, smoking is not a good work. Jesus was telling us that we have a testimony in this world. You represent Jesus to the WORLD. Listen to 2 Corinthians 5:20, "Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God." That's right - we are ambassadors, we work in Christ's stead, we represent Him. I don't know of anyone who smokes and also has a good testimony before others. Those who know them well have little respect for them and almost no confidence in them. Time after time I have heard Christians tell how they tried to tell someone about the saving power of God, and how He could break them from drinking and whoremongering, only to be rebuked by that person because of the cigarette in their own hand. A drunkard could rightfully say, "You talk about my drinking being bad, but your smoking is no different." You who smoke, tell me something: who in the world can you witness to while you're smoking? No one! If I were looking for a church, and a man I met in the store invited me to his church, I would not even listen to him if he were drinking. Neither would I if he were smoking. A smoker has no testimony. You might say, "Oh, but preacher, I smoke in private where no one sees me." But do you live your whole life in isolation so that no one can smell the stench of smoke on your clothes? Where do you buy cigarettes where no one sees you? Someone once said, "Well, smoking won't send me to hell." True, but it will make other people think you are going. If you smoke, you destroy your testimony.
3. It destroys your fellowship, the daily walk with God
If you have believed what you've read so far, you understand that smoking is a sin. If that is so, then how do you deal with this verse? Psalm 66:18, "If I regard iniquity [sin] in my heart, the Lord will not hear me." Smoking is, according to the word of many, a habit which is very hard to break. I don't want to minimize that, but are you telling me that your habit has more influence and control in your life than God does? Do you mean to say that a nicotine fix takes precedence over Jesus? My friend, whether you admit it or not, that is exactly what is happening. You are committing idolatry using a bunch of dried-up leaves in rolled-up paper. You may say, "I smoke, but I have fellowship with God and have a good prayer and study life." Oh, and do you lie about other things? There is NO WAY God will fellowship with you in prayer and Bible study if you continue clinging to your pet sin. I don't know of anyone who smokes and is filled with the Spirit of God. I didn't say they didn't have the Spirit, but I do say they are not controlled by the Spirit. No, friend, the power of God is not on your life, but the judgment of God either is or soon will be. Revelation 3:19, "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent." Hebrews 12:6, "For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth."
As you can see, we have a great obligation to our Saviour to live a holy life, bear a good witness to others, and stay in constant fellowship with God. Of course there are many other things which may hinder us, but smoking is certainly one of the most prevalent ones. Even King James, whose name is on the English Bible, knew its perils, for he said smoking is "a custom loathsome to the eye, hateful to the nose, harmful to the brain, dangerous to the lungs, and in the black, stinking fume thereof, nearest resembling the horrible Stygian smoke of the pit that is bottomless." And if you smoke, please remember that you are not fulfilling these verses: 1 Corinthians 6:20, "...therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's," and 1 Corinthians 10:31, "Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God." The best thing, then, for you to do is as Hebrews 12:1 says, "let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us." May God give you victory over the destruction you are causing.
