At first, things related to smoking and other types of addiction are seen as sins by many believers in the world.
I once came across an incredible message about the word addiction and the Bible showed me this in practice.
I know this will seem a little strange to some. But – I will share this powerful message anyway.
- Does the Bible say that smoking is a sin?
- Where is it written?
The truth is that many influencers say that smoking is in fact a sin. However, they do not know how to explain why and how to overcome this type of addiction.
In today’s article, we will point out two aspects, one that seeks to show that the act of smoking is in fact a sin. And, another very important point is to point out the means by which a person can overcome the desire to smoke.
What is tobacco?
Tobacco is a plant that is used in smokable products. The scientific name of this plant is Nicotiana tabacum, and it is harvested and processed to produce products such as cigars, cigarettes and pipes.
Does the Bible say that smoking is a sin?
A philosopher once said that addiction is the absence of virtue. This does not only include the addiction to cigarettes, but also the addiction to drugs, alcohol, cigarettes and other vices.
The truth is that everything that controls you becomes a sin. For example, the Bible in certain situations points out that a minister cannot be too addicted to wine. Other cases point out that a religious leader cannot even have a sip of alcohol in his mouth.
In some cases it allows it and in others it does not.
In Proverbs it points out that a person who wants to be wise should stop drinking wine. Alcohol in itself makes a person go out of himself and releases everything that is in his heart.
People sometimes think that the person who committed an immoral act because of drinking did not want to do it. However, in truth, they always wanted to do it, but they did not have the courage to do it.
Drinking was the encouraging agent that caused that thought to be exposed. So, if you want to find out if someone close to you likes you, just stay close and find out how that person really feels about you.
Smoking is an addiction
The book of Matthew 9:20-22: “And behold, a woman who had a flow of blood for twelve years came up behind him and touched the hem of his garment, for she said to herself, ‘If I just touch his garment, I will be made well.’ But Jesus turned and saw her and said, ‘Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.’ And immediately the woman was made well.”
Remember that the message that was given above is: “vice is the absence of virtue.”
This story is well known in the Holy Bible and is seen by many as a central message that is preached thousands of times in our churches.
A woman who had been suffering from a hemorrhage for over twelve years was now healed just by touching the hem of Jesus. Some Bible students point out that the hem was a place where God’s commandments were written. In other words, every Jew had a cloak and on that cloak there was a cord that went down to the hem and there were written the commandments of God. This was so that every Jew would remember God’s commandments.
This woman lacked practicing the commandments. In the spiritual sense, it is the lack of observance that brings about a sinful life. The truth is that the lack of observance will gradually lead to dilution in the sinful world.
The Bible points out that the life of all flesh is in the blood. This woman is diluting over time, and this had been happening for about 12 years – this story is parallel to the story of the 12-year-old boy. The daughter of Jairus, the ruler of the synagogue.
While one had to die to come back to life. Another only had to observe God’s treaties again to have her life restored.
Of course, you must be wondering, what does this have to do with smoking being a sin?
Well, it has everything to do with it. This text is the only text that speaks directly about addiction, as a sin that destroys you little by little.
Addiction is nothing more than a lack of virtue.
Smoking is a lack of virtue
Addiction is something bad and it aggressively harms your relationship with God. Be it the addiction to smoking, the addiction to gambling or even the addiction to drinking.
Addiction steals you from God.
The pleasure you once had in delighting yourself in God, now you smoke a cigarette or something else.
Addiction steals you from your loved one.
If you really want to quit smoking, be sure that one of the steps that will make you quit smoking for good is getting closer to Jesus.
It’s not going to church on Sundays and that’s it, I’m close to Jesus. It’s bending your knees or standing up and talking to Jesus like a friend talks to another friend.
Talk to Him and ask for guidance, don’t feel unworthy for smoking. Time passes and with time everything will return to normal.
Read the Bible frequently and the Bible will activate a pleasure in you.
It won’t happen overnight, but it’s a habit that you must be willing to experience. A verse says “you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.”
The truth is not the Bible, but rather the agent of the Holy Spirit who speaks through it. People sometimes misuse the Bible due to lack of observance. It is not enough to just read the Bible, but to know the agent who reveals it.
Jesus is the Word
- Jesus is the bread of life.
- He is the true fig tree.
- He is the root of David.
- Jesus is the source of living water.
The Bible is not the Word, because the Bible has no life. Are you confused now?
The Word is alive. In other words, Jesus is the Word of God. The Bible was only written over 2,000 years ago.
The Bible contains the word of God “Jesus”, the Bible from Genesis to Revelation speaks only of one character in common, which in turn is Christ.
Connect with the Word (Jesus) and you will quickly stop smoking. Smoking dominates you because you lack virtue. Virtue is a fruit of the spirit. Just live in the spirit and seek heavenly things and you will find that virtue will descend upon you from heaven.
The Bible says that virtue came from Jesus. It was not Jesus who healed her, but her faith. In other words, the choice to stop smoking is in your hands. Just have the same faith as the woman with the issue of blood and connect with Jesus and you will see that in time you will stop smoking.
Don’t pay attention to the crowd, who will often point fingers at you because of your current state. Seek to touch. Touch speaks of a relationship with God.
Addiction is simply a lack of relationship with your Creator.
Romans 6:16
“Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey; whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?”
As we mentioned above, a person is a slave to whatever dominates his or her heart. The apostle Paul gives us an important detail that shows that a person is a slave to whoever dominates him or her.
He goes deeper and describes that a person is a slave to whatever has dominated his or her actions. In other words, anyone who finds relief in addiction is a slave to addiction.
In general, you should control your addiction and not have your addiction dominate you.
Smoking will not bring any benefits to your life, but only harm. It becomes a sin because it will destroy the temple of the Holy Spirit of God.
If you buy a pack of cigarettes, you will notice that the packaging itself will say that smoking causes a variety of diseases. And one of them is lung cancer. Furthermore, smoking will harm your sex life with your partner.
You may be asking yourself, “I control smoking, isn’t it a sin?” The question to ask yourself should not be this, but rather to seek information and see the characteristics of the product. Cigarettes contain the substance “nicotine”, which is highly addictive. In other words, it is impossible for a person to have control over it. It is easier for it to be controlled than to control it.
The act of drinking wine is completely different. The apostle Paul instructs Timothy to take a little wine for the sake of his stomach and its infirmities (1 Timothy 5:23).
Note that Paul instructed him to take a “little” wine. This action is not based on pleasure, but rather for the health of the fellow worker Timothy.
Drinking will never be a wise practice if the measure is only for pleasurable consumption.
It is important to understand that at the time Paul lived, the use of wine was common for medicinal purposes. Wine was sometimes seen as a common medicine of the time.
Drinking too much wine will bring about dissolution among people. This is a fact if analyzed with discretion in our days.
The apostle Peter points out that it is essential for a person to be sober, because the adversary of our souls lives around us seeking to swallow up those who give themselves over to vices.
I can do all things
“All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful”
You must have heard or read about this in the Bible. The Bible says that we can do whatever we want, however, there are consequences for every act we perform.
After all, we have to be the ruler of our lives and not a slave to life. Being a ruler is governing all our actions and calculating the benefits and harms that the action will bring.
The word vice in Latin is “vitium” and means defect, fault, flaw or moral corruption. Over time, the word gained a more refined meaning and today it is seen as a repetitive behavior.
Origin
History tells us that smoking was a practice that brought social status and power. In other words, in the 20th century, smoking became common and was seen as a symbol of power, high social status and sophistication.
That is, the image of a smoker was seen with great glamour in films, advertisements and in popular culture.
According to a study, in the 16th century, smoking was considered a means of treating illnesses, such as headaches, respiratory problems and even the plague. However, limited knowledge led to tobacco being seen as something good for health and it became popular. Nowadays, more specific studies point out the great harm that tobacco can cause to human health.
In the 20th century, the act of smoking gained strength with propaganda that pointed out that smoking brought an image of masculinity and freedom to men. For women, it brought the concept of elegance.
Conclusion
Therefore, the act of smoking can cause a lot of harm to the health of the smoker. It can cause serious health problems over time. The Bible says that the act of smoking is a sin, not in a way that points to the name of the cigarette. But, it is based on the fact that tobacco causes harm to the body and the destruction of the body, it becomes a sin because it destroys time and the dwelling place of God.
Addiction is the absence of virtue, virtue is a fruit of the spirit. Therefore, seek to relate to God and stop smoking, smoking is a sin of addiction. Nowadays there are ebooks and even medicines that help overcome the addiction to cigarettes.
