I have shown through the years that smoking cigarettes is not for a faithful Christian. The Bible implicitly condemns it. Here is a small list why cigarettes are wrong:
- They hurt health [emphysema, etc.].
- They hurt influence [appearance].
- They hurt others [2nd hand smoke].
- They hurt self-control [addictive].
- They hurt stewardship [expensive].
- They hurt friendships [smell].
- They hurt logic [warning label].
- They hurt longevity [early death].
- They hurt respect [not honorable].
- They hurt example [children].
- They hurt tax payers [health costs].
By the way, if you haven’t noticed cigarettes are slowly becoming illegal. Hypothetically, if that happened they would be sold on the black market by drug dealers. Could you imagine a faithful Christian going to the “dope house” to buy a fix of nicotine? How tragic and embarrassing. Hopefully, things will never come to that. I address this subject with the belief that our smoking brothers and sisters want to do right and please God (John 8:29; Rom. 15:3a). So, ask yourself, “Why do I continue to smoke?” Yes, it is hard to stop, but it was also hard to start and you did that. Now, is the time to stop and you can do it (Phil 4:13).
First, separate yourself from smokers who influence you to smoke (1 Cor. 15:33; 2 Cor. 6:14-17). Second, make a commitment to not smoke in public anymore. Third, vow to daily cut back on the number cigarettes you smoke: (8 to 5, 5 to 2, 2 to 0). Fourth, stop smoking a whole cigarette. Fifth, surround yourself with non-smokers. Finally, pray and ask God for help (Heb. 4:16; 13:5-6). You can do it. Now, “Put those cigarettes down!”
