Tobacco is one the most used substances on the planet. Such a wide range of people, from all walks of life and a vast age group, partake in tobacco usage. So maybe it’s worth taking a few minutes to consider what tobacco might mean for Christians.
Personally, I grew up in a rural area of Kentucky. Farmland as far as they eye could see, virtually from one end of our county to the other. Much of that farm land was planted with Tobacco through the summer months. As a child, I remember most everyone I knew (adults) smoked. There were a few I knew that smoke pipes and a few that chewed tobacco but the majority were cigarette smokers, my parents were in the majority.
Most of the country boys and even quite a few gals had spent some portion of their life in the tobacco patch, setting, topping, oiling, cutting, spiking, hanging the barn, stripping, etc. I even recall some of my friends who lived on a farm, missing school during cutting time to help get their families’ crops in. When the children became a little older, usually anywhere from 10-16 years old, many had picked up the “habit” of tobacco in one form or another. I myself started smoking and dipping snuff around the age of 13-14.
We continued to grow up and with each passing year the culture kept changing to one who disliked smoking and other tobacco use. Slow restaurants did away with their smoking sections and businesses forced employees outside for their smoke breaks. This movement seemed to cause lots of folks to give up tobacco and kept others from ever starting. Nobody really wants to be put into such dim light by their use of a product.
Even though there has been a decline overall, it’s still very popular and used by millions of people world wide. So is there anything wrong with growing tobacco on your farm? Anything wrong with smoking or chewing? Let’s see if we can answer those questions.
Personally, I’ve come to realize that all too often we want to jump on the legalism bandwagon and be quick to create new legislature in God’s law. So let’s be careful and strive not to do that. I think the Bible teaches us that all things, are clean/pure for us to consume or otherwise use for our benefit while on Earth. The different animals provide meat and we’re clearly instructed that it’s not sinful to eat meat. Alcohol is another big thing that legalistic arguments get started over, but we have plenty of examples of alcohol being consumed in the Bible and even recommendations to use it (Timothy). However, we are gravely warned of these things as well, gluttony is sinful, drunkenness is sinful. What can we learn from what we are clearly permitted to have versus what we’re clearly condemned for. Self Control is the biggest aspect of it. That and anything that alters our sound state of mind. We are to be sober-minded and exercise Self-Control.
So when we overeat or let food rule us in some way, when we’re angry/hateful towards folks when we’re hungry then we are in the wrong. If we overdrink and lose our sound state of mind (become drunk) then we are in the wrong. If we eat, drink, smoke or otherwise consume ANYTHING that makes us no long have self-control or to be sober-minded then we are wrong.
Tobacco then…I think in and of itself there’s nothing wrong with it. Even to smoke or chew it wouldn’t really be wrong or sinful. The problem is that it’s so incredibly addictive (due to the nicotine). Addictions fall right into that lack of self-control which is a major issue. When we are addicted to something, we let it run our lives instead of us ruling over it. Our actions are totally manipulated to provide for the ‘fix’ our bodies ‘have to have.’ When we don’t get our fix, we sometimes get angry or mean and hurt those around us. A little alcohol for your stomach’s sake—-all well and good and clearly permitted, but then we become addicted to it or overuse it and now it’s deadly. Not only will it kill us physically, but spiritually as well. Tobacco with it’s nicotine can help you concentrate and alleviate stress and anxiety but you can get hooked to it so easily and then are dependent upon it. We are supposed to be solely dependent upon God. See the conflict there.
In conclusion, I’d like to add that I myself am still currently addicted to nicotine (dipping tobacco). I’m battling this addiction and feel certain I will be free of it one day by the power of God and thanks to His wonderful grace and mercy. It’s not an easy battle though for sure. There are bad days and worse days at this point. I made it 4 days recently with no nicotine and then caved. I’m currently back on day 3 again at the time of this writing. I recently read that nicotine is just if not more addictive and hard to quit as heroin. So coming from someone who has been a user for over 16 years, please don’t even try it. It’s not worth it. By God’s grace I’ve had no ill health effects yet but I know it’s not good for me and want to quit it so bad….I don’t want to be ruled by an addiction and don’t want to be dependent upon anything but my Lord! Ultimately you’ll have to make your own decision on whether or not tobacco is sinful, but I think we can agree that addiction would fall on the wrong side of the fence.