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QUESTION: |
Is it wrong for a born again believer to use tobacco? |
ANSWER: |
Yes. The culture of tobacco smoking has been around for centuries and is believed to have originated in the Western Hemisphere with aborigine cultivation and was later taken to Europe in the mid sixteenth-century. The name Nicotine is derived from that of Jean Nicote who introduced tobacco in France in 1559 from Spain. Nicotine is a poisonous substance within tobacco that results in a detrimental and unintentional physiological and psychological addiction to its users. Defined a poison, it was used in the past as an agricultural insecticide. Nicotine in small quantities provides users with a physiological stimulus to the nervous system promoting the flow of adrenaline and other secretions. Larger quantities of nicotine can paralyze the nervous system, cause convulsions, and even result in death. Within the past few years medical science has proven beyond any doubt that nicotine is a primary cause of lung cancer and heart trouble culminating in misery and death. The Bible teaches, "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are" (I Corinthians 3:16-17). Make no mistake, that Apostle Paul was cautioning all who would hear not to participate in any activity that would defile or contaminate the human body either physically or spiritually. Whenever an
individual gives their life to the Lord (Yeshua) they become obligated to allow the power of God
to take control of their life and thus abolish every evil habit
and addiction. However, does this mean that a person is no
longer saved if he/she continues to use nicotine? No,
"The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any
should perish, but that all should come to repentance" (II
Peter 3:9). So what must a
believer do? There are many physical and spiritual addictions in this life for which mere
frail human beings are incapable of setting themselves free.
Apostle Paul stated, "For we wrestle not against flesh and
blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the
rulers of darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places" (Ephesians 6:12). The answer, we must touch
Yeshua by faith (Matthew 9:20-22). Afterwards we are
promised, "If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free
indeed" (St. John 8:36). |