Why Christians Should Not Use Tobacco.
By Edmund Brown
1. It is a filthy habit. God condemned all uncleanness and filthiness. See Eph. 5: 3, 4. 2. It does not glorify God. He says, "Whether, therefore ye eat or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God." 1 Cor. 10: 31. Can tobacco-using do this? 3. Is it not contrary to nature? Did God give any person a natural taste for the filthy weed? No; I remember when quite young of taking a chew. I had it in my mouth a few seconds, and it made me very sick. Thank God that was the last I ever used. All nature rallies to expel the intruder. Some say, "God made it, therefore it must be food for man's use." But did not God make the thistle, the thorn, the toad-stool? Why not chew these? 4. It is a lust of the flesh. The user becomes accustomed to it, he likes it; it tastes good (so he says); he cannot deny the appetite for it. But what says God's word? "But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof." Rom. 13: 14. "And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the passions and lusts. This I say, then, walk in the spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh." Gal. 5: 17; also see James 4: 3; Eph. 2: 3. 5. It ruins the mind as well as the body. I observe this in relation to some of my near relatives. When they are out of tobacco they become very irritable and cross to all around. Now this is opposed to the work of the Spirit. The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, meekness, faith, temperance. Gal. 5: 22, 23. 6. It defiles the flesh, the blood, and the brain. Our bodies are to be a temple for the Holy Ghost to dwell in. 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." 1 Cor. 3: 16, 17. My brethren, let us beware what use we make of God's temple. Tobacco penetrates and defiles every fiber in the whole system. Can you look up and say, when smoking or chewing, "I thus glorify God?" No, you would not dare to do it. I know it gets a strong hold on the system, and it will take power outside of yourself to conquer the habit; but will not God help you? Is he not a present help at all times? Throw away your tobacco then, and take your case to Jesus, rely on his grace and strength to overcome the evil habit, and you shall be made every whit whole. I know God does not say, "Thou shalt not use tobacco." It was not known in those days when the Bible was written. But there are so many scriptures directly condemning uncleanness and filthiness, that we think the Bible does virtually teach, "Thou shalt not use tobacco."—Edmund Brown, in Faith Words.