TOBACCO by Earnest Christian

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · May 12, 1890

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 16, No. 18.

TOBACCO.

By Earnest Christian

THE common use of tobacco to gratify an unnatural and depraved appetite is either right or wrong. If it is right, then we should let it alone. But we hold that it is wrong—forbidden by the word of God. It is a filthy habit. This all admit. But the command of God is, "Cleanse yourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and of the spirit." It is a disgraceful habit. But the command is, "Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, . . . do all to the glory of God." No one ever pretends that God is glorified by his professed servants chewing tobacco or smoking cigars. It is an expensive habit. But the command is, "Honor the Lord with thy substance." Statistics show that last year the United States paid $135,224,000 for 1,352,246,000 cigars—and smoked them. The cost of chewing-tobacco and snuff consumed during that period will bring up the annual cost of these luxuries to $250,000,000. How meager in comparison with these enormous figures is the sum contributed during the same period toward sending the gospel to a dying world! Is it not evident that men love their cigars better than professed Christians love souls?—Earnest Christian.