Basic Truth #39 – Tobacco, Addictive Drugs Forbidden

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bejay

Basic Truth #39 – Tobacco, Addictive Drugs Forbidden

Post by bejay »

Basic Truth # 39 – Tobacco and other Addictive Drugs Forbidden to Christians

Paul wrote at 1 Corinthians 3:16, 17 this:

“Do you not know that you people are God’s temple, and that the spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him; for the temple of God is holy, which temple you people are.”

Based on the above scripture, Christians are required to act in a way that shows that they are measuring up to Jehovah’s standard of what is right and wrong if they are to retain his spirit upon them. Their physical bodies as well as their minds must be free of all things that would cause them to become morally or physically corrupt.

In recent years, the scientific community has come to the conclusion that using tobacco products is not only addictive but will also ruin one’s health when used over a period of time even causing diseases such as emphysema, lung cancer, hypertension and heart disease. Although the Bible does not make a specific statement with regard to the use of tobacco products or any other product, yet applying its principles will help us to make the right decision when determining what is proper or improper for a Christian to do.

Paul wrote at Romans 12:1 that Christians should ‘present your bodies a sacrifice, living, holy, acceptable to God.’ When presenting sacrifices to Jehovah, the nation of Israel were specifically warned not to bring any animal to Jehovah that was not sound in every respect. He would not accept defective animals offered to Him as a sacrifice to atone for sin. (Leviticus 22:17-20) Paul is here reminding Christian that they are to be the ‘sacrifice that is offered to Jehovah.’ And just as he would not accept an animal that was defective or diseased, He will not accept a Christians who has deliberately defiled his body simple for the sake of engaging in some pleasure with no regard to the effect it would have on him physically.

A Christian must be in complete control of his mind and body if he is to please Jehovah. Allowing himself to become addicted to drugs means that he has lost the ability to exercise self-control, one of the fruits of the spirit, over his body. He would have lost sight of the counsel given by Paul found at 1 Thessalonians 4:4 where Christians are counseled

“that each one should know how to get possession of his own vessel in sanctification and honor.”

Therefore if a Christian has a problem with smoking or chewing tobacco or with some other addictive drug, he would be wise to follow the advice given by Paul at 2 Corinthians 7:1 if he expects to continue to have Jehovah’s spirit upon him. Paul wrote:

“Therefore since we have these promises, beloved ones, let us cleanse ourselves of every defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in God’s fear.”
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