Although people who smoke tell me many times that it is relaxing and helps with stress, I still can’t help but think that despite all we have learned in the recent years, they are still making a deadly choice. Seriously folks, this is something that is pretty much guaranteed to take your life away (approx. 6-11 minutes/per cig). And furthermore, it is not even true that it does relieve stress as certain studies do indicate that it can actually make stress worse. Anyone who would sit down for a half hour at the computer and do just a tiny bit of research would probably be quite amazed at how bad it really is for them and those around them. The tobacco companies have done a good job for years portraying it as cool, sophisticated and harmless. The tobacco industry lets people believe that light cigarettes are better for you, when actually, they can be even worse. [article here>]. But thanks to sites like the truth and white lies we all know they are liars.
The amazing thing is that despite the fact that smokers know it is harmful to their bodies, it does not stop them. And that is called addiction. We have all heard the stories of those people who have to have a hole cut into their throats to breathe and who stick cigarettes in the holes as the gasp for air.
Addiction is an ugly thing isn’t it. We all have those things in our lives that we are addicted to in some way. Some is just more evident that others. It might be something like work,women or wine. But any way you slice it, it is still something in our life that is controlling us. And when that is in our life, God is not able to work though us as effectively or at all. So the question that comes up all the time… is smoking a sin? I am going to have to say yes, it is. It harms our bodies that God gave us to be good stewards of (just like overeating would be). It harms those around us.
Smoking is no worse than any other sin, and my point is not to make it so.
Perhaps I am sounding a bit insensitive. I don’t mean to come off as better than anyone. Because God knows that I am not. I am an imperfect being who deals with struggles and temptations just as the next person. But this I know for sure: That Jesus Christ is able to change us and overcome those things that we think we can’t quit or gain victory over.