(By : Dessy Ariadna – Stand To JESUS Writing Team)
Many people out there say that it’s okay if Christians smoke or vape, the reason is because the Bible itself does not prohibit it. Is this opinion correct? Let’s examine it thoroughly based on the perspective of God’s word.
The Bible does not clearly write about the prohibition of smoking and vaping, because in ancient times people were not familiar with cigarettes and vaping. The ancient smoking or vaping culture was better known as Hookah, and this culture started in the Middle East. Hookah is tobacco mixed with various spices. However, from a medical perspective, smoking, vaping and hookah are very dangerous because they can affect the health of the lungs and organs in the human body.
The Bible writes that our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit and we belong to God, so will the Holy Spirit accept it if His house is damaged?
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (IMB) Do you not know that your body is the house of the Holy Spirit, namely the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For, you have been bought, and the price has been paid in full, therefore, glorify God with your body and with your spirit which belongs to God.
Romans 12:1-2 (IMB) I urge you, brothers, by the grace of God to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy, and acceptable to God, this is your true worship. Do not be conformed to the people of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may know the will of God, which is good, acceptable and perfect.
The body is a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God. Smoking, vaping and hookah do not glorify God at all because such behavior is very similar to people in the world who do not know God, whereas we are people who know God, do you want to be similar to people in this world?
God’s Word says that He will make a difference between those who worship Him and those who do not worship Him, if you smoke, vape and hookah, what is the difference between you and the people in this world?
Ezekiel 44:23 (IMB) And they will teach My people the difference between what is holy and what is common, and make them understand between what is unclean and what is clean.
Malachi 3:18 (ESV) Then you will see again the difference between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not worship Him.
Malachi 3:18 (IMB) Then you will see again the difference between the righteous and the evil, between those who serve Elohim and those who do not serve Him.
