Does God Approve Of Tobacco Use For Christians? “Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is” (Eph. 5:17)

When Issues Arise: Abstain from being emotionally charged (Jas. 1:19, 20) Possess a sound mind (2 Tim. 1:7) Look into God’s word for guidance (Prov. 3:5, 6; Ps. 119:105; Jas. 1:21, 25) Work from the pattern of sound words (2 Tim. 1:13) Be objectively reflective—set your heart to understand (2 Tim. 2:7; Dan. 10:12; Eph. 5:17)

How To Objectively Answer Our Question: Does it overtly violate an explicit commandment? Does it violate principles found in God’s word which are to govern the Christian? Example: DANCING Bible does not say, “Do not dance!” Violation of principles: Incitement of sensual thoughts (Mk. 6:21, 22) Lewd/lasciviousness (Gal. 5:19) No biblical scene approving men and women socially handling each other (cf. Ex. 32:19, 6, 25)

How To Objectively Answer Our Question: Questions: Is the fruit good or bad? Can you promote it as good? Harmful to influence, stewardship, health? Addictive? Does it promote righteousness? Does it agree with the example of Christ? Can you thank God for it (Col. 3:17)?

Notable Quote (Don Potts, “King Nicotine or King Jesus?” TRUTH MAGAZINE XX: 40, pp. 635-636. October 7, 1976) “One of the most common evils and gripping habits one can deal with, is the use of tobacco. Brethren also know that it is one of the touchiest subjects a preacher can deal with. For this reason, preachers have learned to leave it alone, declaring that it will do no good to preach on the matter. Could it be what they mean to say is, it will do them no good? It is strange how preachers can lift their bold (?) voices against some sin that no one in a hundred miles is guilty of, or scold the young people for writing notes or chewing gum in services, but never seem to get around to reproving the sins of those who put the bread on his table! "Do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ" (Gal. 1:10).”

Syllogism of Sin It is sinful to harm the physical body (Don Potts, “King Nicotine or King Jesus?” TRUTH MAGAZINE XX: 40, pp. 635-636. October 7, 1976) It is sinful to harm the physical body The use of tobacco Is harmful to the physical body Therefore, the use of tobacco in human consumption is sinful

Principle of Fruit “Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire” (Matt. 7:17-19)

Principle of Fruit “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit” (Matt. 12:33) Judge by fruit inspection A tree is known by its fruit

The Health Consequences of Smoking: 50 Years of Progress A Report of the Surgeon General 1964 2014

Stats & Facts www.lung.org/lung-disease/lung-cancer/resources/facts-figures/lung-cancer-fact-sheet.html

Stats & Facts www.lung.org/lung-disease/lung-cancer/resources/facts-figures/lung-cancer-fact-sheet.html

Stats & Facts Estimated Annual Lung Cancer Cost in the U.S. $12.1 billion in lung cancer care (2010) $36.1 billion in lost productivity due to early death ___________ = 48.2 billion × ~90% = $43.8 billion (tobacco caused lung cancer) www.lung.org/lung-disease/lung-cancer/resources/facts-figures/lung-cancer-fact-sheet.html

The Grim Statistics Between 1964 and 2014: Over 20 million Americans died because of smoking, including 2.5 million nonsmokers More than 100,000 babies Smoking is still the leading cause of preventable disease and death in the United States.

What We’ve Learned The Killer Cigarette Smoking causes disease in nearly every organ. Secondhand smoke kills more than 41,000 nonsmokers every year. There is no safe level of SHS exposure and NO SAFE CIGARETTE.

21st Century Tobacco Use Between 2010 and 2014 smoking caused Nearly half a million premature deaths a year More than 87% of all lung cancer deaths 61% of all pulmonary deaths 32% of all coronary deaths

New Cancer Findings TWO more cancers are caused by smoking: Liver cancer Colorectal cancer – the second deadliest behind lung cancer SMOKING keeps cancer treatments from working as well as they should.

Smoking – The Breath Blocker COPD rates have risen steadily since 1964. Nearly 8 out of 10 COPD deaths are from smoking. COPD patients have higher risk for lung cancer and heart disease. Women who smoke are now dying from COPD in the same numbers as men who smoke.

Smoking – The Heart Stopper Smoking causes cells lining veins and arteries to swell. Narrower arteries mean reduced blood flow to the heart, brain, and organs. Clots can block narrowed arteries, causing heart attack, stroke, and even sudden death. Even occasional smoking damages blood vessels.

Smoking? GOOD? OR BAD? "For a good tree does not bear bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit” (Lk. 6:43)

People in the World Recognize it is Bad Surgeons and health professionals Hospitals shifting from “smoking ban” to “smoker ban” “…hospitals in Florida, Georgia, Massachusetts, Missouri, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Texas, among others, stopped hiring smokers…” (www.nytimes.com/2011/02/11/us/11smoking.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0)

People in the World Recognize it is Bad Surgeons and health professionals Businesses Alaskan Airlines require nicotine test prior to hiring workers Union Pacific will not hire smokers

People in the World Recognize it is Bad Surgeons and health professionals Businesses Leading cigarette manufacturer Philip Morris “Philip Morris USA agrees with the overwhelming medical and scientific consensus that cigarette smoking causes lung cancer, heart disease, emphysema and other serious diseases in smokers. Smokers are far more likely to develop serious diseases, like lung cancer, than non-smokers. There is no safe cigarette” (www.philipmorrisusa.com/en/cms/Products/Cigarettes/Health_Issues/default.aspx?src=top_nav)

The Principle of “LOVE” “Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law” (Rom. 13:10) 2.5 million Americans have died from SHS from 1964-2014 Exposure to SHS at home or work increase your chance to get heart disease by 25-30 percent; lung cancer by 20-30 percent; SIDS, asthma attacks, etc. How does the fruit of smoking “love your neighbor?”

Other Things To Consider: Your body (1 Cor. 6:19, 20; 10:31; Rom. 12:1) Will this help you glorify God in your body? Will this help you present your body as a living sacrifice that is holy and acceptable? “Nicotine is one of the quickest and most fatal poisons known to man. One or two drops, or a solution of 1 part nicotine to 1000 parts solvent, placed on a dog's gum will result in death within 30 seconds” (Kenneth Hirshey, “Smoke,” TRUTH MAGAZINE XIII: 8, pp. 10-12 May 1969, truthmagazine.com/archives/volume13/TM013178.html)

Other Things To Consider: Your influence (2 Cor. 3:2, 3; Rom. 14:7; Matt. 5:14-16) Will this help you win others to Christ? Will this help edify or destroy your brethren? Principle: “Therefore do not let your good be spoken of as evil” (Rom. 14:16)?

Influence “According to ‘The Time to Stop Cigarette Smoking is Now!’ Pamphlet which is published by the American Cancer Society, 29 percent of the boys smoke when neither parent smokes. However, when one of the parents smokes, that figure is raised to 37 percent, and when both parents smoke the figure jumps to 44 percent. For girls, the statistics show that those smoking are 16 percent, 29 percent, and 37 percent respectively for the same groupings. Thus, the need that Jesus taught for living an exemplary life is shown once again (Matt. 5:13; Phil. 2:15)” (Mike Willis, “More Evidence On Smoking,” TRUTH MAGAZINE XIV; 47, pp. 8-10. October 8, 1970)

Other Things To Consider: Your conscience (Heb. 13:18; 2 Cor. 1:12) Use tobacco with godly sincerity? No objection for the spouse, children, and grandchildren to take it up? No objection for elders, deacons, preachers, bible class teachers to take it up? “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things” (Phil. 4:8)

Other Things To Consider: Your stewardship (1 Cor. 4:1, 2) Tobacco use is expensive! 1 pack a day = $2014.80 a year ($5.52 X 365) Is the cost (personal and financial) justifiable as a a good steward? Does it take away from what your family needs?

Other Things To Consider: Your self-control (1 Cor. 6:12; 9:27; Titus 1:8; Gal. 5:19-23; 2 Pet. 2:19) Smoking is “addicting” “Philip Morris USA agrees with the overwhelming medical and scientific consensus that cigarette smoking is addictive. It can be very difficult to quit smoking, but this should not deter smokers who want to quit from trying to do so” (www.philipmorrisusa.com) “Addiction” defies “self-control”

Other Things To Consider: Your self-control (1 Cor. 6:12; 9:27; Titus 1:8; Gal. 5:19-23; 2 Pet. 2:19) Must break free from whatever evil may allure and entangle us (fear, beer, drugs, porn, gossip, quick tempered, materialism, etc.) How can we reason about self-control with others if we are addicted to anything (Acts 24:25)?

Joe Price (www.bibleanswer.com/2003_Vol_07_No_09_27Jul.htm#news) “The body of the Christian is to be an instrument of righteousness in the service of God (Rom. 6:13).  Therefore, one is to not allow sin to “reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts” (Rom. 6:12). …Cigarette smoking harms the body and hastens death.  And, the addictive nature of cigarette smoking tries and overcomes the self-control of millions.  The fruit of the Spirit is self-control, not the lustful addiction to a product that causes lung disease, heart disease and cancer.”

You CAN Quit! “To reduce the health effects of cigarette smoking, the best thing to do is to quit” (www.philipmorrisusa.com) “It can be difficult to quit cigarette smoking, and many smokers who try to quit do not succeed. Millions of smokers in the U.S. and around the world have succeeded, however, using a variety of methods” (ibid.) www.smokefree.gov

This Lesson Is intended to help everyone by providing what is informative (Acts 20:20) Is given with only good in mind so as to become a messenger of the whole counsel of God (Acts 20:26, 27) Is to chasten in love with the hope to save, not put to death (Ps. 118:14-18; Eph. 4:15)

1 Corinthians 3:18, 19 16 Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 17 If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are. THE CHURCH (cf. 3:9) THE INDIVIDUAL

Proverbs 3:5-8 5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. 7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and depart from evil. 8 It will be health to your flesh, And strength to your bones.