The Slavery of Tobacco

By Cody Westbrook

            An addiction is defined as, “A compulsive need for and use of a habit forming substance (as heroin, nicotine, or alcohol) characterized by tolerance and by well-defined physiological symptoms upon withdrawal; a persistent compulsive use of a substance known by the user to be harmful” (Webster). While many of us recognize things such as pornography, alcoholism, and drug use to be horrific addictions we have in some respects failed to notice that tobacco use is just as dreadful. Both the Bible and science confirm that the use of tobacco is harmful physically and spiritually.

            To the honest mind there is no question that tobacco addiction is severe. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse tobacco use kills approximately 440,000 Americans each year. The reason it has this terrible death grip is the nicotine that is in it. Nicotine is a poisonous alkaloid made by the tobacco plant. It is powerfully addictive. When a smoker takes a puff they immediately begin to feel the effects of the nicotine in their body. The heart beats faster, the pulse quickens, veins constrict, blood pressure increases, adrenaline increases the heart rate in order to relax muscles and raise your metabolic rate, and even the electrical activity of the brain changes. 

            The drug provides many physiological and psychological effects that cause it to quickly become an addiction. A tobacco user becomes accustomed to having a certain level of nicotine in his or her body. Research has shown that a smoker will subconsciously regulate the number of cigarettes they smoke in order to maintain their body’s preferred level of nicotine. Between doses of tobacco the user experiences withdrawal effects which prompt them to take another dose in order to soothe their body’s craving for the drug. This physical dependence on nicotine leads further to a psychological dependence. The user begins to feel like they must continue in order to feel comfortable. The nicotine addict must use it in order to maintain a feeling of self assurance.

            Although it is commonly known that nicotine addiction is not much different than heroin and cocaine addiction, it is excruciatingly difficult to quit. Even when tobacco users identify their habit as dangerous and attempt to throw it away, often times they cannot. Research shows that approximately 35 million tobacco users express a desire to quit each year. However, more than 85 percent of those who try quitting will relapse within a week. Men and women are brought under the power of tobacco and become enslaved to it.

            Tobacco is used for the purpose of reaching the sense of euphoria and sensual gratification that the nicotine provides. The Bible speaks clearly against such. In Romans 13:14 Paul wrote, “But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof.” God does not want His people to be physiologically or psychologically dependent upon the things of the flesh. Jesus said that we cannot serve two masters (Matthew 6:24). When a person becomes addicted to a work of the flesh that person no longer has full allegiance to Christ. The child of God is to be controlled by Christ, not the flesh.

            In listing the works of the flesh in Galatians 5:19-20, Paul lists two works that are worthy of our consideration; witchcraft and drunkenness. The word translated “witchcraft” (KJV) is from the Greek word pharmakeia. This term has the idea of "poisoning or administering drugs for a purpose other than what is intended." This alludes to an abuse of drugs which leads to addiction. This would include nicotine. "Drunkenness" is the Greek word methe, which deals with "intoxication from alcohol or any other chemical substance that would control the mind and render a person unable to function normally." According to Scripture, participating in either of these practices will cause one not to inherit the kingdom of God (Galatians 5:21).

            Furthermore, one should consider the obvious end of nicotine addiction. It is a well established fact that using tobacco is physically detrimental. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 reads, “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.” With every puff, chew, and spit of tobacco a person does more and more damage to their body. God cannot be served with body and spirit by a person under the control of tobacco.

            You and I have the choice of whom to serve. However, we must remember that there is an end result for our decision (Romans 6:16). I pray that each one of us will recognize the detrimental effects of slavery to tobacco both physically and spiritually, and avoid this terrible plague.