It is important for a smoker who is addicted to smoking to know if it is okay to smoke during fasting. This issue should be considered from several sides, because it has its pitfalls.
Is smoking a sin if it is not clearly stated in the Bible? And is it worth fasting if you can’t give up this addiction? It is worth shedding light on these and other problematic issues.
Smoking: sin or not?
Many people mistakenly claim that smoking is not a sin because there are no clear indications of it in the Bible. The fact is that smoking, like gluttony, drunkenness, luxury is the most common bodily passion. But the holy fathers interpret the notion of passion as a spiritual disease, which is a stumbling block for the salvation of the human soul. Smoking develops other vices in the human soul. Thus, selfishness begins to manifest roughly. Parents who smoke in the presence of their children do not think about the damage they cause to their health. And besides, they inadvertently get them used to this disastrous job. In this case, the parents act not only against the Christian conscience, but also against the rules of human morality.
The conclusion is self-evident: smoking is a sin that destroys your soul. It is even more sinful to smoke during Lent, because this period is considered the most favorable for cleansing the body. By the way, smoking is a sin also because it has a detrimental effect on health. The Bible says that God gave us health, as well as life, as a gift. And a person has no moral right to shorten his life by addictions on his own. A person who smokes does not realize that he is harming not only his own, but also the health of the people around him.
Smoking is followed by another sin - self-justification. There is probably not a single smoker who would not try to justify his pernicious passion. The phrase "If I want to, I can easily quit smoking, but now I don’t see the point in this" was uttered by every smoker. This is the self-deception of a weak-willed person who is ashamed to admit to himself that he is really addicted to smoking. All attempts to justify smoking seem extremely pathetic compared to the data available to medicine:
- The composition of tobacco contains a strong poison nicotine (about 2%). By the way, nicotine sulfate is often used in the agricultural sector to destroy pests.
- During smoking, nicotine enters the body and then begins to penetrate the brain.
- People who smoke for a few years begin to notice a deterioration in their health. This is due to the fact that nicotine poison eventually finds a weak link in the body and causes serious illness.
- Scientists have proven that nicotine contains a large number of carcinogens that cause cancer.
- The radioactive substances in tobacco inflict a strong blow to health.
This is just a short list of the disadvantages of smoking, followed by other equally serious problems. Smoking also leads to divorce, because this is an undoubted blow to the family budget, which means constant scandals. In such quarrels, the smoker cannot adequately control his emotions, leading to horrible vocabulary and even seizures.
Is fasting a good time to quit smoking?
It is foolish to ask if you can smoke during fasting, because that time can serve as the most important reason to quit smoking.
A person must fight against all sinful tendencies, especially when it comes to your health. Maybe it’s fasting time that will become a real opportunity for you to say goodbye to this bad habit.
Of course, everyone understands that it will be extremely difficult for people who smoke for a long time to give up cigarettes.
If your willpower allows and you can stop smoking in an instant, this is, of course, commendable. But not everyone will be able to take such a step. For many, a more gradual approach to this difficult matter is more appropriate.
How to quit smoking during Lent?
Fasting time is a fruitful period for attaining deeds. It’s time to do it. This sinful habit is even found in the folk saying: "Smoking - incense to the devil". If you do not stop smoking during fasting, everything else, in principle, will no longer make sense. How can fasting be considered valid if a person does not give up his or her greatest addiction? Of course not.
The best help in the fight against smoking is Orthodox prayer. Miraculous prayer before God awakens the conscience to take harsh measures against oneself.
Lent is a blessed time when a person, through the sacrament of communion, unites with the Lord through prayer. God gives him strength and health for new works. Read the prayer, talk to the priest about the sinfulness of smoking, go to communion, and you will want to say goodbye to this addiction yourself.
Many people advise to quit smoking on the last day before the beginning of Lent. The bottom line is this: smoke in the evening, and before going to bed, put an empty box of cigarettes on the table next to you and next to it the note "As of today, I don’t smoke". You can also place an empty matchbox or a used lighter next to it. On the one hand, this is a fun remedy, but on the other hand, it is very effective. Thanks to this method, thousands of people stopped smoking.
No matter which way you decide to quit smoking, the most important thing is to believe in yourself and in the Lord.
This will give you strength and help you quit smoking.
Unfortunately, most believers give up this disgusting habit only during fasting, and after that they start smoking again. But as they say, it all starts small. Maybe this will be your small step towards a big job. Think about it: if you’ve managed not to smoke during the fasting period, then can’t you finally say goodbye to the painful poison that eats away at your soul and body?
Also, regular confession is recommended to the clergy. You couldn't help but smoke a cigarette - repent, ask your spiritual mentor for advice. Priests sometimes impose repentance on smokers. These are special prayer rules. For example, if you want to quit smoking, then read the canon of repentance to Jesus Christ daily during Lent. This method acts as a psychological setting. Either way, it helps a lot.
In any case, never give up on discouragement. Scripture says, "Ask and you will receive. " If you believe, pray, and ask God for help, you can quit smoking once and for all and truly enjoy life.