Is Vaping a Sin? Examining the Biblical Perspective
Vaping is a sin E-cigarettes came into the market a couple of years ago, with some vendors advertising them as better than cigarettes. Others even claimed that e-cigarettes might help you quit smoking.
However, the FDA has called a national reckoning of vaping pens after five deaths and 450 cases of hospitalization because of the unregulated product.
Regarding Christianity, is vaping a sin? Are Christians allowed to vape? What does the Bible say about vaping? Stay here to learn more about whether vaping is a sin and more about vaping.
Is Vaping A Sin?
The Bible doesn’t specifically condemn or allow vaping, as it doesn’t mention vaping or smoking. However, we can consider other biblical principles and conclude.
Addiction
The Bible strongly condemns addiction when it says that you should not let anything master you in 1 Corinthians 6:12. Matthew 6:24 also tells us that not everything available is good for us and that we can’t serve two masters; one being God.
The apostle of Paul further tells us that we have freedom in Christ, but we shouldn’t give in to any given thing, referring to addiction. Here, you need to use discernment when deciding, as nicotine in vaping pens is addictive and can master your willpower.
These verses indicate that Christians should steer clear of addictive activities and substances. Otherwise, they’ll find themselves unable to exercise self-control. Galatians 5:1 says:
“For freedom, Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.”
Caring For Your Body
The Bible further says that your body is a temple of God, and ingesting anything harmful to it, violates the biblical principle of taking care of your earthly body. 1 Corinthians 6:19 says:
“Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.”
So, taking anything that can damage the body contradicts God’s word of our bodies being the temple of the holy spirit. And vaping is both dangerous and addictive, thanks to nicotine.
Although some people think that vaping with no-addictive liquids like flavorings is better than nicotine, inhaling anything regularly is still a risk. The flavorings are made up of aerosol with ultrafine particles that can get caught in the lungs, leading to lung disease.
That’s because the lungs are not equipped to process that huge amounts of particulate matter, however safe they may be. And although flavorings are natural and can be easily processed by the stomach, they are dangerous to the lungs as lungs cannot handle a barrage of foreign materials.
Interfering With God’s Design For Breathing
God made our lungs to process the air we breathe by separating oxygen from carbon dioxide and putting oxygen in the red blood cells. The entire respiratory system can filter out foreign matter and organisms we may breathe in accidentally, like dust, smog, and sewer smells.
But vaping introduce foreign matter into your lungs unnecessarily and regularly. This strains the respiratory system, which is trying to process the air you breathe, making it difficult for your lungs to filter out everything. Some ultrafine particles may get stuck in your lungs, leading to illnesses like cancer.
Yes, vaping appears harmless, but if you dig deeper, you’ll realize it’s not as safe as its manufacturers make it appear. Most vaping liquids with zero nicotine contain addictive nicotine – although less than 1%.
Then there’s the long list of negative health consequences, which is against chrism’s teachings to stay physically healthy and in control of your actions, and setting a good example to those around you. Colossians 3:17 says:
“And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”
Love Your Neighbor
Matthew 22:39 says:
“You must love your neighbor as yourself.”
Vaping harms your body and those surrounding you, including friends, family, and children. Matthew 22:39 tells us to love our neighbors as ourselves, including not subjecting them to vaping smoke.
There is scientific evidence on the dangers of secondhand smoke and the high cost of vaping-related health issues. And contact with any of the chemicals can damage your health.
Obedience To Secular Law
Depending on your location, there are some areas where vaping is considered illegal. The Bible teaches us to obey both the Bible’s and the government’s rules. Titus 3:1 says:
“Be obedient to governments and authorities.”
Romans 13:1 also teaches us that if we want to please God, we should obey secular authorities.
About Vaping
Vaping refers to e-cigarettes, JUUL, or other similar battery-powered devices that look like flash drives and pens. The devices resemble smoking by heating liquids with substances like marijuana or nicotine.
Once heated, the vaporized particles (mist) are inhaled. Although many people think that mist is clean water vapor, it’s not. Instead, it’s water vapor filled with toxic chemicals and carries the same danger as secondhand smoke.
When you vape, you introduce foreign particles into your lungs, putting a strain on your respiratory system. This makes it difficult for your lungs to filter out everything, including the air you breathe. Often, the particles may be lodged in the lungs, leading to diseases or illnesses.
Note that some manufacturers claim liquid-free nicotine with a zero percent ratio. However, these claims are false as such vaping devices contain less than one percent nicotine, which is still harmful, although to a lesser extent.
Conclusion
So, is vaping a sin? The Bible isn’t specifically clear on whether vaping is a sin or not. But according to various principles discussed in the Bible, vaping is considered a sin. One, it can lead to addiction. It is also harmful, contradicting the Bible’s teachings of treating the body as the holy temple of God.
Moreover, vaping may be illegal in some countries, and engaging in it contradicts the Bible’s teachings on obedience to the government’s rules. And lastly, vaping in front of your neighbor or friend is against God’s teachings on loving your neighbor as yourself.
