It is important for a believer who is addicted to smoking to know if it is okay to smoke during fasting. This issue needs to be considered from several sides, since it has its pitfalls.
Is smoking a sin if it is not clearly stated in the Bible? And is it worth it to fast if you cannot give up this addiction? It is worth shedding light on these and other troubling questions.
Smoking: a sin or not?
Many people mistakenly claim that smoking is not a sin, because there is no clear indication of this in the Bible. The fact is that smoking, like gluttony, drunkenness, luxury, is the most common bodily passion. But the holy fathers interpret the concept of passion as a spiritual illness, which is a stumbling block to the salvation of the human soul. Smoking also develops other vices in the human soul. So, selfishness begins to manifest itself rudely. Parents who smoke in the presence of their children do not think about the harm they cause to their health. And besides, they involuntarily accustom them to this pernicious business. In this case, parents act not only against the Christian conscience, but also against the rules of human morality.
The conclusion suggests itself: smoking is a sin that destroys your soul. It is all the 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 for the reason that it has a detrimental effect on health. The Bible says that health, like life, is given to us by God as a gift. And a person does not have the moral right to independently shorten his life with addictions. A person who smokes does not realize that he is harming not only his own health, but also the health of those 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, I can easily quit smoking, but now I do not see the point in this" was pronounced by every smoker. This is a 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 look extremely pathetic in comparison with the information 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 in order to destroy pests.
- During smoking, nicotine enters the body and then begins to enter the brain.
- People who smoke for several 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 a serious illness.
- Scientists have proven that nicotine contains a large number of carcinogens that cause cancer.
- The radioactive substances in the composition of tobacco inflict a strong blow on health.
This is just a short list of the disadvantages of smoking, and other equally serious problems follow. Smoking also leads to divorce, because this is an undoubted blow to the family budget, which means constant scandals. In such quarrels, a smoker cannot adequately control his emotions, which leads to terrible vocabulary and even assault.
Is fasting a good time to quit smoking?
It is foolish to ask if you can smoke during the fasting period, because it is this time that can serve as just the most important reason for quitting smoking.
A person must fight all sinful tendencies, especially when it comes to your health. Maybe it’s the time of fasting that will be a real opportunity for you to say goodbye to this bad habit.
Of course, everyone understands that people who smoke for a long time will find it extremely difficult to give up cigarettes.
If your willpower allows and you can quit smoking in an instant, this, of course, is worth praise. But not everyone will be able to take such a step. For many, a gradual approach to this difficult matter is more suitable.
How to stop smoking during Lent?
The time of fasting is a fertile period for accomplishing deeds. It's time for you to do it. This sinful habit even takes place in the popular saying: "To smoke - to the devil to incense. "If you do not quit smoking while fasting, then everything else, in principle, will no longer make any sense. How can fasting be considered valid if a person does not give up his greatest addiction? Of course not.
The best help in the fight against smoking is Orthodox prayer. A miraculous prayer before God awakens the conscience to take harsh measures against oneself.
Great Lent is a blessed time when, through the sacrament of communion, a person is united with the Lord by prayer. God gives him strength and health for new deeds. Read a prayer, talk with a priest about the sinfulness of smoking, go to communion, and you yourself will want to say goodbye to this addiction.
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 pack of cigarettes on the table next to you and next to it a note "I don't smoke from today. "You can also place an empty matchbox or used lighter next to it. On the one hand, this is a fun remedy, but on the other, it is very effective. Thanks to this method, thousands of people quit smoking.
It doesn't matter which way you choose to quit smoking, the main thing is to believe in yourself and in the Lord.
It will give strength and help you quit smoking.
Unfortunately, most believers give up this loathsome habit only during the fast, and after that they start smoking again. But as they say, it all starts small. Perhaps this will be your small step towards a big business. Think: if you 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, the clergy are advised to regularly confess. Couldn't restrain yourself and smoked a cigarette - repent, ask your spiritual mentor for advice. Priests sometimes impose penances on smokers. These are special prayer rules. For example, if you want to quit smoking, then daily read the canon of repentance to Jesus Christ during the fast. This method acts as a psychological setting. Be that as it may, it helps a lot too.
In any case, never give in to discouragement. The 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.