My feeling is no, with some qualifications. Of course, I may be wrong!
Yes, I know the body is the temple of the Holy Spirit so we shouldn’t do anything to harm the body. I’m going to discuss motivation to stop sinning, no matter what particular area it is. Attitudes and motivations are very important. Love is a key motivation.
If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.
1 Corinthians 13:3 NIV
I can do all kinds of great things, and help a lot of people. But if I’m not driven for love for them, they still get blessed, but I don’t. I already have my reward. The Word of God has many times pointed out to me that my insides aren’t quite as nice looking as what others may see from the outside.
For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
Hebrews 4:12-13 NIV
Time for an example. I have known smokers who didn’t care at all about how their smoke affected others. If you went into their homes, you could practically walk on the thick layers of tobacco smoke. If you rode in their cars, you almost needed an ice scraper to scrape the tar and junk off the inside of the windows in order to see out. These people were smokers, and they were proud of it. If you didn’t like it, well, that’s your problem, and don’t let the door hit you on the backside on your way out.
But some of these people quit smoking, and immediately got on the “No One Should Smoke” bandwagon. Formerly they didn’t care at all who was subject to their smoke, but now some of them became verbally violent to everyone who smoked. I heard one of them tell a smoker, “I quit smoking, so you should too!” To me this is a horrible, two-faced attitude that, frankly, I think is in danger of “Lord, Lord!” territory.
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’”
Matthew 7:21-23 NIV
If former smokers feel the need to become nonsmoking evangelists, how much better to have the humble attitude suggested in this passage.
Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves. Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, for each one should carry their own load. Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in the word should share all good things with their instructor.
Galatians 6:1-6 NIV
Like I suppose all true Christians, there are some areas I’m trying to get cleaned up before I see the Lord face to face. This passage had me stop and ponder my real motivations for awhile.
Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.
Galatians 6:7-8 NIV
It struck me that – perhaps, maybe – I might be trying to overcome some things by sowing to my flesh, instead of making changes strictly to please God. Perhaps I was like the man in a cartoon, “That’s like someone who found out he was allergic to chicken, so he kept on eating rooster.” It became clear that I needed to be working on these areas, looking up for help from the One I should be trying to please. I had been just a little like the Pharisee in this passage.
To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
Luke 18:9-14 NIV
“Bragging” to God about how I overcame something wasn’t very profitable. God hates man’s pride. I always need to keep in mind this complete list of things I have that I wasn’t given.
1.
So, are nicotine patches a scripturally-valid way to stop smoking? If your motivation is to please God, I’d say yes. Especially if the Father and you have chatted about it, yes. If you’re trying to quit smoking so you’re not so ashamed to come before God, press in a little further and ask for help. (God already knows you’re a smoker. He won’t be surprised.) In this case I’d say yes, and urge you to think about quitting just to make God happy. But if this is a way you can show God how lucky He is to have you, beware! That’s not a good place to be. I know. I’ve been there.
Are you following God's plan for your life? You should. Your plan sucks. It really, really sucks. Suckage Maximus. Most people are WRONG! WRONG! WRONG! Jesus is coming. Are you ready to meet Him? Give your life to Jesus Christ. Time is running out.
Lift Up Your Eyes! 