There are a lot of opportunities to smoke and do various drugs in the West. Some of it is legal, such as cigarettes, cigars, alcohol, marijuana, caffeine, and an endless array of prescription drugs to name just a few. Some of it is illegal, but still readily accessible, such as heroine, cocaine, various kinds of methamphetamines, moonshine, and an array of other ever-evolving drugs. Because of the ever-changing government laws regarding what a citizen is allowed to put into his/her body, and because of the ever-changing perception of drugs by popular culture, Christians must go to Scripture to determine whether they should smoke and consume drugs.
The Bible does not speak directly toward the issue of smoking and drugs. However, there are two biblical commands that can help Christians determine whether or not they should smoke or do drugs: (1) obey morally upright governments (Rom 13:1–7) and (2) be filled by the Holy Spirit (Eph 5:15–18).
Obey Morally Upright Governments (Rom 13:1–7)
All Christians are to obey morally upright governments as commanded by the apostle Paul in Romans 13:1–7. If understanding Romans 13:1–7 as about morally upright governments is new to you, please see my article entitled “When Should Christians Disobey the Government according to the Bible?”
If a morally upright government has made it illegal to consume certain drugs or smokeable plants, then the Christian is obliged to obey. Thus, if marijuana is illegal, then the Christian should not smoke it or eat food that contains it. The Christian who disobeys the government in this regard is actually disobeying God: “Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment” (Rom 13:2).
Be Filled by the Holy Spirit (Eph 5:15–18)
The apostle Paul begins Ephesians 5:15–18 by commanding all Christians to “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise” (Eph 5:15). He then tells his readers (who are Christians) to “understand what the will of the Lord is” (5:17b). So, what is the will of the Lord? The following verse tells us:
“And do not get drunk by wine, for that results in debauchery, but be filled by the Spirit.”
EPHESIANS 5:18
The will of the Lord is to be filled by the Holy Spirit (Eph 5:18). This filling is contrasted with getting drunk by wine, which helps us understand what is meant by “be filled by the Holy Spirit” (for whether or not Christians can drink alcohol, see my article “Should Christians Drink Alcohol?”). When a person is drunk, that person is being controlled by the alcohol (the wine). The drunkard no longer has full control over his decisions and actions because he is inebriated. Being controlled by alcohol results in debauchery, a reckless abandon.
Based on what is meant by getting drunk by wine, we know that being “filled by the Spirit” means to be controlled by the Holy Spirit. Paul commands all Christians to be controlled by the Holy Spirit. Being controlled by the Holy Spirit results in “(1) addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, (2) singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, (3) giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, (4) submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ” (Eph 5:19–21, numbers added).
So, how does being controlled by the Holy Spirit (being filled by the Spirit) help Christians determine whether or not they should smoke or consume drugs? Ephesians 5:18 means that Christians are not allowed to be controlled by anything other than the Holy Spirit. Thus, if a drug, substance, or smokeable plant takes control of you, then Christians are not allowed to consume it because it is a sin, for only the Spirit is allowed to control Christians.
What about those smokeable plants (like tobacco) or drugs (like caffeine) that do not control you? If the substance does not stop the Holy Spirit from controlling you, then it is not a sin; the Christian may consume it. However, if the Christian becomes addicted to a substance (such as tobacco or caffeine), then it has gained control and the Holy Spirit is not in complete control of the Christian. In this case, the Christian must cease consuming the product so that only the Spirit controls him/her. Addiction is a sin because it results in the Holy Spirit not having complete control over the Christian.
How does the Christian know whether he or she is filled by the Spirit (i.e., controlled by the Holy Spirit)? The apostle Paul tells us. The Christian can know for certain that he/she is filled by the Spirit when he/she is “(1) addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, (2) singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, (3) giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, (4) submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ” (Eph 5:19–21, numbers added).
Summary and Concluding Remarks
There are two commands issued to Christians that if obeyed will help all Christians decide whether or not they should smoke or consume drugs. The first command is to obey morally upright governments. Thus, if a government makes consuming a certain drug or smokeable plant illegal, the Christian should not consume it. The second command is to be filled by the Holy Spirit, which means to be controlled by the Holy Spirit. If any drug or smokeable plant takes control of a Christian or if a Christian becomes addicted to a drug or smokeable plant, then the Christian should not consume it because they are not being completely controlled by the Holy Spirit.
Search your life. Is the Holy Spirit the one controlling you?