Spiritual Accountability and Liberation from Addictions
From the presented materials, one can conclude that tobacco smoking is viewed as a potentially sinful habit insofar as it transforms into an excessive enslavement to passions, distracting a person from fulfilling their duties toward God and creating an addiction that adversely affects both spiritual well-being and physical health.
For example, one source states:
"Or consider tobacco smoking. Who does not know that this passion frequently serves as an obstacle in performing our duties toward God... And how this passion intoxicates a person, seizing everything about them, paralyzing all the good feelings of love for God and for others..." (source: link txt).
This emphasizes that smoking can so completely engulf a person that they forget their higher spiritual responsibilities, which is regarded as a serious deviation from serving true values.
Another text clarifies: "Some ask: is smoking a sin?Clearly, it is not the tobacco itself that is sinful, but the fact that a person becomes addicted to these dry leaves... And still, the person becomes a slave, and this slavery is sin. Christ called us to freedom—freedom from sin." (source: link txt).
Thus, the emphasis is not on the substance itself but on the dependency that robs a person of freedom and leads to spiritual enslavement, something that is unacceptable according to Christian canons.
In addition to evaluating the nature of the habit, guidelines are provided for overcoming such addictions. For instance, one source advises:
"If you have a strong will and can resist following someone else’s sinful example, you will be respected. Try also to warn others against this contagion... Your body was 'telling' you that it doesn't need poison." (source: link txt).
Here, it is suggested to rely on one’s inner strength, to use negative physical sensations as signals to cease harmful behaviors, and to warn not only oneself but also others about the dangers of addiction. This indicates that the path to liberation begins with realizing the harm and accepting personal responsibility for one’s will.
Regarding coffee addiction, none of the cited materials contain direct commentary on this matter. However, if, like tobacco smoking, a coffee habit turns into a form of dependency where a person loses control over their will and becomes a slave to the habit, such a situation might be equated with the general concept of being enslaved by passions—a condition regarded as sinful in these sources. It is important to consider the individual circumstances and the degree to which the habit influences a person’s life.
In summary, tobacco smoking is unequivocally condemned as sinful when it leads to dependency and hinders the fulfillment of one’s spiritual duties. According to the sources, escaping such an addiction involves strengthening one’s will, listening carefully to the body’s signals, and actively warning others against destructive habits. Concerning coffee addiction, although there are no direct instructions, a similar principle can be applied if the habit becomes excessive and subjugates a person’s will.
Supporting citation(s):
"Or consider tobacco smoking. Who does not know that this passion frequently serves as an obstacle in performing our duties toward God... And how this passion intoxicates a person, seizing everything about them, paralyzing all the good feelings of love for God and for others..." (source: link txt)
"Some ask: is smoking a sin? Clearly, it is not the tobacco itself that is sinful, but the fact that a person becomes addicted to these dry leaves... And still, the person becomes a slave, and this slavery is sin. Christ called us to freedom—freedom from sin." (source: link txt)
"If you have a strong will and can resist following someone else’s sinful example, you will be respected. Try also to warn others against this contagion... Your body was 'telling' you that it doesn't need poison." (source: link txt)