Use of e-cigarettes, or vaping, has become a wide-spread replacement for real cigarettes. It’s exponential growth in markets and use, particularly among teenagers, has sparked a great deal of controversy. There is a great deal of uncertainty as to how vaping effects health. Some are disturbed by this movement, and are calling for strict regulations on the manufacturing and distribution of e-cigarettes. Others claim vaping as a healthy and highly preferable replacement to traditional smoking. Youth leaders are forced to confront this issue as they interact with the demographic most effected by this fad. While I would not advise a person to vape, I do not think the act is, in itself, wrong; however, the user must first take into account the effects of his actions on other people, and must, above all, follow what he believes God wants him to do.
The idea of the e-cigarette was first conceived by Herbert Gilbert in 1963 (“History of Vaping”, Origin Vape: 24 August, 2015). He attempted to make a dent on the cigarette market with his “smokeless non-tobacco cigarette”, but his business was a failure. The concept lay dormant for several decades, and Gilbert’s patent on the project expired. It wasn’t till 2004 that electronic cigarettes were back on the markets, this time they were credited to Chinese pharmacist Hon Lik. E-cigarettes were intended to have far less tobacco and nicotine than regular cigarettes, and they were primarily used by cigarette addicts looking to quit. E-cigs allowed them to have a similar feeling to that of smoking, without the adverse effects to health. Besides being less unhealthy and addictive, vaping is odorless, eliminates risk of burning, does not require a lighter or an ash-tray, is less wasteful, is cheaper in the long run, and gives the user multiple choices of flavours (“What Is Vaping? Your Complete Guide”, Vaper Soul). Many people argue that vaping is actually healthy (Mike Floorwalker “10 Facts That Everyone Gets Wrong About Vaping”, Gizmodo: 19 November 2014).
Despite these things, I do not recommend e-cigarettes. While they are certainly preferable to traditional cigarettes, and they are a good option for those who are having difficulty quitting, there are plenty of reasons not to vape. While many claim that e-cigs have no adverse effects to health, vaping is fairly new. The long-term effects of vaping have yet to be seen (“What Is Vaping? Your Complete Guide”). Not all e-cigarettes are the same product. They contain a variety of chemicals, and while some have no tobacco or nicotine, many have a great deal. A study released in the Chemical Research in Toxology Journal revealed that the just over half of e-cigs contain nicotine in its most addictive form (“Free-Base and Protonated Nicotine in Electronic Cigarette Liquids and Aerosols”, Chemical Research in Toxology, ACS Publications: 2015). Vaping can cause an addiction as strong or even stronger than traditional cigarettes. According to “Najat Salibu, an analytical chemistry professor from American University of Beirut,. . . nicotine levels were not always consistent with the labels when tested in a lab” (Jimmy Halfrey “Should I Be Worried About Nicotine Addiction from Vaping”, Churnmag.com: 30 July 2015). Users of e-cigs should be aware of the potential risks and should know that the labels may not always be accurate.
Although I don't recommend vaping, I do not see the basis for stating that Christians should not vape. In Romans 13:1-5, Paul tells the Romans to follow the law and to obey the authorities. While it is certainly wrong and sinful for Christians to use illegal drugs, this verse can not apply to vaping. There are two biblical principals that can be used to make a case against vaping. Firstly, 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 point out that since the Holy Spirit dwells inside of Christians, Christians bodies are temples of God, and that Christians should glorify God with their bodies. While this passage refers to abstaining from sexual immorality, it can apply to other areas as well. Christians should not wantonly mistreat their bodies with unhealthy practices. Secondly, in Matthew 25, Jesus teaches that money is given to humans by God with the expectation that they will make wise decisions with their money. Christians should be good managers of the money that is really God’s. Christians should glorify God with their bodies and be good managers of their resources. These rules have blurred barriers; it is often difficult to define what falls under the categories of these passages. Depending on the situation, I do not think that vaping can consistently be denounced as an infraction on either of these rules.
Christians must evaluate the issue of vaping for themselves. The two values cited above are not unyielding rules, rather, they are filters that Christians should run every decision through to evaluate its morality. Vaping is not denounced in the Bible, instead Christians must consider the issue for themselves. God gives everyone an inner conscience (Romans 2:14-15). In other words, in nearly every case, a person will know whether or not they are doing the moral thing. The complicating factor here is that God does not have the same expectations for every person. This can be seen when Jesus asked the rich young ruler to sell all of his possessions and give to the poor (Mark 10), something that he did not ask of each person (Matthew 26:11). What is more important in these cases is the attitude in which the action is done. If someone, searching their own heart and asking God and others for clarity, believes that vaping is wrong and proceeds to do it, he is certainly sinning (Romans 13:23). In this case a person is going against what either God is telling them or what they perceive God to be telling them. Either way, the attitude in this action will not be one of faith (Romans 13:23), consequently, the action is sinful. Therefore, while the action of vaping in itself is not inherently evil, the attitude involved with vaping may possibly be. Christians should honestly evaluate every decision based on scripture, God’s conviction, and their own conscience.
Another issue Christians must address when considering vaping, is the effect that the action will have on other Christians. If a Christian believes that vaping is sinful, and then sees a respected Christian vaping, it could be destructive to his faith. In this situation, even if the action itself and the attitude are not sinful, the Christian ought to avoid vaping in order to prevent another Christian from, as Paul puts it, stumbling (Romans 14:13-23). This is a major aspect of the selfless love that Christians are called to (Romans 13:8). Paul put this into practice in his ministry (1 Corinthians 9:19-23). In this passage, Paul writes that he became “all things to all people”. This means that this rule can also be applied in the reverse. A group of teenagers who connect with each other over a shared love of vaping, may be best reached with the gospel of Jesus by a person who vapes. If Paul were in this scenario, I believe that he would have no qualms with taking up vaping. Therefore, it is essential that Christians evaluate how they will be perceived by others when considering vaping.
Christians should also take care to avoid being addicted to vaping. Paul writes in Romans 6:12, that while a thing may be permissible, it is not right for a Christian to let that thing master him. Christians have given their bodies to God (Romans 12:1). Therefore, they should not give mastery of their body over to something else. This can be thought of as a form of idolatry, and it robs God of his rightful place in their life.
While I do not recommend vaping, I do not consider it to be a sinful action in itself. However, there are three major issues that Christians should address before considering vaping as well as any other action. First, they should search the Bible, seek conviction from God, ask the advice of others, and search their own consciences. If they believe the action to be wrong, then it is wrong for them to go ahead and do it. Second, they should consider the effects that their action will have on others. Thirdly, they should be extremely careful to not let anything have mastery over them other than God.