Those who profess to be the followers of Christ, yet have this terrible sin at their door, cannot have a high appreciation of the atonement and an elevated estimate of eternal things. Minds that are clouded and partially paralyzed by narcotics, are easily overcome by temptation, and cannot enjoy communion with God.—The Signs of the Times, January 6, 1876. (Te 64.1) MC VC

If Christ and the Apostles Were Here—James says that the wisdom which is from above is “first pure.” James 3:17. If he had seen his brethren using tobacco, would he not have denounced the practice as “earthly, sensual, devilish?” James 3:15. —The Sanctified Life, 24. (Te 64.2) MC VC

Were Peter upon the earth now he would exhort the professed followers of Christ to “abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul.” 1 Peter 2:11. And Paul would call upon the churches in general to “cleanse themselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” 2 Corinthians 7:1. And Christ would drive from the temple those who are defiled by the use of tobacco, polluting the sanctuary of God by their tobacconized breaths. He would say to these worshipers, as He did to the Jews, “My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.” Mark 11:17. We would say to such, Your unholy offerings of ejected quids of tobacco defile the temple, and are abhorred of God. Your worship is not acceptable, for your bodies which should be the temple for the Holy Ghost are defiled. You also rob the treasury of God of thousands of dollars through the indulgence of unnatural appetite.—The Signs of the Times, August 13, 1874. (Te 64.3) MC VC

Tobacco-Using Priests Would Have Suffered Death—The priests, who ministered in sacred things, were commanded to wash their feet and their hands before entering the tabernacle in the presence of God to importune for Israel, that they might not desecrate the sanctuary. If the priests had entered the sanctuary with their mouths polluted with tobacco, they would have shared the fate of Nadab and Abihu. And yet professed Christians bow before God in their families to pray with their mouths defiled with the filth of tobacco.... (Te 64.4) MC VC