Understanding Addiction Biblically
Jesus promised "If the Son makes you free, you are truly free." (John 8:36)
The world - and, sadly, many in Church circles - hold to the idea that "once an addict, always an addict."
Question is, Which is True?
In our ministry and those of many of our ministry allies, we have seen thousands of folks find freedom from the bondage of the besetting sin of the misuse and abuse of chemicals (as well as other things) to deal with the pain of life.
In doing so, they have come to understand and live out the reality that, "If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; what is old has passed away – look, what is new has come!" (2 Corinthians 5:17)
While the brain and the body often do become "co-conspirators" in these besetting sin patterns, they do not cause the problem.
And, for the one who has surrendered their heart and life to Jesus Christ, there is real and actual freedom from besetting sin and bondage available.
Addiction is a "Worship" Issue, Not a "Medical" Issue
When we understand that the misuse of chemicals or non-chemical behaviors to escape the pain and difficulties of our life really comes down to "Who or what has First Place in your devotion?"
If your personal comfort, your ability to find relief from the pain of life, your need to escape the stresses of crisis are the most important thing to you, then this - by definition - is idolatry.
And idolatry has amazing remedies available through God and His Word!
Everyone lives their life based on what they believe to be most true.
Look at your life.
Is your life producing "life and peace," or "darkness and death?"
However you answer, you can rest assured that your life flows from what you believe. When we saturate our hearts and minds with lies, the result is "darkness and death."
When we saturate our hearts and minds with the truth - and the truth from God's Word specifically - the result is "life and peace."
Freedom in Christ - TODAY!
Jesus said, “I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” (John 10:10). Abundant life means life that is far more than we would ever expect or anticipate. It isn’t a life filled with all of the earthly pleasures we can imagine, but a life filled with a sense of God’s peace and God’s presence no matter where we are or what we face.
Very often, however, because of difficult and troubling circumstances in life or ongoing consequences of choices we’ve made in the past, we feel that the benefits of being the redeemed of God will have to wait until we get to Heaven.
Yet, God truly has prepared an abundant and fruitful life for us here - now. This abundant life is ours as we walk daily with Him.
That does not mean that we will not have trials and troubles. What it means is that, when trials and troubles come, we can rest in the sure knowledge that He is right there with us, every step of the way, and that He will never let anyone or anything separate us from Him again (John 10:27-30; Romans 8:38-39).
No matter our circumstances now, they are only temporary - and we are not alone in them because “God with Us” is with us!
Finding Freedom
There is an admonition and a promise in Romans 12:2: “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect (emphasis added).”
Our part in this is the “renewing of your mind” part. We do this by discovering and saturating on the truth. If you have ever had a driver license or student body card renewed, you know the process: walk in with your old one, walk out with a replacement. It has been “renewed.” That is the same idea behind renewing the mind: we don’t “freshen up the old”, but instead we “replace with new.”
God’s part in this enterprise is the “be transformed” part. You might find it interesting to know that the original language word for “transformed” is the same Greek word we get our word “metamorphosis” from - the process that takes a caterpillar and turns it into a butterfly.
Another interesting note: In the original language, this word is a “passive present” verb; meaning, it is something done to or for us, not something we do ourselves or for ourselves. It is God’s part, and is the result of us doing our part, which is the “renewing the mind” part.
As we saturate with the truth, God takes those truths and replaces the old beliefs and behaviors, the old passions and desires, the old agenda and schemes, with ones that are filled with light and life and that are in step with His nature and character.
Soli Deo Gloria
The world - and, sadly, many in Church circles - hold to the idea that "once an addict, always an addict."
Question is, Which is True?
In our ministry and those of many of our ministry allies, we have seen thousands of folks find freedom from the bondage of the besetting sin of the misuse and abuse of chemicals (as well as other things) to deal with the pain of life.
In doing so, they have come to understand and live out the reality that, "If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; what is old has passed away – look, what is new has come!" (2 Corinthians 5:17)
While the brain and the body often do become "co-conspirators" in these besetting sin patterns, they do not cause the problem.
And, for the one who has surrendered their heart and life to Jesus Christ, there is real and actual freedom from besetting sin and bondage available.
Addiction is a "Worship" Issue, Not a "Medical" Issue
When we understand that the misuse of chemicals or non-chemical behaviors to escape the pain and difficulties of our life really comes down to "Who or what has First Place in your devotion?"
If your personal comfort, your ability to find relief from the pain of life, your need to escape the stresses of crisis are the most important thing to you, then this - by definition - is idolatry.
And idolatry has amazing remedies available through God and His Word!
Everyone lives their life based on what they believe to be most true.
Look at your life.
Is your life producing "life and peace," or "darkness and death?"
However you answer, you can rest assured that your life flows from what you believe. When we saturate our hearts and minds with lies, the result is "darkness and death."
When we saturate our hearts and minds with the truth - and the truth from God's Word specifically - the result is "life and peace."
Freedom in Christ - TODAY!
Jesus said, “I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” (John 10:10). Abundant life means life that is far more than we would ever expect or anticipate. It isn’t a life filled with all of the earthly pleasures we can imagine, but a life filled with a sense of God’s peace and God’s presence no matter where we are or what we face.
Very often, however, because of difficult and troubling circumstances in life or ongoing consequences of choices we’ve made in the past, we feel that the benefits of being the redeemed of God will have to wait until we get to Heaven.
Yet, God truly has prepared an abundant and fruitful life for us here - now. This abundant life is ours as we walk daily with Him.
That does not mean that we will not have trials and troubles. What it means is that, when trials and troubles come, we can rest in the sure knowledge that He is right there with us, every step of the way, and that He will never let anyone or anything separate us from Him again (John 10:27-30; Romans 8:38-39).
No matter our circumstances now, they are only temporary - and we are not alone in them because “God with Us” is with us!
Finding Freedom
There is an admonition and a promise in Romans 12:2: “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect (emphasis added).”
Our part in this is the “renewing of your mind” part. We do this by discovering and saturating on the truth. If you have ever had a driver license or student body card renewed, you know the process: walk in with your old one, walk out with a replacement. It has been “renewed.” That is the same idea behind renewing the mind: we don’t “freshen up the old”, but instead we “replace with new.”
God’s part in this enterprise is the “be transformed” part. You might find it interesting to know that the original language word for “transformed” is the same Greek word we get our word “metamorphosis” from - the process that takes a caterpillar and turns it into a butterfly.
Another interesting note: In the original language, this word is a “passive present” verb; meaning, it is something done to or for us, not something we do ourselves or for ourselves. It is God’s part, and is the result of us doing our part, which is the “renewing the mind” part.
As we saturate with the truth, God takes those truths and replaces the old beliefs and behaviors, the old passions and desires, the old agenda and schemes, with ones that are filled with light and life and that are in step with His nature and character.
Soli Deo Gloria
