This week’s topic is addiction. We are going to be examining and discussing three questions regarding the church, Christians and addiction. First, is there a place in the church for those with addiction? Second, how should individual believers deal with those that suffer from addiction? Third, how should the local church approach addiction?
Let me preface this analysis with my view regarding addiction, so that it does not get lost in this writing. I believe that we are all addicts of something. Whether it is drugs, alcohol, sex, gambling, food, dieting, exercise, personal time, fellowship, and the list goes on and on. There are no limits to the possibilities when it comes to what a person becomes addicted to. Here is an illustration that will move our thoughts away from the typical addiction list.
Rabbi Joseph Telushkin, author of Words That Hurt, Words That Heal, often lectures on the impact of words. He asks audiences if they can go twenty-four hours without saying any unkind words about another person or to another person. Invariably, a small number of listeners raise their hands, signifying yes. Others laugh, and quite a large number call out, “No!”
Telushkin says, “Those of you who can’t answer yes must recognize that you have a serious problem. If you cannot go twenty-four hours without drinking liquor, you are addicted to alcohol. If you cannot go twenty-four hours without smoking, you are addicted to nicotine. Similarly, if you cannot go twenty-four hours without saying unkind words about others, then you have lost control over your tongue.”[1]
People may have multiple addictions, but everyone has one whether they want to admit it or not. They all have at least one that some do better at hiding and controlling than others. Some addictions are more of a physical life & safety concern than others, but all addictions are a spiritual issue in the Christian’s relationship with Christ. The addiction comes between the Christian and Christ. Anything that comes between a Christian and God is an idol. When one truly looks at “addiction [it] is fundamentally about worship” of the thing we are addicted to instead of God.[2] So, starting our conversation from that point let’s delve into the questions.
First, is there a place in the church for those with addiction? My answer is without a single doubt – YES. The church is a place full of sinners. It is the place where we are to lift each other and provide the support needed in life.
Second, how should individual believers deal with those that suffer from addiction? I believe we laid the groundwork for answering this question in our blogs from last week regarding burdens. I wrote in that blog, “all must pick up, carry and bear continuously one another’s oppressive burdens.”[3] Most people feel intimidated or inadequate to help an addict. Addicts quite often make the situation unbearable and or dangerous for those trying to help. They will lie, steal and do whatever is necessary to fill that hole. They hide the addiction and the repercussions of the addiction very well until they can’t any longer. When their lives spin out of control, picking up the pieces are costly monetarily as well as typically physically and mentally draining to the addict and those trying to help. [4]
Third, how should the local church approach addiction? Some churches hire ministers and counselors trained to help addicts and people going through a host of various trials and tribulations. Most small churches do not have the resources needed to hire an expert. The church members feel inadequate to take on developing and maintaining this type of ministry. So, more times than not, “many congregations are paralyzed when it comes to working with people who struggle with addiction.”[5]
Now what is the recipe to starting this type of ministry in your church. There is no single answer. Each church is different and copying a program from another church rarely works without a few adjustments along the way. There is one ingredient that must be in the church and ministry for it to work. That is love. The love of Christ and for your fellow man. God equips us for ministry and this ministry glorifies God for those who are called to serve.
Sadly, as we discussed in the sharing burdens blog, all churches do
not obey God’s command. If you are struggling with life and the thorns of the
flesh, I would encourage you wherever you are, find a local congregation of
Christians who teach and preach the true word of God and become a part of that
congregation. Do life together and give God the honor and glory for what he
does in your life.
[1] Craig Brian Larson and Phyllis Ten Elshof, 1001 Illustrations That Connect (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 2008), 487.
[2] Mike Mckinley, “Pastor’s Perspective: Ministering to Addicts,” Tabletalk Magazine: Addictions (Sanford, FL: Ligonier Ministries, Inc., 2016), 26.
[3] Don Goldman, “Don’s Take on Sharing Burdens,” ThreeintheFire, June 5, 2019, https://threeinthefire.com/dons-take-on-sharing-burdens/