Addiction: is there a place in the church for those with addiction and how should individual believers deal with those that suffer from addiction. Also, how should the local church approach this subject?
This week’s topic hits pretty close to home, so close in fact, that I personally have struggled with addiction and in some ways still do. I have lived and experienced the trials and failures that come with addiction. For many years, I struggled with alcoholism and drug abuse, I have witnessed first-hand the destruction it causes to family, friends, and community. Addiction undermines the unity that is to be found in all three of these areas, trust is lost, respect is lost, relationships are strained, some recover but others are stretched to the point that reconciliation seems impossible. I know what it is like to be controlled by something other than myself, the physical sickness that accompanies addiction, the mental anguish of not being able to let go of that which controls you no matter how hard you try. I have cried for myself, watched as my wife has pleaded and cried. I have heard the reasoning of my family and loved ones as they tried to explain the harm I was doing to, not only myself, but to my own environment. Yet, I was a slave to my addiction, it had defeated me so many times before that I didn’t think freedom from it was possible. Yet, trust me when I say this, freedom is possible and for that we will need to go to the Bible.
The Bible says in 2 Peter 2:19 that, “They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption. For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved.”[1] To keep in context with the passage Peter is referring to the false prophets, but isn’t that exactly what our addictions are? They promise one thing and, in the end, overcome us and turn us into slaves. Drugs/ alcohol have the tendency to break us out of our shells, make us fearless, make us feel alive and yet before we realize what has happened, that freedom we felt is snatched away and we are left with dependency. Dependency on something that can never be fulfilling, something that robs us of our joy, our hope. Once hope is lost what else is there?
Now the Bible is full of warnings about the troubles associated with addiction. Look at Proverbs 23:29-30, “Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaining? Who has wounds without cause? Who has redness of eyes? 30 Those who tarry long over wine; those who go to try mixed wine.” Why do these addictions, these things that confine us, cause us so much trouble? Because they cannot aid us in any way in fulfilling the purpose of why we were created. The purpose we were created was “to have unhindered fellowship with God,”[2]and these addictions draw a line in the sand between us and God. Our addictions in essence become our gods and break the first commandment of God, “You shall have no other gods before me.”[3] I asked the question in the above paragraph, once hope is lost what else is there? Is there any hope left for the addict? Yes, there is, and His name is Jesus Christ!
If you look at the “About Us” section of this blog under “What Fuels Our Fire.” Sarah, our site admin, has beautifully laid out how our “unhindered relationship” with God became hindered. So, I will not delve into that at this time simply for the sake of not making a long post longer, but I will say this. When Jesus died upon the Cross of Calvary, He gave us to the opportunity to overcome any and all afflictions that may try to prevail over us. Isaiah 53:5 states, “He was wounded for our transgressions; He was crushed for our iniquities; upon Him was the chastisement that brought us peace; and with His wounds we are healed.” In Jesus’ death the “wages of [our] sin” (Romans 6:23) has been paid, so that we can peace, healing, and hope. The opportunity for all this is there, but in order to receive it, we must place our faith in Jesus Christ. Addiction does not have to continue!
Now if we look at actually answering our topic questions for this week. Is there a place for those with addiction in the church? In my opinion, I think church is the best place for those with addiction, likewise, I would also recommend that some Christian counseling or treatment be involved as well. The responsibility of the church is to be the visible representatives of Christ on this earth (see 2 Cor. 5:20), and it is our duty to help those along who we see that require it. This goes back to our previous post on “Sharing Burdens.” This may involve confronting the addicted “lovingly and gently,” it may involve prayer sessions, or even late-night trips. But the ultimate goal of the church is to portray Jesus Christ to the world, and we do that by loving one another. The Book of Romans shows what that love should look like in 12: 9-13, “Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. 10 Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; 11 not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; 12 rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; 13 distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality (see also, 1 Cor. 13:1-14). ”[4]
As for how the individual deals with the those who suffer from addiction, again, it will fall to “lovingly and gently.” That is the same premise Paul gives in Galatians 6:1-2, “Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. 2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”[5] The first step in all of this is realizing there is a problem, and helping the addict see it as a problem as well. Confrontation can be messy, Jesus laid out the process in Matthew 28:15-20, but it is an inevitable part of the beginning of healing. My personal advice to those who are confronting, remember to do it “love.” There must be an attitude of correction and not condemnation is this process. The goal of all of this is to reach an individual for Christ and guide them into physical, mental, and spiritual wellness. Think of Jesus’ statements in John 8:7;11, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone…”[6]We have all dealt with sins, and condemnation should not be applied where grace is needed. Take a lesson from Jesus, “Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” 11 She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.”[7]
Chemical dependency is only one aspect of addiction. Addiction has many facets, it goes beyond chemical dependency, and reaches into addictions to money, power, fame, sex, and a multitude of other things that ultimately take the place of God in our lives. But the process of healing is the same, we must confront it, deal with it biblically, and aid in restoration of the addict to God through Jesus Christ.
God Bless,
Pat
[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (2 Peter 2:19). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.
[2] Ryrie, C. C. (1999). Basic Theology: A Popular Systematic Guide to Understanding Biblical Truth (p. 219). Chicago, IL: Moody Press.
[3] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Ex 20:3). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.
[4] The New King James Version. (1982). (Ro 12:9–13). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
[5] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Ga 6:1–2). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.
[6] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Jn 8:7). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.
[7] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Jn 8:10–11). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.