“New Ways of Seeing and Walking Free” Final Edition

“Addiction” New Ways of Seeing and Walking Free –   Final Edition “The unfolding of Your words gives life; it gives understanding to the simple.” (Psalm 119:130)

We have been looking at how the Bible approaches addiction. The Bible’s approach is far superior to the world’s medical-biological approach which is not as wide and deep as the Bible’s explanation. The world completely discounts the role of the heart, the soul, the center of worship, desire, and longing: all of which define addiction. What about those who seem to be stuck or regressing? Both the way to escape from bondage and to get up after a slip are the same. Repentance must be the first step, followed by remembering who God is and what He has done for us in Christ. Then we must learn again about our vulnerabilities, and get help to revises our strategy for battle. If a person is unwilling to participate in a wise plan, then we shouldn’t hesitate to introduce whatever consequences are necessary – with the goal being to rescue rather than condemn. If someone has turned to Christ, really seems to have engaged in the battle, yet change seems slow, sit down and review the strategies for growth and change. Are they clear? Does he feel like he needs more help than he has been given? Does he still believe lies about God? Does guilt control him? If the person is truly willing to change, and if this desire is rooted in a growing biblical “fear of the LORD,” God’s power is certainly able to transform. If transformation is not obvious, the problem is either in the heart of the struggling person or in the lack of suitable help in the body of Christ – the Church.  Telling addicts to fight is like telling very anxious people to calm down: it might be good advice but it goes against everything in them. Addicts have been running from things that were hard – and towards things that felt good. Now we say, “Fight.” It is not that simple, of course. Such a lifestyle change will take time to develop. Jesus commands us to sometimes take radical action to overcome sins which enslave us (Matthew 18:8-9). In comparison with His counsel, are our methods of waging war too tame? If so, it is because we think we are fighting a friend. We don’t have the heart for the fight. Are we afraid to fight the way Jesus teaches us for fear that we will no longer have addictions as an insurance policy, as something that is there “just in case?” The addiction is in fact our deadly enemy. God is our friend who gives us pleasures that last and light that only gets brighter.“How priceless is Your unfailing love! Both high and low among men find refuge in the shadow of Your wings. They feast on the abundance of Your house; You give them drink from Your river of delights. For with You is the fountain of life; in Your light we see light” (Psalm 36:7-9). Addictions promise pleasures, but end in agonies. We must learn to fight, and yes we will experience the pains of battle, but we will end up with delights!

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