How to Stop Addiction: Christians – How Does the Bible Explain “Addiction?”?
Question by ephod07: Christians – How Does the Bible Explain “Addiction?”?
I don’t believe secular psychology holds water, so I was wondering how we should define our modern notion of “addiction” from a biblical (i.e. True) standpoint. In other words, are there biblical precedents for addiction? Were there any bible characters who couldn’t stop doing something even when they wanted to? Or is it just “sin” and “the lusts of the flesh” taking over? How is “addiction” — not being able to stop a behavior even though you want to — explained by God? I’m tired of talk therapists defining reality for us. I want God’s Word to speak into this phenomenon. Thanks.
Best answer:
Answer by Ilovebeingme!
© 1999 James A. Fowler
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ADDICTION
I. Direct Scripture references pertaining to “addiction.”
A. Christian leaders
I Tim. 3:3 – “”not addicted to wine”
I Tim. 3:8 – “not addicted to much wine”
Titus 1:7 – “not addicted to wine”
B. Older women
Titus 2:3 – “not enslaved to much wine”
II. Considering the meaning of the word “addiction.”
A. Webster’s Dict. – “to surrender oneself to something obsessively or habitually.”
B. Gerald May – Addiction and Grace
1. Def. – “compulsive, habitual behavior that limits freedom of human desire”
2. Attraction additions and aversion addictions (indulgence and denial)
C. Characteristics: “must have,” “want more,” “no problem,” “can’t stop.”
D. Same patterns of behavior also identified as weaknesses, vulnerabilities, character faults,
neuroses, “flesh,” besetting sins, life-dominating sins, strongholds of sins, demons, idolatry, etc.
E. Differing personalities and tendencies to obsess:
S – Success, significance, freedom, leader, competition, excitement
E – Approval, social, popularity, talk, relationship, love
L – Security, attachment, tradition, belonging, status quo
F – Knowledge, accuracy, structure, organization, perfection
III. Other Scriptural references to consider
A. Correlation with Biblical word “flesh”
Rom. 13:14 – “make no provision for the flesh in regard to its desires”
Gal. 5:24 – “have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires”
Eph. 2:3 – “formerly walked in the desires of our flesh indulging the desires…
I Peter 2:11 – “abstain from fleshly desires, which wage war against soul”
James 1:13 – “carried away, seduced by tempter, under our desires”
B. Correlation with Biblical idea of “besetting sins”
Heb. 12:1 – “the sin that so easily entangles us”
Rom. 14:23 – “whatever is not of faith is sin”
C. Correlation with Biblical concept of “idolatry”
Phil. 3:19 – “god is their appetite,…set minds on earthly things”
Gerald May – “addictions make idolaters of us all”
Philip Yancey – “what the Old Testament calls idolatry, enlightened Westerners call ‘addictions’.”
IV. Dealing with addictive patterns
Phil. 4:19 – “God shall supply all your needs…in Christ Jesus”
Prov. 13:25 – “the righteous has enough to satisfy his appetite”
John 8:82,36 – “the truth shall set you free”
Gal. 5:1 – “It was for freedom that Christ set us free”
II Cor. 3:5 – “not adequate in ourselves…adequacy is from God”
II Chron. 20:15 – “battle is not yours, but God’s”
Exod. 23:29-33 – “I will not drive them out in a single year”
What do you think? Answer below!
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