Addiction is a challenging disease that encompasses the whole aspect of humanity. Spirit, soul, and body. In addiction be it sexual, drugs or alcohol, the object of affection takes possession of the person's will. Hence by the time a person is possessed we say they are addicts. They use alcohol drugs or watch pornography compulsively...... Not everyone, who drinks, is an addict or will become an addict, but everyone, who drinks, is at risk for addiction. No one can predict all the risk factors for addiction so a word of caution, it is best to avoid exposure to drugs or porn. If you use prescription drugs that are addictive, use them responsibly and with accountability.
Medicine deals with the fruits; of symptoms of addiction. The Bible deals with the root issues of addiction. If you want to kill a tree, you don't cut the fruits you cut the roots. Dealing with the symptoms of addiction and not the root issues of addiction is why so many people have failed rehabilitation.
The other day I had a patient come to my office who had been to rehab four times and typically relapses once she gets out within 30 days, each rehab costing over $30,000.
On the other hand, I have had less expensive Bible-based classes in addition to health education and modern medicine and watched my patients recover and restored. These transformations taught me about God's love and Grace through Jesus. Though your sins be as white as scarlet, He can wash them as white as snow.
What, my son? And what, the son of my womb? and what, the son of my vows? Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroys kings. It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes’ strong drink: Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted. Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts. (Proverbs 31:2-6). Those with a heavy heart who drink to forget their pain, what medical science today refers to as self-medication has been in the Bible for thousands of years!
I have been in pursuit of human knowledge to see if the world has a solution for addiction. Initially, when the drug use or porn is casual, at the level of consciousness medical science can handle it but these addictions eventually hijack the brain. When it steals the heart or hijack the brain it is at the level of the subconscious. By this time addiction, becomes compulsive only the Holy Spirit through Jesus, can uproot it! I went as far as Harvard University only to be reminded time and time again that it was biopsychosocial spiritual intervention needed to treat addiction not just science. They repeatedly taught us in class not to forget to integrate spiritual interventions. Our rehabs achieved international accreditation and local accreditation, and part of the prerequisite is spirituality..... Even the powers that be and the think tanks understand that it is the spiritual warfare. I guess to remain in business they have to emphasize the biological, social and psychological interventions as well. So where is the Church in all this? The church is not represented in saving the addicted souls... Saving the captives of addiction. Didn't Jesus come to set the captives free? If you are not healing the broken-hearted and setting the captives free, you are not following the examples of Jesus.
Don't be fooled addiction is in the pews and on the pulpit.... Pornography, alcoholism, and drugs. Your brethren are suffering in silence. Addiction is not in the slums; addiction is in your neighborhood it is all around you. Addiction wears the best designer clothes and shoes. Addiction reads the Bible, is a praise worship leader, a deacon, and a deaconess. Addiction is the pastor of a church, drives the best cars or owns a private jet. How do I know? I have treated them all from princes to the deprived; addiction spares no one. The bureaucracy of insurance companies, the complexity of addiction, the burnout of staff, the deadlines and paperwork of treating addiction conventionally is extremely challenging and disruptive.... Worse still, the outcome is poor when we follow what the insurance companies dictate. The truth is I have a better result when I integrate Bible studies with addiction; those patients have maintained their sobriety the longest. Addiction treatment has become a revolving door....I am tired of the politics played with people's lives by the insurance companies... I am tired. As a result, I have decided to close the rehabs (the clinics will remain open) and follow my heart. Like David decided not to wear the armor but depend on God to fight Goliath today my medical knowledge while valuable is pale in comparison to what the Bible reveals about addiction, and the help Christ can give to families in addiction....Jesus can restore families in addiction. I am tired of haggling with patients or staff over ineffective tools..... I return the rehab licenses today and partner with God and other Christian leaders to take our position in the deliverance of addicted families.... We are bringing addiction treatment back to the Church where it belongs because Christ alone has the power to deliver. Most of the people affected are in Church sitting on the pews, crying silently at night waiting for help.
It is time to Rethink Recovery!!!!!!!!!!!
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