Thursday, March 30, 2006

addictions

It is very interesting, I think, to substitute the word addiction for enemy when meditating on Old Testament passages.

O Lord, my God, I come to you for protection;
rescue me and save me from my addictions,
or else like a lion they will carry me off
where no one can save me,
and there they will tear me to pieces.
Psalm 7:1-2 (TEV modified)
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4 comments:

Scott said...

Yes, it's usually easier to get into those patterns than it is to get out. But it seems like there is always a hidden reservoir of grace to tap, once the first step toward sanity is taken.

Thu Mar 30, 09:54:00 PM 2006
Scott said...

Another soul-friend sent these comments to me offline...

[Numbering myself among the global fellowship of addicts, I have freely substituted references of enemies with addiction on many an occasion during biblical contemplation. I can define an enemy as anything that threatens a person’s freedom and personal empowerment which can only have meaning within a construct of safe boundaries, (i.e. God’s “design”). Addiction is an enemy because under the guise of offering “freedom” from safe and healthy boundaries, it actually produces slavery. Or more simply, the very things we think will free us will enslave us.



Why would I want to find “freedom” outside of safe and healthy boundaries? Addiction grows when one tries to meet normal needs and desires with something that was not designed to meet those needs, and/or are in excess of what is sufficient to meet those needs. For example, a person overeats, not as much to nourish, but to attempt to meet unmet emotional needs. If this becomes a pattern, and the person needs more of the addictive behavior to meet the need, the boundaries get pushed, stretched, and broken to the point that the person is now living outside the boundaries and cannot stop the behavior. Food consumption is no longer within healthy tolerances, i.e. “safe and healthy”.



Moving all of this back into the biblical historical context, the nation of Israel’s heritage consisted of both the blessing of God and of slavery. Even after being delivered from Egypt, Israel continued to struggle with fidelity. Although the Israelites were not compelled to rebel against God beyond their control, it was so woven into their DNA through both identity and repeated behavior. Do I sin because I am a sinner? Or am I a sinner because I sin? Both are true in my opinion.]

Fri Mar 31, 03:31:00 PM 2006
Scott said...

And yet another soul-friend offers this perspective into our conversation...

[As I work with addictions as a profession (counselor specializing in sexual addiction), a lot of thoughts come to mind with what Scott has said as well as other comments. Scott Peck has a great quote about mental health which I think applies here - "Mental health is commitment to reality at all costs".

Personally I think the Enemy is at all times trying to take us away from reality, which is, we are designed for Eden but we live in a fallen world. Our desire is designed for Eden and eternity but on this earth we can't fulfill this hole. Our sin nature wants always to hide and blame - just as Adam and Eve after the fall. Addiction to me is what we do to hide both from ourselves and our pain, as well as from reality. Much like Cypher in "The Matrix" we settle for thinking "ignorance is bliss". Most addiction to me is numbing in its effect even if it seems to excite and heighten one's senses; much like sugar, cocaine, adrenaline, or sex has been proven to do. It numbs us from the pain, boredom, or aching desire that we have (ultimately for God).

I also believe that we were created for relationship - first with God and then others. This follows with Jesus’ ultimate command of love God and others which can only be done in the context of relationship. The ultimate goal, I believe, of addiction and evil is to take us away from relationship and isolate us from God and each other. If we're isolated the enemy doesn't have to worry about anything we do because it won't be in the context of relationship - i.e. we can't love and thus can't do what we were created to do.

The first thing in addiction work, as most probably know, is to attack denial. The enemy carries us "off where no one can save me" to a place of denial or fantasy - essentially non-reality. The question was raised of is there something to be gained from fighting the enemy - I think there is in that it reminds us we need God. God, in his grace, at points gives us over to our folly (Romans 1-3) only to be there offering grace, forgiveness and love when we realize what reality is. Ultimately that's the craziness of God: we are always given choice.

We may inherit an inclination for addiction or be raised in an environment that in a way sets us up to make these choices, and yet they are choices. While I do believe addictions can become so powerful that we are powerless IN THE ADDICTION I also believe we can choose to do something different in a place "outside" the addiction. By outside I am referring to a commitment to reality - seeing the problem, and that we need help, and bringing this to community. Help may mean a variety of things but first and foremost it is a commitment to reality. This is what I hear in Psalm 7 - the psalmist knows he needs God and knows his enemy(addiction) will carry him off to isolation, ultimately to destroy him.]

Sat Apr 01, 07:40:00 AM 2006
Scott said...

I am very grateful to all of you for this comment-discussion -- you have all contributed significantly into a robust, collaborative wisdom.

Zach, thank you for bringing in the topic of "work addiction". I need to learn more about how to handle that one!

As for the slower pace, it was partly due to a very full weekend -- but also, I wanted to leave addictions on top for a while to allow time for more comments. It was worth waiting...

Mon Apr 03, 06:16:00 PM 2006

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