What Does The Bible Say About Addiction Recovery?
I’m guessing if you are reading this article, then either you or someone you care about has either a drug addiction or alcohol addiction. For most people, addiction is a way of escape. Using addictive substances to escape from the tough times that may be happening in your life may seem like the only option. An option you may not have considered is to ask what does the Bible say about addiction recovery?
You see, the big problem with using alcohol or drugs as self-medication is that it actually does work for a little while. In those moments when you are intoxicated, or “high”, it does feel like it’s worked. You’re free just for a little while. However, it is just a temporary release and can create a much bigger problem down the road. You may not even notice as you become more and more dependent on alcohol or drugs, right up until you finally appreciate the power of addiction and realize you need professional help.
Many therapies address addiction but there is also something else that can help you in those moments when you are not sitting in front of a drug or alcohol counselor or attending one of the many support groups. Alcoholics Anonymous speaks about handing over the problem to a higher power. Even though the bible was written circa 2000 years ago, some biblical teachings are just as relevant today as they were back then. For instance:
"A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls."
What Is The Biblical Understanding Of Addiction?
It has been said that the biblical perspective on the word addiction is that it is “voluntary slavery”. If you have experienced addiction as an escape from negative emotions or memories, then the bible’s perspective is that if you had a closer relationship with the word of god, then alcohol abuse or drug abuse would not be necessary. Regular bible study would provide you with the answers to help you let go of whatever traumas you had experienced, therefore making self-medication unnecessary.
Trusting in God’s love would produce good morals and prevent you from keeping bad company. To get back on the right path, spiritual guidance can be just as important as addiction treatment in helping you to have a sober mind forevermore. Feeling that your slate has been wiped clean can be very empowering and remove mental obstacles to staying clean.
"For everything in the world - the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life comes not from the Father but from the world"
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Is Addiction A Sin?
On the website The Catholic Telegraph, they answer the question about whether addiction is a sin with this quote:
“The choice to endanger oneself or others through the use of drugs or alcohol can be gravely sinful (CCC 2290).”
The Bible encourages us by letting us know that sinful behavior can be transformed and that the healing process can happen through God’s grace.
What Does The Church Say About Substance Abuse?
In asking the question “What does the Bible say about addiction recovery?”, we also have to consider what the Church says about substance abuse.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church advocates the virtue of temperance which “disposes us to avoid every kind of excess: the abuse of food, alcohol, tobacco, or medicine,” (CCC, 2290).
Here’s what Pope John Paul II had to say about the matter in 1991:
"There certainly exists a sharp difference between recurring to drugs and recurring to alcohol. The moderate use of alcoholic beverages does not clash with any moral prohibition. Only their abuse is to be condemned. Taking drugs, on the other hand, is always illicit because it involves an unjustified and irrational renunciation to think, will, and act as a free person. Furthermore, even in those well-defined cases where there is a medical indication for using psychotropic substances to alleviate physical or psychological suffering, one must act with great prudence and avoid creating dangerous forms of habituation and dependency."
In essence, what His Holiness Pope John Paul II was saying is that overuse, or abuse, is the problem. There is an understanding, for instance, that people who have chronic pain disorders may choose to turn to cannabis prudently as long as they don’t become dependent. Addiction is a sin. However, it is a sin that can be wiped clean.
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What Does The Bible Say About Recovery?
I believe that one of the most important quotations in the bible is:
"For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you."
We already have the power to heal ourselves. God has given us that at birth. However, he also gave us the power to self-criticize, to feel negative about ourselves, and to be hard on ourselves. The power to forgive ourselves resides within us and God wants us to use that powerful tool so that we can permanently overcome the desires of the flesh and create a new life for ourselves. That spirit of God within us can help us to build a good character from now on and to live godly lives. The Bible can be the first step to giving us valuable insights that can help us to permanently succeed at overcoming addiction.
Temperance is a virtue and on an emotional level, this means dealing with troubling emotions appropriately and healthily. The Bible teaches us ways to let go of troubling emotions so that we will not need intoxicating or illicit substances to do that job for us.
Who Was The First Drug Addict In The Bible?
The Bible provides several examples of addiction, illustrating the complexities of human behavior and its intersection with faith. Let’s explore a couple of these instances:
- Noah’s Drunkenness: In the story of Noah, found in Genesis 9:20-23, we see an example of addiction. After the devastating flood, Noah, a righteous man chosen by God, became intoxicated by the wine he had made. Unfortunately, this incident had severe consequences, including inappropriate exposure and family conflict.
- Samson and Delilah: Another powerful example of addiction is seen in the story of Samson and Delilah. Samson, a judge of Israel, fell victim to his addiction to pleasure and desire, symbolized by his relationship with Delilah.
While these examples highlight the struggles individuals face with addiction, it’s essential to recognize that addiction can affect anyone, regardless of their background or faith. The Bible encourages us to focus on God and avoid unhealthy bonds with substances or behaviors that can enslave us. For instance, Timothy 3:8 exhorts readers not to become addicted to wine, emphasizing the importance of moderation and avoiding overindulgence. Remember that seeking freedom from addiction is both courageous and necessary, as it allows us to prioritize our relationship with God and find true fulfillment.
What Does The Bible Say About Smoking Addiction?
Obviously, cigarettes, as we currently know them, were not around in biblical times. However, the Bible does give us some wise guidance about our bodies being the temple of the holy spirit. Here are two biblical verses that directly relate to substance use disorder.
"Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies."
"People are slaves to whatever has mastered them"
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Bible Verses To Break Addictions
“Come to me, all of you who are tired from carrying heavy loads, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke and put it on you, and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in spirit; and you will find rest.”
This is an encouragement to those who feel guilty or self-critical that they will be given rest. One of the things that anyone suffering from any addiction (alcohol addiction, drug addiction, sex addiction, porn addiction, etc.) experiences is some form of shame or self-recrimination. Matthew encourages us to put down those “heavy loads”, which gives us hope of salvation and that we really can have a fresh start. One of the most common feelings that addicts have is self-loathing, followed by a sense of failure. This can hamper the recovery process if left to exist.
“Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With men, it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible.”
In this quotation from the gospel according to Mark, we are reminded that even though we might, during the recovery process, lose faith that we will ever celebrate recovery, if we just trust in god’s word, we can succeed. Many addicts have found that being clean and sober is tough. There are temptations from time to time, especially when life throws up a challenge or an obstacle. Mark is reminding us that nothing is impossible to achieve.
“And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.”
James is reminding us of the transformative power of God and God’s strength to heal us. This great power is ours as long as we ask for it in total faith. In essence, the power of our desire for a solution helps our recovery journey. He’s reminding us that we have all sinned in some way or another but those sins can be wiped clean as long as we believe.
An Addict's Story
Colin was a very successful businessman who made lots of money. As his circle of rich friends grew, he got invites to parties regularly. His excuse to his wife was that he had to go “just to show his face” and that it would be “good for business”. At one party, he was invited into a room where there were lines of cocaine already neatly arranged on the glass table. He was told he could have as many as he wanted. So he did. He loved the high from coke. It made the pressure disappear and he felt like the master of all he surveyed.
Colin was under lots of pressure in his business so pretty soon, cocaine became his stress reliever. When he came to me, he said he couldn’t pinpoint the day when he knew he was addicted. He said to me “It came as a shock when I realized I couldn’t stop”. Colin had tried to stop his cocaine habit a number of times before he came to see me, with little or no success. We concentrated on his reason for being. I described this to him as figuring out what his mission in life was. When we began, he looked blankly at me and said, “I’ve never thought about that before. The honest answer is, I don’t know.”
He had told me that he was brought up as a Catholic, so I asked him to get himself a Bible and start reading it. We joked about that for a moment but then I explained that maybe, by reading it, he could read about what the Bible says about addiction recovery and finding a purpose in life. I told him that with a sense of purpose comes all of the things he really needed right now, such as commitment to succeeding, discovering his morals so that drug-taking became morally wrong to him, etc.
Colin came through the door of my office three months later, smiling and happy. There was a calm contentment about him. He was regularly attending mass and he had discovered his true purpose so now, being clean wasn’t that difficult. He did have a moment where he thought about it, but he would immediately go to an NA meeting and, because he now understood the concept of offering it up to a higher power, he found those little wobbles didn’t happen as often.
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Self-hypnosis can be a great tool to help you stay clean and visualize a new future without drugs that feels better and more enjoyable..
Self Hypnosis For Addictions
Depending on the severity of your addiction, you may need professional help, you may need to use a support group like AA for alcohol addicts or NA for drug addicts, or you may even need to attend a residential treatment center. Alongside all of these options, using a self-hypnosis recording can be very beneficial to keep that image of a sober and clean future fresh in your mind. It can help with the theme of forgiveness found in the Bible.
I have recorded several self-hypnosis audios that may suit you depending on your addiction. There are “Overcome Alcohol Addiction“, “Overcome Cocaine Addiction“, “Overcome Cannabis Addiction” and “Stop Smoking Successfully“. For those with more food-related addictions, there are “Overcome Sugar Addiction” and “Overcome Chocolate Addiction“.
Listen for at least thirty days for the best results. If you have never listened to a self-hypnosis recording before you might want to have a look at this article – “How Do I Listen To A Self Hypnosis Audio?“
Author: Paul Hunter
Although thousands of people read his blog every month, Paul's path to success was not an easy one. Click here to read his amazing story "From Unwanted Baby And Adopted To A Respected Self Help Blogger". If you want to send Paul a quick message, then visit his contact page here
