October 4, 2018

What Feeds Your Frenzy?

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things. – Philippians 4:8

We like to talk about addictions. Well, at least we like to talk about addictions that belong to someone else. We would never be addicted to anything. Not us. We know better.

Are you sure? There’s more than one type of addiction. It doesn’t have to be drugs or alcohol or gambling. It’s possible to be addicted to sex, drama, video games, center stage, political news.

What’s not so obvious is seeing ourselves in the mirror. We get so caught up in the frenzy that we don’t realize we’ve got a problem. Until we end up incredibly unhappy, even isolated, and we don’t know how we got to that place.

I have a sweet friend who is addicted to Fox News. I know. Maybe you like the news channel. It’s certainly possible to watch it without being addicted to it. She spends every waking moment tuned in. When she’s not focused on it, she’s watching shows like The View that leave her extremely agitated and upset. She is growing more and more unhappy with life and the condition of this world.

I’ve tried to help her. It makes me so sad to see her withdrawing more and more from the things that used to make her happy. I’ve encouraged her to turn the television off, to read her Bible, to have lunch with friends, or go for a walk. Anything to get her away from what upsets her so.

She can’t let it go. Or she won’t let it go. She’s becoming a Christian radical – does such a person exist – where she is obsessed with what she thinks others are doing to God and our country.

You probably know someone like her. It’s like a sickness that has invaded our country. We’re so busy defending God that we’ve forgotten He doesn’t need us to defend Him. We’re so busy promoting our own agendas, fueling our own anxiety, that we forget God is in control.

Why are we so worried? Don’t we trust God to handle whatever is happening in our nation, in our churches, in our hearts? Or do we just enjoy getting upset about things we can’t control?

My friend wasn’t always this way. She was sweet and kind, a devoted prayer warrior, an encourager. She loves Jesus. She does. I’m just not sure she trusts Him. Why? Because how can we get and stay so upset, how can we say we’ve turned issues over to God, and still get so angry and depressed every day about the same things?

We are in charge of what we focus our minds on. We can choose to fill our thoughts with Scripture. We can choose to think of the good and trust God to handle the good and the bad. Or we can let Satan fill our minds with rubbish, words of defeat, and news designed to fuel our anxiety.

The choice belongs to you. Are you going to hold on tight to your addiction or are you going to give it to God and trust Him with the outcome?

Friday, August 24, 2012

Support Those Struggling With Addictions

For why should my freedom be judged by another’s conscience? -- 1 Corinthians 10:29b

Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God -- even as I try to please everybody in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.

-- 1 Corinthians 10:32-33

He is an alcoholic. There’s no doubt about it. Somewhere inside, I believe he knows that. But he’s so self-destructive that he can’t stop what he’s always done to hide from his unhappiness and feelings of inadequacy.

She is his mother and, in my ways, his worst enemy. She condemns his drinking even as she gets drunk herself. I suppose in her mind her drinking is prettier, more refined. But a drunk is a drunk, if you know what I mean.

Our church has started a Celebrate Recovery program for all those who want to overcome their habits and hang-ups. It’s not just about alcohol and substance abuse. It’s also for those of us who have issues that keep us from living full lives in Christ.

For example, I have two dear friends who attend meetings because of depression. Other friends attend because grief has shattered their world and they struggle to cope with the life that is left.

The truth is that in your life you’ll have people who will support you and love you and do all they can to help you, no matter what is going on. And you will also have people who will do everything they can to undermine your attempts to overcome your habits and hang-ups, even as they deny their own.

Consider the overweight person desperately trying to shed a few pounds, both for health and self-esteem issues. And think of the spouse or parent eating bowls of ice cream or slices of chocolate right in from of the person trying to lose weight. It would take some supreme willpower to overcome the temptation. And that is the point.

People use all sorts of excuses but the truth is they don’t want us to get better. They’re comfortable with us where we are. They may not like us. They may claim to want to help us change. But their repeated attempts to sabotage us tells a different story.

So what’s the answer? Stop depending on yourself to do it alone. Depend on God to see you through. Remember that their issues are their own and you’ve got Jesus in your corner. You belong to Him and He will give you strength to walk away -- literally -- rather than fall back where you’ve been before. One step at a time. One moment at a time.

And if you’re one of those who repeatedly exercises your “freedom” while another person struggles -- shame on you! As Paul said, we are not to cause anyone to stumble. That means put away the alcohol when you’re around someone who is an alcoholic. Same with tobacco and desserts. Show kindness and compassion and support in all things so that others might see the love of Christ in you.