Christians Recover

Addiction is a mental health disease that has physical, spiritual, and psychological consequences. But that’s not all. Loved ones can experience consequences as a result of the addicted person’s behaviors, as well. For that reason, it’s important that ministry leaders establish their church as a support system for addicted people and their families.

Early addiction intervention goes a long way in Christian recovery. Therefore, you need to have plenty of effective resources on hand to help. Let’s discuss how your church can help someone with an addiction in your congregation.

A Support System

It’s essential that churches nurture a warm, inviting space for members of the congregation. This makes them viable options for people who truly need help to reach out to ministry leaders. Substance addiction doesn’t make this easy.

In fact, addiction creates a mindset of shame and isolation, which often gives way to anxiety and depression. The Bible shares that for those who call out to Christ in their time of need, he will hear them. Once a person is in Christ, they are free of condemnation and Jesus will begin to work in their hearts and minds. However, having an adequate support system and people who genuinely care can help people on their journey to overcome addiction and maintain abstinence as well. Isolation is not good for someone who is trying to recover, but it is often exactly what they experience.

One of the first hurdles in getting help is becoming aware that there’s a problem. While that’s difficult to do, negative consequences of substance abuse often pull the person out of denial. An addicted person may start to realize that he or she should do something about their disease. But after attempts to quit on their own, they often tend to end up feeling hopeless about recovery.

Ministry leaders can remind them that they need Jesus and a Christian recovery program. 1 Corinthians 10:13-14 reminds us, “He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry.”

Most importantly, share a truthful, biblical message about addiction. God shares in Ephesians 5:18, “Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.” While God doesn’t approve of substance abuse, He’s there to lift you up from an addiction. Additionally, ministry leaders are there for support.

Love and Acceptance

As mentioned above, it’s common for people with intensifying addictions to feel isolated and ashamed. These feelings tend to disconnect them from their communities, friends, and co-workers. What’s more, they even become disconnected from their families.

Most addicted people don’t want to live this way. They long for the connections they used to have with their communities and loved ones. Despite God’s condemnation of substance abuse, He welcomes the suffering into open arms. He fills them with peace, love, and strength.

Churches need to avoid the stereotypes of judgment and ultimately rejection. The truth is churches play an important role in recovery if they practice love and acceptance for the struggling. In fact, those who are most successful in recovery maintain a meaningful connection to their churches.

On the other hand, if they belong to a church that claims its congregation is full of righteous people who never fall short, it’s discouraging. Instead of asking for help in these congregations, addicted people often feel that they’re asking for judgment.

Show God’s love for your church members, whether it is a family coming forward about an addicted loved one or the addicted person himself. First, share the glory of what God can help them achieve in Christian recovery. A prayer and a hug probably won’t hurt, either.

Above all, it’s crucial to differentiate between the disease and the person. As God’s children, we must all reach out to share the message of God’s love and grace through Jesus. We must encourage our congregations to walk with our struggling brothers and sisters into God’s loving arms.

God’s Grace

When an addicted person displays uncharacteristic behaviors, like lying, manipulation, and abusiveness, it seems like they don’t care. However, many times, an addicted person is angry at the addiction, which they manifest in these behaviors. Pushing others away enhances isolation when they need help most.

This is the disrupted chemical makeup of the brain protecting the addiction. Addicted people have no control over this disease until they go through treatment. Treatment can be difficult because therapeutic programs often make patients face the way they behaved during active addiction.

These behaviors often create guilt before the addicted person seeks help. This makes it harder to reach out to someone for support. Ministry leaders should inspire their congregations to show these hurting people the utmost love and compassion. In other words, show them God’s grace.

According to the National Association for Children of Alcoholics, “Psychiatrist and spiritual director Gerald May defines grace as the dynamic outpouring of God’s loving nature that flows into and through creation in an endless self-offering of healing, love, illumination, and reconciliation.”

He gave us this gift of grace in his son Jesus. As it says in the book of John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, so that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life.”

Furthermore, Ezekiel 36:26, God says, “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.”

Resource Availability at Church

The church is a natural setting for Christian addiction recovery. Fellowship, Bible study, and other ministries are part of the structure. A welcoming and compassionate church leader usually results in a welcoming and compassionate congregation.

This kind of congregation encourages people who are struggling with an addiction to reach out for help. Reaching out amidst feelings of shame and guilt isn’t easy to do. Therefore, these moments are fleeting. For that reason, it’s crucial to have resources available at any time.

Resources can include treatment centers that offer faith-based programs in addition to evidence-based treatment or completely faith-based treatment centers. With several forms of treatment available, a list of multiple facilities is ideal. For example, a comprehensive list can include multiple inpatient, outpatient, partial hospitalization, and sober living facilities.

There’s a multitude of faith-based treatment centers or treatment centers that offer supplemental Christian programming across the country. Many take health insurance or payment plans for the cost of treatment. They integrate the teachings of Jesus Christ into the programs. Additionally, as the addicted person establishes a life of recovery, they help to include Him in daily activities.

Many ministry leaders don’t have personal experience with addiction. Pastor Mike can answer any questions one may have. He has battled and overcome addiction and lives his life in Christian recovery. Reach out to him if you need guidance.