Philosophy of Addiction & Recovery

  We believe that addiction is a chronic, progressive, potentially fatal disease. Certain substances, activities, and relationships can become compulsive for some of us and therefore our relationship with them becomes destructive to our lives and the lives of those around us. Addiction by definition involves a loss of freedom and consequent lifestyle of bondage, which can accurately be described as a sin. Billy Graham once said: “Mankind has a disease, the bible calls it sin.” Because of the strong mental obsession associated with addiction, as well as, the experience of losing the power to live freely, it can also be described as spiritual bondage.

 

So to the question: is addiction a sin, a disease, or spiritual bondage? Our answer is a definitive ‘Yes.’

 

  We believe that recovery, though difficult, is possible for all who suffer from addiction. Because addiction always involves a relationship (to alcohol, drugs, food, sexual behavior, gambling, a person, etc.) it is therefore necessary to break the relationship in order to recover. Maintaining abstinence, then, is essential to the recovery process.

 

We believe also that addiction separates us from God and from fellow human beings. It isolates us and drives us toward a life consumed by self. Therefore, it is absolutely necessary that we be restored to a relationship with God and become involved in a supportive, understanding community.

 

We believe that the 12-Steps, originally established by the program of Alcoholics Anonymous, provide a spiritual pathway to freedom. Programs such as AA, NA, CA, and OA are established on these principles and though these are secular programs, we believe God is using them to bring about a freedom in people’s lives. Christian 12-Step programs such as A.R.C. (Addiction Recovery in Christ) are able to avoid any spiritual confusion by asserting Christ as the full revelation of God, as well as, relying heavily on the word of truth, the knowledge of which sets us free.

 

We believe that deliverance from the bondage of addiction is possible, but that the walking out of that deliverance is a ‘one day at a time’ spiritual process that involves accountability in relationship, abstinence, service and dependence upon God.