God and Drug Addiction

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newton3003

Senior Member
Feb 4, 2017
437
42
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#1
God and Drug Addiction

We’ve all heard stories of people who abuse opiates and use heroin, but they just can’t help themselves it feels so good and hey, my family can carry on without me and my company will carry on without me while I shoot up underneath some overpass in a bad side of town, shivering in the cold and one day I may overdose and die, but what do I care?

Maybe it started when trying to alleviate a pain that won’t go away, and the buzz that comes with the opiate is just so good but it’s expensive so I go to heroin which is much cheaper and also makes the pain go away and gives me the same buzz and yes, it makes me lethargic so I’m not good enough for anyone or anything, don’t bother me man unless you can get me some more heroin so I won’t have to force myself to get up and go get it myself…

Figuratively speaking these people dug their own pit and have fallen into it. In yielding to the temptation of opiates for their own sake, they are following other gods. Satan breaks open a bottle of champagne every time some unfortunate soul has given in to their body and is on the road to self-destruction and taking down anyone else.

You can consider them as God’s way of testing the rest of us, to see if we can carry on toward righteousness with them in our midst. Or maybe God is testing our love for eachother no matter who we are or in what fix we’re in. It seems that if God tested those who have fallen into their own pit, they have failed the test. Is there no hope of redemption for them? How do we help them under God?

Some things need to be brought up. First of all, Jesus gave us two great commandments…that we love God with all our heart, soul and mind, and that we love eachother as we love ourselves. Secondly, there are two passages in the Bible that are directed at all of us: Genesis 1:28 in which God says to Adam and Eve, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth,” and Psalm 139:14 which says, “I praise you [God], for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.”

God meant for us all to be fruitful and so on, and to use what He created us with to do so. In addressing Adam and Eve, He also addresses all future generations so we as a whole must be fruitful. Anybody who’d rather spend time shooting up will not be fruitful, so by definition it diminishes the rest of us. We have a moral obligation, therefore, to help these others through any way possible for us, including prayer, when they come to our attention.

To paraphrase Jesus, if we saw an animal trapped in a pit, would we not do what we can to help it out? So, is a human being worth any less than that animal?

How do we individually, or as part of society, approach such a person who is in a drug-induced stupor, or who may rationalize by saying ‘Just this once let me shoot up and I won’t do it any more? I CAN HANDLE THIS’? How many have heard someone say that, then find out later that they died of a drug overdose?

If they’re in a condition where they can reason, and surely if they can rationalize they can reason, we have a window of opportunity to show them the light. We can convey to them what God expects from us, since it is because of God that we are here. We can enlighten them that the time on earth they get pleasure from shooting up is nothing compared to the eternity they would spend in damnation for their defiance of God. They might try to put us off by saying, “I can stop anytime.” How many times have we heard a smoker say the same thing? Our answer to them could be, ‘Any time may be too late since your fate may be sealed by then, so stop now while there’s still a chance to gain God’s favor.’ As with smoking, heroin use damages the body that God has so wonderfully made. And there is nothing fruitful in that.
 

Alertandawake

Senior Member
Aug 20, 2017
436
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28
#2
The problem with drugs that are in the opium category is that they become so addictive, like morphine for example. These drugs are bad and that a person needs more and more.
 
Sep 3, 2016
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#3
The world uses the term addictions. The bible calls it spiritual strong holds (2 Cor. 10:4; 2 Tim. 2:24-26; Gal.5:1).

If a Believer is placing his Faith and Hope in anything other than Christ and the Cross, he has been "snared by the Devil," which is serious indeed! Unless the Believer makes the Cross the Object of His Faith, which then gives him the help of the Holy Spirit, he is helpless against Satan, who will make him his captive, i.e., "in bondage to sin."


Oppression (demonic control) forces the Believer to do things against their will!!!!!!!
 
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Blain

The Word Weaver
Aug 28, 2012
19,173
2,536
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#4
The world uses the term addictions. The bible calls it spiritual strong holds (2 Cor. 10:4; 2 Tim. 2:24-26; Gal.5:1).

If a Believer is placing his Faith and Hope in anything other than Christ and the Cross, he has been "snared by the Devil," which is serious indeed! Unless the Believer makes the Cross the Object of His Faith, which then gives him the help of the Holy Spirit, he is helpless against Satan, who will make him his captive, i.e., "in bondage to sin."


Oppression (demonic control) forces the Believer to do things against their will!!!!!!!
I agree that addictions can be known also as spiritual strongholds but your view of oppression is not correct. Yes we can be oppressed and attacked by demonic forces but they do not have the authority to control us against our will. In Christ we have authority and cannot be controlled by demonic forces the holy spirit who lives in us would never allow such a thing. The enemies tactics is about pin pointing a weakness, filling the person with doubt and fear, and making them believe they can do nothing to fight and win but with Christ we can do all things.
 
Sep 3, 2016
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#5
I agree that addictions can be known also as spiritual strongholds but your view of oppression is not correct. Yes we can be oppressed and attacked by demonic forces but they do not have the authority to control us against our will. In Christ we have authority and cannot be controlled by demonic forces the holy spirit who lives in us would never allow such a thing. The enemies tactics is about pin pointing a weakness, filling the person with doubt and fear, and making them believe they can do nothing to fight and win but with Christ we can do all things.
I will repost the verse and chapters again - 2 Tim. 2:24-26; Gal. 5:1 KJV. Oppression means to control!
 
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Sep 3, 2016
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#6
The scripture says, "Keep your heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. (The "issues of life" speak of the Foundation of the Faith, which is "Jesus Christ and Him Crucified [1 Cor. 1:23]). Proverbs 4:23

JSM
 

Blain

The Word Weaver
Aug 28, 2012
19,173
2,536
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#7
I will repost the verse and chapters again - 2 Tim. 2:24-26; Gal. 5:1 KJV. Oppression means to control!
Actually control is only one of the meanings, the meaning of the word oppression also means to be tormented with cruel and unfair treatment and also means mental pressure and distress look it up.
If you believe that the enemy can control you like a puppet then you don't seem to understand where we stand in his kingdom. Firstly we have something called free will we are not forced to do something we choose it, secondly we have authority in Christ I have seen it first hand when I myself have been attacked by demons it actually was very surprising to me.We are kings and queens we are royalty and have authority in Christ we bear a scepter of command that was given to us in his name and from his throne the enemy can tempt us and can try to lead us to choose to do something but he has no authority over us and cannot take this scepter from our hands because it is not his to take it is only God's.

take this for instance Luke 10:19
Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you.
Was Jesus lying when said this?
 

OneFaith

Senior Member
Sep 5, 2016
2,270
369
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#8
“Addiction” does not mean “Impossible to quit”. It is not out of their control, it is a lack of self-control and accountability. “I can do ALL things through Christ Who strengthens me.”
 

graceNpeace

Senior Member
Aug 12, 2016
2,180
107
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#9
“Addiction” does not mean “Impossible to quit”. It is not out of their control, it is a lack of self-control and accountability. “I can do ALL things through Christ Who strengthens me.”
It is not impossible to quit but it is very difficult.
It certainly is not just a matter of an arbitrary decision.

I understand both the spiritual and the medical aspects of this issue.
 
Sep 3, 2016
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#10
Actually control is only one of the meanings, the meaning of the word oppression also means to be tormented with cruel and unfair treatment and also means mental pressure and distress look it up.
If you believe that the enemy can control you like a puppet then you don't seem to understand where we stand in his kingdom. Firstly we have something called free will we are not forced to do something we choose it, secondly we have authority in Christ I have seen it first hand when I myself have been attacked by demons it actually was very surprising to me.We are kings and queens we are royalty and have authority in Christ we bear a scepter of command that was given to us in his name and from his throne the enemy can tempt us and can try to lead us to choose to do something but he has no authority over us and cannot take this scepter from our hands because it is not his to take it is only God's.

take this for instance Luke 10:19
Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you.
Was Jesus lying when said this?

Christian disciplines do not give a Believer victory over sin, the world, the flesh, and the Devil.
 
D

Depleted

Guest
#12
The problem with most of this thread is thinking drug addicts are worse than I am, and I can fix the stupid, beneath-me, lazy schmoes!
 

tourist

Senior Member
Mar 13, 2014
41,243
16,252
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Tennessee
#13
The problem with drugs that are in the opium category is that they become so addictive, like morphine for example. These drugs are bad and that a person needs more and more.
Often, this type of medication is the only effective form of relief for those that suffer with chronic debilitating pain. Without pain medication these poor people would have no quality of life whatsoever. What's the point of having these types of drugs if no one is allowed to use them, especially those that can benefit the most? I think that all pain medication should be legal and be able to be purchased OTC without government control. That includes medication for anxiety and depression as well.
 
Dec 4, 2017
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#16
The problem with most of this thread is thinking drug addicts are worse than I am, and I can fix the stupid, beneath-me, lazy schmoes!
No good will come from vulgar remarks toward people who have no experience with drug addiction, or experience with family members who have gone through it.
It is not for the week willed.
I believe only medical professional atmospheres should be provided
for recovery.
And I've recently learned that people are trying to ignore the serious mental effects on addicts.

Ignore the worldly trends forcing its opinion on others.
 
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FlSnookman7

Senior Member
Jun 27, 2015
1,125
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#18
As someone saved from alcoholism, rage, self hatred and many other things I must say that it was only when I finally came to realize who I am in Christ that I was able to change how I look at things and by doing that I was able to allow Jesus to start to renew my mind. I am all for AA, celebrate recovery, detox and whatever else anyone needs to break the addiction cycle. In my case nothing worked except Jesus. Do I still attend meetings? Of course. Like everything else in this life maintaining what I have been given takes effort on my part. The amazing thing is that I now have a relationship with God that I never knew was possible. I hope and pray others have an easier path to salvation, freedom and peace than I did but I would not trade any of the pain and hurt I put myself through as it did, in the end, allow me to be broken enough to realize maybe I could not fix everything by myself.

I guess that is the reason it bothers me so much when I see people being put into bondage through religion, Jesus came to set us free!
 
Dec 4, 2017
906
35
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#19
As someone saved from alcoholism, rage, self hatred and many other things I must say that it was only when I finally came to realize who I am in Christ that I was able to change how I look at things and by doing that I was able to allow Jesus to start to renew my mind. I am all for AA, celebrate recovery, detox and whatever else anyone needs to break the addiction cycle. In my case nothing worked except Jesus. Do I still attend meetings? Of course. Like everything else in this life maintaining what I have been given takes effort on my part. The amazing thing is that I now have a relationship with God that I never knew was possible. I hope and pray others have an easier path to salvation, freedom and peace than I did but I would not trade any of the pain and hurt I put myself through as it did, in the end, allow me to be broken enough to realize maybe I could not fix everything by myself.

I guess that is the reason it bothers me so much when I see people being put into bondage through religion, Jesus came to set us free!
I have my suspicions about celebrate recovery.
They seem to want to invite everyone in to curse God.
A detail i will refrain from sharing over the internet. I can only ask you to be careful what you say around them.


be wary of wolves looking for prey.
It may not be the same for all of them.
But as soon as they begin inviting anyone to open up to total strangers about personal aspects of their lives. For no other reason than to lead people into lowering a Shield of Faith.


Ive witnessed first hand how some have subsequently shed their Discretion in a Conversation in Christ.
And the conversation was not of God.
No professed believer in the Holy of Yisrayl member of any Congregation would Ever speak The way they did to me That Day.
 
Sep 3, 2016
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#20

You have a high view of the devil and demons with a low view of the Holy Spirit.
If the work of the Holy Spirit was automatic, no Christian would ever fail. Faith in Christ and the Cross unlocks the door for Grace, the work of the Holy Spirit power and help (Romans 8:2).

Most Christians do not understand that the Cross of Christ is as necessary for sanctification as it is for salvation (1 Cor. 1:18).
 
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