Can a drug addict be a christian?
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D
Same question to you that I asked Kayla. What is "continued?"
(And helpful hint: You might want to reread that conversation to avoid duplication.)
My BIL was saved at 12. Then he became a teenage rebel. (And if you ever heard my husband's family story -- which you won't, because that's a story only they have the right to tell fully -- you'd truly understand why everyone rebelled. It was the only answer that would make sense out of it -- with or without God in their lives yet.) I didn't come along until he was 21. I thought he was a nice guy, but clearly not a believer. The only hint I had that he might be a believer was from my hubby -- the guy who brought him to the Lord.
BIL fell in love with a Christian girl. And, she fell in love with him. BUT when he popped the question she broke down and cried. She hadn't expected to fall in love with him, but she certainly couldn't marry a nonbeliever so she broke it off.
That which he was running from in doing all he did suddenly became a worse thing than losing her. And he wasn't an addict, not even an alcoholic. He just hung out with his friends, drank beer, played street hockey, tagged, and DJ'd at bars and wild parties every weekend. So he remembered God again. He was a believer at 12. At 23 that suddenly rushed back into his head and he did the prodigal son ending. (Eating fatted calf -- not listening to brother whine at his lot in life. lol) He came back -- thus directly pointing to he was THERE in the first place.
Are you seriously trying to convince someone -- anyone -- that Christians alone are not allowed to sin what you perceive as the big sins? Well, in one way, you're right. We're not "allowed." Doesn't mean we don't do it anyway. There's a reason this particular forum talks a lot about reconciling with cheating spouses. BECAUSE GOD RECONCILED US!!!
And if length of time in sinning is a prerequisite for not being saved -- before or after -- then obvious question for you? How long do you think the sin of haughtiness is allowed to be continued in you? (Romans 1:30 lists haughty as a sin. Read the rest of the list, because if I'm wrong about you being haughty right now, I'm absolutely sure your long-term sin area is covered in that list somewhere. Mine was gossip. I was really good as a Christian gossiper for a couple of decades because I called it "discerning.")
(And helpful hint: You might want to reread that conversation to avoid duplication.)
My BIL was saved at 12. Then he became a teenage rebel. (And if you ever heard my husband's family story -- which you won't, because that's a story only they have the right to tell fully -- you'd truly understand why everyone rebelled. It was the only answer that would make sense out of it -- with or without God in their lives yet.) I didn't come along until he was 21. I thought he was a nice guy, but clearly not a believer. The only hint I had that he might be a believer was from my hubby -- the guy who brought him to the Lord.
BIL fell in love with a Christian girl. And, she fell in love with him. BUT when he popped the question she broke down and cried. She hadn't expected to fall in love with him, but she certainly couldn't marry a nonbeliever so she broke it off.
That which he was running from in doing all he did suddenly became a worse thing than losing her. And he wasn't an addict, not even an alcoholic. He just hung out with his friends, drank beer, played street hockey, tagged, and DJ'd at bars and wild parties every weekend. So he remembered God again. He was a believer at 12. At 23 that suddenly rushed back into his head and he did the prodigal son ending. (Eating fatted calf -- not listening to brother whine at his lot in life. lol) He came back -- thus directly pointing to he was THERE in the first place.
Are you seriously trying to convince someone -- anyone -- that Christians alone are not allowed to sin what you perceive as the big sins? Well, in one way, you're right. We're not "allowed." Doesn't mean we don't do it anyway. There's a reason this particular forum talks a lot about reconciling with cheating spouses. BECAUSE GOD RECONCILED US!!!
And if length of time in sinning is a prerequisite for not being saved -- before or after -- then obvious question for you? How long do you think the sin of haughtiness is allowed to be continued in you? (Romans 1:30 lists haughty as a sin. Read the rest of the list, because if I'm wrong about you being haughty right now, I'm absolutely sure your long-term sin area is covered in that list somewhere. Mine was gossip. I was really good as a Christian gossiper for a couple of decades because I called it "discerning.")
C
i mean 
sometimes love looks like this:
Better is open rebuke Than love that is concealed.
Faithful are the wounds of a friend (Prov 27:5-6a)
Whoever rebukes a man will afterward find more favor than he who flatters with his tongue. (Prov 28:23)
but i think we must be careful how we love others, and we certainly need God's wisdom in that.
sometimes love looks like this:Better is open rebuke Than love that is concealed.
Faithful are the wounds of a friend (Prov 27:5-6a)
Whoever rebukes a man will afterward find more favor than he who flatters with his tongue. (Prov 28:23)
but i think we must be careful how we love others, and we certainly need God's wisdom in that.
D
You're not giving God enough credit.
Ever see pictures of an oasis? The trees are beautiful, there's green all around the watering hole, beautiful blue skies, and a whole spectacular scene. But if you're into day three in a desert without any water you see none of that stuff. You head straight for the water, because the scene means nothing to you.
If anyone reads this and thirst, God's got the water for them and the rest doesn't matter -- beautiful or garbage. You just have to be thirsty enough to see that. And, God gave that thirst to just the right people at just the right time. (It doesn't even have to be today or now. It can be three years from now.)
Ever see pictures of an oasis? The trees are beautiful, there's green all around the watering hole, beautiful blue skies, and a whole spectacular scene. But if you're into day three in a desert without any water you see none of that stuff. You head straight for the water, because the scene means nothing to you.
If anyone reads this and thirst, God's got the water for them and the rest doesn't matter -- beautiful or garbage. You just have to be thirsty enough to see that. And, God gave that thirst to just the right people at just the right time. (It doesn't even have to be today or now. It can be three years from now.)
P
i imagine it would be
but especially to the non-believer, we ought to be full of grace and mercy, just as God was to us in the midst of our own cosmic high treason (sin!) against Him. He loved us while we were His enemies.
i'm acutely aware of my own faults and failings... and because God is kind, He never shows me all of them at once.
i'd likely drive off the bridge haha!
aw, i gotta post this
[video=youtube;FN3NDYFnLko]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FN3NDYFnLko[/video]
If the truth was known and a light was shown
On every hidden part of my soul
Most would turn away, shake their head and say
he still has such a long way to go
If the truth was know you'd see that the only good in me
Is Jesus, oh it's Jesus
If the walls could speak of the times I've been weak
When everybody thought I was strong
Could I show my face if it weren't for the grace
Of the one who's known the truth all along
If the walls could speak they'd say that my only hope is the grace
Of Jesus, the grace of Jesus
But, oh the goodness and the grace in Him
He takes it all and makes it mine and causes his light in me to shine
And he loves me with a love that never ends
Just as I am not as I do
Could this be real, could this be true?
This could only be a miracle
This could only be the miracle of mercy
but especially to the non-believer, we ought to be full of grace and mercy, just as God was to us in the midst of our own cosmic high treason (sin!) against Him. He loved us while we were His enemies.
i'm acutely aware of my own faults and failings... and because God is kind, He never shows me all of them at once.
i'd likely drive off the bridge haha!
aw, i gotta post this
[video=youtube;FN3NDYFnLko]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FN3NDYFnLko[/video]
If the truth was known and a light was shown
On every hidden part of my soul
Most would turn away, shake their head and say
he still has such a long way to go
If the truth was know you'd see that the only good in me
Is Jesus, oh it's Jesus
If the walls could speak of the times I've been weak
When everybody thought I was strong
Could I show my face if it weren't for the grace
Of the one who's known the truth all along
If the walls could speak they'd say that my only hope is the grace
Of Jesus, the grace of Jesus
But, oh the goodness and the grace in Him
He takes it all and makes it mine and causes his light in me to shine
And he loves me with a love that never ends
Just as I am not as I do
Could this be real, could this be true?
This could only be a miracle
This could only be the miracle of mercy
D
Strange how the body works. When those of us in chronic pain take narcotics or any addictive drug a different outcome happens to those who are able to recover from the chronic pain. 50/50 on withdrawal. About 50% who quit using them never have to go through withdraw. (Of course, that means 50% do, too.)
Strange how God works. Here I am an ex-druggie, and lo and behold, years later I end up in chronic pain. I'm with you. I cannot function when my pain levels weren't masked with the drugs. My doctors and I tried everything before narcotics, specifically because I was an addict. But when all that failed and I knew, without a doubt, I couldn't hold on to that pain without killing myself, we got into the narcotic side of masking the pain.
The one that worked well enough was oxy. (There is no drug that takes away all the pain, so "enough" is the best we ever get.) My doctor was clear. If I kept using it -- and what choice is there other than that -- go above 6 pills a day long-term, it will kill my liver. In the worst of times, (and something just changed that ended "the worst of times" again yesterday), I'll go up to 10 mg. pills. But God in his gracious mercy has helped me stay below 6 pills a day for 17 years now. That's very amazing considering people keep needing more to tolerate, but I haven't.
Until I had to do all this running around for hubby, I actually was down to a mere 5 mg. pill three times a day. I finally had to ask for 10 mg. two months ago, but I still had some 5 mg. too. Ends up, the 10 mg. couldn't work in the daytime because they spaced me out and I needed the car. So I tried to swap out my next prescription for my usual 5 mg. The laws of the land that were set up so patients can't abuse drugs actually stopped me from doing that. But I still have leftover 5 mg. to use until I see my pain specialist on Wednesday.
A few years ago, there was a screw up with getting my prescription filled. It took two weeks to resolve the issue. (Insurance company tends to get self-righteous at the beginning of the year.) I ran out. I ran out long enough to re-remember how much that chronic pain really hurts without the drugs. I also ran out long enough to know I'm not one of those who has to go through withdrawal. (Been there. Done that. Know the difference.)
And because of that, I vowed never to run out again. And because of that, I now have 5 mg. when my doctor listened to me when I asked for 10 mg. (I can use the 10's. But I can only use them at night time, when I know I don't have to do anything important like drive for the rest of the day.)
To me, that is God rescuing a daughter in the kindest possible way.
They say a drug addict is always a drug addict. Not always. I do know some people should never do narcotics again, but God helped me out in finding out that adage isn't accurate always.
Pain is completely different than stoned as a purpose for taking drugs. Angela, I think you know what I'm saying, since you posted your story. But keep remembering, we know who we are and what we're doing far better than people who learn what they know about addiction from sound bites on the news or working next to a methadone clinic. Don't ever let someone convince you otherwise.
Strange how God works. Here I am an ex-druggie, and lo and behold, years later I end up in chronic pain. I'm with you. I cannot function when my pain levels weren't masked with the drugs. My doctors and I tried everything before narcotics, specifically because I was an addict. But when all that failed and I knew, without a doubt, I couldn't hold on to that pain without killing myself, we got into the narcotic side of masking the pain.
The one that worked well enough was oxy. (There is no drug that takes away all the pain, so "enough" is the best we ever get.) My doctor was clear. If I kept using it -- and what choice is there other than that -- go above 6 pills a day long-term, it will kill my liver. In the worst of times, (and something just changed that ended "the worst of times" again yesterday), I'll go up to 10 mg. pills. But God in his gracious mercy has helped me stay below 6 pills a day for 17 years now. That's very amazing considering people keep needing more to tolerate, but I haven't.
Until I had to do all this running around for hubby, I actually was down to a mere 5 mg. pill three times a day. I finally had to ask for 10 mg. two months ago, but I still had some 5 mg. too. Ends up, the 10 mg. couldn't work in the daytime because they spaced me out and I needed the car. So I tried to swap out my next prescription for my usual 5 mg. The laws of the land that were set up so patients can't abuse drugs actually stopped me from doing that. But I still have leftover 5 mg. to use until I see my pain specialist on Wednesday.
A few years ago, there was a screw up with getting my prescription filled. It took two weeks to resolve the issue. (Insurance company tends to get self-righteous at the beginning of the year.) I ran out. I ran out long enough to re-remember how much that chronic pain really hurts without the drugs. I also ran out long enough to know I'm not one of those who has to go through withdrawal. (Been there. Done that. Know the difference.)
And because of that, I vowed never to run out again. And because of that, I now have 5 mg. when my doctor listened to me when I asked for 10 mg. (I can use the 10's. But I can only use them at night time, when I know I don't have to do anything important like drive for the rest of the day.)
To me, that is God rescuing a daughter in the kindest possible way.
They say a drug addict is always a drug addict. Not always. I do know some people should never do narcotics again, but God helped me out in finding out that adage isn't accurate always.
Pain is completely different than stoned as a purpose for taking drugs. Angela, I think you know what I'm saying, since you posted your story. But keep remembering, we know who we are and what we're doing far better than people who learn what they know about addiction from sound bites on the news or working next to a methadone clinic. Don't ever let someone convince you otherwise.
J
A Letter on Life's Trials - God's Refining Fire - from June Hunt
Ah, yes, the link there puts things into perspective nicely from a scriptural point of view as far as how God helps us work through our sin issues over time.
Ah, yes, the link there puts things into perspective nicely from a scriptural point of view as far as how God helps us work through our sin issues over time.
D
I am an addict. (Quitting smoking with God's help on Monday.) I AM less.
I am haughty. I AM less.
I am selfish. I AM less.
We are all less, but that doesn't mean we're suddenly more just because a word offends you.
If I cannot say what I am, then that tells me I'm hiding it deep. It also is a guaranteed way of never getting others to do what they're supposed to do -- edify.
Not edifying is less.
Stop getting hung up on the sin words. All that does is bring in so much more shame that no one talks about it and we have to cower in our sins even deeper.
We're all less. After all the "more" we're after is God and he's a whole lot more than we are less.
Modern PCism isn't the gospel. It is specifically designed so folks can wallow in their darkness without interference. That is not a good thing.
I am haughty. I AM less.
I am selfish. I AM less.
We are all less, but that doesn't mean we're suddenly more just because a word offends you.
If I cannot say what I am, then that tells me I'm hiding it deep. It also is a guaranteed way of never getting others to do what they're supposed to do -- edify.
Not edifying is less.
Stop getting hung up on the sin words. All that does is bring in so much more shame that no one talks about it and we have to cower in our sins even deeper.
We're all less. After all the "more" we're after is God and he's a whole lot more than we are less.
Modern PCism isn't the gospel. It is specifically designed so folks can wallow in their darkness without interference. That is not a good thing.
I don't think we should ignore the power of the words we speak... proverbs 18:21. Life and death are in the power of the tongue... Neither did I say u shouldn't say where ur at or what u struggle with... in fact my post u quoted speaks the opposite...
The manifestation of the addiction isn't the issue is it... What do we define addiction as ? The need for comfort.. fulfilment? That was my point.. I was smoking cigarettes at 11.. drinking and takin ecstasy at 12/13 smoking crack by the time I was 14.. Sleeping with loads of men.. stealing. . And the list goes on. I can't just say I'm addicted to one of those things as they were all an issue.. But the real issue wasn't drugs drink or sex was it? The void that was missing was the relationship with my father... Do I still struggle now? Yes all the time.. I don't call myself an addict though, I refuse to... It's not who I am.. Xxx
The manifestation of the addiction isn't the issue is it... What do we define addiction as ? The need for comfort.. fulfilment? That was my point.. I was smoking cigarettes at 11.. drinking and takin ecstasy at 12/13 smoking crack by the time I was 14.. Sleeping with loads of men.. stealing. . And the list goes on. I can't just say I'm addicted to one of those things as they were all an issue.. But the real issue wasn't drugs drink or sex was it? The void that was missing was the relationship with my father... Do I still struggle now? Yes all the time.. I don't call myself an addict though, I refuse to... It's not who I am.. Xxx
D
Truth:
Didn't you just become one of "them?"
If you think no one else knows it all, doesn't that mean you think you do? (This is what you're doing on your thread too. It's clearly an either/or, and one where you're guaranteed to come out thinking you do know it all -- including what others are telling you... because you simply dismiss.)
Didn't you just become one of "them?"
If you think no one else knows it all, doesn't that mean you think you do? (This is what you're doing on your thread too. It's clearly an either/or, and one where you're guaranteed to come out thinking you do know it all -- including what others are telling you... because you simply dismiss.)
D
Your friend is seeing some of the aftermath. Long stories before the person walked into the center. Some of them -- not most, but some -- are Christian stories.
[video=youtube;CDdvReNKKuk]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDdvReNKKuk[/video]
(Just once I'd like to hear this song without needing tissues!!!)
[video=youtube;CDdvReNKKuk]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDdvReNKKuk[/video]
(Just once I'd like to hear this song without needing tissues!!!)
In the light of the gospel you aren't.. Your a born again child of the most high God... Yes you have struggles we all do but you are not an addict.. The old has passed away.. All things become new... Our identity is only found in Christ.. That should be the only label we attach to us.. Please don't see that I'm trying to cause contention here.. If u listen to what I say in your heart u will see I only want to spread love xxxx
This is a fabulous link. Next time, though, copy and paste some of it, and maybe explain what it is about, to get more people to read it.
I used to make silver jewelry before I was saved. Even once you have a refined piece of silver, you have to go on refining to make a piece of jewellery. There are 7 or 8 more processes the silver has to go through, including shaping with pliers and perhaps a mandrel or anvil. Then more high heat (2000 F) to solder. Then an acid bath to clean the pesky dross again. Then filing, hammering, more shaping. Then several types of buffing, then an ammonia bath, and more polishing!
Even then, when you have a perfect piece of silver jewellery, the process of cleaning never ends. Sulfur tarnishes silver, turning it black, or tarnishing it. So it has to be polished again. It is interesting that suffer tarnishes, since that is the proverbial image of hell. Even if it is not Biblical!
Anyway, the point of this metaphor is that God is refining us and transforming us. And that means going through a lot of things to change us and mold us into the image if Christ! In fact, I would worry if you weren't suffering terrible trials and tribulations, at least periodically! Remembering to praise God in a trial really helps, and sometimes Christian fellowship eases the pain of the refining process! Certainly, God does minister to us!
I used to make silver jewelry before I was saved. Even once you have a refined piece of silver, you have to go on refining to make a piece of jewellery. There are 7 or 8 more processes the silver has to go through, including shaping with pliers and perhaps a mandrel or anvil. Then more high heat (2000 F) to solder. Then an acid bath to clean the pesky dross again. Then filing, hammering, more shaping. Then several types of buffing, then an ammonia bath, and more polishing!
Even then, when you have a perfect piece of silver jewellery, the process of cleaning never ends. Sulfur tarnishes silver, turning it black, or tarnishing it. So it has to be polished again. It is interesting that suffer tarnishes, since that is the proverbial image of hell. Even if it is not Biblical!
Anyway, the point of this metaphor is that God is refining us and transforming us. And that means going through a lot of things to change us and mold us into the image if Christ! In fact, I would worry if you weren't suffering terrible trials and tribulations, at least periodically! Remembering to praise God in a trial really helps, and sometimes Christian fellowship eases the pain of the refining process! Certainly, God does minister to us!