SESSION 2: A Theology of Addiction Dr. Greg Mazak, Professor of Psychology, Bob Jones University I. Foundational Truths: A. The doctrine of sufficiency We have what we need in Christ. 1. Our scripture is sufficient. (II Tim 3:16-17) 16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. 2. Our Savior is sufficient. (Col 2:3-10) 3 In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4 And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words 6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. 9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.10 And ye are complete in him 3. Our salvation is sufficient. (II Pet 1:2-3) 2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, 3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue. 4. Applications: we have what we need! a. Believers don t need to embrace secular counseling models. b. Believers don t need to integrate secular models into a biblical framework. c. Note: the contributions of legitimate science may be helpful but are not necessary.
B. The heart of the problem is the problem of the heart. We are our worst enemy--apart from Christ. 1. We typically blame our problems on trials (bad marriage; difficult childhood; rebellious children; demanding parents; hypocritical church; poor health; loss of income; etc.). 2. Yet problems originate within our hearts. (Mt 15:18-20) 18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:20 These are the things which defile a man. 3. Trials expose the desires of our hearts. (Js 4:1) From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members C. We were made to worship God! God wants our whole hearts! 1. God wants our exclusive worship. (Dt 6:5; Mt 22:37-38) Thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.38 This is the first and great commandment. 2. God warns us not to worship other gods. (Dt 5:6-7) 6 I am the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage. 7 Thou shalt have none other gods before me. D. We often worship other gods and become idolaters. Anything we treasure more than God is our god! 1. Everyone treasures/worships something. (Mt 6:19-20,24) 19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal. 24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. Key: we all are worshippers who become addicted to our gods!
2. Your treasure controls your heart. (Mt 6:21) For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. 3. Treasuring anything above God is idolatry. a. Unbelievers do this. (Rom 1:25). Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. b. Believers do this. (Col 3:5) Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry. E. Worshippers become like their gods. Why does life feel so empty? 1. Idol worshippers become like idols. (Ps 115:4-8) 4 Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men s hands.5 They have mouths, but they speak not: eyes have they, but they see not:6 They have ears, but they hear not: noses have they, but they smell not:7 They have hands, but they handle not: feet have they, but they walk not: neither speak they through their throat.8 They that make them are like unto them; so is every one that trusteth in them. 2. Christ worshippers become like Christ. (II Cor 3:18) 8 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. Our hearts are restless until they find rest in Thee (St. Augustine) II. Counseling problems are typically worship disorders. A. False gods are broken cisterns leaving worshippers empty (Jer 2:1-13). 1. Idolatry results in emptiness. (Jer 2:5) 2. The essence of idolatry is exchanging God for idols. (Jer 2:11) Has a nation ever changed its gods? (Yet they are not gods at all.) But my people have [exchanged] their Glory for that which doth not profit [for worthless idols] (Jer 2:11). 3. Only God is a fountain of living water! (Jer 2:13a) 4. All gods are broken cisterns that cannot hold water. (Jer 2:13b)
B. Idolatry is spiritual adultery grieving our Jealous God. (Js 4:1-5) 1. Conflict is rooted in the idolatrous pursuit of pleasure. (Js 4:1-2) 2. Even when we want good things our motives are often wrong. (Js 4:3) 3. Wanting something more than God is spiritual adultery becoming (Js 4:4) a. a friend of the world. b. an enemy of God. 4. God is jealous for our faithful affection. (Js 4:5) 5. God gives grace to those who humbly repent. (Js 4:6ff) If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, The most probable explanation is that I was made for another world. (C.S. Lewis) III. Application: Heart deception--the root of addiction. Sin always takes us father than we want to go, keeps us longer than we want to stay,and costs us more than we want to pay. Thesis: Idolatrous hearts are easily led astray, deceived or hooked by addictive behaviors. Greek verb - planao (πλανάω) o active: to wander/cause to wander o passive: to be led astray/be deceived. A. Understanding deception: slaves to pleasure (Titus 3:3) 3 For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. 1. We pursue sin seeking pleasure. 2. We become enslaved or addicted to the sin. B. The antidote to deception: God s Word There is a dichotomy between being deceived and knowing God s Word. 1. II Tim 3:13-15 13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been
assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 2. Mt 22:29 29 Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. C. The cure for deception: Stop being deceived. 1. Salvation: freedom begins with regeneration. (I Cor 6:9-11) 9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. 2. Humility: change demands personal responsibility. (Js 1:13-16) 13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: 14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.16 Do not err, my beloved brethren. 3. Separation: believers must put off evil influence. (I Cor 15:33-34) Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.34 Awake to righteousness, and sin not for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame. 4. Replacement: believers must sow to the Spirit/not the flesh. (Gal 6:7-8; Eph 5:18) 7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit. Conclusion: Psalm 81:8-10