In the grand narrative of the Bible, the relationship between Christ and the Church is often depicted as a marriage, with Christ as the bridegroom and the Church as His bride. As believers, we are part of this bride, called to prepare ourselves for the return of our bridegroom. This preparation involves keeping our "wedding garments" clean, symbolizing our spiritual purity and holiness.
The Apostle Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 7:1 (NIV), "Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God." While the blood of Jesus has washed us clean from the filth of our sin, it is our responsibility to maintain this cleanliness, to keep ourselves from all spiritual defilement. This involves actively distancing ourselves from worldly pleasures and influences that can stain our wedding garments.
James 1:27 (NIV) provides a practical guide on how to live out this purity: "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." True religion, in the eyes of God, involves caring for the vulnerable and maintaining personal purity.
So, how do we keep ourselves pure and unspotted from the world? The scriptures highlight three key practices:
The Fear of the Lord: Psalm 19:9 (NIV) says, "The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever. The decrees of the Lord are firm, and all of them are righteous." Reverence and awe for God, acknowledging His holiness and our need for His grace, is the beginning of wisdom and a key to living a pure life. Proverbs 9:10 (NIV) echoes this, stating, "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding." Proverbs 8:13 (NIV) further defines the fear of the Lord, saying, "To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech."
Being Washed in the Water of the Word: Ephesians 5:25-27 (NIV) reads, "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless." Regularly immersing ourselves in God's Word purifies our minds and aligns our hearts with His.
Expecting the Return of Our Bridegroom: 1 John 3:2-3 (NIV) encourages us, "Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure." Living in the light of Christ's return motivates us to live pure and holy lives.
In addition to these practices, the scriptures also call us to a life of holiness. 1 Peter 1:15-16 (NIV) says, "But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: 'Be holy, because I am holy.'" Similarly, 2 Timothy 1:9 (NIV) reminds us that God "has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace." Leviticus 20:26 (NIV) also calls us to be holy, saying, "You are to be holy to me because I, the LORD, am holy, and I have set you apart from the nations to be my own."
These scriptures remind us of our call to live holy lives, set apart for God's purposes. They also highlight the importance of fearing the Lord, which is the beginning of wisdom and understanding. This fear is not about being afraid, but about having a deep reverence and awe for God's holiness and majesty. It's about recognizing His authority over our lives and choosing to live in obedience to His commands.
As we anticipate the return of our bridegroom, Jesus Christ, let us strive to keep our wedding garments clean, living lives of holiness and purity. We want to be ready for His return, unashamed and radiant in His presence.
Pride, often seen as a virtue, can become a vice when it prevents us from acknowledging our weaknesses and seeking help. This is particularly true in the context of addiction, where pride can be a significant barrier to recovery.
Pride is a complex emotion that can manifest in various ways. It can be a sense of self-worth and accomplishment, but it can also be a defensive mechanism that shields us from acknowledging our flaws and vulnerabilities. In the context of addiction, pride often manifests as a refusal to admit that we have a problem and need help.
Pride tells us that we don't need to take responsibility for our actions, that we don't need help, and that we can handle our addiction on our own. It can make us think that others are trying to control us, causing us to be defensive, and resistant to change. It can also disguise itself as "knowing what it is best" and "nobody can tell me what to do" twisting our perception of ourselves and others.
Addiction thrives on secrecy and denial. It convinces us that we are in control, even when our lives are spiraling out of control. Pride feeds into this illusion of control, making it difficult for us to admit that we are struggling and need help.
Pride can also make us resistant to seeking help. It can make us feel that we should be able to overcome our addiction on our own, without the need for therapy, or support groups. This can lead to a cycle of addiction, where we continue to use despite the negative consequences because we are too proud to seek help.
The 12 Steps of Celebrate Recovery provide a spiritual pathway to overcome pride and addiction. Here's how they can help:
1. Admitting Powerlessness: The first step is to admit that we are powerless over our addictions and that our lives have become unmanageable. This is a direct challenge to pride, which tells us that we are in control and can manage our addiction on our own. Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am weak; O Lord, heal me, for my bones are troubled. (Psalm 6:2)
2. Believing in a Higher Power: The second step is to believe that a power greater than ourselves can restore us to sanity. This requires humility, the opposite of pride because we are admitting that only God can help restore us.
But without faith, it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. (Hebrews 11:6)
3. Turning Our Will Over to God: The third step is to make a decision to turn our lives and our wills over to the care of God. This involves letting go of our pride and self-will, and trusting in God's will for our lives.
"Not My will, but Yours, be done.” (Luke 22:42)
4. Making a Moral Inventory: The fourth step is to make a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves. This requires honesty, humility, and a willingness to acknowledge our faults and weaknesses.
Search me, O God, and know my heart;
Try me, and know my anxieties;
And see if there is any wicked way in me,
And lead me in the way everlasting. ( Psalm 139:22-24)
5. Admitting Our Wrongs: The fifth step is to admit to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs. This is a direct challenge to pride, which often prevents us from admitting our mistakes and asking for forgiveness.
Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. (James 5:16)
6. Becoming Ready for God to Remove Our Defects: The sixth step is to become entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character. This requires humility and a willingness to change.
And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. (Jeremiah 29:13)
7. Asking God to Remove Our Shortcomings: The seventh step is to humbly ask God to remove all our shortcomings. This involves acknowledging our need for God's grace and mercy, and our inability to overcome our addiction on our own.
“Now, therefore,” says the Lord, “Turn to Me with all your heart, With fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.” (Joel 2:12)
The remaining steps involve making amends, continuing to take personal inventory, improving our conscious contact with God, and carrying the message to others. These steps all require humility and a willingness to let go of our pride.
Pride can be a significant obstacle in overcoming addiction, but it is not insurmountable. By acknowledging our pride, seeking help, and practicing humility, we can overcome our addiction and start on the path to recovery. The 12 Steps provide a spiritual pathway to overcome pride and addiction and to live a life of recovery and freedom.
In today's post, we'll
explore the profound difference between abstinence and true recovery or
sobriety, especially from a Christian perspective. Understanding this
distinction is crucial for anyone grappling with addiction, as it can mean the
difference between a life of struggle and a life of freedom.
Key Verse
Heavenly Father, we humbly approach Your throne of grace, seeking the Holy Spirit's guidance and strength as we delve into the topics of abstinence, recovery, and true sobriety. We earnestly ask for Your divine wisdom to understand these critical issues and for the strength to commit and dedicate ourselves to the path of recovery. Amen.
The Surface-Level Solution: Abstinence
Abstinence is part of the
recovery process. It involves refraining from substance abuse due to negative
consequences like incarceration, health issues, loss of income, or strained
family relationships.
Those who abstain might still harbor thoughts of returning to their old ways. They often fantasize about going back to what they perceive as a better life. Many times abstinence causes people to be unhappy in their sobriety. Consequently, some individuals transform into what is referred to as "dry drunks," wherein their attitudes and behaviors remain unchanged. These individuals tend to exhibit anger and vent their frustrations onto others, displaying a markedly low tolerance for stressors. Unfortunately, they have yet to acquire the essential healthy coping mechanisms that accompany the process of recovery, and they have yet to address the underlying causes that led to their drinking or substance use.
The Pitfall of Relapse in Abstinence
The pitfall in abstinence during the recovery process is that willpower can only last so long. You try to convince yourself that you do not want to do it and even tell everyone else that you are done but if you at the wrong place with the wrong people you find yourself giving in. This is why having someone you can call in a time of weakness is so important. In the recovery world, we call them sponsors. Sadly, in the realm of abstinence, relapse is often seen as a total failure, leading to a return to active addiction. This can result in overwhelming feelings of guilt, shame, and even hopelessness. We need to remember that Jesus is the one that gets us over the finish line, not us. Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, Hebrews 12:2 Shame may cause you to believe that your struggle with addiction is your identity. It is not your identity it is only your struggle to surrender something that you still think you want deep down inside.
Whatever you do, don’t hide from God run to him.
The Lord is near to the heartbroken And He saves those who are crushed in spirit (contrite in
heart, truly sorry for their sin) Psalm 34:18
The Deeper Solution: Recovery and Sobriety
In sobriety, there's an
immediate return to accountability. Humility and surrender are keys in all
recovery scenarios. This often involves soul searching to eliminate the cause
of relapse, taking inventory, and making amends with loved ones. Abstinence is
a necessary step for recovery, but true recovery involves a change in how you
perceive addiction.
In recovery, you see addiction not as a lost friend whose enjoyment you miss, but as a harmful, life-threatening enemy. You take proactive steps, deepening your love for God, practicing a reverential fear of God, and being thankful for everything He has given you. You make meaningful relationships with other people active in their recovery.
The Joy of True Sobriety
In true sobriety, you do what's necessary to have true contentment and joy. You change
what you find joy in. Instead of yearning for what harms you, you hate those
former vices, properly assessing them as having devastating consequences and
destroying your cherished relationships.
The Importance of Motive and Community
It's essential to deeply
consider your heart's desire for true recovery and a renewed life. What is the "why" behind your life? Are you only seeking sobriety because you have run out of options or because you feel forced into it? You need to want to leave behind everything and everyone to follow Christ. A recovery program
is effective only if you are committed to it. Like they say, it only works if
you are working it.
A Final Warning
If you struggle with
addiction, please take it very seriously. Understand that it is a killer, not
only of lives but also of families. It too often causes subsequent generations
to follow in your footsteps. Oftentimes you hear about recovering addicts burying their children who followed their parents' example. You don't want this to be your story. Take courage and please remember that everyone's recovery process is unique, so find
something that works for you. Don't hesitate, as waiting might mean it's too
late.
Prayer:
Holy Spirit, we earnestly
seek Your guidance in applying the lessons we've learned today about abstinence,
recovery, and true sobriety. We ask for Your divine help in application and for
the strength to resist the temptations of evil spirits that lure us back to
destruction. We bind their operation over our minds, will, and emotions in Jesus'
name! We command their influence to let go of us and for the Holy Spirit to
empower us for victorious living. May we live lives blessed by these truths and
be free from the lies that bind us. In Jesus' name Amen.
Written by Jaziz Gutierrez
All Rights Reserved 08/28/23