Addiction Recovery Part 3: A Gospel-Centered Approach to Addictions

In Part 1 of this series, I discussed the shortcomings of secular 12-step programs aimed at addiction recovery. These programs deny the existence of God and sin, seeking to redefine humanity’s problem as a disease, behavior, or mental disorder. In Part 2, I explored the Christian alternative known as Celebrate Recovery, providing a brief overview of its origin and core teachings found in the teaching materials. Like its secular counterparts, this program elevates man above God and diminishes the significance of sin, the Holy Spirit, and the work of Christ.

In Part 3, I want to examine a more gospel-centered approach to addiction recovery that offers a God-centered and God-empowered method focused on the heart of humanity and the problem of sin. It is crucial to remember that God has not left us to navigate our sin and suffering alone; He has provided a way out, allowing us to walk in freedom. At the end of this series, I will also present a few alternatives for Christian-based group studies that churches can utilize outside their care and counseling ministries.

The Root

Considering the various portrayals of addictions and our desire to approach the topic Biblically, we must examine addictions from a Biblical perspective. The primary way the Bible addresses addiction is through the concept of idolatry. When we seek relief and comfort outside of God, we place that substance or object in the position of God, which constitutes idolatry. “From this perspective, the true nature of all addictions is that we have chosen to go outside the boundaries of the kingdom of God and look for blessing in the land of idols. In turning to idols, we are saying that we desire something in creation more than we desire the Creator.” There are many ways this is illustrated in Scripture, but the Scriptures clearly state that idolatry is a sin (Deut. 4:23; Eph. 5:5), which we will discuss.

At the core of any addiction is a cycle of idolatry: the heart desires just one more, achieves fleeting satisfaction, and the cycle starts again. This signifies only the early stages of addiction. As satisfaction grows, so does the addiction. Once it transforms into idolatry, the heart yearns for more and more; the physical need intensifies as the heart becomes less fulfilled over time. Therefore, the addiction deepens as we must continuously feed it to achieve satisfaction. So, “At its core, addiction is rebellion against God. In addition, whether it is an addiction to drugs, alcohol, or sex, the substance or behavior becomes a false idol to the addict. Giving up this reliant idolatry is one of the most difficult and long-term struggles for the addict.”

One way the Bible discusses idolatry is by associating it with adultery. Ed Welch describes it this way: “Adultery is a companion metaphor, especially since idolatry is ultimately a personal relationship gone wrong. Adultery emphasizes the more intimate features of idolatry. The sense of being controlled and being dominated by another, the lies, and the obsession are all there.” Similar to how a husband may be unfaithful to his wife while living in secret sin, addiction can sometimes manifest in the same way. Eventually, the sin is discovered, leading to conflict that exposes the desires of the unfaithful husband. James illustrates this process in James 4:1-10, where he describes how our desires for something intensify and refers to it as adultery, as well as the methods for overcoming such challenges. We confront this issue of idolatry by humbling ourselves, turning to God in repentance, and fleeing from the sin.

Another theme that frequently intersects with idolatry, as Ed Welch points out, is foolishness. Sin has darkened our hearts and minds, blinding us to the reality of our own sin and idolatry (Eph. 4:18-19). “Folly is characterized by thoughtlessness and decisions to pursue a course that is briefly pleasurable but ultimately painful.” The book of Proverbs describes the foolish person as someone who trusts in their own ways and seeks worldly satisfaction, much like a dog that keeps returning to its own vomit (Prov. 14:12; 17:24; 26:11). The addict is ensnared in utter foolishness, looking for fulfillment in all the wrong places. Nevertheless, there is hope.

The Hope

Our addictions are ultimately rooted in idolatry, which is a sin against our Holy God. Therefore, it is essential to understand how Scripture guides us in addressing this issue. Romans 6:14 reminds us that, in Christ, sin has no power over us because He has conquered sin and death on our behalf. This means we can live a life free from the grip of our addictions—this is truly good news!

However, we must first recognize what we communicate to God when we choose our addictions, whether they are drugs, sex, gambling, alcohol, or something else. By selecting these things, we are essentially telling God that He is not enough and that only these things can satisfy us. Tim Keller puts it this way, “We need to see how ungrateful we are being to Jesus. And we need to see how, at bottom, this is another way of avoiding Jesus as Savior, and trying to be our own.” If we do not recognize our addictions for what they truly are, we will struggle to respond to them in a godly manner and ultimately find freedom from them. Our hope lies in Christ, but do we genuinely find satisfaction in Him? In the remainder of this article, I intend to show why we can indeed be satisfied in Christ.

A Way Forward

We have established that addictions are real issues that arise from the heart. They are rooted in idolatry and characterized by foolishness and betrayal. Since idolatry represents rebellion against our Holy God, our only hope rests in the person and work of Jesus Christ. In the following sections, we will explore the hope we can find in Christ as we trust Him as the Lord and Savior of our lives. This requires repenting of our rebellion and striving to live in obedience according to Scripture. Ultimately, the path forward for the people of God trapped in addiction is to embrace the freedom found solely in Christ (Gal. 5:1).

Renewal in Christ Alone

In 2 Corinthians 4:7-18, Paul offers significant insights that inspire us to praise God. He explains the glorious truth that our old selves, including our addictions, have been put to death and buried with Christ. Paul reveals that the same power that raised Christ from the dead is also given to us, enabling us to live in Christ! Because of this, we can hold onto hope, knowing that even as our mortal bodies deteriorate in this world, the Holy Spirit renews our spirits day by day. Understanding this renewal is key to the addiction recovery process.

John Calvin discusses this passage, noting that as God guides us through this life, He removes things just as one would prune a tree; God prunes the heart. John Calvin states, “Thus, it is necessary that the condition of this present life should decay, so that the inner self might flourish, because as the earthly life declines, the heavenly life increases, at least among believers.” As God renews our inner self, He is gradually removing earthly pleasures related to our addictions. These truths should foster a satisfaction within us, allowing us to find more pleasure in Christ than in the things of this world. This leads us to discover our identity in Christ instead of in worldly matters or our past.

Identity in Christ Alone

One of my favorite verses in all of Scripture is 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” In Christ, as mentioned above, our former selves have died with Him, and we have received a new life and a new identity. Martin Luther puts it this way, “Being a new person, all things do become new, here in this life through faith, and afterward in the life to come, through openly revealing their nature.” This is a very important aspect of recovery: confessing our sin, revealing its nature, and resting in our new identity as Christ has given it to us. This means we are not the same person — our addictions no longer define who we are.

This doesn’t mean we will never struggle or sin again, but our identity and how God sees us are defined by what Christ has done for us. “Yes, you are a sinner; but in the gospel you are forgiven. In Christ, your identity has been re-formed, so that now you are not a sinner, not an addict, not an alcoholic.” In Christ, we are perfectly justified and washed clean as snow by the perfect righteousness of Christ; this is who we are now! We aren’t finished yet, and although this isn’t an exhaustive list of our newness in Christ, I want to explore a couple more.

Sanctification in Christ Alone

Philippians 2:12-13 is important for this section, “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” Here, Paul reminds us that sanctification in this life is a work on our part, but that God is also at work. “In Scripture we are called to work because God works in us. In your battle against addictive habits, you will have to both work and surrender.” We are never promised an easy life in Scripture, nor that our addictions will simply disappear one morning. We must actively work to rid ourselves of those things, but we must also understand that God is at work, simultaneously within our hearts, changing us.

Sanctification is a long-term process that continues throughout our lives until we are finally called home and receive our glorified bodies. In Mark 9:41-48, Jesus explains that if your eye or hand causes you to stumble, you should cut it off and throw it away. This may seem odd at first, but the principle is straightforward: if drinking leads you to stumble, then you should remove it from your life. Essentially, rid yourself of any temptations to avoid succumbing to desire and ultimately living in sin. If going to a bar causes you to stumble, it’s probably wise to steer clear of bars altogether. This brings us to the next vital aspect of recovery: community.

A Community in Christ Alone

I have said it numerous times thus far in this article, “God does not leave us alone in all of this.” In Romans 8:14-15, Paul reminds us that in Christ we have received the spirit of adoption as sons and daughters, welcomed into a new family. In the church, we are gathered with and surrounded by fellow brothers and sisters. I pray you have this experience, and if you don’t, reach out, and I will help you find that place. God has placed us with brothers and sisters who can care for us, talk to us, mentor us, teach us, and counsel us. In Christ, we have all we need!

In the church, there should be opportunities to connect and engage with others, and hopefully, there is a care and counseling ministry where all these resources can be found and utilized. We can’t live without this, so we need the church, and we need each other. No one was ever meant to do this alone. Reach out to your church, talk to your pastors and elders, and seek help for yourself.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Scripture does not define addictions as a disease, a behavioral problem, or a mental disorder. Instead, addictions are seen as a heart issue rooted in idolatry and self-worship, with only one true path to freedom: Jesus Christ. In Christ, we are renewed, given a new identity, sanctified, and ultimately glorified. We are no longer who we once were, and this transformation should lead us to find our satisfaction in Christ alone for all He has done for us and in us. This perspective completely reshapes our understanding of addictions and idolatry. However, we will not find our way to Christ through secular recovery programs, which often deny God and the concept of sin, or through programs like Celebrate Recovery, which tend to present a diminished view of God and sin while elevating the view of man.

Care and counseling should be a priority in every church, aiding those who struggle with sin and suffering in this world. However, beyond counseling ministries, what is a suitable recovery-based program for use in the church? The first resource I recommend is called Freedom Groups, a 12-week, counseling-oriented care program designed to help everyone find their freedom in Christ alone. If you’re looking for a more traditional recovery resource, I recommend STEPS, which is another counseling-oriented program aimed at helping anyone seeking freedom. However, a care and counseling ministry should be the main resource for everyone in the church.

Someone once told me, “You will live out what you know to be true.” People need the truth of the gospel and the freedom found only in Christ. This is the only path to true recovery. I hope this three-part series has been beneficial and encouraging.

If you would like more information about these resources, or if you have questions and need counseling, please reach out to rdawson28@ourlook.com or visit www.redeemercare.net.

Welch, Edward T. “Addictions: New Ways of Seeing, New Ways of Walking Free.”The Journal of Biblical Counseling, Number 3, Spring 2001, edited by David A. Powlison, vol. 19, The Christian Counseling and Educational Foundation, 2001, p. 20.

Clinton, Tim, and Diane Langberg. The Quick-Reference Guide to Counseling Women. Baker Books, 2011, p. 263.

Welch, Edward T. “Addictions: New Ways of Seeing, New Ways of Walking Free.”The Journal of Biblical Counseling, Number 3, Spring 2001, edited by David A. Powlison, vol. 19, The Christian Counseling and Educational Foundation, 2001, p. 22.

Ibid. p. 23.

Keller, Timothy. Romans 1–7 for You. Edited by Carl Laferton, The Good Book Company, 2014, p. 195.

George, Timothy, and Scott M. Manetsch, editors. 2 Corinthians: New Testament. IVP Academic: An Imprint of InterVarsity Press, 2022, p. 129.

Ibid. p. 162.

Dunham, David R. Addictive Habits: Changing for Good. Edited by Deepak Reju, P&R Publishing, 2018, p. 18.

Ibid. p. 19.

https://www.soulcareconsulting.com/freedom-groups

https://www.lifeway.com/en/product-family/steps