Dr. M. Scott Peck, psychiatrist, said, “Alcoholism is a genetic, inherited disorder.” I believe he was right. When I taught nursing students, I would sometimes poll my students as to how many had at least one alcoholic in their families. Every hand would invariably be raised.
Addictions can be considered forms of idolatry, a violation of the First Commandment, which declares, “You shall have no other gods before Me” (Exodus 20:3). Almost anything can become an idol. It does not have to be alcohol. Some people are addicted to sex or gambling. Money is another, as well as family, even. One of the potentially most destructive idols is the addiction to power. We see this on the national level all the way down to the local. Lust for power often leads to corruption. Some people are evil enough to kill others to stay in power.
But alcoholism is the addiction with which most of us are more familiar. Carl Jung had a patient whom he admitted he could not help get over his addiction to alcohol. So he suggested that the man might want to seek a religious conversion. The man did this and was actually cured. Then he told a friend about it, who was also cured and recommended a spiritual conversion to his friend. His friend did the same thing and, in the process, founded Alcoholics Anonymous in Akron, Ohio.
AA is not 100% successful, but it does have a great track record. They require each participant to admit he is an alcoholic. This forces each participant to face reality first thing. They also use slogans, such as “Fake it to make it,” and “I’m not okay, and you’re not okay, but that’s okay.”
The one requirement to overcome any addiction is a genuine desire to overcome it. We have been told that the only way to overcome a habit is to replace it with another. People who succeed at overcoming an addiction find a good replacement, such as church. Instead of sleeping off a drinking binge on Sunday morning, they get up, clean up, and attend a Bible-preaching church. There they find love and fellowship and are able to hear the Word of God (the Bible) proclaimed.
The Apostle Paul tells us, “For whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13). He goes on to ask, “How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?” (Romans 10:14). And where do you typically find preaching but at church? I truly believe the number one problem with our society and country today is the lack of church attendance.
Too many people think they know best. Too many think they can best run their own lives without making a mess of things. They are sadly mistaken. The devil will help them look and feel successful as he holds their souls trapped in his grip. But everything on earth is temporary, and the money and power will all end only too soon.
Far better it is to secure heaven as the destiny of one’s immortal soul. And that can only be achieved through genuine faith in Jesus Christ and calling on Him for salvation. But be warned: This must be done while alive on earth. Death ends all opportunity to secure heaven for one’s soul. And no one knows when his date with destiny will be and the loss of all salvation opportunity.
___
Ralph Fudge is the pastor of Big Ochlocknee Baptist Church in Coolidge, Ga., and has a Master’s degree in theology from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.
Share with others
