Addiction is a major problem in the United States, and it has left its mark on the Church. Pastors are shepherding flocks that contain members trapped by addiction — whether those members are aware of it or not — and sometimes pastors find themselves wrestling with personal issues surrounding addiction as well.
When faced with addiction issues, it is helpful to know where to turn. The Church is a loving assembly that seeks to support those members of the body beset by the sinful behaviors arising from addiction. Pastors wrestle with knowing how to help those in need, including assessing their level of need, offering appropriate resources, and providing support for families and loved ones of those bound by addiction’s chains.
Those who minister are not immune to addiction’s reach in their own lives. How to assess whether “use” of a substance has become a problem, how to address that concern, and who is “safe” to talk to are all real and pressing questions.
We at Mission Hills Association want to offer love, care, and support to pastors who may be questioning their relationship with substances. MHA and our cohorts form a caring, supportive collaboration where pastors can seek counsel from others in ministry without fear that their revelations will be broadcast or that discipline will be instituted. Confidentiality is central to all we do. “What is said here stays here” is our watchword. Any pastor in need of peer support can safely seek that assistance through his cohort or with MHA staff. If you or someone you know needs help, please reach out to your cohort or MHA.
What Is Addiction?
Addiction is a treatable, chronic medical disease involving complex interactions among brain circuits, genetics, the environment, and an individual’s life experiences. People with addiction use substances or engage in behaviors that become compulsive and often continue despite harmful consequences.
Addictive substances and behaviors strongly activate the brain’s reward center and produce feelings of pleasure, often through a dopamine feedback response. Both substance addiction (such as alcohol) and behavioral addiction (such as gambling) arise from an underlying deficit — many would call it a “spiritual deficit” — and are used to soothe or escape the feelings arising from that deficit. Classic 12-step recovery addresses this directly, guiding participants through steps aimed at the underlying issues that feed addiction, with the goal of a “spiritual awakening.”
(See Step 12 in the traditional Alcoholics Anonymous program.)
Opening The Door + Reaching Bottom
Nearly every addict asks — of themselves and of others, “Am I an addict?” While not everyone who asks that question is a full-blown addict, it is an important signal that intentionality is warranted in assessing the role a substance or behavior plays in that person’s life. Idols, sin weights, and barriers to spiritual growth all exist on a continuum in the Christian life, and even those who may not be “full-blown” addicts can benefit from an honest self-assessment, individually or with the assistance of others.
Many addicted individuals experience concern about the role substances or behaviors are playing in their lives long before they are “ready” to take action. Most make “false starts” in seeking recovery — vows to stop drinking, pouring out bottles, tearful requests for help, and the like. These are an important part of the recovery process, even when not ultimately successful. The recovery world speaks of the point at which a person “reaches bottom” — the moment they recognize their life has become unmanageable, they are powerless to control it alone, and they have a sincere desire to recover. For those ministering to addicted persons, it is critical to persevere through the false starts without giving up and to be ready to provide support and guidance when that person’s “bottom” is reached.
Resources
The MHA website is a good first step when looking for help. Members may log in to access member-only resources.
The Care Ministry at Mission Hills Church has also created a living document of available resources: www.missionhills.org/careresources. It is not exhaustive, but it is a valuable and regularly updated starting point.
Re:Generation
Watermark Community Church in Dallas developed Re:Generation — described on its website as “a biblically-based discipleship program offering healing, recovery, and freedom from any type of struggle.” Learn more at www.regenerationrecovery.org.
Several Denver-area churches offer Re:Generation groups, including Mission Hills Church. The Re:Generation site provides a “find a group” tool to help locate a convenient meeting.
Re:Generation is a 12-step program grounded in Biblical principles, effective for recovery from substance and behavioral addictions (gambling, pornography, etc.) as well as the effects of guilt and shame. Participants commit to one year of weekly meetings, working in gender-separated small groups through a discipleship curriculum led by trained mentors. At Mission Hills, we have seen many lives changed through this ministry and strongly recommend it.
Counseling
Christ-centered therapeutic counseling is a tremendous resource for those in the throes of addiction or wondering whether substances are interfering with their Christian walk. Christian counselors and related resources are listed at www.missionhills.org/referrals. Not all counselors are experienced in addiction work, so those seeking addiction-specific counseling should carefully vet any prospective counselor before engaging their services.
What Actually Works
Alcoholics Anonymous is a tremendous resource for those wrestling with alcohol addiction. AA was originally founded by Bible-believing men who drew on Scripture to shape its principles and traditions. The Front Range has meetings of varying types at all hours and days of the week; the AA website’s “find a meeting” tool makes locating a nearby meeting easy.
Newcomer meetings welcome those who have just come to the realization they need help. The real powerhouse of AA is the one-on-one sponsorship relationships and Step Meetings where the alcoholic works through “The Big Book” and the 12 steps. Some Christians are put off by AA’s use of the term “Higher Power” rather than “God,” and many in AA do not believe in the God of the Bible — nevertheless, AA remains a powerful tool for recovery.
Related 12-step organizations include:
- Cocaine Anonymous of Colorado: ca-colorado.org
- Narcotics Anonymous – Mile High Area: com
- Gamblers Anonymous: gamblersanonymous.org
- Porn Anonymous (12-step recovery for pornography addiction): p-a.online
- Sex Addicts Anonymous (SAA): saa-recovery.org
Al-Anon
Addiction is a “family disease” with tremendous impact on relationships, families, and friends. Codependency and enabling can adversely affect the addict’s path to recovery. Al-Anon is designed for friends and family of the addict, helping them deal with their own responses and support their loved one toward sobriety. Individual groups vary in culture and personality, and it may be necessary to visit several before finding a good fit — particularly for men, who may struggle to find groups with other male members.
Closing Thoughts
Meeting the addict where he or she is and loving them through recovery is a boots-on-the-ground work of love. Addicted individuals are often among the most resourceful, creative, sincere, and loving people in our churches. Those wrestling with addiction need God’s love, guidance, and practical tools. For them to find and fulfill their calling as members of the body of believers, they need to get sober and grow in their relationship with God and the rest of the body.
Mission Hills Association and your peers in your MHA cohort stand ready, willing, and able to walk alongside you as you address addiction in your congregation or in your own life.
This article was authored by Dave Hersh. Dave is a Cohort Facilitator with the MHA. If you’d like to discuss this further, you can connect with him at dave.hersh@comcast.net
If this was helpful, you may also find the following article useful: https://www.missionhills.org/helpand-hope/
If this was helpful and you would like to connect with us to discuss this more, you may reach Joel MacFarland, Care Pastor at Mission Hills Church, at jmacfarland@missionhills.org.
