By Jake Tyson
The concept of “addiction,” as we understand it today, is not referenced in the Bible because the writers lacked a medical or psychological comprehension of addiction at that time. We did not begin to understand addiction until about 1,500 years after the last books of the Bible were written. But although addiction itself is not directly addressed, there are certain directives given within the Bible that can help us understand how to handle addictions.
I studied addictions recently to prepare for a lesson about the subject for my youth group. Here are some of the statistics I found on teen addiction:
• 50% of teenagers have misused a drug at least once.
• 21.3% of 8th graders have tried an illicit drug at least once.
• 62% of teenagers in 12th grade have abused alcohol.
• 60.2% of 12- to 20-year-olds who drink report binge drinking.
• 73% of teenagers have been exposed to pornography.
• 54% of those were age 13 or younger.
• 93% of boys and 62% of girls are exposed to internet pornography before the age of 18.
As you can see, substance abuse and addiction are challenges that don’t just pop up in adulthood. These issues are faced by our teenagers, as well.
Most of our modern drugs were not an issue when the Bible was written because, by and large, they had not been invented yet. Likewise, pornography was not a factor, but there were other rampant sexual deviances — prostitution, incest, affairs, polyamory and others. Like drugs, sex affects the brain, and people can be molded by long-term misuse and addiction to it.
The way drugs and alcohol affect the mind and body is obvious. When someone is drunk or high, their decision-making is impaired, and they exist in an altered state of mind. Long-term usage of alcohol can be damaging to the liver. Cigarettes and vaping can affect the lungs and throat. Other drugs have long-lasting damaging effects on the brain.
Pornography carries with it its own addictive and altering effects. It alters the brain’s reward system, leading to desensitization to normal sexual stimuli, impaired impulse control and changes in decision-making abilities. No matter what the source, addictions can alter our thought processes and behavior.
Proverbs 20:1 warns against the negative effects of alcohol. It leads to rage and fighting. Someone can be “led astray” by overuse. I Corinthians 6:19-20 tells us that our bodies are temples for the Holy Spirit. A temple is a divine place of worship meant to be kept in pristine condition. We should not use them for casual, inappropriate, harmful behaviors because this is not worthy of the Holy Spirit who lives within us.
Ephesians 5:18-19, ESV tells us, “Do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery…” (extreme indulgence in physical or sensual pleasure, typically in an immoral sense) “…but be filled with the Spirit, as you sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to one another, singing and making melody in your hearts…”
In other words, Paul (inspired by God) tells us, “do not get drunk.” It leads to wicked behavior. It alters our moods and appetites into something God is not pleased by. Addiction happens when we cannot get enough of something. We need more. No amount is ever enough. The highs aren’t high enough anymore, so we need a new dosage. The porn isn’t affecting me like it used to, so we’ve got to watch something more extreme. The beer isn’t making me feel buzzed enough yet, so I need another drink. The core issue is that it will never be enough because our spirits long to be filled with something that these substances and activities cannot satisfy.
Instead of being altered by the use of physical substances, sexual activity or visual stimulation, we should allow ourselves to be filled up with the Holy Spirit. And how do we do this? Paul told us — as we sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs to one another. This is not exclusively about singing, but it is about spending our time in fellowship and worship with other believers. Satisfaction and filling will come when we actively participate in a community of fellow believers, worshipping, serving and discussing God with them.
Escaping addiction can be hard. It’s harder than not getting into it in the first place. There are groups like Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous that help those struggling to recover from addiction. There are rehab centers for those who can’t seem to shake it. But along with those things, the most effective tool at our disposal is the Word of God. The more we know God, the more we pray to Him and actively serve Him, resulting in our spirits being filled with His joy and presence. That does not mean addictions (or temptations) will disappear. But they might begin to lose their appeal as we find a greater joy in God than any physical sensation.
Remember, I Corinthians 10:13 says, “No testing (temptation) has overtaken you that is not common to everyone. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it.” Whatever we are tempted by, God has created a path for escape. Yours is not a unique new temptation that no one has ever struggled with. But that’s good news. It means there are people who understand and can help and that God sees your temptation and has provided you a means of escape.
The question is, will you take it?
