Addiction; Demon or Disease?

I have the privilege of serving on a local coalition to bring about awareness and promote understanding and healing regarding drug and alcohol abuse as well as other life-controlling problems. It is a faith-based setting and the ultimate goal is to help people and glorify God.

A noble thing I believe. I was deeply moved today by a mother who lost her 19 year old son to a prescription drug overdose. As I listened to her story with warm tears rolling down her cheeks I thought to myself, how could this happen? Could we have prevented this? If we only could have got him into our Teen Challenge program. Questions. Deep probing life- questions that don't always have neat, clean answers categorized into do's and don'ts columns.

The continual onslaught and plague of drugs, alcohol, and other devastating behaviors has often been referred to as a war. The war on drugs. Whether it is in a sacred or secular setting most experts agree- drug and alcohol addiction is a scourge upon our society. There are estimates that there are well over 20 million drug abusing adults in the United States. This may represent a conservative number.

I have been involved in an organization whose primary purpose is to minister to those caught in this horrible bondage. We don't claim to be experts nor are we ignorant to the causal effects. The title of this blog is "Addiction; Demon or Disease? I will not attempt to defend the demonic position nor debunk the disease based philosophy. What I do want to make clear is that in either case- Demon or the Diseased Jesus Christ is the cure, the answer and the path to wholeness from ANY bondage, disease or addiction. The scripture is clear that Jesus Christ went about doing good and healing people from all types of diseases (Lk. 4:40). Scripture also states that Jesus cast out demons (Mk. 1:34).

So the clear path (or more accurately stated- person) to the malady of drug and alcohol addiction is Jesus Christ. There are undoubtedly a host of other "life-controlling" problems including texting, gaming, gambling, pornography, etc. One definition of an addiction or a life-controlling problem is anything that masters you. The answer once again is personal relationship with Jesus Christ. He heals the diseased, He delivers those oppressed by demons.

If you or someone you know is currently struggling with a life-controlling problem, hold out hope. Pray for them and direct them with tough love to have the courage to make choices that will enable them to find help and healing through Jesus Christ.

to learn more visit; www.teenchallenge.cc