What Does The Bible Say About Overcoming Addiction?
Estimated reading time: 13 minutes
This is going to be one of the most authentic, raw posts that I write. Addiction is incredibly complicated, stigmatized and misunderstood in the Christian Church. Alcohol addiction, drug addiction and substance abuse, nicotine, pornography, and so many more addictions seem to more present than ever. And I don’t just mean outside of the church. We often read Bible verses about addiction, yet we fail to truly take them for what they are worth which is everything.
Russell Brand, comedian and actor: “I used to think a drug addict was someone who lived on the far edges of society. Wild-eyed, shaven-headed and living in a filthy squat. That was until I became one…”
To live in world where depression is ever-increasing and addiction seems to be growing just as fast creates a three-fold thought process:
1. “It’s ok because everyone else does it.”
2. “I’ll never be able to beat this.”
3. “It’s not that bad.”
These three mindsets are so dangerous for each of us. Our bodies weren’t designed to handle chemicals at elevated levels over a long period of time. Our brains weren’t designed to handle the changes brought forth through substance abuse. Further, our hearts were created to take the weight of such guilt and shame over and over and over again. Addiction is killing us. It’s just a matter of time before we realize that it’s too late.
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Book Recommendation
One of the best books I have ever read on addiction is called Nicotine Explained by William Porter. Porter breaks down addiction in the most simple ways and provides specific, practical steps to overcome nicotine addiction.
Addiction and the Christian
I’ve been in the church for over 30 years now. Growing up southern baptist, addiction was never brought up. As I progressed through high school and college, I never really heard the term addiction. It wasn’t until I realized that there actually Christians who struggled with addiction that I became aware of just how naive I had been.
At this point, though, I had evaded any substance that might addict me. There were no drugs. No alcohol. No smoking. Not even a hint of tobacco. I was squeaky clean. I had always thought that anyone who truly loved Jesus couldn’t possibly be an addict.
“Addicts were sinners who hadn’t repented of their sin yet.” As fate would have it, the very person I had once judged would become the exact person that I was judging. An addict. That’s such a terrible term. Addict. Someone who can’t overcome their own desires. Yet, that’s what I would eventually describe myself as. As I mentioned, growing up in the church with a family that loved God, yet never discussed our problems led me to believe that our family was just unique. We didn’t have the same problems that everyone else had.
This was not true. My grandfather was an alcoholic chain-smoker. I had distant relatives that had given their lives to substance abuse. Alcoholism was rampant in my family. Our family has a deep history with addiction, yet I was none the wiser. Fortunately, for me, I thought I would never have to deal with any of the like.
Then, one day in 2009, I tried Grizzly Wintergreen Long Cut for the first time. This would be the start of a 15 year journey that, God willing, ended this past Tuesday.
Why Addiction in the Church is Not Often Discussed
Addiction within the church remains a largely unspoken issue due to a combination of stigma, fear of judgment, and a lack of understanding. Many Christians struggle with the perception that addiction is a moral failing rather than a complex interplay of psychological, genetic, and social factors. Unfortunately, I’ve been on both sides of this. Rather than view addiction from the proper lens, I simply viewed addiction and addicts as lesser than myself. Churches often emphasize living a righteous life. After all, life with the Holy Spirit simply doesn’t allow one to give in to their worldly passions, right? While God’s love certainly can overcome this stigmatization, humans, even Christians, fail to produce such understanding.
Johann Hari, author and journalist: “Addiction is an adaptation. It’s not you–it’s the cage you live in.”
In a recent Gallup study, “the percentage of U.S. adults who report having been diagnosed with depression at some point in their lifetime has reached 29.0%, nearly 10 percentage points higher than in 2015.” This would help explain why even more Christians are turning to vices to find “their fix” rather than to Jesus. Maybe it was the COVID pandemic in 2020, the current divisive and partisan political climate, and ongoing wars, including wars on gender, men, marriage, and masculinity. Or, maybe it’s the fact that all humans are in need of the grace of God, especially those of us that have struggled with addictive behaviors in our past or present.
Why Addiction in the Church is Often Judged and Misunderstood
Further, addiction is frequently judged and misunderstood within the church due to a lack of awareness and the tendency to view it through a purely moral or spiritual lens. Many churchgoers are naive to what addiction actually is. According to an article by the Biblical Counseling Institute, Christians may see addiction as a a choice, invoking the belief that “voluntary slavery” is chosen rather than recognizing it as a chronic disease that requires comprehensive treatment. Regardless of whether each definition has merit or not, belief in either one can lead to a lack of empathy and support for those struggling with addiction. Ultimately, this creates a barrier to open communication and effective intervention. The misunderstanding stems from a simplistic view that equates righteousness with health and sin with sickness, ignoring the complex realities of addiction.
Ellen Burstyn, actress: “She goes from one addiction to another. All are ways for her to not feel her feelings.”
Attitudes like these are compounded by societal stigmas surrounding addiction, which are often mirrored within the church community. People with addiction issues may be seen as lacking self-control or discipline, further alienating them from their faith communities. This can lead to a cycle of isolation, where individuals feel they cannot seek help without facing condemnation. Our own sanctification is not something that we ever achieve. We will not ever be “sanctified” until we meet Jesus. However, we are continually undergoing a sanctification process by which the “lust of the flesh”, “old self” and the “yoke of slavery” are all being dealt with. Unfortunately, much of the church fails to realize this.
Common Addictions Among Christians
So what are some of the most common addictions among Bible-believing, Christ-followers?
- Pornography:
- According to an independent study conducted in 2014, The Gospel Coalition states that 64% of American men view pornography at least once a month. For Christian men, this figure is slightly lower, with 54% of born-again Christian men viewing porn monthly. Another study highlights that pornography addiction is particularly prevalent among Christian youth and church bodies.
- The Gospel Coalition notes that while devout Protestant men are less likely to view pornography than their non-religious counterparts, the issue remains significant within the church (The Gospel Coalition).
- Substance Abuse:
- Christians struggle with various forms of substance abuse, including alcohol and drugs. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) reports that substance abuse rates among Christians are comparable to the general population, with alcohol being the most common substance abused (Better Help Addiction Care).
- Deaths due to drug overdose among adolescents more than doubled from 2018 (253 deaths) to 2022 (723 deaths). The largest increases in these deaths were among Hispanic and Black adolescents.
- Depression and Mental Health Issues:
- Depression is a significant issue, with a Gallup survey indicating that 29% of the population reported a diagnosis of depression. Many Christians deal with unresolved hurt, pain, and anger, often leading to depression (Mission Network News).
- Mental health disorders, including anxiety and mood disorders, affect approximately 26.2% of American adults annually, and this includes a substantial number of Christians. According to a study by the Kaiser Family Foundation, suicides are the second leading cause of death among adolescents.
Bible Verses About Addiction
1. 1 Corinthians 10:13
"No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way of escape so that you can endure it."
Good morals don’t always lead to the right decisions. Sometimes, our sinful behavior is too much for us to bear. Fortunately, the word of God makes it clear that the God of all grace will provide us a way out. I used to think this meant that I would receive a phone call from one of my parents or something like that to take my focus off my own desire. I’ve since learned that we’ve been given our own support group that is with us at all times. God’s word, Christ Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are those ways out for us. In our time of need, God is always there to set us back on the right path.
2. Galatians 5:16-17
"So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want."
The apostle Paul informs us that the desires we have are either from the flesh or from the spirit. They cannot co-exist. We will, ultimately, decide which one wins. I would be remiss to say that what I want to do most of the time is not what should be known. My own free will can be immensely more convincing than my desire to do what’s healthy, proper and right.
3. 1 Peter 5:8-9
"Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings."
It is in moments like these where endurance produces character. This is one of the most common Bible verses about addiction because it is so rampant in our lives. This is why addiction recovery is so difficult. The recovery process sometimes creates a false sense of comfort that we fail to remember who is ready to pounce at his first opportunity. We must rely on God’s grace and the Spirit of the Lord to intervene on our behalf.
4. James 1:12-15
"Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him. When tempted, no one should say, 'God is tempting me.' For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death."
This is another verse that makes clear standing strong in the face of temptation produces endurance. The equation here is quite simple. Desire leads to sin which leads to death. When we think about our own addictions we can see this cycle. We have a small desire. That desires builds and ultimately turns into an action. Further action leads to reliance, which is sin. Continual sin leads to death and destruction along the way.
5. Romans 12:2
"Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."
Our character produces the ability to turn down the requests of the world. The daily renewing of our minds along with the “prayer of a righteous person”, give us the power against conformity with the world.
6. 1 Corinthians 6:12
"'I have the right to do anything,' you say—but not everything is beneficial. 'I have the right to do anything'—but I will not be mastered by anything."
This is the beauty and equally complicated nature of Paul’s writing. One on hand, we have complete and total freedom to do whatever we want whenever we want to do it. It says so at the beginning of the verse! On the other hand, not everything is beneficial. I think the key phrase here is that Paul states that he will not be mastered by anything. Whether alcohol abuse, drugs or nicotine, we must approach our addictions with a biblical perspective and choose not to allow them to master us.
The Impact of Addiction
Peter Hill, M.D., Senior Vice President, Medical Affairs, Johns Hopkins Health System: “I’ve seen both personally and professionally the effects substance use disorder can have on the patient and their families.”
Addiction’s impact is far-reaching and widens with every interaction. That’s how it starts though. The lie we choose to believe is that our addictions only impact us alone. We fail to realize that our family members suffer because of our addiction. Our co-workers, our friends and our acquaintances endure difficult times at the hands of our addiction from time to time.
This most impactful of these relationships is with our spouse and our children. It’s quite remarkable that my addiction to nicotine had many of the same results as those of drug addicts and alcoholics. I would constantly find different ways to fulfill my addiction. I lied, and I hid my problems. My addiction was easy to cover up, and it’s so common I never though it would ever become a problem.
While I desired a closer relationship with my spouse, I kept feeling like we were becoming more distant. The idea of a long-drawn-out healing process continually brought me back to my addiction. Good character didn’t matter. I chose fits of anger over the fruit of the spirit. The power of addiction truly had its grip on me.
A Fresh Start
Jamie Lee Curtis, actress: “Recovery is an acceptance that your life is in shambles and you have to change.”
The good news about the gospel is that day one can start any day. So I chose my day one. Tuesday, May 28th, 2024. Yup, that’s right. It’s fresh. I’m writing this a mere 5 days after going cold-turkey. I was tired of saying “only a little while longer”. I was tired of being a sick person. My recovery journey would have to begin one day. Every day that passed was another day that I missed an opportunity for long-term health.
As I continually read each of these Bible verses about addiction, guilt and shame would rear their ugly faces. I had read those key Bible verses hundreds of times before. I had the knowledge. Moreover, I knew what I was supposed to do. However, as Paul questioned, “why did I continue to do the things that I didn’t want to do?” kept ringing in my head.
A Holistic Approach
As the freedom Christ promised us became more and more distant, I became more and more desperate. Carrying the heavy loads that work, family, friends and side hustles brought each day, my desire to end my addiction waned with each passing hour of the day. In the morning, I had the strength to withstand the pulls of nicotine pouches. By lunch, I had already made up my mind for the day. Nicotine would win the battle, and I would try again the next day. This cycle would go on for over 10 years.
Through listening to John Mark Comer’s Practicing The Way, I determined there was only one true way to win the way over addiction. The first step was to rely solely on God’s help through abiding in His spirit. There were no biblical teachings, no addiction treatment center, nor was there any prayer that I hadn’t prayed that could do what only the Lord God could do.
So I rested in His strength and abided in His grace. I released control of all outcomes. I confessed my fears of an early grave; my lying, hiding and sin. Ultimately, I chose my family, my future and myself over any substance. I released the power that my addiction had over me to God. I shattered the jar of addiction, literally, and with it, my guilt, shame and fear. Lastly, I was a new creation. Jesus died for my addiction. He died for my recovery.
About the Author
John Claborn
Hi! I’m John. Author of the post you just read. I like to write about all things adventure. Mostly things to help people live more adventurous lives and care for their families in a more meaningful way. By day, I’m a COO. By night, I’m a rad dad of 4 kids that I don’t deserve and a husband to a woman I can’t understand how I got. My goal is to show freedom to people through adventure and experiences.
