Pathology/Addiction

If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves. Sin is pathology, in that it is contrary to the blessings of life--the Life that Christ brought to us and died for us to inherit and assimilate into our daily experience [which is our sanctification process.]  When we receive Jesus, we do not immediately become perfected beings; rather we embark upon the pathway toward perfection. At first, Jesus restrains the pathology in us. His Spirit in us confronts all that is not good in us--everything that is mean, hateful, violent, unforgiving, fearful, uncaring, selfish, despairing, hopeless, guilty, shameful, enslaved, etc. He said, "If you continue in my word, ....you will know the Truth, and the Truth will make you free."  If we continue in His Way, He will deliver us from, not only the acting out of our pathology, but from the inner conflict of it.  One of the crucial aspects of our growth in Christ is our tolerance for the convicting and restraining aspects of His Spirit in us. Putting this in the context of recovery from addiction:  Initially, the addict is confronted with the destructive dynamics of drug use. The addicted parts of his personality do not like this confrontation, and respond in anger, blame and denial. If he is blessed, the healthier parts of his personality begin to rise in power. He recognizes the love that is being manifested toward him in the form of confrontation; and the healthiness of feeling convicted by continued drug use.  But there is a conflict between these parts of his personality. Relapse is common because the addicted aspects are strong. They can overpower the Truth in him.  This conflict emerges in bold relief in the addict's recovery process; but is the same process for all of us. We are all in recovery from sin. We all struggle with the restraints and convictions of righteousness. Jesus has assured us that we will win this battle if we continue in Him.  Outside of Him, there are no such guarantees. We are gloriously blessed as we become increasingly tolerant of the restraining and convicting functions of the Holy Spirit in us. We recognize these functions as Love. We joyfully submit ourselves to this Love.
Sadly, we see the clear reality that some do not win this battle. The dark forces within us are strong.  It is so much easier to give in to them. There is an immediate release--the reward of Satan. The damage is not always immediate or evident. Like cancer, sin can lurk in us for some time before the destructive results become evident.  Meanwhile we have been sinking deeper and deeper into the habitual patterns and emotional reliance upon the sinful, destructive behaviors--the enslaving tentacles becoming more and more powerful and prevalent. We can lose hope. Our devotion to Christ, His Truth and Love, service, our church family, Scripture study--our religious practices that issue from an authentic, personal relationship with Jesus will deliver and protect us from this downward spiral.
Let us make perpetual, renewed devotions to live in His Love, Truth, Joy and Peaceful service to the glory of His Kingdom, so that we can remain "safe and secure from all alarms."