From: (No Email available)

Date: 2000-12-03 14:42:21

Comment:

THe Garden of Eden story is not the only clue the Bible gives us to addiction. King Solomon, the Old Testament's wisest man, made frequent observations of drunkards and gluttons and recorded thes observations in Scripture. What he wrote in Proverbs 23:30-35 describes the addiction process 3000 years before any of todays counselors ever saw their first addict. "Do not look on the wine when it is red," he wrote, "when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly; at the last it bites like a serpent, and stings like a viper." This personification of the taste and effect of alcohol is loaded with revelation. Every addiction begins as an innocent quest for relief-"it goes down smoothly"-but like the sting of the viper, all unchecked addictions lead to death.(just like Roberts movie "less than zero")Whether its a physical death (alcoholism is the number 3 killer in the United States, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism) or the death of a marriage because of sexual abuse or compulsive gambling, all addictions destoy lives. Addiction was no stranger to the Apostle Paul. In his writings to two of the early churches, he specifically prohibited the appointment of leaders who were addicts. The two Greek words he chose in speaking about the malady give clues to a biblical definition of addiction. To Timothy and Titus, Paul used the word paroinos when referring to those specifically addicted to wine. It actually means "beside wine," conjuring a picture of one always found near the bottle. In writing to Timothy in another place, Paul chose the word prosecho which means "to turn to." An addict, in the biblical sense, is one who turns to a substance or process in time of need. The clearest picture in the Word of God illustrating the powerful bondage of addiction and the strength of God to break it is the story of the Hebrews' escape from slavery in the land of Egypt. It is the story of a loving God eager to come down and deliver His people from the hands of a cruel master. It reveals the compassionate heart of God in reaching down with a power greater than their chains and leading them step-by-step from the desert of Egypt to the Promised Land of Canaan. It is the closest parallel in the Bible to the journey of the addict and provides a perfect model for physical, emotional and spiritual healing. it is from this story that our precription for healing will be drawn and applied to each phase of the addiction process and recovery. More than the story of a nation, Exodus foreshadows the delivering, healing power of Jesus Christ. In it lie God's secrets to overcoming the power of addictions cruel bondage in any life.