Addicts in the church

 Many of the stories one hears about addicts and the difficulties they have seem to focus on those who are homeless, without families, living in poverty and usually outside the church. However, it is likely that there are people sitting in our congregations every week who are addicts. They go to work every day, they are involved in church activities, they appear to have solid families, and it seems they have their lives together. However, they are still addicts. What can your church do to minister to them?

When you first hear the term addict you may immediately think of someone addicted to drugs or alcohol. Yes, you may have some of those folks in your church, but we need realize that a person can be addicted to many things that, in themselves, may not be harmful but still present a challenge to live a God-honoring life.

For instance, many people are addicted to shopping. They practice what I often call "retail therapy." I know one faithful Christian lady whose house was overflowing with things she had bought late at night on a TV shopping channel. She didn't have one of something; she had 10-12 of the same item, all in the original package. A family member told me they had hauled several dumpsters of things out before selling the rest at auction. I do not know what battles this lady had, but it seems she was trying to overcome those battles with a shopping addiction.

A very common addiction today is to social media and electronics. The amount of time people spend on social media and their electronic devices is staggering. In my book Is Your Church Ready for Ministry in the Coming Decade? I share some statistics that demonstrate how prevalent this addiction is. While it might be found more in younger people, it affects people of all generations.

The list of potential addictions is endless and would include many things which are not harmful in themselves. One of the dangers of addictions is that they take our focus away from God and place it on the things we desire more. In effect, these addictions become our gods. We bow down to them and worship them. We become devoted to them. They take over our lives. The rob us of the best God desires for us.

I included a chapter on addictions in the above mentioned book because I do not find many churches addressing the problem except as it relates to alcohol, drugs, pornography and other harmful behaviors. Yet, studies indicate that there are many in our churches who have no problem with those things but are addicts nonetheless. We need to offer these individuals help as well. Satan uses these addictions to pull people away from God, and we need to let them know that and help them break those addictions.

The book includes several other ministry needs that are taking on more importance as we continue through the 21st century. It is available only as an eBook and is being well received by church leaders. As we enter into a new year it's my hope the church becomes more intentional about addressing the challenges people are facing and helping them find biblical solutions to those challenges.