I religiously watch Carte Blanche every Sunday because I still appreciate good journalism in our country. Still, every episode reminds me of how corrupt our country is and how desperately South Africans need Jesus. But it also reminds me of our culture of consumerism and affluence. In the breaks, there are tons of ads for online gambling that promise people "get-rich-overnight" success by playing games. But in reality, these so-called "live games" are just a "world of evil." No good comes from gambling. Ultimately, casinos always win and in the process destroy people's lives. Most people don't know when to stop, and there is no such a thing as "responsible" gambling.

We have a real addiction problem in our society and in our churches. People are addicted to pornography, cigarettes, alcohol, drugs, food, work, sport, television, the internet etc. The list of addictions in our world are endless. You might be struggling with a secret addiction that you've tried everything to beat. However, like a dog going back to its vomit, you keep going back to it. Is there hope? I believe there is. So, in this blog, I want to offer you good news. Specifically, I want to show you why the gospel is the antidote for any and every addiction.

A Biblical definition of addiction

Before we look at three reasons why the gospel is good news for addicts, I think it is important to first define the term addiction. Merriam Webster defines it as the “persistent compulsive use of a substance known by the user to be harmful.” For me, the word "compulsive" implies helplessness and hopelessness. It implies that God can't help the addict. Also, it seems to suggest that addicts can shift blame. The addict thinks he can blame his wife like Adam in the Garden!

However, the Bible never takes away someone's responsibility for their own choices. So, I prefer to use the word “habitual” instead of “compulsive.” A more biblical definition for addiction is the “persistent habitual use of a substance known by the user to be harmful.” (I owe Mark Shaw credit for revealing this insight to me. I highly recommend his book "The Heart of Addiction.") I believe this definition gives the addict hope! It shows that they are not beyond God’s intervention. The addict has merely developed a sinful habit. And with God’s help, they are able to replace that sinful habit with a godly one.

Now that we have a biblical understanding of addiction, let’s take a closer look at three specific reasons why the gospel is good news for addicts.

1. The gospel frees addicts from idolatry

As an addict, the gospel is good news because it frees you from idolatry, which promises freedom but enslaves you. We were made to worship our Maker. Unfortunately, we suppressed the truth and rebelliously worshipped idols instead (Rom 1:21-23). Idolatry is often taken to mean bowing down to physical idols like statues. It's true that some religions practice this form of idolatry, but the truth is: All things that rule and reign in our hearts are idols.

Secularists claim addiction is a purely physical problem or a character defect." However, Mark Shaw rightly observes, "addiction is a worship-disorder." The addict's problem is they want to worship their idols more than they want to worship God. The Bible teaches that addiction (and all sin) is rooted in a person's heart from birth (Eph 2:1-3).

Addiction is a worship-disorder. The addict's problem is they want to worship their idols more than they want to worship God.

The “heart” is often equated to our emotions or feelings. However, the Bible depicts our hearts as the place where our thought life resides (Gen 6:5), where our plans are made (Prov 16:9), and where all our sins come from (Mark 7:20–23). The heart is the heart of mankind's problem (Jer 17:9). So, it is essential that we keep watch over our hearts because they direct everything we think and do (Prov 4:23). In short, the heart is the primary "control center" of a person's life, which consists of the will, the intellect, and the emotions (Street 2019, 31).

In the gospel, God replaces an addict's old sinful heart with a new redeemed one when they turn to Jesus Christ in faith for forgiveness of their sins (Ezek 36:25-26). The Lord washes, sanctifies, justifies, and re-creates every addict's heart. Basically, God gives them a new identity by sealing them with the Holy Spirit (Eph 1:13-14). Paul says it like this, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, and see, the new has come!” (2 Cor 5:17, CSB).

Instead of cherishing their idolatrous addiction more than Jesus, the addict now loves him and wants to worship him more. Jesus is greater than all idols because he is both Lord and God (Jn 20:28). As the highest power, most beautiful person, and most valuable object in the universe, he holds supreme value. Because of this, he can satisfy the heart of every addict. Addicts who redirect their worship to Jesus experience true freedom from sin's power (John 8:36). This is truly good news for every addict.

2. The gospel empowers addicts to live a new life

Not only does the gospel free addicts from idolatry, but it also empowers them to live a new life. Worldly wisdom says God helps addicts who help themselves. But self-help doesn't work for addicts. For true freedom in Christ, addicts must humbly and completely rely on God's help alone, both for salvation and for power to experience it. His power is made available to us through the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:13). God raises addicts from the dead with the same resurrection power he used to raise Jesus (Eph 1:19-21).

For true freedom in Christ, addicts must humbly and completely rely on God's help alone, both for salvation and for power to experience it. His power is made available to us through the Holy Spirit.

Also, God gives us his power through his word (2 Tim 3:16-17). That's why addicts need to read the Bible. God's truth helps addicts think rightly about the world and themselves (Rom 12:2). The other day I read about a guy who was addicted to cigarettes. Instead of being told to chew nicotine gum or wear a nicotine patch, his friend asked him, “Where do you keep your pack of cigarettes?” Surprised, he answered, “In the front pocket of my shirt.” His friend handed him a pocket size Bible and told him to replace his cigarettes with God’s word. From that day, each time he went for a smoke break at work, he would reach into his pocket for a cigarette and find his Bible. He began to read it regularly and in time instead of becoming addicted to his cigarettes, he became addicted to the Bible (Shaw 2018, 99).

Based on our earlier definition of addiction, we can add: Sinful habits must be replaced with godly ones. The biblical language for this is “put off and put on” (Eph 4:20-24). In combination with the power of the word, the Holy Spirit helps addicts consistently live out their new identity. As a result, they are not only able to stop their addiction, but also walk in the good works that God has for them (Eph 2:10). But the good news of the gospel does not end here. There is one more vital truth to consider.

Sinful habits must be replaced with godly ones. The biblical language for this is “put off and put on.”

3. The gospel transforms addicts into the image of Christ

The third and final reason why the gospel is good news for addicts is because it transforms them into the image of Christ. Some Christian programs like Celebrate Recovery use the term “recovery” to describe the ongoing spiritual progress of addicts. However, the term “recovery” means “to return to a normal condition.” What is that normal condition? It is enslavement to sin (Titus 3:3). So, a better word to describe the progress of an addict is “transformation.” For example, Paul uses it in his letter to the Corinthian church, “We all, with unveiled faces, are looking as in a mirror at the glory of the Lord and are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory; this is from the Lord who is the Spirit” (2 Cor 3:18, CSB).

The image Paul is referring to is Jesus. The gospel frees and empowers addicts, and it transforms them into Jesus' image. An example of transformation is a butterfly, which changes from a worm into a gorgeous insect. In the same way, God uses his gospel to change, not only addicts, but all broken people, into the most beautiful thing they can ever be–reflections of the character of Jesus Christ. This is a lifelong process, but a process that God promises to complete in his people either the moment they die or when Jesus comes to take them home (Rom 8:29-30).

God uses his gospel to change, not only addicts, but all broken people, into the most beautiful thing they can ever be–reflections of the character of Jesus Christ.

So, in conclusion the gospel is good news for addicts because it frees, empowers, and transforms them into the image God intended for all men and women before the Fall (Gen 3:1-5).

You are not alone

I hope that this blog has encouraged you and helped you to see that the gospel is truly good news for addicts. If you’re someone who is secretly struggling with an addiction, but you want help to apply these gospel truths to your life, then please contact us (matt@pulsechurch.co.za). We would love to journey with you and help you to experience the freedom, power, and transformation that God has made available to all those who love Jesus.