Let No Evil Remains: Addiction As An Example

Various types of addictions have been the cause of many breakages in homes. Parents and youths need to be aware of these addictions to help each other in solving marital conflict and adolescents’ waywardness.

The general meaning and thesaurus of addiction are Habit, Compulsion, Dependence, Need, Obsession, Craving, and Infatuation. To be an addict is to devote or surrender (oneself) to something habitually or obsessively. Addiction is the quality or state of being addicted, and it is an evil that one must purge from self and home. The causes and meaning of addiction vary from person to person depending on perspective and background:

Addiction to some is a failure of morality, a spiritual weakness, a sin or crime by people who won’t take responsibility for their behavior. To these people, if addicts want to self-destruct, let them; it’s their fault they choose to abuse:

• For the teetotaler and politicians, it’s a self-control problem;
• For sociologists, it is poverty;
• For educators, it is ignorance;
• Psychiatrists or psychologists will say personality traits, temperament, and character are at the root of addictive personalities;
• Biologically oriented people will consign it to the genes and heredity;
• Social-learning & cognitive-behavior theorists will tell you it’s a case of conditioned response, intended or unintended reinforcement of inappropriate behaviors;
• To Anthropologists, addiction is culturally determined;
• Dan Quayle, an American citizen, blames addiction on the breakdown of family values; and
• The most popular theory is that addictive behavior is a disease.

 Various types of addiction break family values and turn upside down the unity in a family.

They include:

1. Work,
2. Sport,
3. Computer
4. Internet
5. Television
6. Food,
7. Alcohol,
8. Hard Drugs
9. Caffeine,
10. Steroids,
11. Theft,
12. Gambling,
13. Exercise
14. Love, and
15. Sex

Taking a cue from Paul’s Pronunciation in the Scripture;

• All Addictions are immorality and Greed;
• Addiction is evil & a Sin;
• They are forms of Idolatry because they demand allegiance, which is due to God alone; and
• Addiction is slavery.

Addiction theories and policies are woefully outdated. Research shows that there are no demon drugs, nor are addicts innately defective. Nature has supplied us with the ability to become hooked–and we all engage in addictive behaviors to some degree to the detriment of those that love us. If we do not fall into the sin of addiction, we will not be casualties of addictive behaviors. The news, however, is that brain, mind, and behavior specialists are rethinking the whole notion of addiction. With help from neuroscience, molecular biology, pharmacology, psychology, and genetics, they’re challenging their hard-core assumptions and famous “certainties” and finding surprisingly common characteristics among addictive people. They’re using new imaging techniques to see how addiction looks and feels and where cravings “live” in the brain or mind. They’re concluding that things are far from hopeless and rapidly replacing conjecture with facts.

“Everyone engages in addictive behaviors to some extent because such things as eating, drinking, and sex are essential to survival and highly reinforcing,” says G. Alan Marlatt, Ph.D., director of the Addictive Behaviours Research Center at the University of Washington. He further stated, “We get immediate gratification from them and find them very hard to give up. That’s a pretty good definition of addiction.

“I love Coffee, especially in the morning, and any day, I miss it; I feel the consequences; knowing this makes me extra careful not to be addicted. The fact remains that a personality without God tends toward addiction. When a man realizes that he is God’s creation and everything about him, including his activities, is from God’s hand, and without God, you can never be whole or happy, addiction will only become extinct. Those addicted are looking for these things that only God can give. A lack of wisdom leads to addiction and subsequently destroys a home.

Sexual addiction can be divided into two broad behavioral patterns: Sexual addiction is also called Compulsive Sexual Behavior (CSB). Like most behaviors, one can take sex to its obsessive & compulsive extremes. Sexual obsessions & compulsions are recurrent, distressing & interfere with daily functioning.

Sexual addiction or Compulsive sexual behavior (CSB) can be divided into two main types –

(1) Paraphilic 

(2) Non-Paraphilic

Sexual scientists describe this phenomenon as follows:

1. Hypersexuality,
2. Erotomania
3. Nymphomania,
4. Satyriasis

The various terminology implies different values, attitudes & theoretical orientations.

Paraphilic CSB

Paraphilic CSB is described as Sexual urges or behaviors involving non-human objects, the suffering or humiliation of oneself or one’s partner or children, or other non-consenting persons.

The Most Common Paraphilic CSB types are:

1. Pedophilia (sexual attraction to pre-pubescent children);
2. Exhibitionism (sexual excitement associated with exposing one’s genitals in public)
3. Voyeurism (sexual excitement by watching an unsuspecting person)
4. Sexual masochism (sexual excitement from being the recipient of the threat or administration of pain)
5. Sexual sadism (sexual excitement from threatening or administration of pain)
6. Transvestic fetishism (sexual excitement from wearing the clothing of the opposite sex)
7. Frotteurism (sexual excitement from touching or rubbing an unsuspecting person)

Non-Paraphilic CSB:

Non-Paraphilic CSB Involves conventional sexual behaviors but, when taken to an extreme, are recurrent, distressing & interfere with daily functioning.

 The Forms of Non-Paraphilic CSB include:

1. compulsive fixation on an unattainable partner;
2. Compulsive masturbation;
3. Compulsive love relationships; and
4. Compulsive sexuality in a relationship.

The Causes Of CSB:

CSB is a complex disorder involving biological, psychological & social factors, and the treatment sometimes involves a combination of psychotherapy & prescription drugs.

Addiction, as I have said earlier, is a Sin; so

•  It defiles the body & damages its ability to fulfill God’s Purpose – 1 Cor.: 12-20
• It grieves God’s Spirit – Eph 4:31, 1Thess 5:19
• It forms a stronghold for evil – Rom 1:28-32
• It causes Spiritual confusion 1 Tim 4:2, Titus 1:15, James 1:4, He 6:1-8
• It causes emotional confusion-bad soul tie
• It destroys happiness, marriages, families & friendship
• It leads to unbridled pursuit of lust and perversion –Ep4:19, Ro1:24-28
• It causes loss of Sanctification, Anointing & Purity – 1 Thess 4: 3-5,  

What, then, are the Solutions?

Solutions: 

An addict need not depend on addiction treatment like Psychosurgery, psychoanalysis, psychedelics, self-help, acupuncture, group confrontation, family therapy, hypnosis, meditation, education, and tough love but on Prayer to Almighty God.

How do you recognize you need help?

• Do you or others who know you find you overly preoccupied or obsessed with sexual activity?
• Do you find yourself compelled to engage in sexual activity in response to stress, anxiety, or depression?
• Have serious problems developed as a result of your sexual behavior, i.e., Loss of a job or relationship; Sexually transmitted diseases; Injuries or illnesses, or/and Sexual offenses.

When you identify your behavior as falling under any of the CSB categories, you need to find qualified professionals who can help you. You can call for psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, and marriage & family therapists. But believe in God is the most significant help you need. Trust God to help you conquer Addiction.