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[Poll]
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Alcoholism: Disease, Addiction, or Weakness?
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| disease |
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| addiction |
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| weakness |
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| all three |
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| none of the above |
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Total Votes : 59
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(last vote on : 10/6/2008 8:29:54 PM)
(Poll will run till: -- )
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RE: Alcoholism: Disease, Addiction, or Weakness? - 10/3/2008 1:03:27 AM
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zamdad
Posts: 1697
Joined: 4/8/2005
Status: online
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As I said in a previous post.. I think that this is a good discussion for us, the church, to have. We have the only answer that truly works for overcoming addiction of any kind. That's Jesus Christ.
Yet, we have adapted so many of the worlds methods of identifying and treating addiction that we, the body, all too often (individually) fail to show Christ to someone suffering from addiction. We're too quick to spout off all the scientific data or refer someone to "an expert" that can treat the addiction. It's something that God often asks of us as He asks to get out of our comfort zones and deal with something we'd rather not.
That being said, I wanted to comment on Delivereddarling's comments about AA. I do not want to dismiss AA/NA. There are many who have come to Christ through these programs. At the same time, we cannot simply refer someone to AA/NA so that we don't have to deal with the issues. We are being used by Christ to plant seeds, water the garden, till the soil and pull the weeds.
I know that if it had not been for a faithful Christian woman who loved me enough to tell me she cared, I may never have seen the light.
_____________________________
The two hardest things to handle: failure and success.
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RE: Alcoholism: Disease, Addiction, or Weakness? - 10/3/2008 8:00:27 AM
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JimboFletch
Posts: 6614
Joined: 4/11/2005
Status: offline
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quote:
We are being used by Christ to plant seeds, water the garden, till the soil and pull the weeds.
True, but He sometimes also calls us to first to study and learn about the issues of the people He wants us to minister to. A lot of harm is done by well-meaning (or not so well-meaning) people that toss out their homespun advice and poorly reasoned admonitions that show little true compassion or willingness to learn.
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RE: Alcoholism: Disease, Addiction, or Weakness? - 10/3/2008 8:19:52 AM
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manda59
Posts: 6015
Joined: 9/22/2005
From: Hampshire, UK
Status: offline
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quote:
ORIGINAL: JimboFletch
quote:
We are being used by Christ to plant seeds, water the garden, till the soil and pull the weeds.
True, but He sometimes also calls us to first to study and learn about the issues of the people He wants us to minister to. A lot of harm is done by well-meaning (or not so well-meaning) people that toss out their homespun advice and poorly reasoned admonitions that show little true compassion or willingness to learn.
From my experience, most church people (I am speaking about those I've known here in the UK) don't know how to deal with addicts (and I am speaking in this instance about recovering ones who've made a commitment). They tend to either give them too little attention or too much.
Because they just don't realise/understand what they need, what will help them rather than hinder them.
_____________________________
"Once again....drum roll please! Manda is right"
doinkdom, October 2008
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RE: Alcoholism: Disease, Addiction, or Weakness? - 10/4/2008 1:50:26 AM
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zamdad
Posts: 1697
Joined: 4/8/2005
Status: online
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quote:
From my experience, most church people (I am speaking about those I've known here in the UK) don't know how to deal with addicts (and I am speaking in this instance about recovering ones who've made a commitment). They tend to either give them too little attention or too much.
Because they just don't realise/understand what they need, what will help them rather than hinder them.
That's been my experience with the American church too, Manda. We either shut them out because they make us uncofortable or, we coddle them and enable them.
_____________________________
The two hardest things to handle: failure and success.
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RE: Alcoholism: Disease, Addiction, or Weakness? - 10/6/2008 11:48:49 AM
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JimboFletch
Posts: 6614
Joined: 4/11/2005
Status: offline
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quote:
ORIGINAL: zamdad
quote:
From my experience, most church people (I am speaking about those I've known here in the UK) don't know how to deal with addicts (and I am speaking in this instance about recovering ones who've made a commitment). They tend to either give them too little attention or too much.
Because they just don't realise/understand what they need, what will help them rather than hinder them.
That's been my experience with the American church too, Manda. We either shut them out because they make us uncofortable or, we coddle them and enable them.
Why does a recovering addict need special attention, unless they wear a sign stating their condition while at church? Someone recovering from substance abuse needs the same kind of treatment as any sinner saved and delivered by God's grace. IMO.
IOW, I am not my former vice any more than you are your former weakness.
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