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Living in Chains
ADDICTION:
- Being abnormally tolerant to and dependent on something that is psychologically or physically habit-forming (especially alcohol or narcotic drugs)
- An abnormally strong craving
- (Roman law) A formal award by a magistrate of a thing or person to another person (as the award of a debtor to his creditor); a surrender to a master; "under Roman law addiction was the justification for slavery" (http://wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn)
Galatians 5:18-20 (The Message)
My counsel is this: Live freely, animated and motivated by God's Spirit. Then you won't feed the compulsions of selfishness. For there is a root of sinful self-interest in us that is at odds with a free spirit, just as the free spirit is incompatible with selfishness. These two ways of life are antithetical, so that you cannot live at times one way and at times another way according to how you feel on any given day. Why don't you choose to be led by the Spirit and so escape the erratic compulsions of a law-dominated existence?
It is obvious what kind of life develops out of trying to get your own way all the time: repetitive, loveless, cheap sex; a stinking accumulation of mental and emotional garbage; frenzied and joyless grabs for happiness; trinket gods; magic-show religion; paranoid loneliness; cutthroat competition; all-consuming-yet-never-satisfied wants; a brutal temper; an impotence to love or be loved; divided homes and divided lives; small-minded and lopsided pursuits; the vicious habit of depersonalizing everyone into a rival; uncontrolled and uncontrollable addictions; ugly parodies of community. I could go on.
This isn't the first time I have warned you, you know. If you use your freedom this way, you will not inherit God's kingdom.
Some look with horror upon men who have been overcome with liquor, and are seen reeling and staggering in the street, while at the same time they are gratifying their appetite for things differing in their nature from spirituous liquor, but which injure the health, affect the brain, and destroy their high sense of spiritual things. The liquor drinker has an appetite for strong drink which he gratifies, while another has no appetite for intoxicating drinks to restrain, but he desires some other hurtful indulgence, and does not practice self-denial any more than the drunkard (Spiritual Gifts, vol. 4, p. 125).
Romans 6:12 (The Amplified Bible)
Let not sin therefore rule as king in your mortal (short-lived, perishable) bodies, to make you yield to its cravings and be subject to its lusts and evil passions.
LIVING IN CHAINS
Becky felt upbeat and confident as she walked through the halls on her first day of high school. Lots of her friends were nervous about making the move from junior high to the much larger high school. But at the end of last year, Becky had been chosen as a junior cheerleader, and during the summer she had gotten to know the other cheerleaders and popular athletes. While her friends worried about what to wear on the first day of school, Becky got to wear her cheerleaders uniform and was instantly guaranteed a spot among the coolest kids in school.
Becky had learned one other thing during the summer that seemed to help her make friends. Shed begun drinking, and quickly discovered that when she drank, it was easy to be funny, lively, and outgoing. Soon she was known as the life of the party. Cheerleaders were supposed to keep up a squeaky-clean image, and Beckys Christian parents certainly expected her to stay away from alcohol, but she just got better at hiding her habit of getting wasted every Friday night.
On homecoming weekend Becky had the biggest thrill of her yearshe and the other junior cheerleaders got to cheer at the varsity game, in front of the huge homecoming crowd. At a post-game party Becky sat quietly drinking one beer after another, feeling thrilled just to be there. Eventually she fell asleep on a pile of coats.
The next morning, Becky woke up and didnt remember a thing about the party. For the first time, she felt a few regrets about her drinking. Shed been invited to a party with some of the coolest people at school, and she couldnt remember talking to even one person! The whole party was a blur. But even her regrets over the party werent enough to make her change her drinking habits.
Later that year, Becky and her friends listened to the teacher talk about he dangers of alcoholism. They laughed and whispered jokes as the teacher described the warning sings of a drinking problem. But Becky paused when she wrote on the board Blackoutsloss of memory. Remembering the night of the game, Becky wondered, Could I have a problem? But the teacher went on to write more warning signs: Frequent absences from work; drinking in the morning; drinking every day; drinking alone. Becky was sure those signs didnt describe her at all. She breathed a sigh of relief, convinced she didnt have a problem with alcohol (Adapted from Becky Tirabassi and Gregg Lewis, Just One Victory [Campus Life Books, 1987]).
- What is an addiction? (According to the dictionary.)
- Galatians 5:18-20 says, Not feeding compulsions of selfishness. Could a compulsion be considered the same as an addiction? Explain.
- According to the Ellen White quotation in Todays Reading, do you have to be addicted to alcohol to injure your body? Explain.
- What does the story of Becky illustrate about addiction?
- What should you do if you suspect someone you know has an addiction?
Once formed, habits become more and more firmly impressed upon the character. The intellect is continually receiving its mold from opportunities and advantages, ill or well improved. Day by day we form characters which place the students as well-disciplined soldiers under the banner of Prince Emmanuel, or rebels under the banner of the prince of darkness. Which shall it be? (Child Guidance, p. 200).
The use of intoxicating liquor dethrones reason, and hardens the heart against every pure and holy influence. The inanimate rock will sooner listen to the appeals of truth and justice than will that man whose sensibilities are paralyzed by intemperance. The finer feelings of the heart are not blunted all at once. A gradual change is wrought. Those who venture to enter the forbidden path are gradually demoralized and corrupted. And though in the cities liquor saloons abound, making indulgence easy, and though youth are surrounded by allurements to tempt the appetite, the evil does not often begin with the use of intoxicating liquors. Tea, coffee, and tobacco are artificial stimulants, and their use creates the demand for the stronger stimulus found in alcoholic beverages. And while Christians are asleep, this giant evil of intemperance is gaining strength and making fresh victims (Temperance, pp. 228, 229).
HERES WHAT I THINK
Your older cousin Chad is just like Becky in the illustration. You hear he had a reputation of always being the life of the party, usually drunk before the party is over. You dont want to say anything, but one day some friends are discussing alcoholism, and one of them says to Chad, Man, if anyones got a drinking problem, you have! Youre wasted every chance you get.
Chad says, Youre crazy! I like to drink, but I dont have a problem. Then he turns to you. I dont have a problem, do I? What do you say?
Go to http://guidemagazine.org/rtf to post your answers. Be upfront and honest. Say what you think. Weve provided space for you to write them here as well. You may also wish to share them with your class later.
It is suggested that you ask your parent or guardian to read the studies below with you. Then spend time discussing how they affect you. Why should Seventh- day Adventist Teens be concerned about addiction?
Religiosity and Adolescent Substance Use: The Role of Individual and Community Influences
By John Wallace, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Social Work, University of Pittsburg
Does religiosity deter delinquency? Although psychologists and sociologists have debated this question for more than 30 years, its answer is still contested. This study examines the extent to which individual- and communitylevel religiosity deters the most widespread form of delinquencythe illicit use of substances (i.e., cigarettes, alcohol, and illegal drugs). The results suggest that religiosity matters as an important, but often ignored, deterrent or protective factor against adolescent substance use.
The studys findings indicate that the higher students level of religiosity, the less frequently they smoke cigarettes and the less likely they are to binge drink or use marijuana. The findings also show that as the average level of religiosity in a school increases, the students cigarette use, binge drinking, and marijuana use also decreases.
The data suggest that. . . at the individual level, students who are highly religious are less likely to engage in binge drinking or marijuana use than less religious students, and that highly religious students in highly religious contexts are less likely to binge drink or use marijuana than equally highly religious students in less religious contexts. . . . (For complete paper, see John M. Wallace, Jr., Ryoko Ymaguchi, Jerald G. Bachman, Patrick M. OMalley, John E. Shulenberg, and Lloyd D.Johnson, Religiosity and Adeolescent Substance Use: The Role of Individual and Community Influences, Social Problems, Vol. 54, No. 2 (May 2007), pp. 308-327.)
Risk and Protective Factors
By Duane McBride, PhD, Director, Institute for Prevention of Addictions
Gary Hopkins, MD, DPH, Associate Director, Institute for Prevention of Addictions (Berrien Springs, Michigan)
"Religious beliefs are protective," said Dr. Gary Hopkins. According to Dr. Duane McBride, "We have studied the correlation for decades, but most researchers are secular. They often don't understand religious values."
According to Hopkins and McBrides research that spans almost three decades, there are several factors that contribute to helping teens refrain from substance abuse. They are:
- Relationships
- Community Involvement
- Personal Spirituality
- Service
Some of the benefits of teens being involved in service are they:
- Delay initiation of sexual behavior
- Get better grades
- Take fewer drugs
- Accomplish achievement based on higher self-concept
- More likely to live a service-oriented life
"If it's all about beliefs, then all you have to do is teach beliefs," Hopkins said. "But it's not what you know, it's the relationships you have. Kids don't lack information, they lack caring," he said.
(For additional information on this topic, see the following books: It Takes a Church, by Gary L. Hopkins, MD, DPH, and Joyce W. Hopp, PhD, MPH; We Can Keep Them in the Church, compiled by Myrna Tetz with Gary L. Hopkins.)
- Do the studies in the article tell us that Adventist teenagers will not become addicted to anything?
- What do the studies tell us about Adventist teens and addiction?
- How can a personal relationship help protect you from addiction? Explain.
Galatians 5:15-17 (The Message)
It is absolutely clear that God has called you to a free life. Just make sure that you don't use this freedom as an excuse to do whatever you want to do and destroy your freedom. Rather, use your freedom to serve one another in love; that's how freedom grows. For everything we know about God's Word is summed up in a single sentence: Love others as you love yourself. That's an act of true freedom. If you bite and ravage each other, watch outin no time at all you will be annihilating each other, and where will your precious freedom be then?
My counsel is this: Live freely, animated and motivated by God's Spirit. Then you won't feed the compulsions of selfishness. For there is a root of sinful self-interest in us that is at odds with a free spirit, just as the free spirit is incompatible with selfishness. These two ways of life are antithetical, so that you cannot live at times one way and at times another way according to how you feel on any given day. Why don't you choose to be led by the Spirit and so escape the erratic compulsions of a law-dominated existence?
Every course of action has a twofold character and importance. It is virtuous or vicious, right or wrong, according to the motive which prompts it. A wrong action, by frequent repetition, leaves a permanent impression upon the mind of the actor, and also on the minds of those who are connected with him in any relation, either spiritual or temporal. The parents or teachers who give no attention to the small actions that are not right establish those habits in the youth (Child Guidance, p. 201).
SO WHAT?
Youve probably been hearing all your life that addictions are bad. In church, in school, and at home youve been told to just say no to drugseven though you may get a different message from your friends or from the movies and popular music. But is just say no enough? What if youve already said yes to a few beers or a couple of puffs on a joint? Does that mean youre an addict? And if youre not addicted, does that mean its safe to do these activities once in a while? What about other addictions? Can you be addicted to TV, to the internet to computer games to gambling? The problem of addiction is a big one and a serious one. You need to be aware. What are the signs of addiction? You may be addicted to some substance or activity if:
- you need to use more and more of it in order to feel good.
- you use it as a way to escape from problems and bad feelings.
- Youve tried to quit or cut back but find yourself unhappy and irritable when you do.
- you do it when you should be doing other things.
- its getting in the way of your relationships with other people.
- you find yourself lying to others about how much you do it.
As you have read the signs of addiction that are written above, is there something to which you or someone you know might be addicted? Do you know someone who might be addicted to work? Or too much exercise? Or maybe video games?
What might be the cause of an addiction? (Refer to Todays Reading )
Does addiction have to be to alcohol or prescription or illegal drugs? Explain.
Look up the texts and fill in the blanks. If you dont have these versions of the Bible, you may go to biblegateway.com. You will find these versions there.
- Who is always in trouble? Who argues and fights? Who has cuts and ______? Whose eyes are _______? Everyone who stays up ________, having just one more ________. Dont even look at that ________ stuff ________ up in the glass! It goes down so easily, but later it bites like a poisonous snake. You will see weird things, and your _______ will play _______ on you. You will feel tossed about like ____________ trying to _______ on a ship in a storm. You will be bruised all over, without even __________ how it all happened. And you will like awake asking, When will morning come, so I can drink some more? (Proverbs 23:29-34, CEV).
- So whether you ______or _______ or __________ you do, do ____ all for the ________ of _______ (1 Corinthians 10:31, NIV).
- We know that the persons we used to be were ________ to the _________ with Jesus. This was ________, so that our ________ ________ would no ________ be the slaves of ________ (Romans 6:6, CEV).
- Jesus said, I tell you most solemnly that anyone who __________ a life of sin is ________ in a _____=_____ life and is, in fact, a ________ . . . So if the _______ sets you _______, you are free through and through (John 8:34-36, The Message).
- Do you not ________that your body is a temple of the ________ ________, who is in you, whom you have _______ from God? You are not your _______; you were bought at a price. Therefore ________ God with your ________ (1 Corinthians 6:19, 20, NIV).
Romans 13:13-14 (The Amplified Bible)
Let us live and conduct ourselves honorably and becomingly as in the [open light of] day, not in reveling (carousing) and drunkenness, not in immorality and debauchery (sensuality and licentiousness), not in quarreling and jealousy.
But clothe yourself with the Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah), and make no provision for [indulging] the flesh [put a stop to thinking about the evil cravings of your physical nature] to [gratify its] desires (lusts).
Jeremiah 17:4-6 (The Message)
God's Message:
Cursed is the strong one
who depends on mere humans,
Who thinks he can make it on muscle alone
and sets God aside as dead weight.
He's like a tumbleweed on the prairie,
out of touch with the good earth.
He lives rootless and aimless
in a land where nothing grows.
Temperance in all things of this life is to be taught and practiced. Temperance in eating, drinking, sleeping, and dressing is one of the grand principles of the religious life. Truth brought into the sanctuary of the soul will guide in the treatment of the body. Nothing that concerns the health of the human agent is to be regarded with indifference. Our eternal welfare depends upon the use we make during this life of our time, strength, and influence (Child Guidance, p. 394).
Psalm 31:3-5 (The Message)
Youre my cave to hide in,
my cliff to climb.
Be my safe leader,
be my true mountain guide.
Free me from hidden traps;
I want to hide in you.
I've put my life in your hands.
You wont drop me,
you'll never let me down.
WHAT DOES THIS HAVE TO DO WITH ME?
Maybe youve been reading through this weeks lesson getting worried. Youve tried a few drinks with friends, and youre wondering whether youre getting addicted. Or youre starting to worry about all those hours you spend online. Maybe youve identified something else in your lifesomething others would think is quite harmlessthats turning into an addiction for you.
Remember that addiction is real, and it is serious. Addiction makes you a slave, and God wants His people to be free. Nothing should control your life except the Holy Spirit. Nothing should get in the way of your ability to make good decisions, relate to other people, and follow God. Drugs, alcohol, pornography, TV, the Internet, even books or music or food or shoppinganything that becomes an addiction places you in chains.
Determine to be free. Dont let yourself get chained up. Look at the areas of your life in which you think you may be at risk for addiction. Decide today to turn those areas completely over to God and take the steps you need to take to be free. (If you believe youre already addicted and want to know more about the steps to freedom, stay tuned for next weeks lesson!)
- List ways the Bible can help you to be free from addiction.
- What does temperance have to do with addiction?
- How can Jesus help you to experience freedom from addiction?
Colossians 2:12-14 (The Message)
Entering into this fullness is not something you figure out or achieve. It's not a matter of being circumcised or keeping a long list of laws. No, you're already ininsidersnot through some secretive initiation rite but rather through what Christ has already gone through for you, destroying the power of sin. If it's an initiation ritual you're after, you've already been through it by submitting to baptism. Going under the water was a burial of your old life; coming up out of it was a resurrection, God raising you from the dead as he did Christ. When you were stuck in your old sin-dead life, you were incapable of responding to God. God brought you aliveright along with Christ! Think of it! All sins forgiven, the slate wiped clean, that old arrest warrant canceled and nailed to Christ's cross. He stripped all the spiritual tyrants in the universe of their sham authority at the Cross and marched them naked through the streets.
Ephesians 2:1-3 (New International Version)
As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath.
Our time belongs to God. Every moment is His, and we are under the most solemn obligation to improve it to His glory. Of no talent He has given will He require a more strict account than of our time (Christs Object Lessons, p. 342).
HOW DOES IT WORK?
Draw a circle representing an average day in your life. (Divide it into 24 pieces). Each segment represents an hour of your time. Shade in the segments in different-colored pencils to show about how many hours you spend at different activities (e.g. about eight hours for sleep; six hours at school, etc.). When youve finished, look at your chart. Are there any activities that you think are taking up too much of your time? Could any of these be considered addictive? What if something is starting to control your life? What about your thoughts? For example, a teen may spend two hours a day playing video games, but what if the six hours in school are all spent daydreaming about video games? Could that be an addiction?
If a person is addicted to something is he or she stuck in this addiction? Explain.
What hope might the person have?
How might you be able to help such a person?