ENABLING AND DENIAL IN THE CHURCH!
Enabling is often the root of addictions
to drugs and alcohol. Having worked with alcoholics and addicts for years, I’ve
seen how easy it is for kind, caring, and loving family members, friends,
neighbors, employers, and even pastors can fall into the trap of enabling
someone they care about, when that person needs someone who can show tough love
and say no in situations where it’s needed. It’s especially difficult in the
Christian community where we’ve been raised “to love one another.” It doesn’t
feel like we’re showing much love when we need to close the door in someone’s
face who’s begging us for “one more chance,” or one more loan or handout, or a
place to stay, or to get their job back, etc., etc. And yet we must learn to do
exactly that if we’re to show real genuine love rather than enabling our friend
or loved one to continue in their addictions and even increase the seriousness
of them. This has always been, and will continue to be a major area of concern
and study and education in addiction recovery programs. There are no answers
other than educating and informing those around the alcoholics and addicts of
their responsibilities to their friends and loved ones.
Denial is another major root cause of addictions,
and recovery will never begin until denial is recognized and overcome. People
usually begin their addictions never thinking or realizing that it can quickly
become a life threatening, even paralyzing nightmare that will not only ruin
their lives, but all too often, actually take their lives! Until a person
recognizes and admits to themselves that they know the seriousness of their
predicament and the importance of making whatever changes are necessary to turn
from their addictions and to permanently stay away from them, they will
continue to suffer through one relapse after another.
Enabling and denial are both a major
component in the world of addictions and addiction recovery. Just as they are a
major part of the everyday lives of millions of alcoholics and addicts, they also
play an equally major role in leading millions of people astray in our “new
age” Churches today. Churches that are led by false teachers leading their
flock down “the wide road to destruction.” Churches that in a variety of ways
through false doctrine are teaching and “enabling” millions of lost souls to
believe that they can “accept Christ,” and be saved, without forsaking the world!
A “feel good, tickle my ears” message that has convinced millions of followers
who are in complete “denial,” of The Truth, and believe that they can be saved
without repenting and turning from their sin! The message of repentance has
disappeared from today’s pulpit along with most of The Gospel Truth! There are
millions of believers in Churches today who are “enabling” others by not
denouncing false doctrine when and if they’re aware of it. Most however are in “denial”
of the Truth, thus incapable of warning others. Whether “in denial” because a
false teacher has mislead them, or because of their own ignorance and
slothfulness and refusal to examine God’s Word and instructions for life, as
commanded to do in Acts 17:11, there is no valid excuse to miss out on
Salvation. Yet millions are going to according to Jesus’ own words in Matthew
7:13-15, “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is
the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:,
14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life,
and few there be that find it. 15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you
in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.” If you’re still on
the wide road to destruction, whether by your own means, or having been led
there by listening to and believing a false teacher, there is still time to
repent, (Acts 26:20), and turn to The One Savior, Jesus Christ, who God
Sacrificed on The Cross for us, and who has Risen and is Alive and with those
of us who Live for Him! God did not Sacrifice His Son, that we might continue
to live our lives in sin as many false teachers would lead you to believe!
