ADDICTION CRUCIFIXION FELLOWSHIP

DENIAL!

     Denial is a form of pride. It begins with our thinking so highly of ourselves that we think we can do no wrong, and allow satan to convince us that there is nothing wrong with putting poison in our bodies that will eventually kill us. During this slow process of death, or in all reality, a form of suicide, we render our minds dysfunctional and end up in total denial. This becomes the foundation of all addictions. It leads us to try our first beer, pill, or needle! Or any other sin! Satan convinces us first, just as he did in the Garden, that there is nothing wrong with the sin we’re about to engage in. Then, since it felt good and there appeared to be no negative consequences, we try it again, and again, and again, and again, until it becomes an addiction. But denial and pride is still guiding us, and has us convinced that we’re in control and there is no problem. If we started our drinking with a beer, most of us have moved on to vodka, or other stronger alcohol, eventually in quantities that will float boats, before we begin to realize that we might have a problem. If we started our drug use with a joint, many of us have moved on to heroin or other deadly drugs, in quantities that will surely kill us before we begin to realize that we might have a problem. For those of us who are fortunate enough to someday come to this realization, that we indeed do have a problem, we graduate from denial into recovery. Here we find two choices of recovery, as in anything in life; there are always two choices, God’s way, or the world’s way, which of course is satan’s way. For those of us who are unfortunate enough to be part of the masses that choose help from “the world’s way,” or from some undefined “higher power,” and the world’s many secular 12-step addiction recovery programs, all of which are owned, operated, and managed by satan, there is little help available to them. In fact your first brainwashing indoctrination will be a lesson in how you’re a hopeless, “powerless,” drunk, who will always be a drunk. (“once a drunk, always a drunk”) One of aa’s many slogans or mottos. For those few of us who are fortunate enough to seek help through The Grace of our Living God, the Creator, and His Son Jesus Christ, help can be found and embraced!  Sobriety can be achieved and life can be restored as we transition from being “in recovery,” to being totally “recovered.” Our freedom can be celebrated as we are “set free” according to John 8:31-36, “IF” we “abide in His Word”! The first two verses in that group, “IF” they’re consciously understood, will freeze many in their tracks! “What, I have to obey God’s Word”? For those with that reaction, herein is where “denial and pride” enter back into our continued struggle with recovery. Many of us have been subjected to so much false teaching in our new age mega churches over the past few decades, that the Truth has become a fairy tale! Many believe that genuine repentance and the idea of obedience has become an artifactual relic or remnant left over from the Old Testament, and is no longer relevant. Many use certain scriptures to defend and justify their sinful behavior. “We’re all sinners,” being the most popular. When this happens, our Faith becomes irrelevant because we’re placing it in a false God or idol that we’ve been taught to worship! As soon as we encounter and fail a trial or temptation, we want to blame someone else and God is our first choice. We are now in total denial of God’s Truth! And we will suffer the consequences! 

        We’ve come full circle; first, years ago we began our addictions by denying that drugs and alcohol was a problem, now years later we’re denying that God can “set us free” because we can’t handle The Truth, and refuse to “abide in His Word”! Many Christians deny, ignore, or simply don’t understand the significance or complications of John 8:31-36, or the consequences thereof. “IF” we’re not abiding in His Word, we will not know the Truth, nor be “set free”! Many Christians are in total denial to the fact that their relationship with God is “conditional”! There are many “IF’S” throughout God’s Word indicating certain “conditions” that He puts on our relationships with Him. Many Christians today have been mislead into believing that they can pray a simple prayer of Salvation, be Saved, and go on about their daily business as usual without being instructed about conditions such as those implied in Acts 26:20, “First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and then to the Gentiles, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and demonstrate their repentance by their deeds.” Yes, we must pray that prayer of Salvation from the bottom of our hearts, if we believe God has called us out of the darkness of our addictions, we must repent and be set apart, 2 Corinthians 5:17, "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” There must be change, and we must be conformed, Romans 8:28-30, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who[a] have been called according to his purpose. 29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.” The scripture is perfectly clear. It’s now available in accountable translations that don’t require a degree in Theology to understand. Yes, there is a lot of false teaching in our Churches today that require our keen vigilance, and that’s why God gave us the message we find in Acts 17:11, “Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.” The problem we see with addiction recovery in the Church today can be attributed to the false teachings of AA type 12-step programs that have been allowed into our Churches over the past few decades, and the denial of God’s Truth by millions of Christians who have been brainwashed by those false teachings. AA 12-step false teachings have become false idols to millions in addiction recovery programs around the world! And just as they were in complete denial in the beginning of their addictions, today they’re in complete denial that their 12-step program has become their God! Even in our Churches we find many who can quote more from the AA big book, than from God’s Word! An indication that they have more Faith in the man made false idol of AA, then they do in The One True God, our Creator, who sent us His Son, Jesus Christ, who through Grace, and Grace alone can “set us free” from our addictions!

       We find denial in every form of sinful behavior, making it in a way a form of pride. Whether it be drugs and alcohol, or homosexuality, pornography, gambling, or any form of idolatry or other sin, the minute a Christian points a finger at a brother or sister regarding their behavior, no matter how gently and lovingly they do so, the offender will jump up kicking and screaming that we’re being “judgmental,” and making excuses in defense of it. When we point to scripture to back our allegations, they’ll immediately counter with other scripture which would be nothing less than blasphemy to use scripture to justify or defend sinful behavior. This insane behavior is pure denial, and until it’s recognized and acknowledged and dealt with by the offender, that person will remain in their sin. There is no simple disconnect switch or delete button. Those of us involved in addiction recovery as counselors, mentors, recovery group leaders or facilitators, or friends, must realize that there is little we can do to break through that denial. We can pray for the individual, and ask God to bless us with the right message to share with them, fellowship with them and share The Truth (plant seeds), and water those seeds with more Truth and encouragement until the individual see’s for themselves the situation they’re in. Once someone see’s who they’ve become, and where they are, and how they got here, recovery can begin. With Jesus truly in their life, and surrounded by others who truly have Jesus in their lives, recovery should be a relatively easy process. It is at this stage where false teachings by others who do not truly have Jesus in their lives, must be avoided at all costs! It is at this stage where we must keep our eyes, ears, and minds focused on God’s Holy Word, our hands reaching out to God seeking His presence for guidance, and on our knees until we hear an answer! We must learn to be patient, recognizing the importance of waiting on Him to reveal His purpose and plan for us in His timing, which will build our Faith and character. Your impatience will not speed up God’s work, but only slow down your progress! May you find many Blessings in your addiction recovery with Christ at your side!