Turning to God from Idols - Gregory Madison - Bog

The issue of addiction can be very complicated. The reason behind this is because you are dealing with something that is foreign. Turning to God from Idols is designed as a study for exposing and disposing of the idolatry of addictions (any and every addiction.) Thank God, there are several strategies that deal with addictions! Turning to God from Idols is purely spiritual in defining addictions. From the very start, we must see how God is worthy of telling us His view on addictions. To deny Him this opportunity is just as irreverent as continuing to indulge. Addictions discredit God. Addictions, basically, tell us that God is not to be trusted, He doesn't love us all that much, He doesn't know what He is talking about, we don't have to answer to Him (and many other lies if we were to really think about it.) The lies that are behind addictions concerning ourselves is that we know what is best, we are not all that bad, we can handle it (and again, many, many lies.) Down through the years, I have adopted a phrase that was used by the Apostle Paul in explaining his love and concern for the church of Ephesus. "I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you" (Acts 20:20) was the commitment that Paul made, which I now embrace. It is for this reason that I have chosen to address addictions in the most biblical accuracy of idolatry. The title of the book comes from 1 Thessalonians 1:9. The ultimate alternative to addiction is Jesus. He alone is the link to the true and living God. And although we may be able to achieve some degree, some form of sobriety outside of Christ, the highest form of sobriety known unto mankind is found in Jesus Christ (since He bridges the gap between God and man and gives everlasting peace to all that come to Him). The process that is used in my book is a simple formula that you will find in every 'program' or list of steps. After many, many years of contemplative study (my own and the writings of others), I have refined the process of dealing with addictions into three elements. The three elements, that I refer to as phases, are reasoning, repenting (change), and rejoicing. And, of course, the main thing that gives strength to a biblical process is the element of reverence towards God.