Addiction
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Christian Counseling Notes 01/31/2026
Christian Counseling Notes 01/31/2026
What is an Addiction?
Addiction is a compulsive or physical dependance upon a substance, person, or behavior that produces a temporary feeling of pleasure. However, the destructive long term effects will outweigh the temporary effects. A behavior is considered addictive when one knowingly does something that is harmful or not in one’s best interest. Addictions are progressive conditions that exert more and more control over the individual. Control is usually both psychological and physical. Although the addict may admit that the condition is harmful, quitting may be difficult or impossible.
Addictions are sins. (Note the word “unrighteous”)
9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. 12 All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.
There is a remedy for sin. (unrighteousness)
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
People who confess their sins, and are forgiven are no longer “unrighteous”.
11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
People have a choice.
12 All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.
The Bible calls addictive behavior to be the direct result of willful sin.
19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
Note these words of Jesus.
34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.
Addictions are the result of willful, chosen behavior that the Bible calls unrighteousness. Counseling must reflect this proper understanding.
Addicts have problems which are a direct result of violating scriptures, and then turn to a substance, which is a false comforter to make them feel better or cover up their problems.
Three false beliefs ,which contradict scriptures, that contribute heavily to addiction.
I can not tolerate suffering. (Discomfort anxiety)
I must feel better immediately. (Low frustration Tolerance)
I choose immediate pleasure over long range consequences. ( Short Range Hedonism)
Hedonism means the pursuit of pleasure, sensual self-indulgence.
List of common addictions
Drugs
Church
Exercise
Hypochondria (unusual or excessive chronic anxiety about one’s health)
Perfectionism
Work
Games
Gambling
Food
Pleasure
Music
Nicotine
Shopping
Money
Power
Religion
Occult
Sex
Television
Thrills
Anything not controlled
Understanding Addictions
Addictions are deceitful, progressive, and deadly.
15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
19 And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.
13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
Warning Signs
Deterioration of family and work relationships
Withdraw from family activities
Change in daily activities
Negative personality changes
Listlessness (the state of having little to no energy, enthusiasm, or interest in activities , often characterized by sluggishness and apathy.)
Depression
Nervousness
Changes in sleep patterns
Legal or moral problems
Unrealistic compulsive behaviors
The Scriptural stages of Addiction
14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
Tempted: thought of evil
Drawn away : strong imagination
Lust : delight in viewing it
Enticed : weakening of the will
15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
5. Lust conceived : yielding
6. Sin : sinful act committed
7. Death : result of actual sin.
The Behavioral Stages of Addiction.
Lust
behavior
habit
addiction
The Effects of Addiction
Deceitful - cause a change in the person that he may not be aware of it until it is too late.
Addictions cause a change of attitude, values, and beliefs in self. This leads to a change of behavior. This change in self causes a change in other people as they react to the change in self.
Progressive - the need becomes stronger and stronger and the behavior becomes more ingrained. The behavior becomes a reaction rather than an action. More and more time is spent “doing” this.
Reach the end of what is natural
Begin to explore what is not natural
Not satisfied with self .… seeks to include others
Move past what is natural is broken and perversion results
Leads to watching, self-infliction, including others
Now enters the realm of “perverse”
Deadly - the body is now doing things it was not designed to do and/or is neglecting the other things that the body needs to maintain a healthy balance.
Things that are addicting cause, directly or indirectly, physical destruction and/or death.
Addictions not viewed as sin are unconfessed sin. Unconfessed sin separates you from God.
The Cycle of Addiction
Longing (Emotional Emptiness or unmet need)
Low self-esteem (Emotional pain) - search for a pain reliever
Addictive agent
Consequences
Guilt and shame
Self-Justification
Delusions
Self hatred
Over Indulgence
Guilt and shame - strengthens longing
The Bible and Addiction
Do not get drunk - Be filled with the Holy Spirit
17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. 18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; 19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; 20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
4 And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward: 5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;
Do not be mastered by anything
12 All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.
Obey the laws
37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
Keep the body pure
16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? 17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.
Understand that true satisfaction comes from God
9 For he satisfieth the longing soul, And filleth the hungry soul with goodness.
Practice moderation and self discipline
5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.
5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:
Breaking the cycle of addiction
13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
Because addiction is far more than just a dependency on an addictive agent, healing requires a multi-directional approach.
Find a way to interrupt the cycle
Identify the longing (unmet need)
Raise self-esteem
Heal emotional pain
Forsake addictive agent
To accomplish this, one must...
Confess the addiction as a sin
Forgive past hurts and failed relationships
Repair present relationships
Evaluate standing in Christ
We must acknowledge that we have an addiction
We must desire to be free from the addiction
We must be willing to turn from the addiction
We must see that God is the real goal.
We must be willing to lay our addiction before God.
We must wait upon God to fulfill our needs.
Twelve Step Program
1. We admit we are powerless over our dependencies and that our lives have become unmanageable.
17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
2. We came to believe that God could restore us to sanity.
7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
3. We made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God.
5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; And lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, And he shall direct thy paths.
4. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? 4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? 5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.
5. We admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
6. We were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
7. Humbly asked God to remove our shortcomings
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
8. We made a list of all persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all.
31 And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.
9. Made direct amends to such people whenever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
23 Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; 24 Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.
10. We continue to take personal inventory and when we were wrong, promptly admit it.
12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
11. We sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God, as revealed through the person of Jesus Christ, praying only for the knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.
7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
12. Having a Spiritual Awakening as a result of these steps , which is the revelation of Jesus Christ, we try to carry this message to others and practice these Biblical principles in all our affairs.
1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
