What does the Bible Say about...

Addiction

1st Cor 6:12

Question #1

How would we define addiction?

Whats the difference between and addiction and a habit?

Addiction = a subtle and/or continuous reprograming of a biological factor in our brains

example: ________

Habit = behavioral function

example: the way I fold fold laundry

Question #3

What forms can Addiction come in?

Question #2

What does my brain say about addiction?

Science lesson...

How addiction effects our brains.

there are two main parts of our brains that “light up” when affected by addiction

The Limbic system - Located deep in our brain is primarly responsibilie for our survival instinces

eat, drink, find shelter, care for young

your brain reenfources behaviors that cause the release of dopamine

Fun fact: This is actually the starting point for other parts of the brain that record that feeling, why? So we seek it again.

The pre frontal Cortex (This is what God made unique about us, it seperates us from all other creation)

This is where descision making and impulse control live.

Biologically, when we are addicted to somthing, that thing is hijacking the very core of our brain and it creates a “home” in our limbic system and becomes a part of our survival system....

You ever see someone or hear of someone who will fight tooth and nail for thier additiction. findining everyway to defend it. maybe arrive at some un realistic conclusions about why they need to do this or that?

That is a biologically developed behavior.

Let look at somthing we all likely use..... social media.

A study was done on a small group of college students that studied the link between social media addiction and the limbic system while they interacted with instragram comments.

They took two pictures, that were exactly the same with the only diffrence being the amount of likes that one picture had over the other. The response was shocking as the results showed that the corralation between the brain of how someone respones to receiving likes and positive comments was the same as an established addict.

one last thing....

has any one ever felt their phone vibrate when it really didn’t? We have become so connected to our phones, they have actually become part of our bodies. Any thing that stimulates or triggers stimulation in an area that you keep your phone, you might believe that its your phone, This is called phantom vibration syndrome and 90% of people report these vibrations

The vruerability of our psychology is terrifying.

I want to remind you this is not just for the those who drink or use drugs....

this is why we are told to

2 Corinthians 10:5 NASB95

We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ,

Question #3

What does the Bible Say about Addiction?

1 Corinthians 6:12 NASB95

All things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be mastered by anything.

A little context...

The church at Corinth was a very simple letter to the church their dealing with the basics of the Christian faith. Unfortunately Paul had do this because the maturity of the church was less then to be desired. The was dealing with some spiritual and moral issues. and more then anything they were using their freedoms in Christ to justify their vices.

In chapter five Paul rips into the church and calls them out on some really problematic stuff.

the letter was direct, specific and intentional.

READ THE PASSAGE.

In verse 13, they were using the argument that just as food and the stomach go together, Sexual indulgence and the body go together.

Paul rebukes this “line of reason” and says no, all things are for the lord.

In verse 12, paul gives his standard on christian liberty and I personally think its a standard we should judge everyhting we do by.

in our lives we ask two questions?

Is it expedient (helpful) in my life and walk with Christ?

Will this enslave me or have authority over me?

We pass everything through the lens of scripture.

7 Day Challanges

The Seven Challanges

1st one: BE OPEN AND HONEST ABOUT WHERE YOU ARE.

Approach a peer or a leader this week and identify one thing that has mastery over you.

Seek help because any seamlessly minor addiction today will fester and grow into a dibilatating illness tomorrow that will limit you potential future as a mom a dad a student.

Resources: