In a recent edition of Christianity Today, Carolyn Arends addresses addiction, what she (and Gerald May before her) call “the spiritual disease of our time.” While the goal of the article is rightly to direct us to fulfillment in Jesus alone, it is the reflection given to addictive behaviors that first caught my attention. A few quotes capture the author’s thinking:

  • “One of the hallmarks of addiction is ‘tolerance’—the experience of requiring an ever-increasing amount of a particular substance or behavior in order for it to satiate us.”
  • “Yesterday’s thrill is today’s old news. We always need more.”
  • “. . . we are obsessed by unworthy masters who can never truly satisfy.”

Even for those of us who might claim no addictions, these words sound hauntingly familiar. In fact, replace “addiction,” “thrill,” and “masters” with the word “sin” or “sins” in these sentences, and the powerful lure of the devil’s traps becomes obvious.  We drink from the well of sin, thinking that our choices will somehow bring fulfillment – only to discover that sin leaves us thirstier in the long run.     

There is also a spiritual warfare aspect here that we seldom recognize. For the sake of illustration, imagine a “sin line” that marks the place where we cross from obedience into disobedience.  On one side of that line, the Enemy is the enticer (1 Chron. 21:1) who seeks to draw us across the line. He makes sin look inviting, exciting, and satisfying, even as he ensnares us with his messages:  “Go ahead and do it, nobody will know.”  “Look at what you’re missing.” “Everybody else is doing it.” So alluring is the sin, and so loud are the messages, that we choose to cross the line.

Here, the Enemy changes his approach. The enticer on one side of the line becomes the accuser (Rev. 12:10) on the other. Bible commentator Simon Kistemaker describes it this way:

Cast down to earth, Satan can no longer accuse the believers before God’s throne. But he does not accept defeat so as to desist from evil works. On the contrary, Satan continues his attacks day and night by constantly accusing the followers of Christ and torturing their consciences.

Here’s what it sounds like before and after the sin line, when the encouragements to sin become taunts of accusation:     

                        Enticer                                                                                 Accuser
“Go ahead and sin; God will still love you.”              “God will never love you again.”
“Just one more time, and you can stop.”                    “You’ll never overcome this sin.”
“Don’t worry; God will forgive you.”                           “God won’t forgive you this time.”
“You deserve this. Don’t miss it!”                                 “You’re just a loser.” 

The process is clear.  The Enemy dangles the lures in front of us, and we take the bait. Then, in a demonic twist, he turns on us and beats us up with accusations. When we accept his charges as truth, our resolve to fight future temptations is weakened. The conflicted conscience that Kistemaker describes is truly tortured: we accept lies as truth and fall even more into sin that cannot satisfy. 

So, how do we start to help others break this addictive pattern?

First, share the gospel. No unbeliever can win this battle.  Thus, the starting point is to assure that others have heard the gospel and responded to Christ in repentance and faith.  

Second, point to the beauty of Christ. Only He can satisfy the heart so accustomed to turning to sin for fulfillment. Regrettably, churches often teach Christ as Savior, but neglect to present Him as the priest who prays for us (Heb. 7:25) and the king who is above every power (Eph. 1:20-23).  Only when we truly see Christ for who He is will sin lose its attraction.    

Third, teach about standards of holiness and the seriousness of sin. Let’s be honest: some believers struggle because we have never taught them about sin, the Enemy, and the armor of God (Eph. 6:10-17).  We should not be surprised when those we have not taught don’t live up to standards they don’t know. 

Fourth, build confession into discipleship. In the context of healthy discipling relationships, encourage careful, God-honoring confession (James 5:16).  Then, offer restoration and forgiveness (Gal. 6:1); let godly love trump the power of sin.   

The goal, of course, is to long for Jesus, meet him, long for more of Him, grow in His grace, long for more still . . . and just keep longing for and loving Him more.  Ask God today to cure your sin addictions by making you addicted to Him–and then help others to experience that same victory.