Some debatable topics
– Is addiction a sin or disease?
As said from the onset, addiction is a mental disorder. Normally in addiction, the victims have no or less control of their bodies and so they act under compulsion. So, if a victim of addiction commits a grievous or deadly sin, we can’t possibly say he or she has committed a mortal sin. This is because, he or she might have no knowledge about the sin, his or her consent or will may not be sought while in the act. However, an addict, when not in the state of compulsion must constantly and actively try and be working on himself or herself to recover from the addiction. That notwithstanding, the church considers addiction to be both a sin and disease that can only be overcome with the invocation of prayers, scriptures and a strong belief in the Holy Trinity. So, whenever we sin, whether by addiction or difficulty in stopping a particular behavior, we ought to confess our sins (preferably through the sacrament of reconciliation) immediately. Like I said earlier, none of us here is addicted yet and so we need to work on ourselves to stop a sinful behavior we find difficulty to stop before we ‘graduate’ into addiction.
– Is addiction spiritual or non-spiritual?
Many people associate addictions to something spiritual. Yes. They may be right but as the etymology of the word addiction reveals, it does not necessarily have anything to deal with or do with spiritual things. However, let us not be ignorant of the fact that we are in a spiritual world and so are exposed to many spirits including evil spirits.
Addiction is purely a mental disorder. However, the root cause of a particular addiction could be as a result of something spiritual. E.g. Lust can be the root cause of a ‘sexual addiction.’ Fortunately for us, Jesus has come to redeem the whole earth and so has made us conquerors. Lust will be something very easy to tackle at the initial stage because we have authority over lust. However, if we allow the lust in us to continuously compel us to begin a sexual behavior for quite some time, at some point, we may find it difficult to stop that sexual behavior and this may gradually result in ‘sexual addictions’ (like pornography, masturbation, homosexuality and sex). Anyway, I am yet to see a sexual addict. There are many who claim they are addicted to some sexual behaviors but ideally, they are not yet addicted and so CAN STOP!! There is hope!!
– Can someone who is addicted be saved?
Yes! As long as that individual remains in the grace of salvation by virtue of appropriate and constant reception of the Holy Eucharist, proper and sincere confessions to God (preferably through the sacrament of reconciliation), praying the rosary daily, doing good works including works of mercy, surrendering totally to the Triune God and mother church, having hope that he or she will overcome the addiction and the active attempts to RECOVER from addiction.
– Can someone be in addiction and still have a deep relationship with God?
Many biblical scholars have tried to interpret what St. Paul meant by “thorn in my flesh” in 2 Corinthians 12:7-10. It is clear St. Paul was struggling with something that caused Him to suffer. But St. Paul never comes right out and says what it is. This has led many Christians over the centuries to speculate. While others claim this thorn in the flesh was blindness or something physical (ref to Gal 4:13-15), others believe it may not be anything physical but something from within; perhaps a sin, or addiction or temptation to sin (ref. Romans 7:15-20).
Romans 7:15-20
For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.
So, addiction is no news, the difficulty to stop a behavior is no news, the inability to resist temptation is no news. The biggest Good news is, THERE IS HOPE. We can control ourselves and gradually stop or recover from behaviors and ‘addictions’ we feel are not easy to stop.
2 Timothy 4:7-8
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.
St. Paul persevered till the end; He never gave up. We should also never give up.
A hopeless person may never be able to be helped by God. God can help the helpless but may not help the hopeless. So yes! We can be in addiction and still have a good relationship with God. We can have difficulty in stopping a behavior but still have a good relationship with God. After all, we fall into that “bad behavior” because we are not able to overcome the temptations that behavior brings. But one thing we need to know for sure is, God will not test us beyond our capabilities.
1 Corinthians 10:13
No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
So, we need to always strive to overcome whatever temptations that make us end up into that same behavior we are crying to stop. We shall look more into this when we get to how to help ourselves or others who are addicted.
Many addicts ended up into addictions because they gave up. Dear friends, we are not yet into addiction. Let us not give up. We just need to trust God, have faith in Him, invest more into prayers, spend time on the word of God, pray the rosary daily, receive the Eucharist appropriately and constantly, frequently go for confessions, avoid anything or any person who will make us go back to a behavior we are struggling to stop.
Also, let us invoke the intercession of Saint Maximillian Mary Kolbe (who is the patron saint of addictions) and our lives will never be the same.
There is a far less known saint whom we can recommend to addicts, particularly with the current opioid crisis. He is Saint Mark Ji Tianxiang. You may read his story here.
From these two saints (especially Mark Ji Tianxiang), we can see a typical lifestyle of an addict. Addiction is a serious issue.
However, these two persevered till the end. Let us never give up.
Watch this video to see how a typical addiction lifestyle looks like
-Is addiction hereditary (genetic)?
According to geneticists and other experts, genetic factors can account for about 40% of a person’s vulnerability to addiction. This is solely with regard to drug or chemical addicts. Scientists have been able to map the DNA sequences in drug addicts and isolate the gene sequences that indicate a greater risk of becoming addicted to drugs, chemicals or substances.
There is not really any known study which reveals that behavioral addictions are hereditary.
Join me in the next episode as we look at the root cause of addiction, the effects and some solutions
