Christian Recovery: Don’t Open Addiction Doors

I see it all the time. Someone lives a clean and sober life for months or years at a time and is then tricked into thinking they can get away with having wine with dinner or a few beers at a barbecue. Well, some are tricked, but others have simply given in to the temptation and found a way to justify their actions. But regardless of why someone chooses to drink after a period of sobriety, the fact is, by doing so they opened the door to their addiction and welcomed in relapse.

It’s ironic (and foolish) that those who preferred drugs to alcohol often say this when they’re about to switch their main addiction to another: “Alcohol was not my problem, so a few drinks won’t hurt.” While this may seem like a sane statement to make, turn the scenario around and the insanity emerges. “Drugs were not my problem, so I can smoke a little pot or take a few hits of meth and it won’t hurt me.”

It’s a slippery slope whenever a former drug addict picks up a drink. No one escapes without a fall. Those who come to their senses quickly get away with a few bruises, but others fall hard and the consequences are dire. I’m talking jail, prison and death. I have walked many loved ones of the formerly addicted through the pain of a major relapse, and attended many funerals of those who re-opened a door to addiction.  

While Satan and his demons can’t make anyone do anything, they do spend a lot of time ‘suggesting’ that a drink won’t hurt. They know that Christians who struggle with addiction only need to open the door a little for the plan of the evil one to fully enter. And there are plenty of Christian people who knowingly or unknowingly point out to the recovered addict that Jesus and the disciples drank wine, so it’s not a sin. Combine that with all the commercials and merchandising efforts that lure the weak toward alcoholic drinks and it’s easy to see how and why recovered Christians find themselves in relapse.

So don’t open the door, not even a crack. If you have ever been addicted, do not allow alcohol to touch your lips or enter your body -- even if drugs were your "only problem."

To learn more about The Solid Rock Road Christian recovery program, visit www.thesolidrockroad.com. You can also find the recovery ministry on Twitter and Facebook.

Christian Recovery and the Problem with Lying

When writing Chapter 3 of our Christian recovery book "Follow The Solid Rock Road: Pathway to Radical Recovery," we included a section on the problem (more like obsession) addicts have with lying. Since the Chapter title was "Pray and Meditate on the Word of God daily," we asked ourselves if the subject of lying was a good fit. We concluded that it was the perfect fit for the chapter because lying is the opposite of truth, and the Word of God is Truth.

In our Christian recovery groups, most participants admit to being liars. It doesn't always come easy because liars tend to lie about lying. With this in mind, those in recovery should be desperate to get the Word of God in them, but that's not always the case.

Excerpt from Chapter 3 of "Follow the Solid Rock Road"

"Lying is an addiction of its own and for some, it has become an art. Therefore, it can be as hard to overcome lying as it is to kick drugs and alcohol. 

Chronic liars believe their lies protect them, get them out of trouble, and do them more good than harm. They tell lies to justify their actions and to make everyone believe they are strong in their Christian faith.

The Bible says that all liars are thrown into the lake of fire (Rev. 21:8). Not to scare you, but even if you are saved and go to church every day of the week, lying provides you with an opportunity to burn in hell with the devil. (We are aware of the “once saved, always saved” concept, but not convinced of it. And we certainly would never rely on it!)

Never lie about the condition of your heart and mind. Don’t lie when someone asks you how you are doing, or how your relationship with God is. If you’ve quit reading the Bible and praying, don’t pretend you’re doing devotionals, and no matter what, don’t use the term “God said” if you haven’t even spent time in His presence.

If you lie about these important aspects of your Christian life, you’re not only a hypocrite, but are setting yourself up for relapse, not to mention a very hot and horrific future, if you know what we mean.

You don’t have to make yourself look and sound better than you are. Your life is what it is. When you follow The Solid Rock Road and stay on the path of God, you won’t have to make anything up ever again."

If you or your loved one struggles with addiction, The Solid Rock Road is here to help. You can visit our website at www.thesolidrockroad.com, or you can follow us on Twitter and like us on Facebook. (Feel free to call also. 541-301-3717)

Christian Recovery: Responding to Life’s Troubles

Being a Christian is absolutely amazing, but it definitely doesn’t prevent real life from happening. We can experience financial struggles, family problems, health issues and many life-altering circumstances that bring emotional, physical and spiritual pain. 

For those who struggle with addictions, troubles in this life can open doors to temptation and trigger serious episodes of abuse with drugs and/or alcohol. But such a cycle presents a major dilemma because God expects us to respond properly to traumas and heartbreaks. He does not promise a problem-free life. In fact, his warns us of the opposite in John 16:33 – “Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows.” 

So what do we do as Christians when negative events occur? We look at the second half of John 16:33, which says, “But take heart, because I have overcome the world." The “I” in this Scripture refers to Jesus. The Scripture is then pointing us to His victory, which becomes our victory.

The most amazing thing about Christianity is that we can live a victorious life based on having Christ living in us – even in times of adversity, or perhaps especially in times of adversity. While our circumstances are real and cause us some level of suffering, we can take heart! In other words, we can have peace in our hearts in the midst of our pain. 

For more about Christian recovery and the The Solid Rock Road Christian Recovery program, visit www.thesolidrockroad.com. You can also follow this Christian recovery ministry on Twitter and Facebook, and find the book “Follow The Solid Rock Road: Pathway to Radical Recovery” on Amazon.com.

Christian Recovery: Reconciling Your Past

Most people have had traumatic experiences and life-changing events that shouldn’t have happened. And though we can’t wish them away, we can look at them in this light: Bad things have happened, but they’re not happening any more. With this reality, we don’t have to remain victims of our painful times. Instead, we can choose to be set free and enjoy what’s in store for the overcomers.

The only way our past can negatively interfere with our present is when we continue to live as victims of bad experiences. When we’re in the victim cycle, we relive the trauma over and over. We keep asking God and others why such a thing happened, and we obsess about the people who were part of it. We give all our energy to the event, which means that it has power over us, and controls our souls. Since our souls are made up of our mind, will and emotions, these hurtful experiences control how we think, feel and act.

When we use our past as an excuse to wallow in self-pity or to abuse alcohol or drugs, we’re far from the freedom Jesus Christ died for. It’s like we’re looking at the purifying, cleansing and healing blood of Jesus, but saying “No thank you.” When we reconcile our past through the suffering of Jesus on the Cross, we’re receiving the gift of freedom, and we’re eager to use our experiences as testimonies to God’s amazing grace and power.

Are you denying the power of God by carrying your past into the present as a victim? If so, the sincere acts of repentance, release and forgiveness will bring you in alignment with God and give you victory.

The Solid Rock Road is a Christian recovery program based in Medford, Oregon. The system is available for churches and Christian organizations anywhere in the world with the use of our recovery book and group facilitation manual, both available on Amazon.com and on our website, www.thesolidrockroad.com. You can also follow The Solid Rock Road on Twitter and Facebook.

What Does the Bible Say about Being Sober?

Although wine is a permitted drink according to the Bible, getting drunk is a sin. The Word of God makes that point clear in both the Old and New Testaments. Scripture also includes stories about the foolish mistakes people made while being drunk. Noah and Lot are both examples of how too much wine can result in embarrassment and immoral behavior.

It's our experience in The Solid Rock Road that many Christians justify their abuse of alcohol by pointing out that Jesus turned water into wine, and that Jesus drank wine. However, there is not a single account in which Jesus got drunk. How many wine-drinking Christians can make this same claim? And how many Christians have turned from wine to hard liquor and even to drugs?

There's addiction issues in the church and our purpose in The Solid Rock Road is to help Christians identify and not deny! The following are some key Scriptures on being sober:

Proverbs 20:1

Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise.

Proverbs 23:20-21

Be not among drunkards or among gluttonous eaters of meat, for the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty, and slumber will clothe them with rags.

Proverbs 23:29-35

Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaining? Who has wounds without cause? Who has redness of eyes? Those who tarry long over wine; those who go to try mixed wine. Do not look at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup and goes down smoothly. In the end it bites like a serpent and stings like an adder. Your eyes will see strange things, and your heart utter perverse things. ...

Isaiah 5:11

Woe to those who rise early in the morning, that they may run after strong drink, who tarry late into the evening as wine inflames them!

Hosea 4:11

“Wine and new wine enslave the heart.”

Romans 13:13 ESV

Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy.

Romans 14:21

It is not right to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that makes your brother stumble.

1 Corinthians 5:11

But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one.

1 Corinthians 6:10

Nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.

Ephesians 5:18

And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,

Galatians 5:21

Envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

1 Timothy 3:2-3

Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money.

Titus 2:1-3

"But as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine: that the older men be sober, reverent, temperate, sound in faith, in love, in patience; the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things."

1 Peter 4:3 ESV

For the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry.  

1 Peter 1:13

"Gird up the loins of your mind, be sober.”

1 Thessalonians 5:6-8

"Let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. But let us who are of the day be sober."

You can also learn more about our Christian Recovery ministry called the Solid Rock Road here: www.thesolidrockroad.com. You can also follow us on Facebook.  And you can read our book "Follow The Solid Rock Road: Pathway to Radical Recovery". 

The Real Miracle Cure for Addiction

When we first started The Solid Rock Road Christian recovery program in Oregon, our goal was to help as many Christians in addiction as we possibly could. As a team, we created a Vision, Mission and Values statement specifically geared toward spreading the message of freedom in Christ throughout the world. 

A decade later, we have seen this happen, especially since creating a website and publishing our book “Follow The Solid Rock Road: Pathway to Radical Recovery” two years ago. Through our book and website (www.thesolidrockroad.com), people from every state in the nation and from 86 countries have learned about The Solid Rock Road. And many who are suffering from addictions have asked for help. 

From the start of our Christian recovery ministry, we have acknowledged that the real help for addicts is the Holy Spirit working from within, but it must come from a person's steadfast commitment to getting set free. There must be real repentance and total surrender to God. It’s true that our counseling is wisdom-filled and our book provides insight, inspiration and guidance. However, The Solid Rock Road Christian Recovery program is simply a resource. The power to transform lives comes from God and God alone. 

The only miracle cure for addiction is the cleansing blood of Jesus Christ and the process of sanctification. Recovery is all about turning away from sin -- doing a complete moral u-turn. It’s giving God the same energy given to the addiction and living a godly life based on the application of Biblical principles. 

The Solid Rock Road team continues to partner with addicts in the battle for their souls. We have faith for the addicted and grace for the ministry. And we operate with our eyes wide open in order to counteract the lies of the enemy and to impart truth into the minds and hearts of God’s people. Often, we tell the hard truth the hard way because it has to break through strongholds.

Our recovery team has seen miraculous healings and deliverances and we’ve supported those who have suffered through withdrawals and temptations. Sadly, we have laid several of our Christian friends to rest who failed to overcome the battle of addictions.  However, we remain confident that all those who call on the name of Jesus in the midst of their addiction, and all those who surrender to God and sanctify themselves will find freedom from addictions for a lifetime. 

You can visit The Solid Rock Road Christian recovery website at www.thesolidrockroad.com. You can also visit their Facebook page and find them on Twitter.

Get Off the Yellow Brick Road: Get on The Solid Rock Road

The following is an the Introduction of the book, "Follow The Solid Rock Road: Pathway to Radical Recovery." Here's the link to the website:  www.thesolidrockroad.com, plus you can purchase the book on Amazon.com.

“This is what the LORD says: “Stand at the
Crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths,
ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and
you will find rest for your souls.” (Jeremiah 6:16)

Our whole family watched the Wizard of Oz the day we got our first color TV. We were young girls at the time and could hardly wait to see the movie. We were instantly infatuated with Dorothy and hated the mean and ugly lady on the bicycle. As the movie progressed, we went from being awestruck with all the color and characters to scared senseless.
     In the movie, Dorothy gets tossed around in a tornado and wakes up in Munchkinland. Her house lands on top of the Wicked Witch of the East and kills her. Thankfully, Glinda the Good Witch of the North appears to ease Dorothy’s mind and give her the magical ruby red slippers from the feet of the dead witch. Soon after, the Wicked Witch of the West shows up to terrify Dorothy – and the two of us!
     The Wicked Witch of the West is angry that Dorothy is wearing the ruby red slippers. She makes it clear that her plan is to take them from her.
     With threats from the Wicked Witch looming, Glinda and the well-meaning Munchkins direct Dorothy to the Yellow Brick Road. They assure the girl in the blue checkered dress that the road will lead her to Emerald City and the great Wizard of Oz who has the power to get her home. So off Dorothy and her little dog Toto go, completely oblivious to the danger and disappointment that lay ahead.
    Along the way, Dorothy befriends the scarecrow, tin man, and cowardly lion, all searching for something to make them more complete. Together, they follow the Yellow Brick Road, believing that the Wizard will perform multiple miracles on their behalf.
    Though pursued by the Wicked Witch of the West, Dorothy and her three companions finally find refuge behind the huge doors of Oz. Then, by accident, they discover that the Wizard is all smoke and mirrors – powerless to give the scarecrow a brain, the tin man a heart, or the cowardly lion courage. Worse yet, the phony Wizard is without power to return Dorothy to Kansas.
    Like a good witch should, Glinda re-appears just in time. Glinda tells Dorothy that she already has the power to return home –  if she simply clicks the heels of her ruby red slippers and repeats the phrase, “There’s no place like home.” Dorothy follows the beautiful witch’s instructions and is immediately whisked back to Kansas and her beloved family.
    While the Wizard of Oz is a much-loved movie classic, we’ve never understood why the Good Witch waited to tell Dorothy about the power of the ruby red slippers. We wondered why Glinda sent the lost young woman down the Yellow Brick Road when there was a faster, easier, and safer way home.

The Real Yellow Brick Road
Today, millions of Christians are directed to a modern-day Yellow Brick Road to recovery from addictions. They are assured by the treatment industry that sobriety is found along many paths and in a higher power, not the higher power.
    People battling addictions get to choose from an array of recovery methods, modalities, therapies, spiritual philosophies, and programs on their journey along the Yellow Brick Road. They’re also given a long list of excuses for their inability to get and stay sober. We’ve used a few ourselves.
    Anxiety, depression, ADHD, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), low self-esteem, and abusive parents are a few reasons addicts give to justify actions. The pre-treatment cure is often a stabilizing pill, which offers a temporary and false sense of well-being. (As ex-addicts, we find it hard to believe that drugs are used to treat addictive personalities. It’s one of the many ironies of life.)
    Before anyone gets offended, we acknowledge that mental health issues exist and realize that people have suffered, been mistreated, molested, neglected, and rejected. We’ve had our share of pain, so we have true compassion for anyone who has endured hardship and difficult circumstances.
    Still, there comes a time when your past should no longer determine your future – when you leave your old life for a brand new one and enact the new creation reality that God made available through His Son, Jesus Christ.
    It’s good to reflect on your life. There’s value in acknowledging the mistakes you’ve made and learning from the pain others have caused you. But Philippians 3:13 tells us to look ahead, “…forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead.”

The Solid Rock Road
By reading this book, we pray you would fully understand the spiritual battle in the unseen world, the purpose of Christ’s suffering on the cross, and the transforming power of God.
    While Dorothy faced danger and distress along the Yellow Brick Road, she finally turned to her ruby red slippers. With a few clicks of her heels and a little bit of faith, Dorothy’s problems were quickly solved. She returned home to Auntie Em. She got her life back.
    When you choose to follow The Solid Rock Road, you find your way home. From the Old Testament to the New, the solid rock represents the foundation and teachings of Jesus Christ. From them, you can build an amazing, addiction-free life. You can wake up with hope, and live a productive and respectable life. You will also discover your destiny and leave a legacy for generations to come.
    Like the ruby red slippers for Dorothy, the red blood of Jesus Christ gives you all the power you need to turn things around. It can immediately cleanse, heal, and restore your life. You don’t have to travel far or wait a long time for the blood to work. It has been poured out for you in advance and in abundance. The blood of Jesus is readily available on your journey to radical recovery.
    The Wicked Witch of the West wanted to steal Dorothy’s slippers because she knew of their magical powers. The same is true for the devil who wants to steal your Christian power from you. If you continue in your addictions or take an unnecessary jaunt along the Yellow Brick Road to recovery, you won’t find a witch or evil flying monkeys, but you may find yourself being constantly pursued by the devil and his evil spirits.

What You’ll Learn
In this book, you’ll learn a lot about yourself, God, the Holy Spirit, and Jesus Christ. You’ll also become very familiar with the enemy of mankind and how to fight and win the battle for your own soul. We’re taking you on an experiential journey that gets you home in a hurry, and gives you all the Biblical tools needed to protect yourself, along with everyone else who is in your sphere of influence.
    You don’t need magic to make your life great. You need the blood of Jesus and to learn the wonderful ways of God. You need to follow The Solid Rock Road, which is your pathway to radical recovery.

Our Disclaimer
We’re not against secular treatment programs. We know they’re necessary and the world needs trained counselors who care. However, we’ve written this book from a Christian perspective. We’re reaching Christians who continually struggle with addictions, as well as Christians in recovery who are ready to move forward in their lives and ministries.
    We are also writing for pastors, Christian leaders, and those heading up recovery ministries who are ready for a purely Bible-based system that promotes the new creation reality and assimilation into the Body of Christ.
    If you’re not a Christian but looking for spiritual answers to resolve your addictions issues, you’ll find them here. Plus, you’ll get to learn what Christians believe and why we choose a spiritually progressive lifestyle that brings change and results in purposeful living.

God is Enough!
This book reminds the Christian community that God is enough. The Word of God must take precedence in a Christian’s life – over the education, science, systems, counsel, and philosophies of any and all secular treatment programs and organizations.
    In other words, do what God has instructed you to do. Follow The Solid Rock Road and steer clear of every other path. That’s how you’ll win the battle for your own soul and model a purpose-filled Christian life for your children and generations to come. 

The 10 Principles of The Solid Rock Road Christian Recovery Program

The Solid Rock Road Christian Recovery program in Oregon was founded in 2002. Since, then the recovery team has been counseling the addicted and their loved ones, facilitated recovery groups and published a book titled Follow The Solid Rock Road: Pathway to Radical Recovery. 

The following are the 10 Principles used by The Solid Rock Road recovery staff, and found in the book, published in 2010.

One: Surrender and realize your need for God

This principle brings readers to their knees before God in total surrender. The authors define the word “surrender” and discuss the difference between full and partial submission. Through stories, examples, and exercises, readers are brought to the point of agreement that Jesus is Lord, not just their Savior. This Principle includes a surrender prayer to help readers take the first step in their God-based recovery process.

Two: Empty yourself of your sinful nature so God can fill you with his Holy Spirit

This Principle teaches the difference between living in the Spirit and being controlled by the sinful nature. It provides realistic ways to begin the process of positive change by looking at defense mechanisms, masks, and false selves created for the sake of survival. By taking an honest look at who they have become, addicts rediscover who God actually created them to be. The goal of this Principle is for self-centered addicts to understand their sin nature and begin a daily process of self-denial that results in fullness of joy and purposeful living.

Three: Pray and meditate daily on the Word of God

With this Principle, the authors describe the importance of prayer and meditation and promote the concept that the way to eliminate addictive thoughts and behavior is through constant contact with God and reading the Bible. The power of prayer is discussed and described, along with reasons why New Testament believers have direct communication with God through Jesus Christ. This Principle explains in detail how to pray and where to begin reading the Bible. The authors define the word “meditation” and emphasize the importance of waiting on God. The goal is for readers to communicate with God, hear from God, and experience direction, instruction, revelation, and wisdom.

Four: Forgive yourself and others

Using personal testimony, stories, and scripture, this Principle discusses the compassion, mercy and grace of God and teaches readers the value of forgiving one’s self and others. It also describes how bitterness and resentment block spiritual growth. The goal Principle Four is to free addicts from guilt, shame, and blame shifting and to release blessing through personal acts of mercy. This Principle includes the author’s personal story involving violence and rape. Also included is a forgiveness prayer to help readers spiritually progress.

Five: Be accountable, belong, and be vulnerable

Principle Five discusses the importance of attaching to the Body of Christ and describes how secrets and deception result in isolation from people and distance from God. The goal of this Principle is to emphasize the need for getting planted in a local church and having fellowship with faithful people willing to invest in the addict’s spiritual growth and well being. We also discuss the importance of authority in the church, using several principles described in John Bevere’s Under Cover book.

Six: Stay close to God through praise and worship

This Principle describes how praise and worship free the Holy Spirit, reveal sin, are useful in spiritual warfare, and lead to intimacy with God. Since addicts by nature are consumed with their own issues of life, so this Principle emphasizes the benefits of being thankful and grateful, remembering the good, praying for others, and appreciating a blessed and lifelong relationship with God.

Seven: Seek the will of God for your life

This Principle uses John 4:34 as its cornerstone: “My nourishment comes from doing the will of God, who sent me, and from finishing his work.” The authors explain how God gives each person a unique personality and characteristics, along with a plan for using those gifts to do good in the world. The goal is for addicts to know they have a purpose and to begin a journey of discovery that results in a clear vision and mission. This Principle includes access to a spiritual gifts test that helps readers identify their ministry strengths and encourages them to begin/continue the process of assimilation into the Body of Christ.

Eight: Stay on the path

This Principle covers the value of steadiness and balance for people who have an extensive history of impulsive behaviors, including drug and alcohol abuse. The authors describe God’s path from the point of salvation, through justification by faith and sanctification. The goal of this Principle is to warn about the dangers of detours, and to emphasize the importance of finding and staying on the path. Principle Eight also provides comparisons between the path of righteousness and the path of self-will described in the book of Proverbs.  

Nine: Be ready for battle: put on the full armor of God

Principle Nine shows readers how to defend themselves against the methods Satan uses to deceive and disarm Christians. It also teaches readers the importance of guarding their attitudes and hearts. The authors compare being a Christian to being a well-trained, fully armed soldier who is in the midst of a real battle. This section describes the full Armor of God in simple terms and presents an Armor of God prayer that readers can use every day. The goal of this Principle is to remind people they will experience constant temptation and attacks from the devil but must be prepared to fight and have continuous victory over their addictions.

Ten: Serve God and others

In Principle 10, readers are urged to look at their history of selfish behaviors and the consequences that followed. Readers are made aware of self-indulgences, and are instructed to serve God first and then serve others in order to become a fully attached member of the Body of Christ. 

For more articles about Christian recovery, visit www.thesolidrockroad.com. You can also follow me on Twitter and become a friend on Facebook.

My Christian recovery book is on Amazon.com. Click here: http://tinyurl.com/2c3cfem