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: The Problem with Justification

In our Christian recovery ministry, we have seen and heard a lot. Nothing surprises us, but there’s a lot that makes us cringe, especially when we’re sure that no good can come from the words we hear. Recently, a former addict decided that having wine with dinner was perfectly acceptable and condoned by Jesus. We tried to correct her carefully crafted reasoning, but she rejected our warnings with two typical points of justification:

1. Jesus drank wine so I can too.
2. Alcohol is not my problem.

Well, we’ve heard these two points before – more times than we care to count! Why is it that addicted personalities like to use Jesus as the example of drinking wine, but leave out all the Biblical warnings about its link to the demonic and the dangers of drunkenness? In my blog titled “What Does the Bible Say about Being Sober?” I list many of the Scriptures that refer to this issue. Here are some of the points that these Scriptures make.

• Bad things happen when you drink.
• You shouldn’t hang out with people who party.
• Your drinking can cause someone else to stumble. In other words, you can trigger them.
• Alcohol makes you a slave to it.
• Don’t act like the world acts.

It’s true that having a glass of wine is not a sin, that is, if you’re not someone who struggles with addiction. If you are one of those people, then even a single glass of wine is foolish, no matter how it’s cleverly justified.
Like every one of Satan’s tricks, justification works out great in the beginning, but the snare is fully set in no time at all. Consider the passage of Scripture in Proverbs 23:29-35.

“Who has Woe?
Who has sorrow?
Who has contentions?
Who has complaints?
Who has redness of eyes?
Those who linger long at the wine,
Those who go in search of mixed wine.
Do not look on the wine when it is red,
When it sparkles in the cup,
When it swirls around smoothly;
At the last it bites like a serpent,
And stings like a viper.
Your eyes will see strange things,
And your heart will utter perverse things.
Yes, you will be like one who lies down
in the midst of the sea,
Or like one who lies at the top of the mast, saying
“They have struck me, but I was not hurt;
They have beaten me, but I did not feel it.
When shall I awake, that I may seek another drink?”

When justification rears its ugly head, The Solid Rock Road team does its part to tell people that what we see isn’t pretty, but then we often find ourselves stepping back, letting go and allowing the consequences to unfold.

If you or your loved is a Christian in addiction or struggles to get set free, visit our website at www.thesolidrockroad.com . You can also find our book “Follow The Solid Rock Road: Pathway to Radical Recovery” on Amazon (in print and on KINDLE). Click here! You can also call us at 541-301-3717.

Christian Recovery Using the Sword of the Spirit

Temptation is no excuse to give into addiction. Every Christian is tempted with something, but we're all expected to resist using the Bible as our instruction book. Even Jesus was tempted by the devil during his 40 days in the desert. And since Jesus is our model and we're to have the mind of Christ, all we need to do is follow his lead when temptation strikes.
In Matthew 4:4,7 and 10, Jesus’ response to the devil’s temptations started with “It is written.” This should be your response when tempted to use drugs or alcohol. Ephesians 6:17 refers to the Word of God as the Sword of the Spirit. In other words, your greatest offensive weapon in the spiritual battle of addictions is scripture. If you learn the Word, you will have the weapon you need. When you wield the Sword of the Spirit, you kick the devil's butt and win the battle for your own soul, and many times will help others do the same.
 
With this in mind, it's important to get in the habit of reading your Bible every morning. Start your day empowered by the Word of God. Don't leave home without your Bible so it's easily accessible if you're suddenly hit with temptation. And memorize victory scriptures so that you are fully armed at all times. Remember, Jesus has already won the war on cross of Calvary, so you already victorious. 

God's Word is truth, and knowing His truth sets you free. 

You can learn more about how to get and stay free from addictions on The Solid Rock Road website at www.thesolidrockroad.com. You can also follow the Solid Rock Road on Twitter and Facebook. 

Christian Recovery and Elder Abuse

I have been counseling a lot of elderly people lately who don't know what to do with the addict in their life. What I've come to note is that older people don't truly understand the issues of addiction, nor can they deal with the situation properly, which is why addicts take such advantage of them. The addicts lie incessantly to get money, they steal the elderly's property to sell it for drugs, and they take over their homes.

In the past month, I have talked with two women in their 70s and 80s who have actually moved out of their homes and left the addicts to live there. In both cases, the elderly women paid the rent and all the bills. My advice to each of them was to at least charge the addicts partial rent, or have them pay the utilities. While this seemed like an obvious first step to making the addicts responsible for their lives, both women didn't believe they could ask for money from the addict, and neither had the courage to remove them from their homes. In the end, all that I could do was pray for them and offer my support with an invitation to stay in touch.

I have often said that Christians in addiction work on the fear and guilt of their loved ones.When it comes to the elderly, the addicts also work on their vulnerability. They become predators, feeding on the weaknesses of the elderly. As a result, I have come to see this behavior of addicts as a form of elder abuse.

If you are a senior citizen and find yourself in this situation, I highly recommend you get the support of other family members and that you trust the wisdom of recovery counselors. If you are a family member and your parents or grandparents have fallen victim to the addict's manipulations, please intervene and get the help that's necessary to force change.

You can learn more about The Solid Rock Road at www.thesolidrockroad.com. You can also find this Christian recovery resource on Facebook. 541-301-3717.

Knowing the Truth for Freedom from Addictions

In 2 Timothy 2:25-26, the Apostle Paul says we are to correct those who are in opposition to the truth and pray that God will grant them repentance so they will “escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.”

The only way to escape the snare is to know the truth by reading the Bible and accessing the mind of Christ. When all is said and done, being skilled in the Word is what will keep you in the truth, help you stay on God’s path, and transform you into a combat-ready soldier in the Army of God.

To know the truth is good, but you must come to love and crave it, the same way you have been obsessed by your drug of choice. If you make this switch in your mind, your body will follow.

Some people experience love at first sight with truth, while others grow to love it. If you have an instant connection with truth, this does not save you from deception later down the road. You have to nurture your relationship with the knowledge of God.

If you’re not automatically captivated by truth, don’t despair. If you keep searching for God’s truth, you’ll find it!

No matter how you come to love the truth, it will become part of you. When you operate in truth, you have better insight into the spiritual battle facing you. When you’re in deception, you can’t see your invisible enemy. That’s why the devil tries to prevent you from knowing the truth, often steals your truth, and covers it up. If you’re blind to the wiles of the devil, he can get away with his schemes more often than not.

It bears repeating that the truth will set you free. This truth comes in two forms: First you must be truthful about your addictions, your cycles, your thoughts, and your feelings or you will continue drinking and doing drugs. Secondly, you must know God’s truth, which gives an internal peace and guides you along The Solid Rock Road.



The Solid Rock Road is a Christian recovery program. Pastors Jerry and Jamee Pineda are the directors of the recovery ministry and are available via www.thesolidrockroad.com. There, you can find the telephone number and/or the email address to contact them.

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.