Super sin and a book suggestion

[PaulL]

Hi all,

I've mostly posted on the alcoholism forum, but I just put a welcome message about me and my "recovery program" in my profile :-)

Gertiegirl got so much advice in her post, I thought I'd just open a new thread on an issue she raised about "super sin".

Has anyone read Biblical Foundations of Freedom by Art Mathias? He's from Wellspring Ministries - Anchorage, Alaska

I too have struggled for years with some repeated besetting sins. Somehow focusing on resisting those sins never worked. And I mean like FOCUSING in capital letters....fasting, praying, rebuking satan, memorizing specific related verses, having accountability partners....you name it I tried it.

Along comes Foundations of freedom and points the finger at unresolved issues of anger, bitterness, fear, unforgiveness etc in my heart. Now, as I am learning to deal with these hidden sins in my heart, the other outward "supersins" (we can each fill in the blank) are coming under control. It's amazing. The book is worth it's weight in gold to me!!!

God bless you all!

"But this I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desires of the flesh"

[cmc]

Welcome to Christians In Recovery!
Thanks for sharing.

[Gertiegirl]

Hiya, welcome to this forum!

Thanks for that advice and no I havn't read that book, might have to look into it. I think you hit the nail on the head when you mention that the focus only on drunkenness as a sin is entirely unhelpful. I agree that now I am working with a phychotherapist about some of the more hidden sin issues (bitterness, unforgiveness etc) my need to cover feelings effectively by drowning them has lessened. Unfortunately it is difficult when other people without the tendancy towards alcoholism do not understand this, and see the sole problem as being that Im a drunk, and that is that. Without that understanding it makes relationships even more difficult. Others do not realize that as I process things differently, and react in a different way to a situation or comment to a "normal" person which is the underlying contributing factor to the bondage I am trapped in, then unwittingly they can feed the related issues and therefore increase my urge to drink. Its such a horrible cycle - and the main reason why I have found I have to seperate my faith walk and my recovery journey.

I know that many members of my church do view being an alcoholic very much a "super" sin. And its even been suggested that as I havn't just "stopped" then its blasphemy of the Holy Spirit because obviously God would want me to just stop. Others have told me that obviously I don't have a fullness of the spirit otherwise God would have delivered me by now. Thankfully I also have very loving people in my life who have taught me that All sin is sin, no matter what and Christ has paid the price in God's eyes. Arrogance and Ignorance is up to others to repent and I just have to focus on untangling the web of sin and lies in my head that lead me into temptation.

So thanks for your words, and confirming what I too believe is the path to freedom. I pray blessings upon you.

Galatians 5:1 "Its is for freedom that Christ has set you free, stand firm therefore, and do not allow yourself to be burdened again by a yoke of slavery"

[PaulL]

Thanks Gertiegirl for the feedback. I almost kind of regretted posting, because what I have experienced the past 2 months, has been so wonderful, but it has only been 2 months! I have been burned so much in the past, when I thought "I got it" only to wind up back in the mire again. But it sure feels different this time. Also, never in the past had I decided resolutely to quit alcohol 100% (I had always just tried to moderate). That alone is making a HUGE difference!

Nevertheless, I am always afraid of the warning: "Let him who thinks he stands, take heed lest he fall." I'll just have to chalk it up as taking TWO paces forward this time in my pilgrimage.... but I'm still just a learner, not a teacher.

You wrote:

I have found I have to separate my faith walk and my recovery journey.

Hummm....I'll have to think on that.

What I am finding, and what Mathias' book points out, is how we give satan a foothold in our lives when we refuse to forgive or we allow bitterness to linger. And he just doesn't mean major past abuses that we have endured, but DAILY lesser offenses against us. Moment by moment confessing these attitudes, repenting from them (and the spirits that accompany them!) and "taking captive every thought to the obedience to Christ" THEN, that keeps satan from hobbling me to the point where I am so vulnerable to the other so called "bigger" self-medicating sins.

That is what I have been learning and practicing these last 2 months.

Now I'd better shut up before my words come back to haunt me!

btw, Is your avatar from John Stewart (Daily Show)? Maybe you don't get that in NZ...American political satire. He starts every show scribbling manically on a sheet of paper!

[cmc]

And its even been suggested that as I havn't just "stopped" then its blasphemy of the Holy Spirit because obviously God would want me to just stop.

Unfortunately I have witnessed up close and personal the same things that Gertie describes.

I wonder if any of those who feel this way about alcoholism would be so truthful to admit that their own illness, physical limitatons & handicaps; or their overeating, smoking, covetousness and lust are 'unforgivable' sins as well?

I honestly believe that most of the people with the attitude you described...are ignorant and mean well. That line of thinking is toxic to me, and I find no biblical basis for it. I make sure that any church I belong to teaches compassion and practices humility when it comes to judging others who suffer and need recovery.

This is another reason why I prefer the 12 step (AA style) forms of recovery- because step one settles the issue once and for all about my powerlessness. If I could do this alone then I would have no need of God's help would I?

Thankfully I know a loving God is there to help me find my way through and addiction, character flaws and yes...even sin that is now present in my life. Anything else or less than God's grace just won't cut it- the work of the cross is complete.

How I maintain my recovery involves all the things you mention about taking a good hard look at myself, doing some housecleaning and working each day to keep my side of the street clean in my heart and mind.

Ironically for me, I found recovery after many years of being devoted to God. The rooms of Alanon where I am a member and the teachings of AA are what lead me into a much deeper walk with the Lord.

[Gertiegirl]

Firstly - No idea about my avatar, I just found it in the standard ones and kinda liked it! Seemed pretty apt considering the head space I am currently in!

Second point to note - You ARE a teacher. Some might say we are called to be disciples and others would argue we are all called to be apostles. A basic definition of disciple would be "one who is taught" and basically Apostle could be defined as "one who is sent". So as you cannot attain the perfection of Christ, you are constantly learning and seeking growth through the Holy Spirit or from books or wharever the learning may come from which would make you a disciple - However God calls us to be Fishers of men, and sends us into this broken world or sends us out in our communities to share the message of Christ. So that makes us apostles too. I've never had a problem learning and calling someone teacher if they are well versed on a subject (or at least have a sounder footing then myself) so in this sense - with the knowledge you are sharing YOU are the apostle, and you are a teacher. True humility is not degrading yourself (IMO) when you should be acknowledging the gift you have been given.

And my final point, thanks for the advice regarding taking captive of every thought on a daily basis, and even the smaller issues. Every morning when I rise I pray for God to place a guard over my mind, my heart and my mouth. If I hang onto bitterness and resentments from the past, it effects the daily issues, and I often put myself down and it becomes a self fullfilling prophesy. I will get hurt by people daily - because I allow them to, Im not taking captive of my thoughts and even words and replacing the lies from the past with God's truth. Its something I must readdress, and put some thought into. My reactions are what causes the problems, not others actions. This could be the very point that I need God's strength to overcome to head into proper recovery... Thanks for your encouragement, and example to follow!

[PaulL]

I can't really take a vow of silence, AND be involved in an online community at the same time... hahaha

So, I just wanted to say to CMC and Gertiegirl, thank you for your kind words and feedback! CMC, you are so right, there are many issues out there as you say "overeating, smoking, covetousness and lust" that are just as destructive to body and soul as alcohol. Yet, it seems that the alcoholics get most of the tomatoes thrown their way.

Gertiegirl, one more note on the "taking captive every thought to the obedience of Christ" idea: Mathias brings this up, in the the context of the spiritual warfare that we are all in. He points out that not all the thoughts that enter our heads are from ourselves. The obvious of course are thoughts associated with temptation. But more than that, other thoughts that don't glorify God may well have demonic roots, which need to have the light of the word of God shown on them (eg taken captive).

In the same way, the same context of spiritual warfare, he reminds and urges us that other people are not the source of our conflicts ("we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities and powers, the spiritual forces of wickedness in heavenly places") Yet how often, rather than rebuking satan, and making peace with our neighbor (or the driver that just took our spot), we instead focus our anger on the person. Then the root of anger and bitterness takes it's hold in our lives, leading us down the path of separation from God and loss of his power to overcome.

Really, it's a good book: Biblical Foundations of Freedom by Art Mathias from Wellspring Ministries - Anchorage, Alaska