Definitions Alan H. Siggelkow

SCRIPTURAL DEFINITION OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE Alcohol and substances Sex

1. The ability to make alcoholic beverages from grain and grapes is a blessing from God. He does not call the making of such beverages nor the consumption of such beverages a sin. –Joel 2:24 24 The threshing floors will be filled with grain; the vats will overflow with new wine and oil. Wine has medicinal uses: –1 Timothy 5:23 23 Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses.

2.The abuse of alcohol or of any blessing of God is the sin. Deuteronomy 21: They shall say to the elders, “This son of ours is stubborn and rebellious. He will not obey us. He is a profligate and a drunkard.” 21 Then all the men of his town shall stone him to death. You must purge the evil from among you. All Israel will hear of it and be afraid. Proverbs 20:1 1 Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler; whoever is led astray by them is not wise. Proverbs 23: Do not join those who drink too much wine or gorge themselves on meat, 21 for drunkards and gluttons become poor, and drowsiness clothes them in rags.

Proverbs 23: Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaints? Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes? 30 Those who linger over wine, who go to sample bowls of mixed wine. 31 Do not gaze at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly! 32 In the end it bites like a snake and poisons like a viper. 33 Your eyes will see strange sights and your mind imagine confusing things. Isaiah 5:11 11 Woe to those who rise early in the morning to run after their drinks, who stay up late at night till they are inflamed with wine. Ephesians 5:18 18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.

3. The solution to pain and trouble and worry and feelings of inadequacy is not alcohol or drugs, but to be filled with the Spirit. 1 Corinthians 6: Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders 10 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

The Implied Progression: Is This Addiction? Luke 21:34 34 “Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you unexpectedly like a trap.” This passage seems to be implying a progressive or addictive problem connected with dissipation, drunkenness, and the anxieties of life that dulls our sense of reality and our preparation for the Day of Judgment.

4. There is forgiveness for these sins with the Lord because of Christ crucified and arisen who has justified us. We are sanctified by the power of the Holy Spirit to live lives changed from such sins. Baptism (washed) and the Word (name) are the means which the Holy Spirit uses to sanctify us. Luke 21:34 34 “Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you unexpectedly like a trap. I Corinthians 6:11 “And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.”

5. As all things, alcohol and food should be used to the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31 31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

Sex - Sex is a blessing of God reserved for his institution of marriage Genesis 2 Adam is alone. God shows him his aloneness. He creates a wife for him. Each is a blessing to the other. Genesis 2:23-24 (NIV) 23 The man said, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman’ for she was taken out of man.” –24 For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.

Sex: Sex is a blessing from God Song of Solomon 1:15-17 (NIV) Lover 15 How beautiful you are, my darling! Oh, how beautiful! Your eyes are doves. Beloved 16 How handsome you are, my lover! Oh, how charming! And our bed is verdant. Lover 17 The beams of our house are cedars; our rafters are firs. Hebrews 13:4 (NIV) 4 Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.

Definitions -- Addiction Secular – Dependence - DSM IV A Maladaptive pattern of substance use leading to clinically significant impairment or distress, as manifested by three or more of the following occurring in the same 12-month period: –Tolerance –Withdrawal –Substance is often taken in larger amounts over a longer period of time than was intended. (Planned to limit the use, but could not.) –A persistent, but unsuccessful effort to cut down the use –A great deal of time is spent to obtain substance or to recover from its affects. –Important social, occupational, or recreational activities are given up or reduced because of the substance use –The substance use is continued despite knowledge of its negative impact on physical or mental health

Secular – Abuse – DSM IV A maladaptive pattern of substance use leading to clinically significant impairment or distress, as manifested by one or more the following occurring with a 12-month period –Recurrent substance use resulting in a failure to fulfill major role obligations at work, school, or home –Recurrent substance use in situations in which it is physically hazardous –Recurrent substance-related legal problems –Continued substance use despite having persistent or recurrent social or interpersonal problems caused or exacerbated by the effect of the substance The symptoms have never met the criteria for substance dependence for this class of substance

Indicators Internet Abuse/Addiction Alone with a computer – up at odd hours using computer Quick switching the computer off. Shame or fear Don’t mess with my computer! Sharing porn sites with others Impaired social relationships Strange view of the opposite sex –Objectification of the opposite sex –Gender respect problems –Relationship commitment problems –Staring, stalking Tired Needs more and more stimulation to get the same high Acting out fantasies Almost none of the above. The secret sin – the hidden addiction

Internet Abuse – Pornography Indicators Porn addiction is one of the most difficult addictions to overcome. Millions of people around the world struggle with overcoming this powerful vice once they acknowledge they have a problem. Its been compared to cocaine addiction because of similar neuro-chemical activity in the brain. Some people struggle with a masturbation addiction as well as porn addiction. Masturbating and reaching climax only strengthens your addiction to porn more. If you struggle with only masturbation addiction then you still have a chemical dependency on the brain’s neuro-chemicals. Your brain does not see the difference between healthy sex with your spouse and releasing the chemicals by yourself. So you become addicted to the easiest way to release the chemicals which is alone and doing the act.

The Role of Shame in Connection with Pornography Use, Abuse, Addiction Guilt » Similarities, Differences? Shame “Stinking Thinking” –If you really knew me, you would not love me.” –I do not deserve…. –I am helpless and hopeless. –I am the only one who can help myself. –No one else knows, cares, loves, or understands. –Tension: Release and Reward

Our Hope In Jesus Philippians 4:13 (NIV) 13 I can do everything through him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:19 (NIV) 19 And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. The Miracles of Jesus The Cross and the Resurrection

Help with the addictive patterns of our lives In the Word Brother-to-brother Encouragement Groups WLS Restoration Process policy Professional Counseling

Other Issues Dual diagnosis Self-medication Multiple substance use Addictive personality Learned behavior Inherited pre-disposition