Addiction is a disease that requires professional help, but not one that a family member or church member cannot help with.
Beyond the general perspective, the church can take steps which would help an addict member recover. It may not be easy, but it isn’t impossible.
Before such person became an addict he/ she was a member of the church, and probably still is a member.
So, certain people in the church has influences over such an addict member, and can help the person fight off addiction. But these steps by the church have to be deliberate and specific.
Some of these steps include;
- Identifying an Addict Member
Not everyone who skips church service is an addict. There are many reasons why people might skip services.
But the church needs to know how to identify an addict member. You look out for people withdrawing from everyone else and constantly irritated at everything.
- Expressing Love
It is vital that an addict experiences support, especially from people they have a bond with.
So, one way the church can help an addict member is to show love. Just simply express the love of Christ to the person, knowing to God still loves him/her regardless of their current illness.
So, regard than keep pushing the person to repent or change, which can be frustrating for the addict member and possibly push the person away.
The church needs to express love to the person, showing forth the love of Christ. The person may be stubborn, deny, and push back; but the church needs to be patient in love.
- Counselling
Some causes of addiction are stress, trauma, depression, anxiety, and other negative feelings. To help an addict member, the church can counsel him/her to help them overcome such negative feelings with the word of God.
Once these feelings are tackled, then the addict member can now address the addiction fully with professional help.
In summary, these are some ways in which the church can help an addict member. The church plays a major role in people’s lives, so members shouldn’t be pushed away due to drug or alcohol addiction.
But we should draw them closer in love, pray for them, and help them overcome such illness to the glory of God.