As usual, I’m in the middle of about six books, and also as usual, I have a different notebook for each book, so that my notes don’t get confused. It’s not the most efficient way to stay organized, and truthfully it doesn’t really work, but I do love buying a new notebook/journal, especially when I can convince myself that I have a good reason!
One of the books I’m currently reading is called Addiction: A Banquet in the Grave, by Edward T. Welch. It takes the reality of addictions and looks at them from scripture and from a biblical perspective. I imagine this book is quite controversial in some circles, because it does not hold to the concept of addictions being an illness or a disease. In the preface, the author says, “The basic theology for addictions is that the root problem goes deeper than our genetic makeup. Addictions are ultimately a disorder of worship. Will we worship ourselves and our own desires or will we worship the true God?”. I can only speak for myself, but this is a hard word to hear, both personally and professionally. It does fly in the face of all that I learned and studied while getting my MSSW, but I’ll be the first to admit that a program can’t get more secular than social work, and I only studied it from a secular perspective, which would never in a million years give ear or credence to the idea of addictions being a disorder of worship.
The author doesn’t ignore that genetics can influence us and predispose us to enjoy a particular substance or activity, but he argues, “There is a categorical difference between being influenced by genetics and being determined by it. Possible physiological tendencies do not mean that self-control is impossible or that personal responsibility is diminished. They simply mean that some people must be more vigilant in situations where that sin can be easily provoked.”
I’m only half way through the text, but it has challenged me greatly, and I would recommend it to anyone interested in the topic of addiction. At the end of each chapter, there is a section called “Practical Theology”, where there are questions to answer that deal with facing our own addiction and helping others with theirs.
